FAR 19.4—Subpart 19.4

General.

FAR 19.401 is a short but important coordination provision in the small business program rules. It identifies the legal basis for SBA-agency cooperation under the Small Business Act and explains who serves as the agency’s official point of contact for small business matters. Specifically, it covers the relationship between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and federal agencies in developing policies that protect small business interests, and it names the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) Director as the agency focal point for interfacing with SBA, with a separate rule for the Department of Defense (DoD), where the Office of Small Business Programs serves that role. In practice, this section matters because it centralizes communication, helps ensure consistent small business policy implementation, and reduces confusion about who speaks for the agency on small business issues. It is not a set-aside or evaluation rule itself, but it supports the administration of the small business program by defining the coordination structure agencies must use.

Small Business Administration procurement center representatives.

FAR 19.402 explains the role of Small Business Administration procurement center representatives (PCRs) in the federal acquisition process and how contracting activities must work with them. It covers SBA’s authority to assign PCRs to contracting activities or contract administration offices, the requirement that PCRs follow agency directives and security rules, and the agency’s obligation to obtain any needed security clearances for them. It also addresses what happens when no PCR is assigned, including contacting the appropriate SBA Office of Government Contracting Area Office for assistance. The section requires contracting officers, upon request and subject to acquisition and security rules, to give PCRs access to reasonably obtainable contract information directly related to their duties. It then describes the PCR’s core functions: reviewing proposed acquisitions and acquisition packages, recommending small business set-asides or sole-source awards, identifying additional small business sources, suggesting breakout and competition improvements, recommending alternate contracting methods when small business prime opportunities appear limited, recommending concerns for solicitation lists, appealing certain contracting officer decisions, conducting periodic compliance reviews, and supporting training and outreach. In practice, this section is about ensuring SBA has a meaningful role in shaping acquisition strategies so small businesses get a fair opportunity to compete and agencies stay aligned with small business policy goals.

[Reserved].