PART 1819

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1819.001                               Definitions.

 

SUBPART          1819.2         POLICIES

1819.201                               General policy.

       

SUBPART          1819.3         DETERMINATION OF SMALL BUSINESS STATUS FOR SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

1819.302                                  Protesting a small business representation. 

 

SUBPART          1819.5       SET-ASIDES FOR SMALL BUSINESS

1819.502                               Setting aside acquisitions.

1819.502-70                         Non-initiation of set-asides.

1819.502-3                           Partial set-asides.

1819.502-370                       NASA reporting requirements.

1819.505                               Rejecting Small Business Administration recommendations.

 

SUBPART          1819.6         CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY AND DETERMINATIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1819.602                               Procedures.

1819.602-1                           Referral.

1819.602-3                           Resolving differences between the agency and the Small Business Administration.

1819.602-370                       NASA procedures.

 

SUBPART       1819.7         THE SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PROGRAM

1819.705-2                              Determining the need for a subcontracting plan.

1819.705-4                              Reviewing the subcontracting plan.

1819.705-470                       Acquisition-specific subcontracting goals.

1819.708                               Contract clauses.

1819.708-70                         NASA solicitation provision and contract clause.

 

SUBPART          1819.8       CONTRACTING WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (THE 8(a) PROGRAM)

1819.800                                 General

1819.804                                  Evaluation, offering, and acceptance.

1819.804-1                              Agency evaluation.

1819.812                                 Contract Administration

 

SUBPART          1819.10       SMALL BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM

1819.1005                              Applicability.

 

SUBPART          1819.70      NASA  8  PERCENT GOAL

1819.7000                              General.

1819.7002                              Contracting officer responsibility.

1819.7003                             Contract clause.

 

SUBPART          1819.71      NASA RURAL AREA SMALL BUSINESS PLAN

1819.7101                              Definition.

1819.7102                              General.

1819.7103                              Solicitation provision and contract clause.

 

SUBPART          1819.72      NASA MENTOR-PROTÉGÉ PROGRAM

1819.7201                              Scope of subpart.           

1819.7202                              Definitions.

1819.7203                              Non-affiliation.

1819.7204                              Transportability of features from the Department of Defense

                                                 (DOD) Mentor-Protégé program to NASA contractors.

1819.7205                              General policy.

1819.7206                              Incentives for prime contractor participation.

1819.7207                              Measurement of Program success.

1819.7208                              Mentor firms.

1819.7209                              Protégé firms.

1819.7210                              Selection of protégé firms.

1819.7211                              Application process for mentor firms to participate in the Program.

1819.7212                              OSDBU review and approval process of agreement.

1819.7213                              Agreement contents.

1819.7214                              Developmental assistance.

1819.7215                              Obligation.

1819.7216                              Internal controls.

1819.7217                              Reports.

1819.7218                              Program review.

1819.7219                              Solicitation provision and contract clauses.

 

 

SUBPART          1819.73       SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) AND SMALL BUSINESS

                                                   TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS

1819.7301                               Scope of subpart.

1819.7302                               NASA contract clauses.

 

 

 

PART 1819

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

 

1819.001  Definitions.

   “High-Tech” as used in this part means research and/or development efforts that are within or advance the state-of-the-art in a technology discipline and are performed primarily by professional engineers, scientists, and highly skilled and trained technicians or specialists.

 

Subpart 1819.2--Policies

 

1819.201  General policy.

   (a)(i) NASA is committed to providing to small, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone, small disadvantaged, and women-owned small business concerns, maximum practicable opportunities to participate in Agency acquisitions at the prime contract level.  The participation of NASA prime contractors in providing subcontracting opportunities to such entities is also an essential part of the Agency's commitment.  The participation of these entities is particularly emphasized in high-technology areas where they have not traditionally dominated.

