FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 19: Small Business Programs › Subpart 19.7
FAR 19.706 Responsibilities of the cognizant administrative contracting officer.
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 outlines the responsibilities of the administrative contracting officer (ACO) in evaluating subcontracting plans and monitoring contractor performance. It requires the contract administration office to provide specific information and advice to support the contracting officer, including documentation on past performance, progress toward subcontracting goals, and immediate notice of any failures to meet commitments or comply in good faith. Contractors should be aware that their subcontracting efforts and compliance will be closely monitored and documented.
Applies to: Administrative contracting officers and contract administration offices
What it requires
- Assist in evaluating subcontracting plans
- Monitor, evaluate, and document contractor performance under the clause and any subcontracting plan
- Provide necessary information and advice to support the contracting officer
- Furnish documentation on contractor's performance and compliance with subcontracting plans under previous contracts
Key terms: administrative contracting officer · subcontracting plans · contractor performance · eligible small business · veteran-owned small business
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
The administrative contracting officer is responsible for assisting in evaluating subcontracting plans, and for monitoring, evaluating, and documenting contractor performance under the clause prescribed in 19.708(b) and any subcontracting plan included in the contract. The contract administration office shall provide the necessary information and advice to support the contracting officer, as appropriate, by furnishing—
(a) Documentation on the contractor's performance and compliance with subcontracting plans under previous contracts;
(b) Information on the extent to which the contractor is meeting the plan's goals for subcontracting with eligible small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns;
(c) Information on whether the contractor's efforts to ensure the participation of small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns are in accordance with its subcontracting plan;
(d) Information on whether the contractor is requiring its subcontractors to adopt similar subcontracting plans;
(e) Immediate notice if, during performance, the contractor is failing to meet its commitments under the clause prescribed in 19.708(b) or the subcontracting plan;
(f) Immediate notice and rationale if, during performance, the contractor is failing to comply in good faith with the subcontracting plan (see 19.705-7(b) for more information on the determination of good faith effort); and
(g) Immediate notice that performance under a contract is complete, that the goals were or were not met, and, if not met, whether there is any indication of a lack of a good faith effort to comply with the subcontracting plan.
← 19.705-7 Compliance with the subcontracting plan. · 19.707 The Small Business Administration's role in carrying out the program. →
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.