C.  Sole Source Dollar Thresholds Vary Among the Socioeconomic Programs

Comment: One respondent noted that socioeconomic parity could not be implemented until all socioeconomic programs had the same sole source dollar threshold.

Response: The sole source dollar thresholds associated with the small business socioeconomic contracting programs (i.e., 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB programs) were established by their applicable statutes and the applicable inflationary adjustments that occur to acquisition-related thresholds (see FAR 1.109). These dollar thresholds have no impact on the ability of a contracting officer to exercise discretion when selecting the type of small business socioeconomic contracting program to utilize.