ment process. A copy of the determination and the justification therefor shall be furnished to the SBA representative. Where it is anticipated that the resulting contract or contracts will exceed $2,500, such SBA representatives shall, upon request, promptly be afforded an opportunity to make recommendations concerning proposed procurements, including that they be exclusively or partially set aside for small business

concerns.

The contracting officer shall afford the SBA representative an opportunity to recommend appropriate names of small business concerns for inclusion in lists of bidders for firms to be solicited in connection with current and future procurements.

(b) Class set-asides. SBA representatives shall be afforded an opportunity to make recommendations that current and future procurements, or portions thereof, of selected items or services, or groups of like items or services, shall be set aside as provided in § 1-1.706, for exclusive small business participation.

Such set-asides, when approved by the contracting officer, shall be known as class set-asides. Concurrence in a class set-aside shall not be dependent upon the existence of a current procurement if future procurements can be clearly foreseen.

(a) Purpose. The purpose of small business set-asides is to increase small business participation in Government procurement.

(b) Applicability. This section is applicable to small business set-aside programs of executive agencies in connection with all procurement of property and services, maintenance, repair and construction, and research and development.

(c) Implementation. Subject to any applicable preference for labor surplus area set-asides as provided in § 1-1.802, any individual procurement or class of procurements, or an appropriate part thereof, shall be set aside for the exclusive participation of small business concerns when such action (1) is jointly determined by an SBA representative and the contracting officer upon the initiation of either agency, or (2) if no SBA representative is available, is unilaterally determined by the contracting officer to be in the interest of maintaining or mobilizing the Nation's full productive capacity, or to be in the interest of war or national defense programs, or to be in the interest of assuring that a fair proportion of Government procurement is placed with small business concerns.

22-066 O-64-4

(d) Initiation of set-asides. Insofar as practicable, joint determinations initiated by SBA representatives shall be used as the basis for small business setasides rather than unilateral determinations. This, however, does not preclude an agency from initiating with SBA a proposal for a joint determination. The impracticability of arranging a joint determination should not be treated as an obstacle to making a set-aside based on a unilateral determination initiated by the contracting officer in an otherwise appropriate case.

§ 1-1.706-2 Review of SBA set-aside proposals.

(a) (1) When an SBA representative has recommended that all, or a portion, of an individual procurement or class of procurements be set aside for small business, the contracting officer (or other designated representative) of the procurement agency shall promptly either (i) concur in the recommendation, or (ii) disapprove the recommendation, stating in writing his reasons for disapproval. The SBA representative shall be allowed two working days to appeal any such disapproval to the head of the procuring activity or his designee for decision. During consideration of such appeal there shall be full and free interchange of all pertinent facts between the SBA representative and the procuring activity concerned. Within one working day after receipt of a decision from the head of the procuring activity or his designee disapproving a recommended set-aside, the SBA representative may request the contracting officer to suspend procurement actions affected by the recommended set-aside pending a further appeal by the Administrator of SBA to the head of the agency concerned for determination. SBA shall be allowed seven working days after making any such request within which (i) the Administrator of SBA may appeal the decision of the head of the procuring activity (or his designee) to the head of the agency concerned, and (ii) to notify the contracting officer whether such an appeal has in fact been taken. If such notification is not received by the contracting officer within the seven-day period, it shall be deemed that the SBA request to suspend procurement action has been withdrawn and that no appeal to the head of the agency was taken.

Where an appeal to the head of the agency concerned has been taken and the contracting officer has been notified of that fact within the seven-day period, the head of the procuring activity will, in accordance with agency procedures, forward through appropriate channels to the head of the agency a full justification of his decision.

(2) Any procurement action affected by a set-aside recommendation which has been disapproved by the contracting officer and appealed by the SBA representative shall be suspended pending the decision of the head of the procuring activity or his designee. If the decision sustains the disapproval and if the SBA representative requests further suspension in accordance with (1) of this § 11.706-2(a), the suspension shall continue until (i) the SBA appeal is deemed to have been withdrawn (as provided in (1) of this § 1-1.706–2(a), or (ii) the matter is determined by the head of the agency concerned. Such suspension shall not apply, however, to any particular procurement action which, as determined by the contracting officer, must, in order to protect the public interest, be initiated without delay and as to which he inserts in the contract file a statement signed by him setting forth the facts and circumstances justifying the determination. The contracting officer shall promptly notify the SBA representative of any procurement action initiated pursuant to the preceding sentence by supplying him with a copy of the justification.

(b) None of the following is, in itself, sufficient cause for not making a setaside:

(1) A large percentage of previous procurements of the item in question has been placed with small business concerns.

(2) The item to be purchased is on an established planning list under the Industrial Readiness Planning Program, except that a total set-aside shall not be authorized when one or more large business Planned Emergency Producers of the item desire to participate in the procurement.

(3) The item to be purchased is on a Qualified Products List, except that a total set-aside shall not be authorized when the products of one or more large businesses are on the Qualified Products List unless it has been confirmed that none of such large businesses desires to participate in the procurement.

(4) A period of less than 30 days from date of issuance of invitations for bids or requests for proposals is prescribed for the submission of the bids or proposals.

(5) The procurement is classified. (6) Small business concerns are receiving a fair proportion of the total contracts for property or services.

(7) A class set-aside of the item or service concerned has been made at some other procuring activity.

(8) The item will be described by "brand name or equal."

(c) In approving a proposed class setaside, the contracting officer shall make sure that the set-aside determination (1) specifically identifies the items or services subject thereto; (2) provides that it will, at least once each year, be reviewed jointly by an SBA representative and the procuring activity to determine whether it should be withdrawn (see § 1-1.706-3 for withdrawal procedures); (3) provides that it does not apply to any individual procurement for which small purchase procedures are to be used; and (4) provides that such class set-aside applies only to the procuring activity making or participating in the set-aside determination. Any class of procurements proposed to be totally set aside shall satisfy the requirements of § 1-1.706-5(a). With respect to any class of procurements proposed to be partially set aside, the set-aside determination shall specify that it is not applicable to any individual procurement which is not severable into two or more economic production runs or reasonable lots.

§ 1-1.706-3 Withdrawal or modification of set-asides.

(a) Each individual procurement governed by a class set-aside shall be carefully reviewed to insure that any changes in the magnitude of anticipated requirements, specifications for the items or services, delivery requirements, or competitive market conditions, since the initial approval of the class set-aside, are not of such material nature as to result in the probable payment of an unreasonable price by the Government or in a change in small business capability.

(b) If, prior to the award of a contract involving an individual or class setaside for small business, the contracting officer considers that procurement of

the set-aside portion from a small business concern would be detrimental to the public interest (e.g., because of unreasonable price), the contracting officer shall withdraw a unilateral set-aside determination. In the case of a joint set-aside determination, the contracting officer may initiate the withdrawal thereof by giving notice, containing the reason therefor, to the SBA representative. Similarly, a class set-aside may be modified so as to withdraw one or more individual procurements therefrom. In the case of a joint set-aside determination, if the SBA representative does not agree to a withdrawal or modification, the action may be appealed in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 1-1.706-2(a).

(c) A statement supporting any withdrawal or modification of a set-aside shall be made by the procuring activity and retained in the contract file.

§ 1-1.706-4 Reporting for Department

of Commerce Procurement Synopsis.

Section 1-1.1003-7 contains special instructions concerning reporting of procurements involving small business setasides to the Department of Commerce for publication in the "Synopsis of U.S. Government Proposed Procurement, Sales, and Contract Awards."

§ 1-1.706-5 Total set-asides.

(a) Subject to the conditions set forth in §§ 1-1.706-1 and 1-1.706-2, the entire amount of an individual procurement or class of procurements shall be set aside for exclusive small business participation where there is a reasonable expectation that bids or proposals will be obtained from a sufficient number of responsible small business concerns so that awards will be made at reasonable prices. Total set-asides shall not be made unless such a reasonable expectation exists; however, in the absence of such expectation, a partial set-aside shall be considered pursuant to § 1-1.706-6. Although past procurement history of the item or similar items is always important, it is not the only controlling factor which should be considered in determining whether a reasonable expectation exists.

(b) Contracts involving total small business set-asides shall be entered into by conventional negotiation or by a special method of procurement known as "Small Business Restricted Advertising."

(c) In procurements involving total set-asides for small business, each invitation for bids or request for proposals shall contain the following notice, except that such notice may be modified to include the applicable specific small business definition.

NOTICE OF TOTAL SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE

(a) Restriction. Bids or proposals under this procurement are solicited from small business concerns only and this procurement is to be awarded only to one or more small business concerns. This action is based on a determination by the Contracting Officer, alone or in conjunction with a representative of the Small Business Administration, that it is in the interest of maintaining or mobilizing the Nation's full productive capacity, in the interest of war or national defense programs, or in the interest of assuring that a fair proportion of Government procurement is placed with small business concerns. Bids or proposals received from firms which are not small business concerns shall be considered nonresponsive.

(b) Definition. A "small business concern" is a concern, including its affiliates, which is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and can further qualify under the criteria set forth in regulations of the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.3-8). In addition to meeting these criteria, a manufacturer or a regular dealer submitting bids or proposals in his own name must agree to furnish in the performance of the contract end items manufactured or produced in the United States, its possessions, or Puerto Rico, by small business concerns: Provided, That this additional requirement does not apply in connection with construction or service

contracts.

[24 F.R. 1933, Mar. 17, 1959, as amended at 28 F.R. 6540, June 26, 1963]

§ 1-1.706-6 Partial set-asides.

(a) General. Subject to the conditions set forth in § 1-1.706-1, a portion of a procurement shall be set aside for exclusive small business participation where

(1) The procurement is not appropriate for total set-aside pursuant to § 1-1.706-5;

(2) The procurement is severable into two or more economic production runs or reasonable lots; and

(3) One or more small business concerns are expected to have the technical competence and productive capacity to

furnish a severable portion of the procurement at a reasonable price.

Similarly, a class of procurements (including but not limited to contracts for maintenance, repair, and construction) may be partially set aside in accordance with § 1-1.706-2(c).

(b) Dividing the procurement. Where a portion of a procurement is to be set aside for small business pursuant to (a) of this § 1-1.706-6, the procurement shall be divided into a set-aside portion and a non-set-aside portion, each of which shall be not less than an economic production run or reasonable lot. Insofar as practicable, the set-aside portion will be such as to make maximum use of small business capacity. Delivery and other terms applicable to the set-aside portion of an item and those applicable to the non-set-aside portion of that item shall be comparable.

(c) Short-form notice. In invitations for bids or requests for proposals, involving partial set-asides pursuant to this subpart, shall contain a notice substantially as set forth in this paragraph or in paragraph (d) of this § 1-1.706-6. The notice used may be appropriately modified to include the applicable specific small business definition.

NOTICE OF PARTIAL SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE

(a) General. A portion of this procurement, as identified elsewhere in the Schedule, has been set aside for award only to one or more small business concerns. Negotiations for award of this set-aside portion will be conducted only with responsible small business concerns who have submitted responsive bids on the non-set-aside portion at a unit price within 120 percent of the highest award made on the non-set-aside portion. Negotiations shall be conducted with such small business concerns in the following order of priority:

Group 1. Small business concerns which are also persistent labor surplus area con

cerns.

Group 2. Small business concerns which are also substantial labor surplus area con

cerns.

Group 3. Small business concerns which are not labor surplus area concerns.

Within each of the above groups, negotiations with such concerns will be in the order of their bids on the non-set-aside portion, beginning with the lowest responsive bid. The set-aside shall be awarded at the highest unit price awarded on the non-set-aside portion, adjusted to reflect transportation and other cost factors which were considered in

evaluating bids on the non-set-aside portion. However, the Government reserves the right not to consider token bids or other devices designed to secure an unfair advantage over other bidders eligible for the set-aside portion. The partial set-aside of this procurement for small business concerns is based on a determination by the Contracting Officer, alone or in conjunction with a representative of the Small Business Administration, that it is in the interest of maintaining or mobilizing the Nation's full productive capacity, or in the interest of war or national defense programs, or in the interest of assuring that a fair portion of Government procurement is placed with small business concerns.

(b) Definitions.

(1) A “small business concern" is a concern, including its affiliates, which is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and can further qualify under the criteria set forth in regulations of the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.3-8). In addition to meeting these criteria, a manufacturer or a regular dealer submitting bids or proposals in his own name must agree to furnish in the performance of the contract end items manufactured or produced in the United States, its possessions, or Puerto Rico, by small business concerns: Provided, That this additional requirement does not apply in connection with construction or service contracts.

(2) The term “labor surplus area" means a geographical area which is a persistent labor surplus area or a substantial labor surplus area, or both, as defined below:

(1) "Persistent labor surplus area" means an area which (A) is classified by the Department of Labor as an "Area of Substantial and Persistent Labor Surplus" (also called "Area of Substantial and Presistent Unemployment") and is listed as such by that Department in conjunction with its publication "Area Labor Market Trends," or (B) is certified as an area of substantial and persistent labor surplus by the Department of Labor pursuant to a request by a prospective contractor.

(ii) "Substantial labor surplus area” means an area which (A) is classified by the Department of Labor as an "Area of Sub

stantial Labor Surplus" (also called "Area of Substantial Unemployment") and which is listed as such by that Department in conjunction with its publication "Area Labor Market Trends," or (B) is certified as an area of substantial labor surplus by the Department of Labor pursuant to a request by a prospective contractor.

(3) The term "labor surplus area concern" includes persistent labor surplus area concerns and substantial labor surplus area concerns as defined below:

(1) "Persistent labor surplus area concern' means a concern that agrees to perform, or cause to be performed, a substantial proportion of a contract in persistent labor surplus areas. A concern shall be deemed to perform a substantial proportion of a contract in persistent labor surplus areas if the costs that the concern will incur on account of manufacturing or production performed in such areas (by itself or its first-tier subcontractors) amount to more than 50 percent of the contract price.

(ii) "Substantial labor surplus area concern" means a concern that agrees to perform, or cause to be performed, a substantial proportion of a contract in substantial labor surplus areas. A concern shall be deemed to perform a substantial proportion of a contract in substantial labor surplus areas if the costs that the concern will incur on account of manufacturing or production performed in substantial labor surplus areas or in substantial and persistent labor surplus areas (by itself or its first-tier subcontractors) amount to more than 50 percent of the contract price.

(c) Identification of Areas of Performance. Each bidder desiring to be considered for award as a small business labor surplus area concern on the set-aside portion of this procurement shall identify in his bid the geographical areas in which he proposes to perform, or cause to be performed, a substantial proportion of the production of the contract. If the Department of Labor classification of any such area changes after the bidder has submitted his bid, the bidder may change the areas in which he proposes to perform: Provided, That he so notifies the Contracting Officer before award of the set-aside portion. Priority for negotiation will be based upon the labor surplus classification of the designated production areas as of the time of the proposed award.

(d) Agreement. The bidder agrees that, if awarded a contract as a small business persistent labor surplus area concern under