FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 19: Small Business Programs › Subpart 19.7
FAR 19.705-2 Determining the need for a subcontracting plan.
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 the contracting officer how to decide whether a proposed contract action needs a subcontracting plan. The officer must check if the total contract dollars will exceed the threshold in 19.702(a) and whether subcontracting possibilities exist. If no possibilities exist, a detailed rationale must be approved above the contracting officer and placed in the contract file.
Applies to: Contracting officers determining whether a proposed contractual action requires a subcontracting plan.
What it requires
- Determine whether the proposed total contract dollars will exceed the subcontracting plan threshold in 19.702(a).
- Determine whether a proposed modification will cause total contract dollars to exceed the threshold.
- Determine whether subcontracting possibilities exist by considering relevant factors.
- If no subcontracting possibilities exist, include a detailed rationale, get approval above the contracting officer, and place it in the contract file.
Key terms: subcontracting plan · subcontracting plan threshold · subcontracting possibilities · contracting officer · ISR
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
The contracting officer shall take the following actions to determine whether a proposed contractual action requires a subcontracting plan:
(a)(1) Determine whether the proposed total contract-dollars will exceed the subcontracting plan threshold in 19.702(a).
(2) Determine whether a proposed modification will cause the total contract dollars to exceed the subcontracting plan threshold (see 19.702(a)).
(b) Determine whether subcontracting possibilities exist by considering relevant factors such as—
(1) Whether firms engaged in the business of furnishing the types of items to be acquired customarily contract for performance of part of the work or maintain sufficient in-house capability to perform the work;
(2) Whether there are likely to be product prequalification requirements; and
(3) Whether the firm can acquire any portion of the work with minimal or no disruption to performance (with consideration given to the time remaining until contract completion), and at fair market value, when a determination is made in accordance with paragraph (a)(2).
(c) If it is determined that there are no subcontracting possibilities, the determination-shall include a detailed rationale, be approved at a level above the contracting officer, and placed in the contract file.
(d) In solicitations for negotiated acquisitions, the contracting officer may require the submission of subcontracting plans with initial offers, or at any other time prior to award. In determining when subcontracting plans should be required, as well as when and with whom plans should be negotiated, the contracting officer must consider the integrity of the competitive process, the goal of affording maximum practicable opportunity for small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns to participate, and the burden placed on offerors.
(e) A contract may not have more than one subcontracting plan. However, a contracting officer may establish separate subcontracting goals for each order under an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract (19.705-1(b)(2)). When a contract modification exceeds the subcontracting plan threshold (see 19.702(a)) or an option is exercised, the goals of an existing subcontracting plan shall be amended to reflect any new subcontracting opportunities not envisioned at the time of contract award. These goal changes do not apply retroactively.
(f) If a subcontracting plan has been added to the contract due to a modification (see 19.702(a)(1)(iii)) or a size rerepresentation (see 19.301-2(e)), the subcontracting goals apply from the date of incorporation of the subcontracting plan into the contract and the contractor's achievements must be reported on the ISR (or the SF-294, if applicable) on a cumulative basis from the date of incorporation of the subcontracting plan into the contract.
Sections it refers to
← 19.705-1 General. · 19.705-3 Preparing the solicitation. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Small Business Participation on Certain Multiple-Award Contracts ↗ · proposed 2025-06-12
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Small Business Participation on Certain Multiple-Award Contracts ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Subcontracting to Puerto Rican and Covered Territory Small Businesses ↗ · final rule 2025-01-03 · effective 2025-01-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Rerepresentation of Size and Socioeconomic Status ↗ · final rule 2025-01-03 · effective 2025-01-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Certification of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses ↗ · final rule 2024-12-16 · effective 2024-12-16
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
- Federal Acquisition Regulation; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2024-08-29 · effective 2024-09-30
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.