Expanded definitions
Acquisition
The acquiring of supplies or services by the federal government with appropriated funds through purchase or lease.
Affiliates
Business concerns, organizations, or individuals that control each other or that are controlled by a third party. Control may include shared management or ownership; common use of facilities, equipment, and employees; or family interest.
Asian-Indian American
A U.S. citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Asian-Pacific Americans
A U.S. citizen whose origins are from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
Best and Final Offer
For negotiated procurements, a contractor's final offer following the conclusion of discussions.
Black-American
A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
Certificate of Competency
A certificate issued by the Small Business Administration (SBA) stating that the holder is "responsible" (in terms of capability, competency, capacity, credit, integrity, perseverance, and tenacity) for the purpose of receiving and performing a specific government contract.
Certified 8(a) Firm
A firm owned and operated by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and eligible to receive federal contracts under the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program.
Concern
Any business entity organized for profit (even if its ownership is in the hands of a nonprofit entity) With a place of business located in the United States and which makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes and/ or use of American products, material and/or labor, etc. Concern includes but is not limited to an individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, association, or cooperative. For the purpose of making affiliation findings (see FAR 19.101) any business entity, whether organized for profit or not, and any foreign business entity; i.e., any entity located outside the United States, shall be included.
Contract
A mutually binding legal relationship obligating the seller to furnish supplies or services (including construction) and the buyer to pay for them.
Contracting
Purchasing, renting, leasing, or otherwise obtaining supplies or services from nonfederal sources. Contracting includes the description of supplies and services required, the selection and solicitation of sources, the preparation and award of contracts, and all phases of contract administration. It does not include grants or cooperative agreements.
Contracting Officer
A person with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings.
Contractor Team Arrangement
An arrangement in which (a) two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as potential prime contractor; or (b) an agreement by a potential prime contractor with one or more other companies to have them act as its subcontractors under a specified government contract or acquisition program.
Defense Acquisition Regulatory Council (DARC)
A group composed of representatives from each Military department, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and that is in charge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) on a joint basis with the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC).
Defense Contractor
Any person who enters into a contract with the United States for the production of material or for the performance of services for the national defense.
Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise
A business concern certified by the administering agency as meeting all of the following requirements: [1] It is a sole proprietorship at least 51% owned by one or more disabled veterans or, in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51% of its stock is owned by one or more disabled veterans; a subsidiary which is wholly owned by a parent corporation, but only if t least 51% of the voting stock of the parent corporation is owned by one or more disabled veterans; or a joint venture in which at least 51% of the joint venture's management and control and earnings are held by one or more disabled veterans. [2] The management and control of the daily business operations are by one or more disabled veterans. The disabled veterans who exercise management and control are not required to be the same disabled veterans as the owners of the business concern. [3] It is a sole proprietorship, corporation, or partnership with its home office located in the United States, which is not a branch or subsidiary of a foreign corporation, foreign firm, or other foreign-based business.
Diversity-Owned Business
A diversity-owned business is a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated and controlled by diversity group members. "Diversity group members" are United States citizens who are Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American. Ownership by diversity individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, those diversity group members control the management and daily operations.
Economically Disadvantaged Individuals
Economically Disadvantaged Individuals means socially disadvantaged individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system is impaired due to diminished opportunities to obtain capital and credit as compared to others in the same line of business that are not socially disadvantaged. Individuals who certify that they are members of named groups (Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian- Pacific Americans, and Subcontinent-Asian Americans) are to be considered socially and economically disadvantaged.
Emerging Small Business
Emerging Small Business -A small business concern whose size is no greater than 50 percent of the numerical size standard applicable to the Standard Industrial Classification code assigned to a contracting opportunity.
Fair and Reasonable Price
Fair and Reasonable Price -A price that is fair to both parties, considering the agreed-upon conditions, promised quality, and timeliness of contract performance. "Fair and reasonable" price is subject to statutory and regulatory limitations.
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
The body of regulations, which is the primary source of authority governing the government procurement process. The FAR, which is published as Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations, is prepared, issued, and maintained under the joint auspices of the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services Administration, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Actual responsibility for maintenance and revision of the FAR is vested jointly in the Defense Acquisition Regulatory Council (DARC) and the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC).
