Release of revised FAR Part 19 (Small Business) Rewrite

Regulations & Compliance
1

FAR 19
FAR 191536×1024 352 KB

The FAR Council has released the long‑anticipated rewrite of FAR Part 19, now titled “Small Business.” While core small business policy remains, the new version reorganizes the structure, streamlines provisions (cutting ~12,000 words), and removes a formal preference for socioeconomic categories (though those programs remain). Importantly, the Rule of Two is preserved.

As part of the broader FAR “Restoring Common Sense” overhaul, the FAR Council and SBA announced a substantial revision to FAR Part 19, streamlining rules, reducing duplicative requirements, and clarifying small business participation (set‑asides, 8(a), socioeconomic programs).

  1. As a small business prime or subcontractor, which changes in the new Part 19 affect your eligibility, teaming, or protest strategy?
  2. Does removing the formal preference for socioeconomic categories reduce risk or create ambiguity?
  3. How will you revisit your small business compliance and narrative under this new structure?
2 Likes
2

Great questions @Shawn

Rule of two has not been preserved at the task order level, even though it has been preserved at master contract level.

I am more closely looking at the 8a sole source rule that has been changed to competition first; where if an acquisition is below the competitive threshold, COs must first try conducting the acquisition as a competitive 8(a) order using SBA-approved government-wide contracts before proceeding with a sole source 8(a) award.