(c) The Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) shall be a member of the Senior Executive Service and appointed by the Secretary of Transportation. (15 U.S.C. 637, 644, and 657)

(d) The responsible HCA for each OA shall appoint a Small Business Specialist (SBS). The SBS will assist the OSDBU Director in carrying out the functions and duties prescribed in FAR 19.201(d). A list of DOT SBS is provided at OSDBU's website at https://www.transportation.gov/osdbu/procurement-assistance/talk-dot-small-business-specialist.

As required by the Small Business Act, the Secretary shall establish annual goals for small business participation in DOT contracts and subcontracts. Each contracting activity in consultation with the OSDBU on behalf of the Secretary shall establish annual goals that present, for that activity, the maximum practicable opportunity for small business concerns to participate in the performance of the activity's contracts and subcontracts.

OSDBU is responsible for reviewing procurement strategies and subcontracting efforts, establishing review thresholds and making recommendations to further the implementation of this part. The OSDBU Director may waive review of certain classes of acquisitions that the Director identifies as providing limited or no opportunity for small business participation or may delegate review of such acquisitions to the OA Small Business Specialists.

The OSDBU shall prepare and maintain DOT's Procurement Forecast in coordination with DOT Operating Administrations. The forecast will be published every year on or before October 1st and can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/osdbu/procurement-forecast/summary. Contracting officers and small business specialists will work with the OSDBU to maintain accurate procurement forecast information.

(a) The OSDBU Director will be the primary point of contact with the U.S. Small Business Administration and facilitate the formulation of policies to ensure maximum practicable opportunities are available to small business concerns in prime and subcontracting opportunities.

(a) Contracting officers shall set aside to small business concerns acquisitions of supplies or services that have an anticipated dollar value above the micro-purchase threshold but not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, as prescribed at FAR 13.003(b)(1). Contracting officers shall set aside proposed acquisitions exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold for small business concerns unless it is determined there is not a reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more responsible small business concerns that are competitive in terms of market prices, quality, and delivery (see FAR 19.502-2). Contracting officers will document their determination utilizing the DOT Form 4250.1, which will include the results of the market research performed, including justifications.

(a) If the contracting officer rejects a recommendation of the SBA procurement center representative, the contracting officer will coordinate with the OSDBU to submit a written notice to the SBA within 5 working days of the contracting officer's receipt of the recommendation.

(a) If the contracting officer makes a determination before contract award that a set-aside is disadvantageous to the public interest, withdrawal of an individual small business set-aside shall be initiated by giving written notice to the small business specialist, the SBA procurement center representative and the OSDBU stating the reasons for withdrawal.

(b) If the agency small business specialist does not agree to a withdrawal or modification, the case shall be referred to the COCO for review prior to consulting with the assigned SBA representative. The contracting officer shall follow the documentation requirements of FAR 19.506(c).

(f) The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (S-40) is responsible for acknowledging receipt of, or rejecting, the Summary Subcontract Report (SSR) in the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS).

(e) The Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) have entered into a Partnership Agreement (PA) delegating SBA's contract execution and administrative functions to DOT. Contracting officers shall follow the alternate procedures in this subpart, as applicable, to award 8(a) contracts under the PA. (See https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.dev/files/docs/Department%20of%20Transportation_Partnership%20Agreement.pdf.)

(1) The SBA delegates only the authority to sign contracts on its behalf. Consistent with the provisions of the PA, the SBA remains the prime contractor on all 8(a) contracts, continues to determine eligibility of concerns for contract award, and retains appeal rights under FAR 19.810.

(2) The PA sets forth the delegation of authority and establishes the basic procedures for expediting the award of 8(a) contract requirements as reflected in this subpart.

(3) Contracts awarded under the PA may be awarded directly to the 8(a) participant on either a sole source or competitive basis. An SBA signature on the contract is not required. See FAR 19.811-3 for contract clauses to use.

(b) Contracting officers requesting the release of a requirement for a non-8(a) procurement will follow procedures prescribed at FAR 19.815 and submit requests through the DOT OSDBU Director. The OSDBU Director will submit the request to SBA's Associate Administrator for Business Development for consideration.

(a) The Small Business Administration provides general oversight to Federal mentor-protégé programs. However, DOT has its own program tailored to assist small business concerns in the transportation industry to enhance their capability to compete for Federal procurement opportunities. The program is administered by the DOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at https://www.transportation.gov/osdbu/procurement-assistance/mentor-protege-pilot-program.

(b) Small business concerns and large DOT prime contractors are encouraged to participate in the Department's Mentor-Protégé Program. Mentor firms provide eligible small business Protégé firms with developmental assistance to enhance their business capabilities and ability to obtain Federal contracts.

(c) Mentor firms are eligible small businesses and large DOT prime contractors or other socioeconomic firms capable of providing developmental assistance. Protégé firms are small businesses as defined in 13 CFR part 121.

(d) Developmental assistance is technical, managerial, financial, and other mutually beneficial assistance that assists Protégé firms. The costs for developmental assistance will not be reimbursed to the Mentor firm.

(e) Mentor and Protégé firms shall submit an evaluation of the overall experience in the program to OSDBU at the conclusion of the agreement or the voluntary withdrawal by either party from the program, whichever occurs first. At the end of each year, the Mentor and Protégé firms will submit a report regarding program accomplishments under their agreement.

(f) Mentor or Protégé firms shall notify OSDBU in writing, at least 30 calendar days in advance of the effective date of the firm's withdrawal from the program.