(d) Utilizing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), the SBA has delegated its authority to contract directly with program participants under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act to the Senior Procurement Executives of various Federal contracting activities. The Department of State has signed an MOU with SBA, effective May 6, 1998. Under the MOU, a contract may be awarded directly to an 8(a) firm on either a sole source or competitive basis. The SBA reserves the right to withdraw any delegation issued as a result of an MOU; however, any such withdrawal shall have no effect on contracts currently awarded under the MOU.

OSDBU shall review the capabilities of 8(a) concerns and disseminate that information to DOS program and contracting personnel. As necessary, OSDBU shall obtain from the SBA or 8(a) concerns supplemental information for DOS program and contracting personnel.

Contracting activities may use the simplified acquisition procedures of FAR part 13 and DOSAR part 613 to issue purchase orders or contracts, not exceeding $150,000, to 8(a) participants. The $150,000 limitation for use of FAR part 13 simplified acquisition procedures applies to the acquisition of both commercial and non-commercial items. The following applies to such acquisitions:

(a) Neither offering letters to, nor acceptance letters from, the SBA are required.

(b) The contracting activity shall use the System for Award Management (https://www.sam.gov) to establish that the selected 8(a) firm is a current program participant.

(c) Once an 8(a) contractor has been identified, the agency contracting officer shall establish the price with the selected 8(a) contractor.

(d) The contracting officer shall issue the purchase order or contract directly to the 8(a) firm in accordance with the provisions of FAR part 13 and DOSAR part 613. The contracting officer shall insert FAR 52.219–14, Limitations on Subcontracting, and 652.219–71, Section 8(a) Direct Award, in all purchase orders and contracts awarded under this subsection. The contracting officer's title shall include the contracting activity, as follows: Contracting Officer for the Department of State [insert contracting activity]. In addition, in accordance with the MOU, OSDBU staff who have been issued limited contracting officer warrants for this purpose, shall sign the purchase order or contract as a third party.

(e) The contracting officer shall forward to the SBA District Office serving the 8(a) firm a copy of the purchase order or contract within five days after the order is issued.

(a) When applicable, this notification shall identify that the offering is in accordance with the MOU identified in 619.800.

(a) The SBA's decision whether to accept the requirement shall be transmitted to the contracting agency in writing within five working days of receipt of the offer.

(b) The SBA may request, and the contracting agency may grant, an extension beyond the five-day limit.

(c) SBA's acceptance letter should be faxed or e-mailed to the offering contracting agency.

(d) If the offering contracting agency has not received an acceptance or rejection of the offering from SBA within five days of SBA's receipt of the offering letter, the contracting agency may assume that the requirement has been accepted and proceed with the acquisition.

(e) The contents of the acceptance letter shall be limited to the eligibility of the recommended 8(a) contractor.

(a) 8(a) acquisitions may also be conducted using simplified acquisition procedures (see FAR part 13). The award process is significantly streamlined where an MOU is in place.

(b) For requirements exceeding $150,000 processed under the MOU cited in 619.800, the contracting officer shall submit the name, address, and telephone number of the low offeror (in sealed bid acquisitions) or the apparent successful offeror (in negotiated acquisitions) to the SBA Business Opportunity Specialist at the field office servicing the identified 8(a) firm. The SBA shall determine the eligibility of the firm(s) and advise the contracting officer within two working days of the receipt of the request. If the firm is determined to be ineligible, the contracting officer shall submit information on the next low offeror or next apparent successful offeror, as applicable, to the cognizant SBA field office.

(a) When required by FAR subpart 15.4, the contracting officer shall obtain certified cost or pricing data directly from the 8(a) contractor if the contract is being awarded under the MOU cited in 619.800.

(a) If the acquisition is conducted under an MOU cited in 619.800, the 8(a) contractor is responsible for negotiating with the agency within the time established by the agency. If the 8(a) contractor does not negotiate within the established time and the agency cannot allow additional time, the agency may, after notification and approval by SBA, proceed with the acquisition from other sources.

(b) If the acquisition is conducted under an MOU cited in 619.800, the agency is delegated the authority to negotiate directly with the 8(a) participant; however, if requested by the 8(a) participant, the SBA may participate in the negotiations.

(c) The Procurement Executive is the agency head for the purposes of FAR 19.810(c).

(d) If the award is to be made under an MOU cited in 619.800, the contract to be awarded by the contracting activity to the 8(a) firm shall be prepared in accordance with the contracting activity's normal procedures, given contract type and dollar amount, that the contracting activity would use for a similar, non-8(a) acquisition, except for the following:

(1) The award form shall cite 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(5)or 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(5), as appropriate, and 15 U.S.C. 637(a) as the authority for use of other than full and open competition.

(2) The contracting officer shall insert FAR 52.219–14, Limitations on Subcontracting, and 652.219–71, Section 8(a) Direct Awards.

(3) For acquisitions exceeding $150,000, the contracting activity shall include SBA's requirement number on the award document.

(4) A single award document shall be used between the agency and the 8(a) contractor, i.e., an SBA signature will not be required. The title of the agency contracting officer shall include the contracting activity, as follows: Contracting Officer for the Department of State [insert contracting activity]. In addition, in accordance with the MOU, OSDBU staff who have been issued limited contracting officer warrants for this purpose shall sign the contract as a third party. The 8(a) contractor's signature shall be placed on the award document as the prime contractor. The 8(a) contractor's name and address shall be placed in the “Awarded to” or “Contractor name” block on the appropriate form.

(a) If the award is made under the delegation of 8(a) contracting authority, competitive contracts for 8(a) firms shall be prepared in accordance with the same standards as 8(a) sole source contracts. See 619.811–1.

(b) If the acquisition is conducted under the MOU cited in 619.800, the process for obtaining signatures shall be as specified in 619.811–1(d)(4).

(d) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at FAR 52.219–18, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Concerns, (Deviation), in competitive solicitations and contracts exceeding $150,000 when the acquisition is processed under the MOU cited in 619.800.

(e) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at FAR 52.219–14, Limitations on Subcontracting, and 652.219–71, Section 8(a) Direct Awards, in all solicitations and contracts that are processed under the MOU cited at 619.800. The clauses at FAR 52.219–11, Special 8(a) Contract Conditions; 52.219–12, Special 8(a) Subcontract Conditions; and, 52.219–17, Section 8(a) Award, shall not be used.

(d) The head of the contracting activity is the agency head for the purposes of FAR 19.812(d). Awards under the MOU cited in 619.800 are subject to 15 U.S.C. 637(a)(21). These contracts contain the clause at 652.219–71, Section 8(a) Direct Awards, that requires the 8(a) contractor to notify the SBA and the contracting officer when ownership of the firm is being transferred.

(a) Offering letter. When a decision has been made by OSDBU and the contracting officer to process an acquisition through the SBA under the 8(a) program, the contracting activity shall promptly send to the applicable SBA office a letter offering the acquisition to the SBA, with an information copy to the Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Specialist. The offering letter should transmit the statement of work, purchase description, technical data package, or specifications and such other information deemed necessary by the contracting officer.

(b) The contracting officer has greater latitude in holding discussions with the business concerns being considered under an 8(a) program acquisition if under the $4 million competitive threshold for 8(a) competition than under a non-8(a) program acquisition. Informal assessments of potential 8(a) sources shall be within the parameters of 13 CFR 124.308(g). The technical evaluation must be carefully reviewed to determine if any source declared to be unacceptable is capable of being made acceptable.