FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 219: Small Business Programs › Subpart 219.8
DFARS 219.800 General.
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 that the SBA has delegated to the DoD the authority to enter into and award 8(a) prime contracts, but the SBA remains the prime contractor and still determines eligibility. It also allows contracts to be awarded directly to the 8(a) participant without an SBA signature, and permits the contracting officer to use FAR Subpart 19.8 instead.
Applies to: DoD contracting officers and 8(a) Program participants
Key terms: Partnership Agreement (PA) · 8(a) prime contracts · sole source · competitive basis · SBA signature
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) By Partnership Agreement (PA) between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Defense (DoD), the SBA has delegated to the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) its authority under paragraph 8(a)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) to enter into 8(a) prime contracts, and its authority under 8(a)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act to award the performance of those contracts to eligible 8(a) Program participants. However, the SBA remains the prime contractor on all 8(a) contracts, continues to determine eligibility of concerns for contract award, and retains appeal rights under FAR 19.810. The SBA delegates only the authority to sign contracts on its behalf. Consistent with the provisions of the PA, this authority is hereby redelegated to DoD contracting officers. A copy of the PA, which includes the PA's expiration date, is available at PGI 219.800.
(b) Contracts awarded under the PA may be awarded directly to the 8(a) participant on either a sole source or competitive basis. An SBA signature on the contract is not required.
(c) Notwithstanding the PA, the contracting officer may elect to award a contract pursuant to the provisions of FAR Subpart 19.8.
Sections it refers to
- 19.810 SBA appeals.
← 219.708 Contract clauses. · 219.803 Selecting acquisitions for the 8(a) Program. →
Rule changes for DFARS Part 219
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds (DFARS Case 2024-D002) ↗ · final rule 2025-08-25 · effective 2025-10-01
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds (DFARS Case 2024-D002) ↗ · proposed 2025-01-17 · comments due 2025-03-18
- Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Technical Amendments ↗ · final rule 2025-01-17 · effective 2025-01-17
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.