SBA and GSA Clarify Small Business Set-Asides

Greetings!

HPFI® (High Point Furniture Industries) is pleased to announce that the Small Business Set-Aside rule has been cleared up by a recent SBA (Small Business Administration) and GSA ruling. No longer can a large manufacturer sell its products through a small business reseller and qualify under FAR 19. This means the order has to be purchased from a small business manufacturer in order to qualify for the small business credit to the purchasing agency. The following is what the recent ruling states. Of particular interest is the statement in the third paragraph:

1) Small Business Set Asides

Subpart 8.4 amended to allow agencies to use set-asides in connection with the placement of orders and the establishment of BPA's under Schedule contracts. Any of the socioeconomic programs available in FAR 19 are eligible, e.g. small disadvantaged, women owned, etc. Refreshed Solicitations includes necessary clauses but customers must include a statement in the RFQ that order is being set aside.

eBuy - the ordering activities will soon be able to check if the order is set aside for small business. RFQ's will only be visible to Schedule Contractors who are eligible to respond.

CTA - all members must be small business (or sub-set the order is set-aside for) in order to be eligible for the order.

Orders placed against an 8(a) Schedule holder will be credited towards the ordering agency's small disadvantaged business goal.

The Non-Manufacturer Rule applies to Schedule orders set-aside for small business. It requires that the small business performing under a set-aside contract/order must provide the product of a small business manufacturer.

HPFI is a certified Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) which operates in two manufacturing facilities in High Point, North Carolina with over 440,000 square feet of manufacturing space. With roots in High Point, NC the furniture capital of the world, HPFI combines the skill and expertise of seasoned furniture craftspeople with modern day technology to deliver exceptional value to its customers.

For more information regarding HPFI, please visit our web site at www.hpfi.com or contact us toll-free by telephone at 1-800-447-3462 or via email at info@hpfi.com.