The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is undergoing its most significant overhaul in decades, and FAR Part 19—Small Business Programs—is front and center. These changes reshape how agencies must consider small business set-asides, sole-source awards, and competition thresholds. For 8(a) firms, the message is clear: the rules of the game are shifting, and staying competitive requires more than just certification.
That’s why Capitol 50 is introducing our Competitive Edge Program (CEP); a tailored, all-inclusive program designed to help 8(a) contractors adapt to the new FAR landscape and thrive in a more competitive federal marketplace.
What’s Changing Under FAR Part 19?
The FAR overhaul reinforces government-wide priorities around small business utilization while tightening compliance and competition requirements. Highlights include:
· Set-Aside Threshold Adjustments: Agencies have updated guidance on when acquisitions must be reserved for small businesses. This means 8(a) firms may see increased opportunities at lower thresholds—but also more competition at higher ones.
· Sole-Source Awards Scrutiny: FAR clarifies conditions for sole-source awards under the 8(a) program, making it harder to rely exclusively on directed work.
· Consolidation & Category Management Pressure: Agencies are being pushed to consolidate requirements under larger vehicles. This means 8(a) firms must position themselves to compete—or partner—within bigger acquisition strategies.
· Greater Data & Compliance Oversight: FAR changes bring heightened expectations around reporting, subcontracting, and demonstrating capacity. Firms must show not just eligibility, but credibility.
The bottom line: 8(a) status alone won’t guarantee future wins. Firms must prove value, readiness, and differentiation in increasingly complex competitions.
How the Competitive Edge Program (CEP) Helps
Capitol 50’s CEP is built to directly address these FAR Part 19 changes and the realities of the FAR rewrite.
1. Capture & Proposal Readiness We help 8(a) firms build proposal engines that meet new compliance requirements and rise above competition. From technical narratives to price realism, CEP aligns your bids with FAR expectations.
2. Strategic Positioning Beyond Set-Asides With sole-source pathways narrowing, CEP equips you with strategies to compete in open-market acquisitions and on consolidated vehicles, ensuring your firm can win beyond the safety net of 8(a).
3. Compliance & Reporting Support FAR changes emphasize accountability. CEP provides frameworks to manage subcontracting plans, data calls, and compliance documentation; helping you stay audit-ready.
4. Market Transition Planning For firms nearing the end of the 8(a) program, CEP ensures you exit with the right past performance, teaming partnerships, and proposal systems to remain competitive in the “post-8(a)” marketplace.
Why Now?
The FAR overhaul is not theoretical—it’s happening. Contracting officers are already applying new standards to acquisition strategies. If your business model depends solely on 8(a) awards without building broader competitiveness, you risk losing ground.
CEP isn’t just another advisory service—it’s a structured, end-to-end program that helps you adapt to FAR 19 changes, build compliance muscle, and secure wins in a shifting federal landscape.
Take Back the Edge
At Capitol 50, we’ve spent decades helping small businesses navigate GSA, MAS, and agency-level contracting shifts. The Competitive Edge Program is our newest commitment to ensuring 8(a) firms don’t just survive FAR changes—they leverage them.
Ready to adapt to the FAR 19 overhaul and strengthen your competitive position? Schedule a CEP Discovery Call with our team today.