Full and Open Competition
With respect to a contract action, "full and open" competition means that all responsible sources are permitted to compete.
Handicapped Individual
A person who has a physical, mental or emotional impairment, defect, ailment, disease or disability of a permanent nature, which in any way limits the selection of the type of employment for which the person would otherwise be qualified or qualifiable.
Hispanic-American
A U.S. citizen of trueborn Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin only.
Indian Tribe
Any Indian tube, band, nations, or other organized group of community of Indians, including any Alaska Native Corporation as defined in 13 CFR 124.100 which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the U.S. to Indians because of their status as Indians, or which is recognized as such by the State in which such tribe, band, nation, group, or community resides.
Labor surplus area
A geographical area identified by the Department of Labor in accordance with 20 CFR Part 654, Subpart A, as an area of concentrated unemployment or underemployment or an area of labor surplus.
Labor surplus area concern
A concern that together with its first-tier sub-contractors will perform substantially in labor surplus areas. Performance is substantially in labor surplus areas if the costs incurred under the contract on account of manufacturing, production, or performance of appropriate services in labor 'sent of the contract surplus areas exceed 50 per price.
Native Americans
A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number).
Native Hawaiian Organization
Any community service organization serving Native Hawaiians in, and chartered as a not-for-profit organization by, the State of Hawaii, which is controlled by Native Hawaiians, and whose business activities will principally benefit such Native Hawaiians.
Partnering
A mutually beneficial business-to-business relationship based on trust and commitment and that enhances the capabilities of both parties.
Prime Contract
A contract awarded directly by the Federal government.
Public or private organization for the handicapped
An organization which (a) is organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, operated in the interest of handicapped individuals, the net income of which does not inure in whole or in part the benefit of any shareholder or other individual; (b) complies with any applicable occupational health and safety standard prescribed by the Secretary of Labor; and (c) employs in the production of commodities and in the provision of services, handicapped individuals for not less than 75 percent of the direct labor required for the production or provision of the commodities or services.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
A document outlining a government agency's requirements and the criteria for the evaluation of offers.
Small Business Concern
A concern, including it affiliates, that is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in the field of operation for which it is bidding on government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR part 121 (see FAR 19.102). Such a concern is not dominant in its field of operation when it does not exercise a controlling or major influence on a national basis in a kind of business activity in which a number of business concerns are primarily engaged. Past three year average revenue less than: Building maintenance services $12M Computer maintenance & repair $18M Computer programming $18M Equipment rental & leasing $ 6M Security systems services $ 9M Special trade contractors $ 7M (plumbing, HVAC, oleo., flooring, etc) Temporary help services $ 5m Computer rental & leasing $18M Employs less than: Computer peripheral equipment 1,000 Electronic components 500 Fabricated metal products 500 Furniture & fixtures 500.
Small Disadvantaged Business concern
A small business concern that is at least 51 percent unconditionally owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged, or a publicly owned business that has at least 51 percent of its stock unconditionally owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and that has its management and daily business controlled by one or more such individuals. This term also means a small business concern that is at least 51 percent unconditionally owned by an economically disadvantaged Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian Organization, or a publicly owned business that has at least 51 percent of its stock unconditionally owned by one of these entities, that has its management and daily business controlled by members of an economically disadvantaged Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian Organization, and that meets the requirements of 13 CFR part 124.
Socially Disadvantaged Individuals
An individual who have been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identify as a member of a group without regard to their qualities as individuals.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code
A code representing a category within the Standard Industrial Classification System administered by the Statistical Policy Division of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The system was established to classify all industries in the US economy. A two-digit code designates each major industry group, which is coupled with a second two-digit code representing subcategories.
Subcontinent Asian Americans
A United States citizens whose origins are in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal.
Subcontract
A contract between a prime contractor and a subcontractor to furnish supplies or services for the performance of a prime contract or subcontract.
Women-owned Small Business
A small business concerns; a) Which is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women b) Whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.
