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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 19: Small Business Programs › Subpart 19.8

FAR 19.813 Protesting an 8(a) participant's eligibility or size status.

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 who can and cannot challenge an 8(a) participant's eligibility or size status. It says that eligibility for 8(a) contracts cannot be protested by other 8(a) participants or any other party, and that size status for sole source 8(a) contracts also cannot be protested. However, size status for competitive 8(a) awards can be protested, but only by certain parties.

Applies to: 8(a) participants and parties involved in 8(a) contract awards

Key terms: 8(a) participant · eligibility · size status · sole source · competitive 8(a) awards

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

The text

(a) The eligibility of an 8(a) participant for a sole source or competitive 8(a) requirement may not be challenged by another 8(a) participant or any other party, either to SBA or any administrative forum as part of a bid or other contract protest (see 13 CFR 124.517).

(b) The size status of an 8(a) participant nominated for an 8(a) sole source contract may not be protested by another 8(a) participant or any other party.

(c) The size status of the apparent successful offeror for competitive 8(a) awards may be protested. The filing of a size status protest is limited to—

(1) Any offeror whom the contracting officer has not eliminated for reasons unrelated to size;

(2) The contracting officer; or

(3) The SBA District Director in either the district office serving the geographical area in which the contracting activity is located or the district office that services the apparent successful offeror, or the Associate Administrator for Business Development.

(d) Protests of competitive 8(a) awards shall follow the procedures at 19.302. For additional information, refer to 13 CFR 121.1001.

Sections it refers to

  • 19.302 Protesting a small business representation or rerepresentation.

← 19.812 Contract administration. · 19.814 Requesting a formal size determination (8(a) sole source requirements). →

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 19.813 Protesting an 8(a) participant's eligibility or size status · SpendQuery