19.203  Relationship among small business programs.

3.  Amend section 19.203 by revising paragraphs (b) and (c); redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (e); and adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:

19.203  Relationship among small business programs.

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(b)  At or below the simplified acquisition threshold. For acquisitions of supplies or services that have an anticipated dollar value exceeding $3,000 ($15,000 for acquisitions as described in 13.201(g)(1)), but not exceeding $150,000 ($300,000 for acquisitions described in paragraph (1) of the simplified acquisition threshold definition at 2.101), the requirement at 19.502-2(a) to exclusively reserve acquisitions for small business concerns does not preclude the contracting officer from awarding a contract to a small business under the 8(a) Program, HUBZone Program, SDVOSB Program, or WOSB Program.

(c)  Above the simplified acquisition threshold. For acquisitions of supplies or services that have an anticipated dollar value exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold definition at 2.101, the contracting officer shall first consider an acquisition for the small business socioeconomic contracting programs (i.e., 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB programs) before considering a small business set-aside (see 19.502-2(b)). However, if a requirement has been accepted by the SBA under the 8(a) Program, it must remain in the 8(a) Program unless the SBA agrees to its release in accordance with 13 CFR parts 124, 125, and 126.

(d)  In determining which socioeconomic program to use for an acquisition, the contracting officer should consider, at a minimum--

(1)  Results of market research that was done to determine if there are socioeconomic firms capable of satisfying the agency's requirement; and

(2)  Agency progress in fulfilling its small business goals.

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