Overview
FAR 19.401 establishes the Small Business Act as the primary authority for inter-agency cooperation between federal agencies and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to protect small business interests. It also identifies the specific executive offices responsible for managing this relationship within civilian agencies and the Department of Defense.
Key Rules
- Legal Authority: The Small Business Act mandates that agencies and the SBA consult and cooperate to formulate policies that recognize and protect small businesses.
- Civilian Agency Liaison: For most agencies, the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is the designated focal point for interfacing with the SBA.
- Department of Defense Liaison: Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the Director of the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) serves as the designated focal point for SBA interaction.
Practical Implications
- This section centralizes the responsibility for small business advocacy at the senior leadership level, ensuring that there is a clear, high-level point of contact for SBA policy implementation.
- Contractors and small business advocates can identify the specific office within an agency (OSDBU or OSBP) that holds the ultimate authority for small business program oversight and SBA coordination.