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

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

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 explains how an agency can set aside a whole class of future acquisitions for small business, rather than deciding one buy at a time. It matters because it means upcoming work in a covered category may be reserved for small business, and the contracting officer must keep reviewing those buys for changed conditions.

Applies to: Contracting officers and small business concerns bidding on covered classes of acquisitions

What it requires

  • Put each class small business set-aside determination in writing
  • Specifically identify the product(s) and service(s) the set-aside covers
  • State that the set-aside does not apply to any acquisition automatically under 19.502-2(a)
  • State that the set-aside applies only to the named contracting office(s) making the determination

Key terms: class of acquisitions · small business set-aside · unilateral or joint · partial class set-aside · SBA PCR

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

The text

(a) A class of acquisitions of selected products or services, or a portion of the acquisitions, may be set aside for exclusive participation by small business concerns if individual acquisitions in the class will meet the criteria in 19.502-1, 19.502-2, or 19.502-3(a). The determination to make a class small business set-aside shall not depend on the existence of a current acquisition if future acquisitions can be clearly foreseen.

(b) The determination to set aside a class of acquisitions for small business may be either unilateral or joint.

(c) Each class small business set-aside determination shall be in writing and must—

(1) Specifically identify the product(s) and service(s) it covers;

(2) Provide that the set aside does not apply to any acquisition automatically under 19.502-2(a).

(3) Provide that the set-aside applies only to the (named) contracting office(s) making the determination; and

(4) Provide that the set-aside does not apply to any individual acquisition if the requirement is not severable into two or more economic production runs or reasonable lots, in the case of a partial class set-aside.

(d) The contracting officer shall review each individual acquisition arising under a class small business set-aside to identify any changes in the magnitude of requirements, specifications, delivery requirements, or competitive market conditions that have occurred since the initial approval of the class small business set-aside. If there are any changes of such a material nature as to result in probable payment of more than a fair market price by the Government or in a change in the capability of small business concerns to satisfy the requirements, the contracting officer may withdraw or modify (see 19.502-9(a)) the unilateral or joint set-aside by giving written notice to the SBA PCR (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) stating the reasons.

Sections it refers to

  • 19.502-1 Requirements for setting aside acquisitions.
  • 19.502-2 Total small business set-asides.
  • 19.502-3 Partial set-asides of contracts other than multiple-award contracts.
  • 19.502-9 Withdrawing or modifying small business set-asides.
  • 19.402 Small Business Administration procurement center representatives.

← 19.502-5 Insufficient reasons for not setting aside an acquisition. · 19.502-7 Inclusion of Federal Prison Industries, Inc. →

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 19.502-6 Setting aside a class of acquisitions for small business · SpendQuery