FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 19: Small Business Programs

FAR 19.001 Definitions.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This section defines key terms used in FAR Part 19, which governs small business programs. It explains what a 'concern' is, how 'fair market price' is determined, what 'industry' means, and who qualifies as a 'similarly situated entity' for subcontracting purposes. These definitions matter because they determine eligibility and compliance under small business contracting rules.

Applies to: Small business contractors and subcontractors under FAR Part 19

Key terms: Concern · Fair market price · Industry · Similarly situated entity · NAICS

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

As used in this part—

Concern means any business entity organized for profit (even if its ownership is in the hands of a nonprofit entity) with a place of business located in the United States or its outlying areas and that makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes and/or use of American products, material and/or labor, etc. “Concern” includes but is not limited to an individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, association, or cooperative. For more information, see 13 CFR 121.105.

Fair market price means a price based on reasonable costs under normal competitive conditions and not on lowest possible cost (see 19.202-6).

Industry means all concerns primarily engaged in similar lines of activity, as listed and described in the North American Industry Classification system (NAICS) manual.

Similarly situated entity means a first-tier subcontractor, including an independent contractor, that—

(1) Has the same small business program status as that which qualified the prime contractor for the award (e.g., for a small business set-aside contract, any small business concern, without regard to socioeconomic status); and (2) Is considered small for the size standard under the NAICS code the prime contractor assigned to the subcontract.

Sections it refers to

  • 19.202-6 Determination of fair market price.

Sections that refer to it

  • 9.104-3 Application of standards.
  • 9.701 Definition.
  • 19.000 Scope of part.
  • 19.703 Eligibility requirements for participating in the program.

← 19.000 Scope of part. · 19.101 [Reserved] →

Rule changes for FAR Part 19

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 19.001 Definitions · SpendQuery