[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 48, Volume 5] [Revised as of October 1, 2006] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 48CFR819.602-3] [Page 187-188] TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM CHAPTER 8--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PART 819_SMALL BUSINESS AND SMALL DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS CONCERNS--Table of Contents Subpart 819.6_Certificates of Competency and Determinations of Eligibility Sec. 819.602-3 Appealing Small Business Administration's decision to issue Certificates of Competency. Formal VA appeals of an initial concurrence by the SBA Central Office in an SBA Regional Office decision to issue a Certificate of Competency (CoC) will be processed as follows: (a) When the contracting officer believes that VA should formally appeal the concurrence by the SBA Central Office in an SBA Regional Office decision to issue a CoC, the contracting officer will so notify the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management (95B) in writing within five business days after receipt of the SBA Central Office's written confirmation of its determination. Within ten business days of the contracting officer's receipt of the SBA's written confirmation (or within a period acceptable to VA and the SBA), the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management (95B) will advise the SBA Central Office that VA intends to file a formal appeal. (b) Within ten business days of the contracting officer's receipt of the SBA Central Office's written confirmation, the contracting officer will furnish an original and one copy of the appeal file to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management (95B). The file must contain a copy of the bid/offer from the firm considered nonresponsible, a copy of the bid/offer from the firm otherwise in line for award, a copy of the bid, a copy of the bid abstract, a copy of SBA's CoC Review Committee report, a copy of all correspondence with SBA on the matter, and the contracting officer's narrative statement establishing the error, omission, or other basis for disputing SBA's proposed responsibility determination. (c) The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management (95B) will review the file prepared by the contracting officer. If the contracting officer's position is accepted, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management (95B) will transmit the formal appeal to the SBA Central Office within ten business days after notifying that office of VA's intent to appeal (or within a period acceptable to VA and the SBA). The contracting officer will be informed of the final SBA decision. (d) If, after the Central Office review, it is decided that a formal appeal should not be made to the SBA, the contracting officer will be advised of this decision and that the CoC should be accepted by VA. The SBA Central Office will also be advised that VA will [[Page 188]] not pursue its formal appeal. If the decision concerns major construction projects and the Office of Facilities Management disagrees with the decision made by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management, the matter will be referred to the Senior Procurement Executive for a final VA determination. [52 FR 46083, Dec. 4, 1987, as amended at 54 FR 40064, Sept. 29, 1989; 63 FR 69220, Dec. 16, 1998]