Source: https://www.cao.gov/print/16772
Timestamp: 2019-11-17 16:14:11
Document Index: 145958733

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 19', 'art 19', 'art 819', 'art 19', 'art 819', 'art 819', 'art 19', 'art 819', 'art 819', 'art 6', 'art 8', 'art 12', 'arts 125', 'art 19', 'art 5']

Contracting officers may negotiate payment terms of less than 30 calendar days to encourage small business participation. A period of less than 7 days may not be prescribed (see FAR 32.908(c)(2) ). The contracting officer and the local fiscal officer must be in agreement on the negotiated payment terms before awarding the contract.
(a) Administration heads, staff office directors, and HCAs must, in addition to the responsibilities designated in FAR 19.202-5 , cooperate with OSDBU in formulating specific small business program goals and providing other data necessary for goal assessment.
(a) Develop, on an annual basis, a plan of operation to increase the share of contracts and purchase orders awarded to the small business programs prescribed in FAR Part 19 . This plan must also include Veteran-owned and service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concerns.
(b) Promote goals for the small business programs set forth in FAR Part 19 . This must also include Veteran-owned and service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concerns.
(d) Review class set-asides, established in accordance with criteria in FAR 19.503 , at least annually to determine whether items or services procured under a unilateral or joint set-aside should be modified or withdrawn.
In addition to the duties designated in FAR 19.202 through 19.202-6 , contracting officers must perform the following functions in support of the small business program:
(a) 38 U.S.C. 8127 and 8128 require the VA to provide priority and establish special acquisition methods to increase contracting opportunities for SDVOSBs and VOSBs. These priorities and special acquisition methods are set forth in subpart 819.70 and shall be applied by VA contracting officers before other priorities and preferences in FAR 19.203 .
(1) Before setting aside or reserving an acquisition for small businesses under FAR subpart 19.5 , contracting officers shall refer to 819.203-70 and subpart 819.70 for VA SDVOSB/VOSB priorities and preferences.
(2) Set-asides under the Veterans First Contracting Program in subpart 819.70 (see 819.7005 and 819.7006) have precedence over other small business set-asides referenced in FAR part 19 , both above and below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT). SDVOSB and VOSB set-asides also satisfy the requirement to reserve actions below the SAT for small business.
[Deviation per Class Deviation—Veterans First Contracting Program (VFCP 2016), dated July 25, 2016, amends implementation of the Veterans First Contracting Program in 819.502-4 to include direction regarding orders on other agency multiple awards that emphasizes attainment of the Secretary’s annual goals for SDVOSBs/VOSBs does not limit the applicability of the Veterans First Contracting Program. This deviation is effective until incorporated into the VAAR or the VAAM or is otherwise rescinded.]
(c) The requirements in subpart 819.70 apply to VA orders and BPAs under Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACS) and Multi-Agency Contracts (MACs) awarded by another agency. A set-aside restricted to verified SDVOSBs or VOSBs pursuant to subpart 819.70 satisfies competition requirements in FAR part 6 , as well as the fair opportunity requirements in FAR 16.505 (see FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F)).
This subpart applies to VA contracting activities and to all contracts (see FAR 2.101 , Definitions), including BPAs and orders, under FAR subpart 8.4 and FAR part 12 that are not otherwise excluded by law. In addition, this subpart applies to any government entity that has a contract, agreement, or other arrangement with the VA to acquire goods and services on behalf of the VA in accordance with 817.502.
(a) Size eligibility of SDVOSBs/VOSBs continues to be governed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations, 13 CFR subparts 125.8 through 125.13, as well as FAR part 19 , except where expressly directed otherwise by this part, and 38 CFR 74 verification regulations for SDVOSBs /VOSBs.
(3) The joint venture meets the requirements of paragraph 7 of the size standard explanation of affiliates in FAR 19.101 ; and
(2) The justification prepared pursuant to FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) is posted in accordance with FAR subpart 5.301(d) ;
(c) A determination that only one SDVOSB can meet the requirement is not required. However, in accordance with FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) , contracts awarded using this authority shall be supported by a written justification and approval described in FAR 6.303 and 6.304 , as applicable.
(2) The justification prepared pursuant to FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) is posted in accordance with FAR 5.301(d) ;
(c) A determination that only one VOSB can meet the requirement is not required. However, in accordance with FAR 6.302-5(c)(2)(ii) , contracts awarded using this authority shall be supported by a written justification and approval described in FAR 6.303 and 6.304 , as applicable.
The contracting officer shall insert clause 852.219-10, VA Notice of Total Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside or clause 852.219-11, VA Notice of Total Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside as applicable, in open market solicitations and contracts for acquisitions set-aside under this subpart.
(a) To be eligible, mentors and protégés must not be listed on the Excluded Parties List System, located at http://www.epls.gov . Mentors will provide appropriate developmental assistance to enhance the capabilities of protégés to perform as prime contractors and/or subcontractors.
(b) Costs incurred by a mentor to provide developmental assistance, as described in 819.7110 to fulfill the terms of their agreement(s) with a protégé firm(s), are not reimbursable as a direct cost under a VA contract. If VA is the mentor’s responsible audit agency under FAR 42.703–1 , VA will consider these costs in determining indirect cost rates. If VA is not the responsible audit agency, mentors are encouraged to enter into an advance agreement with their responsible audit agency on the treatment of such costs when determining indirect cost rates.
(2) Contracting officers may assess the prime contractor’s compliance with the subcontracting plans submitted in previous contracts as a factor in evaluating past performance under FAR 15.305(a)(2)(v) and determining contractor responsibility 19.705–5(a)(1) .
(b) Insert 852.219–72, Evaluation Factor for Participation in the VA Mentor-Protégé Program, in solicitations that include an evaluation factor for participation in VA’s Mentor-Protégé Program in accordance with 819.7105 and that also include FAR clause 52.219–9 , Small Business Subcontracting Plan.