Department of the Interior Acquisition Policy Release (DIAPR) 2002- 03

SUBJECT:Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program (SBCDP) Adjustment of Set-aside Policy

1. Purpose:

This policy release provides bureau and office contracting personnel with updated information regarding the SBCDP.

2. Effective Date:

The instructions contained in this release are applicable to solicitations issued on or after March 15, 2002,and supersede previously issued changes in the Designated Industry Group (DIG) set-aside policy (see DIAPR 2002-5).

3. Expiration Date:

This policy release remains effective unless superseded or canceled.

4. Background and Explanation:

Current policy established by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and the Small Business Administration calls for participating agencies to monitor attainment of their small business participation goals and make adjustments in set-aside policy on an annual basis.

Normal practice is to analyze data for the most recent complete fiscal year and direct changes in set-aside policy based on this analysis. However, due to a temporary shutdown of Internet service to the National Business Center complete data for FY 2001 is not available. Consequently, the FY 2000 report is the most current one on DOI procurement activity within the DIGs (see Attachment 1).

The FY 2000 report indicates that the dollar value of awards to small business:

1. Rose above the 40 percent goal in refuse systems product/service code (PSC) S205;

2. Continued to exceed the 40 percent goal in non-nuclear repair and all construction groups;

3. Fell below the 35 percent goal in architectural and engineering (A-E) services PSCs C111,C130, C212, and C215,

4. Remained below the 35 percent goal in A-E services PSCs C211, C213*, C214, C216*, and C219; and

5. Rose above the 35 percent goal in A-E services PSCs C119 and T009.

For your ready reference, Attachment 2 provides a full description of PSCs affected by set-aside policy changes.

5. Action Required:

A. Specific. Small Business set-aside policy within the Department is adjusted as follows:

B.General. Where no instructions are specified above, bureaus and offices listed above shall use full and open competition exclusively for DIG procurements estimated to exceed the "Reserve Amount for Emerging Small Businesses."

Bureaus and offices other than those listed above shall use full and open competition exclusively for all DIG procurements estimated to exceed the "Reserve Amount for Emerging Small Businesses."

Note: The Reserve Amounts are $50,000 for A-E services and $25,000 for the other DIGs. Included in Attachment 1 is a copy of our report on the Targeted Industry Categories (TICs).

Please contact Frank Gisondi, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization ((202)208-4907), if you should have any questions regarding the SBCDP.

Category/Code	Set-aside Adjustment
A-E Services PSC C111, C130, and C215	The National Park Service (NPS) will reinstate the use of small business set-asides where possible.
Refuse Systems PSC S205 and A-E Services PSC C119	The NPS will reinstate the use of full and open competition.
A-E Services PSC C212	The NPS and Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) will reinstate the use of set-asides.
A-E Services PSC C213* and C219	NPS and FWS will continue the use of set-asides.
A-E Services PSC C214	NPS will continue using set-asides where possible and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) will reinstate the use of full and open competition.
A-E Services PSC C216*	NPS will continue the use of set-asides.
A-E Services PSC C219	BOR and the Geological Survey (USGS) will reinstate the use of full & open competition.
A-E Services PSC T009	The USGS will reinstate the use of full & open competition.

Debra E. Sonderman, Director Office of Acquisition and Property Management
Attachment