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FAR Clause ACTIVE

52.219-18

Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants.
View on acquisition.gov · View on eCFR.gov
Effective Date
OCT 2022
Active Deviations
1
Versions
5 (since 2017-01-01)
RFO
RFO Version Available

The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul has published a revised version of this clause. The RFO version supersedes the eCFR text below for contracts using the RFO model; see the RFO deviation for applicability.

View RFO version
DEV
This clause is modified by 1 active class deviation
  • 2026-O0037 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 19)
    Add clause 52.219-18
View per-deviation details →
52.219-18 Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants.

As prescribed in 19.811-3(d), insert the following clause:

Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants (OCT 2022)

(a) Offers are solicited only from—

(1) Small business concerns expressly certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for participation in SBA's 8(a) program and which meet the following criteria at the time of submission of offer—

(i) The Offeror is in conformance with the 8(a) support limitation set forth in its approved business plan; and

(ii) The Offeror is in conformance with the Business Activity Targets set forth in its approved business plan or any remedial action directed by SBA;

(2) A joint venture, in which at least one of the 8(a) program participants that is a party to the joint venture complies with the criteria set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause, that complies with 13 CFR 124.513(c); or

(3) A joint venture—

(i) That is comprised of a mentor and an 8(a) protégé with an approved mentor-protégé agreement under the 8(a) program;

(ii) In which at least one of the 8(a) program participants that is a party to the joint venture complies with the criteria set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause; and

(iii) That complies with 13 CFR 124.513(c).

(b) By submission of its offer, the Offeror represents that it meets the applicable criteria set forth in paragraph (a) of this clause.

(c) Any award resulting from this solicitation will be made to the Small Business Administration, which will subcontract performance to the successful 8(a) offeror selected through the evaluation criteria set forth in this solicitation. A contracting officer may consider a joint venture for contract award. SBA does not approve joint ventures for competitive awards, but see 13 CFR 124.501(g) for SBA's determination of participant eligibility.

(d) The __________ [
insert name of SBA's contractor
] shall notify the __________ [
insert name of contracting agency
] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock.

(End of clause)

Alternate I
(MAR 2023). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(1)(iii) to paragraph (a) of the clause:

(iii) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and serviced by __[
Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Area Office(s) as identified by the SBA
].

[54 FR 46009, Oct. 31, 1989; 54 FR 48105, Nov. 21, 1989]

Editorial Note:
For
Federal Register
citations affecting section 52.219-18, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at
www.govinfo.gov.
RFO
Prescription superseded under the RFO

The prescription shown below is from the codified eCFR. The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul relocates this clause's prescription as follows:

  • 19.811-319.108-10 (prescriptive text also revised)
  • Alternate I: 19.811-319.108-10 (prescriptive text also revised)

See the deviation memorandum for the current prescription authority.

View deviation: 2026-O0037 →

R-DFARS Prescription Source

This clause is prescribed in the R-DFARS by the following deviation:

  • 2026-O0037 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 19) (DFARS Part 219)
    Add clause 52.219-18
19.811-3(d)
(d) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-18, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants, in competitive solicitations and contracts when the acquisition is accomplished using the procedures of 19.805. Use the clause at 52.219-18 with its Alternate I when competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA districts pursuant to 19.804-2.

DFARS Supplementary Guidance

219.811-3
(1) Use the clause at 252.219-7009, Section 8(a) Direct Award, instead of the clauses at FAR 52.219-11, Special 8(a) Contract Conditions, FAR 52.219-12, Special 8(a) Subcontract Conditions, and FAR 52.219-17, Section 8(a) Award, in solicitations and contracts processed in accordance with the PA cited in 219.800.
(2) Use the clause at 252.219-7010, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants--Partnership Agreement, in lieu of the clause at FAR 52.219-18, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants, in competitive solicitations and contracts, including solicitations and contracts using FAR part 12 procedures for the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services, when the acquisition is accomplished using the procedures of FAR 19.805 and processed in accordance with the PA cited in 219.800.
(3) Use the clause at 252.219-7011, Notification to Delay Performance, in solicitations and purchase orders issued under the PA cited in 219.800.
Prescription data sourced from eCFR as of 2026-06-10 03:16 UTC. Cross-references within the prescription are not resolved automatically.

Regulatory Stack

The layers of regulation that govern this clause, from the FAR prescription through agency-specific supplements and any active deviations.

RFO RFO Version Overhauled clause text
The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul publishes a revised version of this clause. See the RFO Version tab for the controlling authority under the RFO model.

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R-DFARS R-DFARS Prescription Per Deviation 2026-O0037 (DFARS Part 219)
2026-O0037: DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 19) — DFARS Part 219

View Deviation 2026-O0037 →

FAR FAR Prescription ⚠ May be superseded by RFO 19.811-3(d)
(d) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-18, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants, in competitive solicitations and contracts when the acquisition is accomplished using the procedures of 19.805. Use the clause at 52.219-18 with its Alternate I when competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA districts pursuant to 19.804-2.

