(a)  When the contracting officer calculates the applicable threshold, consider the actual or estimated value of the contract for the entire term of the contract, including any option period(s). This also applies to schedule contracts and other indefinite delivery type contracts. Consider the estimated value of all orders expected to be placed during the term plus all options.

(b) FAR 19.705-2(d) permits the contracting officer to require submission of subcontracting plans with initial offers under a negotiated acquisition. The contracting officer must require all offerors (other than small business concerns) to submit subcontracting plans with their initial offers when a negotiated acquisition meets all conditions:

(1)  The contracting officer anticipates receiving individual subcontracting plans (not commercial plans).

(2) The contracting officer will award on the basis of trade-offs among cost or price and technical and/or management factors under FAR 15.101-1.

(3)  The acquisition is not a commercial product or commercial service acquisition.

(4)  The acquisition offers more than minimal subcontracting opportunities.

(5)  An offeror’s subcontracting plan is identified as an evaluation factor in the solicitation.

(c) Nothing in paragraph (b) above limits the contracting officer’s ability to request subcontracting plans with initial offers under other negotiated acquisitions when he or she decides such action is appropriate under FAR 19.705-2(d). For example, such action may be appropriate for multiple award schedules where GSA may have responsibility for negotiating commercial plans.

(d)  Notify the AA OSDBU after receipt of offers if the contracting officer determines that an apparent successful offeror’s proposal has no subcontracting opportunities.

(1)  Coordinate the notice through the contracting officer's SBTA.

(2)  Include justification documenting the rationale behind a determination of no subcontracting opportunities. The contracting officer may use the justification provided by the apparent successful offeror

(3)  Obtain AA OSDBU concurrence on the determination prior to contract award.

(a)  If an acquisition, excluding any multiple award schedule contract, will cover two or more Regions and is estimated to exceed $50 million (including options):

(1)  In addition to the SBA PCR, the contracting officer shall provide the SBTA and OSDBU a reasonable period of time (approximately 10 days) to review any solicitation requiring submission of a subcontracting plan and to submit advisory findings before issuing the solicitation. The contracting officer shall ensure that evaluation criteria contained in the solicitation do not unnecessarily limit subcontracting opportunities for small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns.

(2)  For a negotiated acquisition, if the contracting officer believes that the acquisition provides substantial subcontracting opportunities, consider including the offeror’s subcontracting plan as an evaluation factor for award. This may be most appropriate in acquisitions when the contracting officer expects individual plans or master plans. The contracting officer should consult with his or her SBTA or regional SBUC to obtain any needed assistance with developing subcontracting plan evaluation criteria before incorporating the plan into the solicitation as an evaluation factor.

Target goals in sealed bidding

(b)  Unrealistic target goals tend to inhibit competition or increase acquisition costs if goals are too high. Target goals that offer no challenge to potential contractors reflect poorly on GSA’s commitment to ensure maximum practicable use of small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns as subcontractors.

(c)  In establishing target goals for sealed bid solicitations, the contracting officer should avoid using mechanical formulas or similar approaches that may be considered arbitrary. Reviewing historical performance by contractors performing similar work is valid, but the contracting officer should consider each solicitation independently in terms of the potential for subcontracting. Use as many information sources as practical, including the contracting officer’s own knowledge of the supplies or services. Factors to consider in setting targets include:

(1)  Manufacturing processes involved.

(2)  Availability and location of potential subcontractors.

(3)  The basis for establishing subcontracting relationships.

(4)  The diversity in prevailing economic conditions in the place of contract performance.

(d)  If the contracting officer cannot establish realistic target goals, do not state specific targets in the solicitation.

(1)  Establishing realistic target goals is likely to be a problem in contracting for supplies because the place of contract performance may not be known prior to contract award.

(2)  Even if the contracting officer can predict the area of contract performance because a particular industry is concentrated there, the diversity of manufacturing processes may affect the amount of subcontracting and how subcontracting relationships are established. For example, some manufacturers may use formal teaming arrangements or long term relationships versus nonrepetitive purchase orders.

(a)  The contracting officer should provide offerors a model subcontracting plan when determined appropriate, e.g., when it may facilitate evaluation or negotiation. The contracting officer may use the model plan available on OSBU's website at https://insite.gsa.gov/organizations/staff-offices/office-of-small-business-utilization-osbu. Include the following notice on the transmittal, if providing a model in response to a single request, or in the solicitation, if including it as an attachment:

Notice to Offerors: “GSA provides this model plan as a tool. The contracting officer must adapt this model plan to fit the subcontracting situation. The plan is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form and the contracting officer must remove instructional language. This model does not establish minimum requirements for an acceptable plan. The model reflects objectives GSA encourages contractors to adopt. GSA expects offerors to thoroughly review the requirements set forth in FAR 19.704, Subcontracting Plan Requirements and FAR Clause 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan before submitting their subcontracting plans.”

