Why Part 19 Matters

Small business goals drive a significant portion of federal contracting strategy — agencies must meet annual percentage targets. Set-aside decisions affect the competitive landscape and are frequently protested. Prime contractors above $750,000 ($1.5M for construction) must submit subcontracting plans. Size protests and affiliation rules under SBA regulations determine eligibility, and misrepresentation of small business status carries severe penalties including False Claims Act liability.

Key Topics in Part 19

FAR Part 19 addresses several critical areas of the federal acquisition process. Understanding these topics is essential for both contracting officers and contractors working within this regulatory framework.

• Small business set-aside procedures
• 8(a) Business Development program (Subpart 19.8)
• HUBZone program (Subpart 19.13)
• SDVOSB program (Subpart 19.14)
• WOSB/EDWOSB program (Subpart 19.15)
• Small business subcontracting plans (Subpart 19.7)
• Size standards and affiliation rules
• SBA Certificate of Competency process

How FAR Part 19 Applies

The Federal Acquisition Regulation is organized into 53 parts, each covering a distinct area of the procurement process. Part 19 (Small Business Programs) is part of this framework and works in conjunction with other FAR parts to create a comprehensive regulatory structure. Contracting officers must comply with all applicable parts when executing procurement actions, and contractors must understand the requirements that flow from these regulations into their contracts.

The requirements in Part 19 may be implemented through specific contract clauses prescribed in FAR Part 52. When a clause references Part 19, the substantive requirements originate here, while Part 52 provides the actual clause language incorporated into contracts and solicitations.

Subparts

FAR Part 19 is divided into 12 subparts, each addressing a specific aspect of small business programs.

• 19.1 — Size Standards
• 19.2 — Policies
• 19.3 — Determination of Small Business Size and Status for Small Business Programs
• 19.4 — Cooperation With the Small Business Administration
• 19.5 — Small Business Total Set-Asides, Partial Set-Asides, and Reserves
• 19.6 — Certificates of Competency and Determinations of Responsibility
• 19.7 — The Small Business Subcontracting Program
• 19.8 — Contracting With the Small Business Administration (the 8(a) Program)
• 19.9-19.12 — Subparts 19.9-19.12 [Reserved]
• 19.13 — Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program
• 19.14 — Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program
• 19.15 — Women-Owned Small Business Program

Reading FAR Part 19

The full text of FAR Part 19 is available on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The eCFR provides the most current version of the regulation, including any recent amendments published through Federal Acquisition Circulars (FACs). For historical versions, use the eCFR's point-in-time search feature.

• What does FAR Part 19 cover?

  FAR Part 19 covers small business programs within the federal acquisition process. FAR Part 19 implements the statutory small business programs, including set-asides, sole-source awards, and subcontracting requirements for small business, 8(a) Business Development, HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) concerns. It establishes the small business size standard framework, subcontracting plan requirements (Subpart 19.7), and the SBA's role including Certificate of Competency. Subpart 19.13 covers the historically underutilized business zone program.

• Who must comply with FAR Part 19?

  FAR Part 19 applies to all executive branch agencies conducting acquisitions, unless a specific exemption exists. Contractors must comply with the requirements that are incorporated into their contracts through prescribed clauses from FAR Part 52. Agency-specific supplements (DFARS, GSAM, etc.) may add additional requirements beyond the base FAR.

• Where can I read the full text of FAR Part 19?

  The full text is available on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). You can also access it through acquisition.gov, which is maintained by the General Services Administration. Both sources reflect the most current version of the regulation.

• How does FAR Part 19 relate to contract clauses?

  FAR Part 19 establishes the substantive policies and procedures. The actual clause language that gets incorporated into contracts is found in FAR Part 52. Each clause in Part 52 includes a "prescription" that references the relevant policy part, creating a direct link between the requirement and its implementation in the contract.