View on acquisition.gov · View on eCFR.gov

DFARS DFARS Supplement (eCFR) ⚠ May be superseded by RFO 219.811-3
(1) Use the clause at 252.219-7009, Section 8(a) Direct Award, instead of the clauses at FAR 52.219-11, Special 8(a) Contract Conditions, FAR 52.219-12, Special 8(a) Subcontract Conditions, and FAR 52.219-17, Section 8(a) Award, in solicitations and contracts processed in accordance with the PA cited in 219.800.
(2) Use the clause at 252.219-7010, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants--Partnership Agreement, in lieu of the clause at FAR 52.219-18, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants, in competitive solicitations and contracts, including solicitations and contracts using FAR part 12 procedures for the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services, when the acquisition is accomplished using the procedures of FAR 19.805 and processed in accordance with the PA cited in 219.800.
(3) Use the clause at 252.219-7011, Notification to Delay Performance, in solicitations and purchase orders issued under the PA cited in 219.800.

Search on acquisition.gov · View on eCFR.gov

Version History

Version history is sourced from the codified eCFR. Changes published only as class deviations or by the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul do not appear here until they are incorporated into the eCFR. For RFO-driven changes see the RFO Version tab and any active deviations cited above.

5 versions tracked from 2017-01-01 to 2023-11-06.
NOV 2023 November 6, 2023 CURRENT
Removed in this version
Added in this version
Unchanged
FEB 2023 (previous)
NOV 2023 (current)
1 added, 1 removed
(iii)
(iii) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and serviced by __[Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Regional Office(s) as identified by the SBA].
(iii)
(iii) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and serviced by __[Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Area Office(s) as identified by the SBA].
2 added, 2 removed
(d)
(d) The __________ [insert name of SBA's contractor] shall notify the __________ [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock. (End of clause) Alternate I (OCT 2022). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(1)(iii) to paragraph (a) of the clause:
(d)
(d) The __________ [insert name of SBA's contractor] shall notify the __________ [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock. (End of clause) Alternate I (MAR 2023). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(1)(iii) to paragraph (a) of the clause:
FEB 2023 February 14, 2023 SUBSTANTIVE
Removed in this version
Added in this version
Unchanged
SEP 2022 (previous)
FEB 2023 (current)
31 removed
(a)
(a) Offers are solicited only from small business concerns expressly certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for participation in the SBA's 8(a) Program and which meet the following criteria at the time of submission of offer -
(a)
(a) Offers are solicited only from -
28 added, 15 removed
(1)
(1) The Offeror is in conformance with the 8(a) support limitation set forth in its approved business plan; and
(1)
(1) Small business concerns expressly certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for participation in SBA's 8(a) program and which meet the following criteria at the time of submission of offer -
32 added, 17 removed
(2)
(2) The Offeror is in conformance with the Business Activity Targets set forth in its approved business plan or any remedial action directed by the SBA.
(2)
(2) A joint venture, in which at least one of the 8(a) program participants that is a party to the joint venture complies with the criteria set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause, that complies with 13 CFR 124.513(c); or
1 added, 2 removed
(b)
(b) By submission of its offer, the Offeror represents that it meets all of the criteria set forth in paragraph (a) of this clause.
(b)
(b) By submission of its offer, the Offeror represents that it meets the applicable criteria set forth in paragraph (a) of this clause.
31 added
(c)
(c) Any award resulting from this solicitation will be made to the Small Business Administration, which will subcontract performance to the successful 8(a) offeror selected through the evaluation criteria set forth in this solicitation.
(c)
(c) Any award resulting from this solicitation will be made to the Small Business Administration, which will subcontract performance to the successful 8(a) offeror selected through the evaluation criteria set forth in this solicitation. A contracting officer may consider a joint venture for contract award. SBA does not approve joint ventures for competitive awards, but see 13 CFR 124.501(g) for SBA's determination of participant eligibility.
3 added, 3 removed
(d)
(d) The __________ [insert name of SBA's contractor] shall notify the __________ [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock. (End of clause) Alternate I (JAN 2017). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(3) to paragraph (a) of the clause:
(d)
(d) The __________ [insert name of SBA's contractor] shall notify the __________ [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock. (End of clause) Alternate I (OCT 2022). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(1)(iii) to paragraph (a) of the clause:
1 added, 32 removed
(a)(3)
(a)(3) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and serviced by _____* _____ (*Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Regional Office(s) as identified by the SBA).
(a)(3)
[Removed]
20 added, 5 removed
(i)
[Not present in prior version]
(i)
(i) That is comprised of a mentor and an 8(a) protégé with an approved mentor-protégé agreement under the 8(a) program;
31 added, 4 removed
(ii)
[Not present in prior version]
(ii)
(ii) In which at least one of the 8(a) program participants that is a party to the joint venture complies with the criteria set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause; and
5 added, 5 removed
(3)
[Not present in prior version]
(3)
(3) A joint venture -
30 added, 5 removed
(iii)
[Not present in prior version]
(iii)
(iii) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and serviced by __[Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Regional Office(s) as identified by the SBA].
SEP 2022 September 23, 2022 SUBSTANTIVE
Removed in this version
Added in this version
Unchanged
FEB 2020 (previous)
SEP 2022 (current)
19 added, 74 removed
(2)
(2) The [insert name of SBA's contractor] will notify the [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock or other ownership interest to any other party. (End of clause) Alternate I (JAN 2017). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(3) to paragraph (a) of the clause:
(2)
(2) The Offeror is in conformance with the Business Activity Targets set forth in its approved business plan or any remedial action directed by the SBA.
1 added, 79 removed
(d)(1)
(d)(1) Agreement. A small business concern submitting an offer in its own name shall furnish, in performing the contract, only end items manufactured or produced by small business concerns in the United States or its outlying areas. If this procurement is processed under simplified acquisition procedures and the total amount of this contract does not exceed $25,000, a small business concern may furnish the product of any domestic firm. This paragraph does not apply to construction or service contracts.
(d)(1)
[Removed]
1 added, 74 removed
(3)
(3) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and serviced by _____* _____ (*Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Regional Office(s) as identified by the SBA). Alternate II (DEC 1996). When the acquisition is for a product in a class for which the Small Business Administration has determined that there are no small business manufacturers or processors in the Federal market in accordance with 19.502-2(c), delete subparagraph (d)(1).
(3)
[Removed]
74 added, 4 removed
(d)
[Not present in prior version]
(d)
(d) The __________ [insert name of SBA's contractor] shall notify the __________ [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock. (End of clause) Alternate I (JAN 2017). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(3) to paragraph (a) of the clause:
32 added, 5 removed
(a)(3)
[Not present in prior version]
(a)(3)
(a)(3) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and serviced by _____* _____ (*Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Regional Office(s) as identified by the SBA).
FEB 2020 February 27, 2020 SUBSTANTIVE
Removed in this version
Added in this version
Unchanged
JAN 2017 (previous)
FEB 2020 (current)
3 added, 3 removed
(2)
(2) The [insert name of SBA's contractor] will notify the [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock or other ownership interest to any other party. (End of clause) Alternate I (APR 2005). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) concerns within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(3) to paragraph (a) of the clause:
(2)
(2) The [insert name of SBA's contractor] will notify the [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock or other ownership interest to any other party. (End of clause) Alternate I (JAN 2017). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(3) to paragraph (a) of the clause:
JAN 2017 January 1, 2017 SUBSTANTIVE
Earliest version available from the eCFR

