DOD's Implementation of Justifications for 8(a) Sole-Source Contracts
Abstract
The conference report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2012 directed GAO to assess the Department of Defense s (DOD) implementation of a new requirement for written justifications of sole-source contracts over $20 million awarded under the Small Business Administration s 8(a) program.1 Section 811 of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2010, enacted on October 28, 2009, required the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to be amended to include a new requirement for a written justification of sole-source 8(a) awards over $20 million. The requirement was implemented in the FAR on March 16, 2011. Previously, no justification was required for sole-source 8(a) awards of any amount. Section 811 of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2010 did not require agencies to implement the new justification requirement until it was implemented in the FAR. The 8(a) program is one of the federal government s primary means for developing small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Contract awards under this program may be competed among eligible 8(a) firms or awarded on a sole-source basis to 8(a) firms in certain instances. For example, DOD may award 8(a) sole source contracts to firms owned by Alaska Native Corporations and Indian tribes. GAO s assessment of DOD s implementation of the justification requirement was to be provided no later than 90 days after DOD submitted a March 1, 2012, report to Congress on the subject. DOD did not meet the March date, issuing the report on November 12, 2012.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA573653
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office