Overview
This section establishes the standard response time and procedural requirements for Contracting Officers when addressing written contract administration inquiries from small business concerns.
Key Rules
- 30-Day Response Standard: The Contracting Officer (CO) must make every reasonable effort to provide a written response to a small business concern within 30 days of receiving a written request.
- Notification of Delay: If a response cannot be provided within 30 days, the CO must notify the contractor in writing within that original 30-day window and provide a specific date for the expected response.
- Scope of Application: These requirements apply specifically to "contract administration matters" raised by small business concerns.
- Disputes Exclusion: This provision explicitly excludes requests for a formal Contracting Officer’s decision under the Contract Disputes Act (41 U.S.C. chapter 71).
Practical Implications
- This rule promotes transparency and accountability, ensuring small businesses are not left in administrative limbo regarding routine contract inquiries.
- It provides small business contractors with a regulatory basis to follow up on unanswered correspondence and manage their operational timelines based on the CO's expected response date.