(b)  Performance under other contracts is an indicator of an offeror’s understanding of the reasons for the law and benefits of the program.

(1)  If an offeror prepared a subcontracting plan for another contract, the contracting officer should contact the contracting officer responsible for administering the earlier plan to determine if the offeror met the plan’s objectives and submitted required reports in a timely manner.

(2)  The contracting officer shall consider overall compliance in the evaluation, not just whether or not the offeror met the goals established in the plan.

(3)  Submission of timely reports is an indication the offeror takes its responsibilities seriously.

(c)  The contracting officer shall use the Subcontracting Plan Evaluation Checklist available on OSBU's website at https://insite.gsa.gov/organizations/staff-offices/office-of-small-business-utilization-osbu. and GSAM 519.7 to evaluate an offeror's subcontracting plan.

(1)  Remember that a positive goal is required to establish a gauge for measuring results and to provide an incentive for continuing efforts to increase the dollar value of subcontracts placed with small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns. Carefully scrutinize any subcontracting category (e.g., small business, HUBZone small business, etc.) where the offeror does not specify a goal and accept it only after assuring that no subcontracting opportunities exist. If any category with no goal is accepted, the contracting officer must:

(i)  Document the file explaining why the goal was accepted; and

(ii)  Ensure the subcontracting plan includes an assurance that the contractor will make every effort to continue seeking subcontracting opportunities in the category that lacks a goal.

(2)  One measure of the adequacy of a subcontracting plan is that it provides a challenge to the offeror and then builds upon previous achievements in subsequent contracts.

(3)  Include in the contract file a basis for determining the subcontracting plan’s acceptability.

(d)  A contracting officer cannot tell the offeror what its goals must be. The contracting officer may tell the offeror what GSA’s national goals are. Ensure that an offeror’s subcontracting plan reflects realistic goals and provides the maximum opportunity practicable to small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns to participate as subcontractors. If necessary, obtain information from the offeror to substantiate the offeror’s proposed goals, past performance with respect to subcontracting, and the proposed good faith effort. This information may include the names of proposed subcontractors and other such data.

(e)  When a contracting officer receives a subcontracting plan with initial offers, provide an opportunity for the SBTA to review the subcontracting plans of those offers in the competitive range. Allow the SBTA 5 workdays for review. Consider the SBTA’s comments in developing a negotiation strategy.

Negotiating Goals and Other Aspects of Plans

(f) For complex or large dollar value procurements, when an offeror proposes miniscule or minimally acceptable goals for small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns, the contracting officer shall ensure that the offeror has included all subcontracts that contribute to contract performance (see FAR 52.219-9(d)(1)).

(g)  The contracting officer shall develop a strategy for negotiating the subcontracting plan and goals just as you would for negotiating a contract. Be forceful in negotiating the subcontracting plan and, whenever possible, offer recommendations for subcontracting potential with small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns. The contracting officer should suggest organizations the offeror may contact to identify potential sources. For example, offerors may contact any of the following:

(1)  Local SBA offices. These can provide an offeror assistance in accessing the System for Award Management (SAM) ( https://www.sam.gov) database to conduct market research and confirm the eligibility for SBA’s procurement preference programs.

(2)  Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agencies (MBDAs) at https://www.mbda.gov.

(3)  GSA SBUCs and SBTAs, as well as OSDBU.

(4)  State, county, and city government minority business offices.

(5)  Small, minority, women-owned, and veteran business associations at https://www.gsa.gov/smallbusiness.

(6)  Local chambers of commerce.

(7)  Trade associations, professional organizations, and Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.

(8)  Department of Veterans Affairs for assistance in identifying Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) at https://www.va.gov/osdbu/.

(9)  Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) at http://dsbs.sba.gov.

(h) In developing a negotiation strategy, the contracting officer shall consider whether the offeror’s plan is realistic and does more than merely restate the elements required by FAR clause 52.219-9 and shall question aspects of the plan that do not appear to be realistic or do not demonstrate a serious attempt to address requirements.

Commercial plans

(i)  Contracting officers shall obtain from the contractor copies of any commercial plan for the company’s current fiscal year and approval document from another GSA contracting activity or another Federal agency. Incorporate these documents into the contract.

