Through their cooperative efforts, the SBA and an agency match the agency’s requirements with the capabilities of 8(a) concerns to establish a basis for the agency to contract with the SBA under the program. Selection is initiated in one of three ways -
(a) The SBA advises an agency contracting activity through a search letter of an 8(a) firm’s capabilities and asks the agency to identify acquisitions to support the firm’s business plans. In these instances, the SBA will provide at least the following information in order to enable the agency to match an acquisition to the firm’s capabilities:
(1) Identification of the concern and its owners.
(2) Background information on the concern, including any and all information pertaining to the concern’s technical ability and capacity to perform.
(3) The firm’s present production capacity and related facilities.
(4) The extent to which contracting assistance is needed in the present and the future, described in terms that will enable the agency to relate the concern’s plans to present and future agency requirements.
(5) If construction is involved, the request shall also include the following:
(i) The concern’s capabilities in and qualifications for accomplishing various categories of maintenance, repair, alteration, and construction work in specific categories such as mechanical, electrical, heating and air conditioning, demolition, building, painting, paving, earth work, waterfront work, and general construction work.
(ii) The concern’s capacity in each construction category in terms of estimated dollar value (e.g., electrical, up to $100,000).
(b) The SBA identifies a specific requirement for a particular 8(a) firm or firms and asks the agency contracting activity to offer the acquisition to the 8(a) Program for the firm(s). In these instances, in addition to the information in paragraph (a) of this section, the SBA will provide -
(1) A clear identification of the acquisition sought; e.g., project name or number;
(2) A statement as to how any additional needed equipment and real property will be provided in order to ensure that the firm will be fully capable of satisfying the agency’s requirements;
(3) If construction, information as to the bonding capability of the firm(s); and
(4) Either -
(i) If sole source request -
(A) The reasons why the firm is considered suitable for this particular acquisition; e.g., previous contracts for the same or similar supply or service; and
(B) A statement that the firm is eligible in terms of NAICS code, business support levels, and business activity targets; or
(ii) If competitive, a statement that at least two 8(a) firms are considered capable of satisfying the agency’s requirements and a statement that the firms are also eligible in terms of the NAICS code, business support levels, and business activity targets. If requested by the contracting activity, SBA will identify at least two such firms and provide information concerning the firms’ capabilities.
(c) Agencies may also review other proposed acquisitions for the purpose of identifying requirements which may be offered to the SBA. Where agencies independently, or through the self marketing efforts of an 8(a) firm, identify a requirement for the 8(a) Program, they may offer on behalf of a specific 8(a) firm, for the 8(a) Program in general, or for 8(a) competition (but see 19.800(e)).