       (ii) NASA annually negotiates Agency small, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone, small disadvantaged, and women-owned small business prime and subcontracting goals with the Small Business Administration pursuant to section 15(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644).  In addition, NASA has the following statutory goals based on the total value of prime and subcontract awards:

               (A)  Under Public Laws 101-144, 101-507, and 102-389, an annual goal of at least 8 percent for prime and subcontract awards to small disadvantaged business (SDB) concerns, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), minority institutions (MIs), and women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) (see 1819.7000); and

               (B)  Under 10 U.S.C. 2323, an annual goal of 5 percent for prime and subcontract awards to SDBs, HBCUs, and WOSBs.

   (d) The Assistant Administrator for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization is the Agency official responsible for carrying out the duties in FAR 19.201(d). 

   (e)(i)    The center director shall designate a qualified individual in the contracting office as a small business specialist to provide a central point of contact to which small business concerns may direct inquiries concerning small business matters and participation in NASA acquisitions.  The small business specialist shall also perform other functions specifically set forth in this section 1819.201 or that the procurement officer may prescribe, with the concurrence of the Assistant Administrator for Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, for implementing the Small Business Program.  When the center director considers that the volume of acquisitions or the functions relating to acquisitions at the center do not warrant a full-time small business specialist, these duties may be assigned to procurement personnel on a part-time basis.  However, whether full-time or part-time, that assigned individual, when performing the duties of a small business specialist, shall report directly to the Procurement Officer.

 

       (ii)  Small business specialists appointed under paragraph (d)(i) of this section shall perform the following duties, as the procurement officer determines appropriate to the installation:

             (A)   Maintain a program designed to locate capable small business sources, including those located in labor surplus areas, for current and future acquisitions.

             (B)   Coordinate inquiries and requests for advice from small business concerns on acquisition matters.

             (C)   Before issuance of solicitations or contract modifications for additional supplies or services, determine that small business concerns will receive adequate consideration, including making recommendations for initiation of set-asides (see FAR 19.5  and 19.8) and for taking action in accordance with FAR 19.506(b)  and 1819.502-70.  Participate and provide input early in the acquisition planning phase of proposed acquisitions, including procurement strategy meetings.

             (D)   If small business concerns cannot be given an opportunity to compete because adequate specifications or drawings are not available, work with appropriate technical and contracting personnel to ensure that necessary specifications or drawings for current or future acquisitions will be available.

             (E)   Review acquisitions for possible breakout of items suitable for acquisition from small business concerns.

             (F)    Advise small business concerns regarding financial assistance available under laws and regulations, assist such concerns in applying for such assistance, and ensure that small business concerns' requests for financial assistance are not treated as a handicap in securing the award of contracts.

             (G)   Participate in responsibility determinations (see FAR 9.103) when small business concerns are involved.

             (H)   Participate in the evaluation of prime contractors' small business subcontracting programs (see FAR 19.705-4).

             (I) Review and make appropriate recommendations to the contracting officer on any proposal to furnish Government-owned facilities to a contractor if such action may hurt the Small Business Program.

             (J)    Ensure that participation of small business concerns is accurately reported.

             (K)   Make available to SBA copies of solicitations when requested.

             (L)   Act as liaison between contracting officers and SBA area offices and representatives in connection with set-asides, certificates of competency, and any other matters in which the Small Business Program may be involved.

             (M)  In cooperation with contracting officers and technical personnel, seek and develop information on the technical competence of small business concerns for research and development contracts.  Regularly bring to the attention of contracting officers and technical personnel descriptive data, brochures, and other information regarding small business concerns that are apparently competent to perform research and development work in fields in which NASA is interested.

             (N)   When a small business concern's offer has been rejected for nonresponsiveness or nonresponsibility, assist that concern, upon its request, in understanding such requirements for future awards.

             (O)   Advise center personnel, as necessary, on new Governmentwide and Agency-approved small business programs and initiatives.

   (f)(1)    The NASA Ombudsman, the Director of the Contract Management Division, is the designated official for determining whether the use of the SDB mechanism in FAR Subpart 19.11 has resulted in an undue burden on non-SDB firms in the Department of Commerce designated NAICS Major Groups, or is otherwise inappropriate.

