(a) The HCA is the agency head's designee for the purposes of FAR 7.103.

(b) The CAO may establish acquisition planning criteria and dollar approval thresholds for those bureaus that:

(1) Fail to allow ample time for conducting competitive acquisitions;

(2) Develop a pattern of awarding urgent requirements that generally restrict competition;

(3) Fail to identify identical or like requirements that, where appropriate, can be combined under one solicitation, and thereby miss opportunities to obtain lower costs through volume purchasing, reduced administrative costs in processing one contract action versus multiple actions, and standardizing goods and services.

In the case of bundled requirements, as defined in FAR 7.104(d)(2) and 7.107, the contracting officer shall consult with the bureau Small Business Technical Advisor (SBTA). After receiving concurrence from the bureau SBTA, the contracting officer will provide a copy of the proposed acquisition package to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Procurement Center Representative (PCR) and a copy to the DOJ Director, Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Unit (OSDBU), at least 30 days prior to the solicitation issuance. The SBA PCR is required to make any alternative recommendations to the contracting officer within 15 days after receipt of the package. If the SBA does not respond in this timeframe, the contracting officer may proceed as planned with the procurement.