(j)  If GSA is the first agency to enter into a contract with a company during the company’s fiscal year, the contracting officer must approve the commercial plan on behalf of the Federal Government, acknowledge receipt of the Summary Subcontract Report (SSR), accept or reject the SSR in the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS), and evaluate compliance with the approved commercial plan. If contract administration is delegated, the Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) generally is assigned responsibility for accepting or rejecting the SSR and evaluating compliance with the approved commercial plan. Subsequent GSA contracts awarded during the company’s same fiscal year and incorporating the previously approved commercial plan will only require the submission of the Summary Subcontract Report submitted at the end of the Government’s fiscal year.

(k)  If the commercial plan was approved by another agency, the first GSA contracting officer entering into a contract with the company during the company’s same fiscal year in which the plan was approved, requires the contractor to submit the SSR report and monitors receipt of the report. GSA requires no other monitoring or evaluation of this plan.

(a)  Subcontracting plans requiring SBTA and SBA PCR review.

(1)  For each contract that requires a subcontracting plan, the contracting officer will submit electronically the apparent successful offeror’s subcontracting plan to the SBTA who will coordinate review by the SBA PCR. When the contracting officer makes multiple awards under a solicitation, electronically submit the subcontracting plans of all apparent successful offerors.

(i)  Except as noted in paragraph (b) of this section, provide the SBTA an electronic copy of the plan at least 5 workdays before the anticipated award date.

(ii)  Consider any recommendations the SBTA or SBA PCR provides about whether to accept or reject a subcontracting plan. In the case of an unresolved disagreement, notify the AA OSDBU and consider any subsequent advice the AA OSDBU provides. Document the final decision in the contract file.

(iii) If the contracting officer does not receive review comments from the SBTA within 5 workdays, the contracting officer shall document the file and continue with the award process (see FAR 19.705-5(a)(3)).

(b)  Subcontracting plans requiring AA OSDBU review.

(1)  The AA OSDBU (through the contracting officer’s designated SBTA or Regional SBUC) will review the SBTA’s and SBA PCR’s recommendations for contracts that meet either of these conditions:

(i)  Contract performance will occur in two or more Regions and the estimated value of the acquisition exceeds $50 million (including options), excluding multiple award schedule contracts.

(ii)  Based on political sensitivity or importance to GSA, the AA OSDBU designates the procurement for review.

(2)  The contracting officer shall provide the SBTA an electronic copy of the plan at least 10 days before the anticipated award date. The SBTA and SBA PCR have 5 workdays to review and comment on the plan, and the AA OSDBU (through the contracting officer’s designated SBTA or Regional SBUC) has 5 workdays to review their recommendations and respond. All reviews must be completed in 10 workdays unless the contracting officer grants an extension.

(3)  The contracting officer shall consider any recommendations the SBTA, SBA PCR, or AA OSDBU provides about whether to accept or reject a subcontracting plan. Document the final decision in the contract file.

(4) If the contracting officer does not receive review comments from the SBTA (inclusive of AA OSDBU review) within 10 workdays, the contracting officer shall document the file and continue with the award process (see FAR 19.705-5(a)(3)).

(c)  Notification letter for individual subcontracting plans.

(1)  The contracting officer shall approve the subcontracting plan as part of the award. After approval of an individual subcontracting plan, using FORMAT A in paragraph (c) of this section, the contracting officer shall electronically send a notification letter to the contractor confirming the subcontracting plan effective dates and when a new or updated plan will be required. The contracting officer shall also inform the contractor of the reporting requirements and due dates for submitting their Individual Subcontract Report (ISR) and Summary Subcontract Report (SSR) through the eSRS.

(2)  The contracting officer shall send the letter electronically with the award package or as soon as practicable after award.

FORMAT A

Name Address City, State, Zip Code

Re: Approved Subcontracting Plan and Required Reports for Contract

No. _______________:

Dear _________________:

Your individual subcontracting plan submitted for the subject contract has been approved for the base period [insert MM/DD/YY through MM/DD/YY] with goals that are subject to revision for each remaining option period (if any).

You must submit subcontracting reports through the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System ( https://www.esrs.gov/) using the Individual Summary Report (semi-annually) and the Summary Subcontract Report (annually).

Use the Individual Summary Report (ISR) to report cumulative subcontracting activity under this contract. Submit the report semiannually by April 30 for the reporting period October 1-March 31 and by October 30 for the reporting period April 1-September 30. A separate report is required at contract completion. If requested by the Contracting Officer, you must furnish the name and size status of your subcontractor(s), and the dollar amount of the subcontract(s).

