FAR 52.219-2 — Equal Low Bids

Solicitation provision · dated Oct 1995 · prescribed in FAR 19.309(b) · current through FAC 2026-01

In plain English

FAR 52.219-2, Equal Low Bids, is a solicitation provision prescribed at FAR 19.309(b), most recently dated Oct 1995. The complete official text is reproduced below, verbatim, from GSA's published FAR source files.

Its text contains no sentence requiring insertion into subcontracts; see the flowdown section below for what that does and does not mean.

Does it flow down to subcontracts?

No flowdown mandate found in the clause text

This is a solicitation provision — it applies to offerors when submitting an offer, not to contract performance, so subcontract flowdown is generally not the operative question for it.

Where it's prescribed

As prescribed in 19.309(b), insert the following provision:

Prescribing reference: FAR 19.309(b).

The official text, verbatim

FAR 52.219-2 · Oct 1995 current through FAC 2026-01 acquisition.gov eCFR (48 CFR)

As prescribed in 19.309(b), insert the following provision:

Equal Low Bids (Oct 1995)

  • (a) This provision applies to small business concerns only.

  • (b) The bidder’s status as a labor surplus area (LSA) concern may affect entitlement to award in case of tie bids. If the bidder wishes to be considered for this priority, the bidder must identify, in the following space, the LSA in which the costs to be incurred on account of manufacturing or production (by the bidder or the first-tier subcontractors) amount to more than 50 percent of the contract price.

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  • (c) Failure to identify the labor surplus areas as specified in paragraph (b) of this provision will preclude the bidder from receiving priority consideration. If the bidder is awarded a contract as a result of receiving priority consideration under this provision and would not have otherwise received award, the bidder shall perform the contract or cause the contract to be performed in accordance with the obligations of an LSA concern.

(End of provision)

The text above is reproduced from GSA's published FAR source files (GSA/GSA-Acquisition-FAR @ da52ccb (2026-03-30)), retrieved 2026-07-17. The official publication at acquisition.gov / eCFR controls if they differ.