By Megan Connor
Effective December 31, 2015, DoD, GSA, and NASA have issued an interim rule amending the FAR to implement regulatory changes made by the SBA that provide for EDWOSB/WOSB sole source authority. Implementation of these sole source procedures in the FAR ensures that contracting officers now have the tools necessary to maximize federal procurement opportunities for WOSB concerns through sole source contract awards. In general, an award under the WOSB program may be pursued on a sole source basis when the contracting officer does not have a reasonable expectation, through market research, that two or more eligible EDWOSB or WOSB concerns will submit offers at a fair and reasonable price, but identifies one responsible EDWOSB or WOSB that can perform at a fair and reasonable price. The dollar thresholds for sole source awards are equal to or less than $6.5 million for manufacturing requirements and equal to or less than $4 million for all other requirements, including all options.
Comments to the interim rule are due on or before February 29, 2016.