(c)(8) At those contracting activities where the Small Business Administration (SBA) has assigned a procurement center representative (PCR), a small business professional serves as the designated small business technical advisor. The Contracting officer’s Representative (COR), or primary technical point of contact for the requirement when a COR is not required, shall assist the PCR and address technical aspects of the acquisition when requested by the small business professional.

(10)(B)(i) The Contracting officer shall prepare and submit the DD Form 2579 and supporting documentation to the assigned small business specialist for all acquisitions above the micro-purchase threshold except Phase I or Phase II acquisitions for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The DD Form 2579 shall include the small business specialist’s recommendation for actions including, but not limited to: all Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) parts 13, 14, and 15 actions, all orders placed against FAR 8.405-3 blanket purchase agreements, General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule orders, and all delivery and task orders under multiple award, indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts. Neither small business coordination nor a DD Form 2579 is required when the contracting office complies with the small business reservation under the simplified acquisition threshold at FAR 19.502-2(a). The Virtual Contracting Enterprise (VCE)-2579, DD2579 Small Business Coordination module) shall be used for all DD Form 2579 submissions. The original DD Form 2579 shall remain in the VCE Paperless Contract File (PCF) with a copy furnished to the SBA PCR and the activity small business specialist. The DD Form 2579 shall be approved by all parties including the SBA PCR when required, prior to issuing a solicitation or notice of proposed contract action.

(ii) VCE-2579 automatically assigns a Control Number for each DD Form 2579. The small business specialist must review and sign to their concurrence/non-concurrence on the DD Form 2579. If the SBA PCR lacks the necessary security clearance to review the DD Form 2579, the Contracting officer shall contact the SBA office serving the area where the contracting office is located for assistance.

(iii) The DD Form 2579 must be made available only to personnel who have a “need to know” until the contract is awarded. Copies distributed outside the Army, including SBA PCR coordination, must be marked “Controlled Unclassified Information.”

(1) If circumstances dictate consolidation, the Contracting officer must obtain from the program manager or requiring activity written justification supporting the consolidated action. The HCA must determine that a consolidated requirement cannot be placed under one of the preference programs prior to release of the solicitation. See Appendix GG for further delegation.

(2) When the acquisition strategy contemplates full and open competition for multiple award, IDIQ contracts, the Contracting officer shall insert language in the solicitation that allows for requirements to be set aside (totally or partially) for small businesses. Additionally, the Contracting officer has the discretion to set aside all task or delivery order requirements for small businesses where two or more small businesses hold IDIQ contracts. Contracting officers shall document why the rule of two cannot be applied to the available small business awardees prior to soliciting to the entire awardee pool, seek approval one level above the Contracting officer, and submit supporting documentation to the small business specialist and PCR during small business coordination.

(c) The contract file must document the release of an 8(a) commitment in accordance with FAR 19.203(c). The Contracting officer shall provide a copy of all documentation releasing the 8(a) commitment to the small business specialist.