Similarly Situated Entities & Small Business and Limitation on Subcontracting Rule – What Does Similarly Situated Mean?

Similarly Situated Small Business & FAR Limitations on Subcontracting RuleNot understanding the small business set aside subcontracting rules that govern whether or not your company is a similarly situated small business can cost everyone the contract in a small business set aside size protests

Theodore P. Watson, Esq. Many small businesses will be faced with dissecting the most recent SBA Rule governing the Limitation on Subcontracting Rule and similarly situated small business assessments. When you are bidding on total small business set aside subcontracting opportunities and subcontract with a non-applicable business subcontractor, this rule is dangerous if you are not familiar with the recent definition.

SBA OHA is now faced with dissecting critical gaps in the rule. If you believe the rule is a no-brainer, then you may want to think again. Pick your teaming partners and named subcontractors carefully. You want to extremely careful when you pick your teaming partners and named subcontractors when submitting federal government bids.  For example, you must also understand how the limitations on subcontracting apply to the second tier subcontractor and how it may or may not impact the underlying similarly situated entities test.

  • Predictably,  much litigation will be based upon whether a small business is similarly situated or not under the new subcontractor rules. This will be a new issue that many small businesses across the country should investigate earlier in the procurement bidding stage than later.
  • How much work can the prime subcontract out since the work contracted out to similarly situated entities will count towards the prime’s small business performance requirements? This is only but one question that needs to be answered.

As stated in the comments leading up to the final SBA subcontracting rule, 15 U.S.C. 657, requires that the limitations on subcontracting for full or partial small business set-aside contracts, HUBZone contracts, 8(a) BD contracts, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB) Small Business Concern (SBC) contracts, and WOSB and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) contracts, be evaluated based on the percentage of the overall award amount that a prime contractor spends on its subcontractors. The SBA suggests that 15 USC 757 provides that any subcontractor work done by similarly situated small business entities not to be subcontracted work for purposes of complying with the limitation on subcontracting rule.

 Total Small Business Set Aside Subcontracting Rules – Similarly Situated Definition and Meaning

When assessing how the small business set aside subcontracting rules, one should first make sure that your similarly situated small business is a subcontractor under SBA subcontracting rules or teaming partner that has the same small business status and the set-aside criteria and small as the prime contractor submitting the bid. An example would be an 8(a) or HUBZone set aside where both the prime and subcontractor are also HUBZone companies.

  • The subcontractor only will be considered to be similarly situated if it also a HUBZone or 8(a) company.

Not only does the subcontractor have to be within the same status as the awarded to contract to meet similarly situated definition of a small business but the company must also be small under the NAICS code of the assigned work from the prime contractor. Companies that simply generalize the total small business set-aside subcontract with a large business requirements for being a similarly situated  small business may easily miss this requirement

WORD OF CAUTION

The subcontractor to a similarly situated bidder will not count towards the limitations on subcontracting rule. The SBA believed that to do otherwise would not be in the best interest of furthering SBA government contracting goals. See 13 CFR 125.6 (a)(1) –(2).

Prime Government contractors should assess their specific subcontracting relationships before submitting bids. The facts of each case will be different. Therefore, companies should properly assess their unique situations and be proactive. There are not enough SBA subcontracting decisions on the issue but they are increasing every month.

Under Total Small Business Set Aside Subcontracting Rules, Who Decides Whether You are Similarly Situated?The government contracting officer or the SBA would be the one to make a final determination during proposal evaluations whether or not you or your subcontractor is a similarly situated small business under the relevant total small business set aside subcontracting regulations. However, one suggestion may be to fully explain in your proposal the basis for a company being a similarly situated small business. This may reduce the chance of losing in a small business size protest. SDVOSB Certification Application Denied? Not in Control of Your SDVOSB Business?

When does the small business 51 percent rule apply under new subcontractor rules?  Note that not all NAICS Codes have a 51% limitation on subcontracting rule. The SBA provided an example where there is a procurement for both supplies and services. It suggested that if the contract is considered primarily for services, then the prime contractor cannot subcontract more than 50 percent for supplies. See information about Small Business Size Standards, SBA Size Protests & Appeals Bid Protest Requirements.

  • It would appear that future disputes about violating the limitations on subcontracting requirements would also hinge on what is the primary requirement of the contract.
  • Note that although you can take advantage of combining contracting dollars for similarly situated entities, the prime must still comply with the small business 51 percent rule.

First-tier subcontractors only: Small business set aside requirements regarding similarly situated small business concerns, prime and subcontractors should be aware that protection from violating the limitations on subcontracting rule would only flow from work subcontracted from the prime to the subcontractor.

  • Subcontracts from the first-tier subcontractor to a second-tier will not count.
  • Prime contractors should extremely careful to protect themselves, and even inquire when it builds new relationships with first-tier subcontractors that are similarly situated.
  • A total small business set aside subcontract with a large business company is fertile ground for a size protest.

