What is a subcontracting plan, and how do I get a large prime to count my firm toward its goals?

A subcontracting plan is a formal document that large prime contractors must submit to the government when their contract is expected to exceed certain dollar thresholds, outlining their commitment to utilize small businesses as subcontractors. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires an apparently successful other-than-small offeror to submit an acceptable small business subcontracting plan when a solicitation is expected to exceed $900,000, or $2 million for construction, and has subcontracting possibilities (FAR 19.702(a)(1)). These plans detail specific goals for subcontracting with various small business categories, including Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) concerns. To make it easy for a prime to count your firm, you need to ensure your WOSB certification is current with the SBA and that your firm's registration in SAM.gov is active and accurate, reflecting your WOSB status. Your capability statement should clearly highlight your WOSB status and your specific engineering capabilities that align with the prime's needs.

A subcontracting plan requires the prime to report its progress against those goals to the contracting officer, typically through the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS). The contracting officer will verify your firm's WOSB status in SAM.gov at the time of award, and your firm needs to be certified by the SBA. Your firm's NAICS code and size standard also need to align with the work you are performing for the prime. Luis is right that your SAM.gov registration must be active and current.