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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 19: Small Business Programs › Subpart 19.6

FAR 19.602-4 Awarding the contract.

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 what a contracting officer must do when a small business's responsibility is questioned and the matter is referred to the SBA. If the SBA issues a Certificate of Competency (COC), the contracting officer must award the contract to that firm, and the COC is conclusive on all responsibility elements. If the SBA does not issue a COC within 15 business days (or an agreed longer period), the contracting officer must proceed with award to another offeror.

Applies to: Contracting officers and small business concerns whose responsibility is referred to the SBA

What it requires

  • Reverse the nonresponsibility determination, notify SBA, withdraw the referral, and proceed to award if new information shows the concern is responsible and no award has been made under paragraph (c).
  • Award the contract to the concern if SBA issues a COC after receiving the referral.
  • Proceed with the acquisition and award to another responsible offeror if SBA has not issued a COC within 15 business days (or a longer agreed period) after receiving the referral.

Key terms: COC · Certificate of Competency · SBA · responsibility · nonresponsibility

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

The text

(a) If new information causes the contracting officer to determine that the concern referred to the SBA is actually responsible to perform the contract, and award has not already been made under paragraph (c) below, the contracting officer shall reverse the determination of nonresponsibility, notify the SBA of this action, withdraw the referral, and proceed to award the contract.

(b) The contracting officer shall award the contract to the concern in question if the SBA issues a COC after receiving the referral. An SBA-certified concern shall not be required to meet any other requirements of responsibility. SBA COC's are conclusive with respect to all elements of responsibility of prospective small business contractors. Where SBA issues a COC, the contracting officer may decide not to award to that offeror for reasons unrelated to responsibility.

(c) The contracting officer shall proceed with the acquisition and award the contract to another appropriately selected and responsible offeror if the SBA has not issued a COC within 15 business days (or a longer period of time agreed to with the SBA) after receiving the referral.

← 19.602-3 Resolving differences between the agency and the Small Business Administration. · 19.701 Definitions. →

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 19.602-4 Awarding the contract · SpendQuery