RFO Version

Comparison of the codified eCFR text against the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul revision. Highlights show additions (green) and deletions (red, struck through).

Clause Text

Substantive changes. The RFO version differs materially from the eCFR text.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.219-18 Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
1 added, 1 removed
As prescribed in 19.811-3(d), insert the following clause:
As prescribed in 19.108-10(d), insert the following clause:
2 added, 2 removed
(d)
(d) The __________ [insert name of SBA's contractor] shall notify the __________ [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock.
(d)
(d) The ____________ [insert name of SBA's contractor] shall notify the ____________ [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock.
2 added, 1 removed
(iii)
(iii) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and serviced by __[Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Area Office(s) as identified by the SBA].
(iii)
(iii) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and serviced by __ [Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Area Office(s) as identified by the SBA].
12 removed
[54 FR 46009, Oct. 31, 1989; 54 FR 48105, Nov. 21, 1989]
30 removed
Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting section 52.219-18, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.
Applied to DoD contracts via Class Deviation 2026-O0037 (effective 2026-02-01) .

Prescription

Minor revisions. The RFO prescription has formatting or editorial changes from the eCFR prescription.
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
Unchanged
52.219-18 Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants.: Prescription
eCFR (codified)
RFO (implemented)
3 added, 3 removed
(d)
(d) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-18, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants, in competitive solicitations and contracts when the acquisition is accomplished using the procedures of 19.805. Use the clause at 52.219-18 with its Alternate I when competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA districts pursuant to 19.804-2.
(d)
(d) The contracting officer must insert the clause at 52.219-18, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants, in competitive solicitations and contracts when the acquisition is accomplished using the procedures of 19.208-1. Use the clause at 52.219-18 with its Alternate I when competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA districts pursuant to 19.108-4(b).

Source: acquisition.gov RFO Part 52 · Prescribing Part 19

Active Class Deviations

DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 19) Add clause 52.219-18
MODIFIED
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