 

Subpart 1819.3--Determination of Small Business Status for Small Business Programs

 

1819.302  Protesting a small business representation. 

   (d)(1) The contracting officer shall not make awards of small business set-aside acquisitions before the expiration of the period for receipt of a size standard protest.

 

Subpart 1819.5--Set-Asides for Small Business

 

1819.502  Setting aside acquisitions.

 

1819.502-70  Non-initiation of set-asides.  

   (a) All cases involving the non-initiation of a set-aside, whether resulting from a joint decision of the small business specialist and the contracting officer or a decision by the contracting officer alone, require referral to the SBA representative (if one is assigned and available) for review.

   (b) If the small business specialist recommends that an individual acquisition or a class of acquisitions, or a portion thereof, be set aside, the contracting officer shall promptly either concur in or disapprove the recommendation, stating in writing the reasons for disapproval.

   (c) When an SBA representative is assigned and available and the contracting officer disapproves the small business specialist's recommendation, the contracting officer shall promptly refer the case to the SBA representative for review.  The small business specialist shall take no further appeal action.  The SBA representative must either concur with the decision or appeal the case to the procurement officer under FAR 19.505.  If the procurement officer approves the contracting officer’s decision and the SBA appeals under FAR 19.505(c), the procurement officer shall forward the required written justification, including a history of discussions between the center and the SBA and rationale for the decision, to the Headquarters Office of Procurement, Program Operations Division (HS).

   (d) The contracting officer shall prepare, sign, and retain in the contract file a memorandum of nonconcurrence in a recommended set-aside action.

 

1819.502-3  Partial set-asides.

 

1819.502-370  NASA Reporting Requirements.

   The contracting officer shall separately report, in accordance with Subpart 1804.6, awards of the non-set-aside portions of small business set-aside acquisitions.

 

1819.505  Rejecting Small Business Administration recommendations.

   See 1819.502-70.

 

Subpart 1819.6--Certificates of Competency and Determinations of Responsibility

 

1819.602  Procedures.

 

1819.602-1  Referral.   

   (a) On proposed awards exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the contracting officer should consider requesting a preaward survey (see FAR 9.106) before determining that a responsive small business firm is not responsible.  The scope of the preaward survey request should be limited to those elements of responsibility that are questioned.     

       (2) The contracting officer shall forward a copy of the referral to SBA through the procurement officer to the Headquarters Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization  (Code K).

 

1819.602-3  Resolving differences between the agency and the Small Business Administration.

 

1819.602-370  NASA Procedures. 

   (a) When agreement cannot be reached between the contracting officer and the SBA Area Office, the contracting officer shall forward to the Headquarters Office of Procurement (Code HS) on an expedited basis, a complete case file with a request that the case be considered for appeal to SBA Headquarters.  The contracting officer shall include the data already furnished to SBA, SBA's rationale for proposing to issue a COC, and the contracting officer's comments.  The contracting officer shall suspend acquisition action until informed by Code HS of the final decision in the case.

   (b) If the Office of Procurement concludes that the referral to SBA should be withdrawn and a contract awarded without benefit of a COC, Code HS shall inform the contracting officer.

   (c) If the Office of Procurement agrees with the contracting officer's recommended appeal action, the Assistant Administrator for Procurement shall forward the appeal through the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (Code K) to SBA Headquarters.

 

Subpart 1819.7--The Small Business Subcontracting Program

 

1819.705-2  Determining the need for a subcontracting plan.   

   (d) Solicitations for competitive negotiated acquisitions shall require proposed subcontracting plans with initial proposals (see 1819.708(b)(1)).  For sole source negotiated acquisitions, the contractor shall be required to submit a proposed subcontracting plan with the proposal. 

 

1819.705-4  Reviewing the subcontracting plan.

 

1819.705-470  Acquisition-specific subcontracting goals.

