§ 1819.502-70 - Non-initiation of set-asides.

(a) All cases involving the non-initiation of a set-aside, whether resulting from a joint decision of the small business specialist and the contracting officer or a decision by the contracting officer alone, require referral to the SBA representative (if one is assigned and available) for review.

(b) If the small business specialist recommends that an individual acquisition or a class of acquisition, or a portion thereof, be set aside, the contracting officer shall promptly either concur in or disapprove the recommendation, stating in writing the reasons for disapproval.

(c) When an SBA representative is assigned and available and the contracting officer disapproves the small business specialist's recommendation, the contracting officer shall promptly refer the case to the SBA representative for review. The small business specialist shall take no further appeal action. The SBA representative must either concur with the decision or appeal the case to the procurement officer under FAR 19.505. If the procurement officer approves the contracting officer's decision and the SBA appeals under FAR 19.505(c), the procurement officer shall forward the required written justification, including a history of discussions between the center and the SBA and rationale for the decision, to the Headquarters Office of Procurement (HS).

(d) When an SBA representative is not assigned or available and the contracting officer disapproves the small business specialist's recommendation, the small business specialist may appeal in writing to the procurement officer. The procurement officer's decision shall be final. The contracting officer shall place a memorandum of the procurement officer's decision in the contract file. If the procurement officer's decision approves the contracting officer's action, the small business specialist shall forward complete documentation of the case to the Headquarters Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (Code K).

(e) The contracting officer shall prepare, sign, and retain in the contract file a memorandum of nonconcurrence in a recommended set-aside action.