DOD, GSA, and NASA Update FAR to Provide for Accelerated Payments to Small Businesses and to Conform to SBA Regulations 

February, 2023 - Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt

In the past week, there were several important updates made to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) by the Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Accelerated Payments Applicable to Contracts with Certain Small Business Concerns

On February 14, 2023, DoD, GSA, and NASA issued a final rule implementing Section 873 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 to provide for accelerated payments to small business contractors and subcontractors.

The final rule amends FAR 52.212-5, FAR 52.232-40, and FAR 52.244-6 to provide for accelerated payments to small businesses, defined as a “goal” of payment within 15 days of submission of a proper invoice.

The revised regulations say DoD will provide the following:

accelerated payments, to the fullest extent permitted by law, with a goal of 15 days after receipt of a proper invoice and all other required documentation, if a specific payment date is not established by contract, to—

(i)        Small business contractors; and

(ii)       Prime contractors that subcontract with a small business concern, if the prime contractor agrees to make payments to the small business subcontractor within 15 days of receiving the accelerated payment from the Government, after receipt of a proper invoice and all other required documentation from the small business subcontractor, to the maximum extent practicable, without any further consideration from or fees charged to the subcontractor.

These revisions might result in faster payment to small businesses that are either prime contractors on DoD contracts or subcontractors to prime contractors on DoD contracts.

Federal Acquisition Regulation: Small Business Program Amendments

On February 14, 2023, DoD, GSA, and NASA also issued a final rule amending the FARs to implement several changes made to Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations.

The final rule amends several solicitation provisions and contract clauses at FAR 52.204-8, 52.212-1, 52.212-5, 52.219-1, 52.219-18, and 52.219-28.

The changes include:

These revisions conform the FARs to the revisions made to SBA’s regulations in SBA’s final rule published on November 29, 2019. These changes will hopefully clarify any inconsistencies between the FARs and SBA’s regulations, and reduce confusion for contracting officers and 8(a) entities.

This article summarizes aspects of the law and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice for ‎your situation, you should contact an attorney.

 



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