Subpart 5119.7 - The Small Business Subcontracting Program

(d) When FAR 19.705-2(d) applies, Contracting officers shall include a notice in Section L or the Instruction to Offerors section of the solicitation to instruct offerors classified as an other than small business when to submit subcontracting plans, whether with their initial proposals or at another time prior to award as determined by the Contracting officer. For information on small business participation proposals, see AFARS 5115.304, Evaluation factors and significant subfactors.

(d)(i) Contracting officers shall, with the participation of the small business specialist –

(A) Adhere to the requirements in FAR 19.705-4 and DFARS 219.705-4 and use the guidance prescribed in AFARS Appendix DD, Subcontracting Plan Evaluation Guide, AFARS Appendix AA, Army Source Selection Supplement, and the DoD Subcontracting Program – Business Rules and Processes (referenced at DFARS PGI 219.705-6(f)) to review all subcontracting plans, except for commercial plans that have been approved by the Government;

(B) Ensure separate statements and goals are provided for the basic contract and, if applicable, each option;

(C) Identify those areas where the plan is deficient and clarify with the offeror in an attempt to correct omissions; and

(D) Ensure that, if there is a commercial plan, it has been approved in accordance with FAR 19.704(d). If it is not been previously approved, follow the DoD Subcontracting Program – Business Rules and Processes to review the commercial plan.

(ii) Plans are not acceptable if they do not adequately address the subcontracting plan requirements at FAR 19.704, DFARS 219.704, and AFARSAppendix DD. If the plan is still rated unacceptable after clarifications or discussions, the offeror shall be ineligible for contract award.

Subject to the concurrence of the chief of the contracting office and the agreement of the receiving individual’s chain of command, the Contracting officer may delegate the duties in FAR 19.705-6 and supplements to another individual. The delegation must be in writing, include the scope of duties delegated, and signed by management officials from the contracting activity and authorized management officials from the supporting organization.

(f)(2) In addition to following the FAR subpart 19.7 and DFARS subpart 219.7 requirements, Contracting officers shall use the DoD Subcontracting Program – Business Rules and Processes and its appendices to review the appropriate subcontracting report submitted by the contractor in the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS). The DoD Subcontracting Program – Business Rules and Processes serves as guidance on the business rules and processes for the eSRS, including the various roles and responsibilities of DoD and industry personnel; it provides checklists and detailed explanation on subcontracting plans; and it provides information on reviewing the related subcontract reports submitted under various types of subcontract plans. Contracting officers should pay particular attention to the guidance contained in Appendix D, Guide to Preparing and Reviewing an Individual Subcontract Report (ISR) for an Individual Subcontracting Plan; Appendix E, Guide for Preparing and Reviewing a Summary Subcontract Report (SSR) for an Individual Subcontracting Plan; and Appendix F, Guide for Preparing and Reviewing a Summary Subcontract Report (SSR) for a Commercial Subcontracting Plan.

(g)(1) The contractor’s explanation and mitigation plan should demonstrate its good faith effort in meeting the subcontracting goals, and the contractor’s effort or lack of effort should be assessed annually in the Contract Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).