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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 19: Small Business Programs › Subpart 19.5

FAR 19.502-1 Requirements for setting aside acquisitions.

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 tells contracting officers when they must set aside an acquisition for competition among small businesses. It applies when doing so supports national defense or a fair share of contracts going to small business, and certain other conditions exist. It does not apply to micro-purchases or purchases from required sources under Part 8.

Applies to: Contracting officers setting aside acquisitions for small business competition

What it requires

  • Set aside an individual acquisition or class of acquisitions for small business competition when the stated conditions are met

Key terms: set aside · small businesses · micro-purchase threshold · required sources · class of acquisitions

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

The text

(a) The contracting officer shall set aside an individual acquisition or class of acquisitions for competition among small businesses when—

(1) It is determined to be in the interest of maintaining or mobilizing the Nation's full productive capacity, war or national defense programs; or

(2) Assuring that a fair proportion of Government contracts in each industry is placed with small business concerns; and the circumstances described in 19.502-2 or 19.502-3(a) exist.

(b) The requirement in paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold, or purchases from required sources under part 8 (e.g., Committee for Purchase From People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled).

Sections it refers to

  • 19.502-2 Total small business set-asides.
  • 19.502-3 Partial set-asides of contracts other than multiple-award contracts.

Sections that refer to it

  • 19.502-6 Setting aside a class of acquisitions for small business.

← 19.502 Setting aside acquisitions. · 19.502-2 Total small business set-asides. →

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 19.502-1 Requirements for setting aside acquisitions · SpendQuery