FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 19: Small Business Programs › Subpart 19.8
FAR 19.815 Release and notification requirements for non-8(a) procurement.
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 when a requirement that was accepted into the 8(a) program can be released for a follow-on procurement outside the program. It requires the contracting officer to get SBA concurrence or provide written notice in certain cases, which matters to contractors because it affects whether an 8(a) incumbent can keep the work or whether it may be competed outside the program.
Applies to: Contracting officers handling follow-on requirements to 8(a) contracts
What it requires
- For release from the 8(a) program for a follow-on non-8(a) procurement, the contracting officer shall make a written request to and receive concurrence from the SBA Associate Administrator for Business Development.
- The written request shall indicate whether the agency has achieved its small disadvantaged business goal, its HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, or small business goal(s), and whether the requirement is critical to the business development of the current 8(a) contractor.
- When deciding a requirement is new and not a follow-on, the contracting officer shall coordinate with and submit written notice to the SBA District Office servicing the 8(a) incumbent firm and to the SBA procurement center representative.
- When using a mandatory source for a follow-on, the contracting officer should submit written notice to the SBA Associate Administrator for Business Development at least 30 days prior to the end of the contract or order.
Key terms: follow-on requirements · 8(a) program · SBA Associate Administrator for Business Development · mandatory source · procurement center representative
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) Once a requirement has been accepted by SBA into the 8(a) program, any follow-on requirements (see definition at 13 CFR 124.3) shall remain in the 8(a) program unless—
(1) SBA agrees to release the requirement from the 8(a) program for a follow-on, non-8(a) procurement in accordance with 13 CFR 124.504(d) (see paragraph (b) of this section); or
(2) There is a mandatory source (see 8.002 or 8.003; also see paragraph (f) of this section).
(b) To obtain release of a requirement for a follow-on, non-8(a) procurement, (other than a mandatory source listed at 8.002 or 8.003), the contracting officer shall make a written request to, and receive concurrence from, the SBA Associate Administrator for Business Development.
(c)(1) The written request to the SBA Associate Administrator for Business Development shall indicate—
(i) Whether the agency has achieved its small disadvantaged business goal;
(ii) Whether the agency has achieved its HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, or small business goal(s); and
(iii) Whether the requirement is critical to the business development of the 8(a) contractor that is currently performing the requirement.
(2) Generally, a requirement that was previously accepted into the 8(a) program will only be released for procurements outside the 8(a) program when the contracting activity agency agrees to set aside the requirement under the small business, HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB programs.
(3) The requirement that a follow-on procurement must be released from the 8(a) program in order for it to be fulfilled outside the 8(a) program does not apply to task or delivery orders offered to and accepted into the 8(a) program, where the basic contract was not accepted into the 8(a) program.
(d)(1) When a contracting officer decides that a requirement previously procured under the 8(a) program is a new requirement and not a follow-on requirement to an 8(a) contract(s), the contracting officer shall coordinate with and submit a written notice to the SBA District Office servicing the 8(a) incumbent firm and to the SBA procurement center representative (or, if a procurement center representative is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) indicating that the agency intends to procure the requirement outside the 8(a) program (see 19.810(a)(4)).
(2) The written notice shall include a copy of the acquisition plan, if available; the performance work statement (PWS), statement of work (SOW), or statement of objectives (SOO) for the new contract requirement; and the values of the existing 8(a) contract(s) and the new contract requirement.
(e)(1) When a contracting officer decides to procure a follow-on requirement to an 8(a) contract using an existing, limited competition contracting vehicle that is not available to all 8(a) participants, and the current or previous 8(a) contract was available to all 8(a) participants, the contracting officer shall coordinate with and submit a written notice to the SBA District Office servicing the 8(a) incumbent firm and to the SBA procurement center representative (or, if a procurement center representative is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) indicating the intent to do so.
(2) The written notice shall include a copy of the acquisition plan, if available; the PWS, SOW, or SOO for the new contract requirement; and the values of both contracts.
(f)(1) When a mandatory source will be used for a follow-on requirement to an 8(a) contract, the contracting officer should submit a written notice to the SBA Associate Administrator for Business Development of the intent to do so at least 30 days prior to the end of the contract or order in accordance with 13 CFR 124.504(d)(4)(ii).
(2) The written notice should include a written determination that a mandatory source will be used to fulfill the requirement.
Sections it refers to
Sections that refer to it
- 19.810 SBA appeals.
← 19.814 Requesting a formal size determination (8(a) sole source requirements). · 19.816 Exiting the 8(a) 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.