Overview
This section establishes the authority for contracting officers to award sole source contracts to certified Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small business concerns.
Key Rules
- Sole Source Authority: Contracting officers are permitted to bypass competitive procedures to award contracts directly to HUBZone concerns.
- Regulatory Cross-Reference: The specific implementation procedures, including dollar thresholds and eligibility criteria, are governed by FAR 19.1306.
- Program Specificity: This authority is restricted exclusively to small businesses that maintain an active HUBZone certification.
Practical Implications
- Agencies can use this authority as a streamlined procurement method to meet mandatory socio-economic prime contracting goals.
- For HUBZone firms, this represents a significant business development tool that allows for direct negotiations with the government, provided the specific conditions in FAR Part 19 are satisfied.