The requirement for a signed agreement: Based upon the SBA’s comments, prime contractors submitting federal government proposals must also submit a signed agreement between the prime contractor and the similarly situated subcontractor. See 13 CFR 125.6 (b)(1). Whether a teaming agreement would suffice or a traditional subcontract remains to be seen. These are all reasons why small businesses should be proactive in these matters.

Suspension and debarment possible: Of importance, the SBA comments also warn prime contractors that they can be debarred for any violation of the spirit of 13 CFR 124.6(b)(3). This issue goes towards the percentage of work identified in the signed agreement. See also Contractor Faces Service Disabled Veteran Fraud and False Claims Act Criminal Liability

Similarly Situated Subcontractors and NAICS Code Application

When considering the legal definition of similarly situated small business entities, prime contractors that are considering entering into a subcontractor also want to be aware of various factors that could influence the outcome of any future litigation. See information about small business subcontracting plans.

The primary issue is whether similarly situated subcontractors are limited to the NAICS code assigned to the prime contract. The new SBA When assessing how the small business set aside subcontracting rules apply, one should first make sure that your similarly situated small business is a subcontractor or teaming partner that has the same small business status and the set-aside criteria and small as the prime contractor submitting the bid.

The small business set aside subcontracting rules seems to suggest not. Instead, the similarly situated definition focuses on the NAICS code that the prime contractor assigns to the subcontractor as a similarly situated company.  The similarly situated entity analysis also applies to the SDVOSB subcontracting rules.

There will be some disputes in the future as to the validity of the prime’s assignment of a NAICS code to its similarly situated subcontractor that arguably has nothing to do with the primary contract requirements. Although the SBA expressed the goals of promoting subcontracts to similarly situated small businesses, there could be some concern as to whether relying on the prime to implement new NAICS code weakens the government’s overall assignment of the primary NAICS Code. See 13 CFR 125.3 (c)(1)(v)

What Happens if You Fail to Meet the Similarly Situated Subcontracting Requirement Rules? Firms that are not similarly situated entities may cause both the prime and the subcontractor to lose the entire contract to an SBA size protest. You may be subject to suspension or debarment if you are found to misrepresent information in the bid; if the prime is now found to violate the limitation on subcontracting rule, then it may be found affiliated based on the lack of work performed and may be barred from submitting for government contracts as a small business for that particular NAICS code.  See SBA Affiliation Rules – Important New Government Contract Small Business Guidance

Does the Similarly Situated Small Business Set Aside Subcontracting Rules Include Joint Venture Relationships? Arguably, yes. In some circumstances, a joint venture is an offeror. Therefore, the joint venture also has to comply with small business set aside subcontracting rules. Therefore, there is an argument to be made that if the joint venture happens to be the prime, then the subcontractor to the joint venture can be a similarly situated small business. Find out about Signs of Being Under Investigation (Federal). Read more about Protesting CICA Rule of Two Small Business Set Asides.

General Requirements of FAR 19.705

(a) The contracting officer may encourage the development of increased subcontracting opportunities in negotiated acquisition by providing monetary incentives such as payments based on actual subcontracting achievement or award-fee contracting (see the clause at 52.219-10, Incentive Subcontracting Program, and 19.708(c)).

When using any contractual incentive provision based upon rewarding the contractor monetarily for exceeding goals in the subcontracting plan, the contracting officer must ensure that (a) the goals are realistic and (b) any rewards for exceeding the goals are commensurate with the efforts the contractor would not have otherwise expended. Incentive provisions should normally be negotiated after reaching final agreement with the contractor on the subcontracting plan.

 (b) (1) Except where a contractor has a commercial plan , the contracting officer shall require a subcontracting plan for each indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract (including task or delivery order contracts, FSS, GWACs, and MACs), when the estimated value of the contract meets the subcontracting plan thresholds at 19.702(a) and small business subcontracting opportunities exist.

        (2) Contracting officers placing orders may establish small business subcontracting goals for each order. Establishing goals shall not be in the form of a new subcontracting plan as a contract may not have more than one plan ( 19.705-2(e)).

Getting professional assessments can avoid costly litigation.

Given the unknowns due to lack of case law on the new rules, small businesses can still take proactive measures to reduce the impact of bid protests filed by competitors challenging the permitted levels of work and executing a total small business set aside subcontract with a large business. There are still minute issues or facts that can arise. SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals will have its work cut out from the legal challenges that could arise.

Get Help With SDVOSB Subcontracting Rules

For immediate help with the total small business set aside subcontracting SDVOSB subcontracting rules and federal similarly situated small business rules and violating the limitations on subcontracting requirements, contact Watson & Associates’ government contract small business lawyers at 1-866-601-5518. FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.