Use the Summary Subcontract Report (SSR) to report total subcontracting activity under all of your GSA contracts. Submit the report annually for the period October 1-September 30 (the Government fiscal year). The report is due on or before October 30th of each year. A new reporting cycle begins October 1st of each year. Include the Contracting Officer (CO), Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO), the Small Business Administration (SBA) Commercial Market Representative (CMR), the Small Business Technical Advisor (SBTA), and GSA's Subcontracting Plan Program Manager in the email distribution when submitting the ISR and SSR via eSRS.

[Insert address of contracting office administering the contract], with a copy to: [insert address of SBTA in Region or Central Office service where contract was awarded].

(d) Notification letter for commercial plans.

(1)  The contracting officer shall approve the commercial plan as part of the award. After approval of a commercial plan, using FORMAT B in paragraph (d) of this section, electronically send a notification letter to the contractor informing them of requirements and due dates for submitting the SSR via eSRS and confirm the subcontracting plan effective dates and when a new or updated plan will be required.

(2)  Send the letter with the award package or as soon as practicable after award.

FORMAT B

Name Address City, State, Zip Code

Re: Approved Subcontracting Plan and Required Reports for Contract

No. _______________:

Dear _________________:

Your commercial plan, submitted in connection with the subject contract has been approved for the period of [insert MM/DD/YY through MM/DD/YY], by [insert name, address, and telephone number of approving official]. You must submit your Summary Subcontract Report (SSR) via eSRS. The SSR is an annual report due on or before October 30th of each year. The reporting period is October 1-September 30, i.e., the Government fiscal year. The report should summarize subcontracting activity under all contracts awarded during the current fiscal year that are covered by this commercial plan.

If at any time during contract performance you are unable to identify capable small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, women-owned small, veteran-owned small and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns, please contact your local Small Business Technical Advisor or the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

In addition, please include the SBA Commercial Market Representative (CMR) in the email distribution on the SSR in eSRS, [insert email address of contracting office administering the contract].

Sincerely,

Contracting Officer.

In addition to responsibilities described in FAR 19.705-6, the contracting officer must give the SBA Area Director, SBTA and OSDBU a copy of the notice of award and the successful offeror’s subcontracting plan within five work days of contract award or contract modification when applicable. The notice of award must contain all the following:

(a)  Contractor’s name, address, and phone number.

(b)  Subcontracting plan administrator’s name, address, and phone number.

(c)  Contract number.

(d)  Place of performance.

(e)  Dollar amount of contract award.

(f)  Period of contract performance.

(g)  Description of products/services (including FPDS Product/Service Code).

(h)  Contracting Officer’s name, address, and phone number.

(i)  Administrative contracting office address and phone number.

(j)  Type of plan and dates that plan will cover.

(k)  Approved goals stated both as percentages of total subcontracting planned and in dollars.

(l)  A notation, “Awarded under the Energy Policy Act of 1992”, if the contract will be used to measure GSA achievements under Section 3021 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

(a) Initial assessment. The contracting officer shall provide the SBTA an information copy of his or her initial assessment that the contractor did not make a good faith effort to comply with the plan.

(b) Final decision. Before making a final decision, the contracting officer shall consider all pertinent available information including the contractor’s response, if any, to the contracting officer’s notification letter required by FAR 19.705-7 that the contractor did not comply with the plan. Document the contracting officer’s decision in a “final decision”, which is appealable by the contractor under the “Disputes” clause of the contract. Provide the SBTA a copy of the contracting officer’s final decision assessing liquidated damages. In addition to the FAR provisions, include in the final decision letter:

(1)  A description of the contractor’s failure.

(2)  Reference to the appropriate contract terms.

(3)  A statement of the factual areas of agreement and disagreement.

(4)  A statement of the contracting officer’s decision with supporting rationale.

(5)  A demand for liquidated damages.

(6)  An explanation of the contractor’s appeal rights.

(c) Funds withheld from payments. If funds to collect liquidated damages are withheld from payments due, the funds may be returned to the applicable GSA account along with other funds that were obligated but not expended. If a commercial plan is involved, or if all payments have been made under a contract with an individual contract plan, instruct the contractor to submit a check to GSA. The GSA Office of Finance will transfer the funds to the Treasury Department for deposit in the general receipts account.

(d)  The contracting officer shall submit to the SBTA his or her final decision assessing liquidated damages.