(a) The contracting officer shall set aside an individual acquisition or class of acquisitions for competition among small businesses when-

(1) It is determined to be in the interest of maintaining or mobilizing the Nation’s full productive capacity, war or national defense programs; or

(2) Assuring that a fair proportion of Government contracts in each industry is placed with small business concerns; and the circumstances described in 19.502-2 or 19.502-3(a) exist.

(b) The requirement in paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to purchases at or below the micro-purchase threshold, or purchases from required sources under part  8(e.g., Committee for Purchase From People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled).