“For many contracts, large businesses must establish and have the government approve a subcontracting plan that details the goals and efforts the large prime contractor will take to award subcontracts to various types of small businesses. Well, how does the government hold large businesses accountable for these goals? The FAR will soon have a final rule addressing good faith efforts to comply with a small business subcontracting plan.
Back in late 2019, SBA updated its own rules on subcontracting plans to address. The SBA rules were intended to make it easier to hold large business prime contractors accountable for meeting the goals of their small business subcontracting plans. In line with the 2017 NDAA, SBA updated its rules found at 13 C.F.R. § 125.3(d) so that it will be a material breach of a contract or subcontract if a contractor with a subcontracting plan fails to comply in good faith with the requirement to submit reports and cooperate with agencies to determine subcontracting plan compliance.
Now, the FAR has followed suit in a rule effective September 10, 2021. This will eliminate the inconsistencies between the FAR and SBA rules, which is always nice so both contractors and agencies are on the same page when it comes to subcontracting plans. Here’s a little background on the changes…” Read the full article here.
Source: FAR Update: Good Faith in Small Business Subcontracting – By Shane McCall, August 30, 2021. SmallGovCon.
