It Takes Two is the name of a 1995 film starring Kirstie Alley, Steve Guttenberg, and the Olsen twins. With such a star-studded cast, I’m at a loss for why the film merits only a 5.1 rating from the harsh critics at IMDb. I am far too busy to investigate this apparent injustice by screening the film myself. However, “it takes two” is worth keeping in mind, because it sums up one of the most important rules for small government contractors.
Under the FAR, agencies are typically required to set-aside procurements exceeding $150,000 for small businesses if there is a reasonable expectation that at least two responsible small businesses will submit offers at fair market prices. When an agency fails to conduct adequate market research to determine whether the “rule of two” can be met, the GAO will sustain a bid protest, as was the case in DNO Inc., B-406256, B-406256.2 (Mar. 22, 2012).