   Section 1819.201 addresses Agencywide goals at the combined prime and subcontract levels.  Appropriate subcontracting goals for an individual acquisition, however, are to be independently determined on the basis of the specific circumstances of the acquisition, consistent with FAR 19.705-4 and 1819.7002(b), and not on the basis of an Agencywide or center goal.  Acquisition-specific subcontracting goals should reflect maximum practicable opportunities for all categories of small business concerns to participate in NASA programs, consistent with efficient performance.  The methods outlined in NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 5000.2, Uniform Methodology for Determination of Small Disadvantaged Subcontracting Goals, may also be useful in establishing reasonable subcontracting goals for small, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone, and women-owned small business concerns.

 

1819.708  Contract clauses. 

   (b)(1) The contracting officer shall use the clause at FAR 52.219-9 with its Alternate II when contracting by negotiation.

 

1819.708-70  NASA solicitation provision and contract clause. 

   (a) The contracting officer shall insert the provision at 1852.219-73, Small Business Subcontracting Plan, in invitations for bids containing the clause at FAR 52.219-9 with its Alternate I. Insert in the last sentence the number of calendar days after request that the offeror must submit a complete plan.

   (b) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 1852.219-75, Small Business Subcontracting Reporting, in solicitations and contracts containing the clause at FAR 52.219-9, except for contracts covered by an approved commercial plan.

 

Subpart 1819.8--Contracting with the Small Business Administration

(The 8(a) Program)

 

1819.800 General.

   (f) NASA and the Small Business Administration maintain a Partnership Agreement (PA) to allow direct contracting with 8(a) firms by NASA.  Specific guidance on the implementation of the PA through a class deviation to certain requirements set forth in Subpart 19.8 is set forth in Procurement Information (PIC) 08-06.  Centers are to refer to the PIC to determine if direct contracting is currently authorized.

 

1819.804  Evaluation, offering, and acceptance.

 

1819.804-1  Agency evaluation.

   The small business specialist shall review and evaluate all acquisition requirements to determine their suitability for offering to SBA for 8(a) acceptance and make a recommendation to the contracting officer concerning award to SBA.

 

1819.812 Contract Administration.

   (d) The Small Business Act, at 15 USC 637(a)(21)(A), requires a contract awarded under the 8(a) Program to be performed by the concern that initially received the contract. If the owner(s) upon whom eligibility was based subsequently relinquishes ownership or control, or enters into any agreement to relinquish ownership or control, the contract shall be terminated for convenience unless a request for waiver is submitted by the contractor, or by NASA.  Only the Small Business Administration (SBA) may waive this requirement.  Contracting Officers must coordinate any planned requests for waiver of an 8(a) contract termination with the Headquarters Office of Procurement (Program Operations Division).  The Headquarters Office of Procurement will review and coordinate the package with Headquarters offices, as appropriate, and will either forward the request to the Administrator for signature or will advise the Contracting Officer of the decision not to submit the request to the SBA.  

 

Subpart 1819.10--Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program

 

1819.1005 Applicability.

   (b) The targeted industry categories for NASA and their North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes are:

 

NAICS Code

Industry Category

334111

Electronic Computer Manufacturing

334418

Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing

334613

Magnetic and Optical Recording Media Manufacturing

334119

Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing

33422

Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communication Equipment Manufacturing

336415

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing

336419

Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing

334511

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical Systems and Instrument Manufacturing

333314

Optical Instrument and Lens Manufacturing

541511

Custom Computer Programming Services        

541512

Computer Systems Design Services

51421

Data Processing Services

541519

Other Computer Related Services

 

Subpart 1819.70--NASA 8 Percent Goal

 

1819.7000  General.

   Public Laws 101-144, 101-507, and 102-389 require the NASA Administrator to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that at least 8 percent of Federal funding for prime and subcontracts awarded in support of authorized programs, including the space station by the time operational status is obtained, be made available to small disadvantaged business concerns, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, minority institutions, and women-owned small business concerns.

 

1819.7002  Contracting officer responsibility.