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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 19: Small Business Programs › Subpart 19.7

FAR 19.705-5 Awards involving subcontracting plans.

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 what to do when awarding a contract that requires a subcontracting plan. It matters to contractors because their past compliance with subcontracting plans is considered in the responsibility determination, and an acceptable plan must become a material part of the contract. For letter contracts and similar undefinitized instruments, at least a preliminary basic plan is required, with the final plan negotiated within 90 days after award or before definitization, whichever comes first.

Applies to: Contracting officers making awards that require a subcontracting plan, and contractors receiving such awards

What it requires

  • Consider the contractor's compliance with subcontracting plans on previous contracts as a factor in determining contractor responsibility
  • Assure that a subcontracting plan was submitted when required
  • Notify the SBA procurement center representative of the opportunity to review the proposed contract, plan, and supporting documentation
  • Determine any fee payable if an incentive is used with the subcontracting plan

Key terms: subcontracting plan · contracting officer · contractor responsibility · SBA procurement center representative · letter contracts

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

The text

(a) In making an award that requires a subcontracting plan, the contracting officer shall be responsible for the following:

(1) Consider the contractor's compliance with the subcontracting plans submitted on previous contracts as a factor in determining contractor responsibility.

(2) Assure that a subcontracting plan was submitted when required.

(3) Notify the SBA procurement center representative (or, if a procurement center representative is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) of the opportunity to review the proposed contract (including the plan and supporting documentation). The notice shall be issued in sufficient time to provide the representative a reasonable time to review the material and submit advisory recommendations to the contracting officer. Failure of the representative to respond in a reasonable period of time shall not delay contract award.

(4) Determine any fee that may be payable if an incentive is used in conjunction with the subcontracting plan.

(5) Ensure that an acceptable plan is incorporated into and made a material part of the contract.

(b) Letter contracts and similar undefinitized instruments, which would otherwise meet the requirements of 19.702(a)(1)(i) and (ii), shall contain at least a preliminary basic plan addressing the requirements of 19.704 and in such cases require the negotiation of the final plan within 90 days after award or before definitization, whichever occurs first.

Sections it refers to

  • 19.402 Small Business Administration procurement center representatives.
  • 19.702 Statutory requirements.
  • 19.704 Subcontracting plan requirements.

← 19.705-4 Reviewing the subcontracting plan. · 19.705-6 Postaward responsibilities of the contracting officer. →

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 19.705-5 Awards involving subcontracting plans · SpendQuery