FAR Subpart 19.14
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Procurement Program
In Plain English
FAR Subpart 19.14 is the part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation that authorizes and governs SDVOSB set-asides and sole-source awards at civilian and defense agencies (the VA runs its own program under separate authority). Where 13 CFR Part 128 decides who is an SDVOSB, FAR 19.14 tells the contracting officer when and how to restrict a competition to certified SDVOSBs, when a sole-source award is allowed, and which solicitation clauses to insert. It operationalizes the 'Rule of Two' for SDVOSBs.
Who It Applies To
- Contracting officers at civilian and DoD agencies deciding whether to set a requirement aside for SDVOSBs.
- Certified SDVOSBs competing for set-aside or sole-source awards outside the VA.
- Acquisition planners applying the SDVOSB Rule of Two during market research.
Key Provisions
| Provision | What It Means |
|---|---|
| SDVOSB set-aside authority | A contracting officer may set an acquisition aside for SDVOSBs when there is a reasonable expectation that two or more certified SDVOSBs will submit offers and award can be made at a fair market price (the SDVOSB Rule of Two). |
| Sole-source authority | An SDVOSB sole-source award is permitted when only one SDVOSB can meet the requirement, the anticipated value is within the FAR sole-source threshold, and award can be made at a fair and reasonable price. |
| Eligibility at the time of offer | A firm must be a certified SDVOSB (and small under the procurement's NAICS code) to be eligible for award under a 19.14 set-aside or sole-source action. |
| Solicitation clauses | The contracting officer inserts the SDVOSB set-aside provisions and clauses (including FAR 52.219-27) so offerors are on notice of the restriction and the limitations on subcontracting that apply. |
Common Pitfalls
- Confusing FAR 19.14 with the VA's Veterans First program — the VA awards SDVOSB/VOSB work under 38 U.S.C. § 8127, not FAR 19.14.
- Forgetting that the Rule of Two is a market-research judgment about *capable certified* SDVOSBs, not just any veteran-owned firm.
- Assuming a sole-source award can exceed the FAR threshold — above it, the requirement generally must be competed.
- Overlooking that set-aside eligibility hinges on certification status and size as of the offer date.
Frequently Asked
What is FAR Subpart 19.14?
It is the part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation that authorizes SDVOSB set-asides and sole-source awards at civilian and defense agencies, and tells contracting officers how and when to use them. It is the acquisition-side companion to SBA's eligibility rules in 13 CFR Part 128.
Does FAR 19.14 apply at the VA?
No. The Department of Veterans Affairs runs its own Veterans First program under 38 U.S.C. § 8127. FAR Subpart 19.14 governs SDVOSB set-asides at other civilian agencies and the DoD.
What is the SDVOSB Rule of Two in FAR 19.14?
A contracting officer should set a requirement aside for SDVOSBs when there is a reasonable expectation that two or more certified SDVOSBs will submit offers and award can be made at a fair market price.
Primary Sources
- FAR Subpart 19.14 (acquisition.gov)
- FAR 19.1405 (set-aside procedures)
- FAR 19.1406 (sole-source procedures)
Plain-English explainer, not legal advice. SDVOSB rules are still settling after the 2023 transfer of certification to the SBA, and federal acquisition dollar thresholds are periodically adjusted for inflation — verify current figures and procedures against the cited authority and your contracting officer before acting.
Change log (1)
- LaunchedPublished plain-English regulation explainers for 13 CFR Part 128 (VetCert), FAR Subpart 19.14, 13 CFR § 125.6 (limitations on subcontracting), 38 U.S.C. § 8127 (Veterans First), FAR 52.219-27, and 13 CFR Part 134 Subpart J (status protests) — each with a key-provisions table, common pitfalls, FAQPage and Legislation structured data, primary-source citations, and cross-links into the glossary, how-to guides, FAQ, and comparisons.