Inspector General report on participation in FAA programs by disadvantaged small business concerns

Section 140 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 is amended— (1)in subsection (c)— (A)in paragraph (1) by striking each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017 and inserting fiscal year 2017 and periodically thereafter; and (B)in paragraph (3)(A) by striking a list and inserting with respect to the large and medium hub airports in the United States that participate in the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program referenced in subsection (a), a list; and (2)by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Assessment of efforts

The Inspector General shall assess the efforts of the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to implementing recommendations suggested in reports submitted under subsection (c) and shall include in each semiannual report of the Inspector General that is submitted to Congress a description of the results of such assessment.

Minority and disadvantaged business participation

Section 47113 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (c)— (A)by striking The Secretary shall and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall

; and

(B)by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Consistency of information

The Secretary shall develop and maintain a training program— (A)for employees of the Federal Aviation Administration who provide guidance and training to entities that certify whether a small business concern qualifies under this section (and for employees of the other modal administrations of the Department of Transportation who provide similar services); and (B)that ensures Federal officials provide consistent communications with respect to certification requirements. (3)

Lists of certifying authorities

The Secretary shall ensure that each State maintains an accurate list of the certifying authorities in such State for purposes of this section and that the list is— (A)updated at least twice each year; and (B)made available to the public.

;

(2)in subsection (e) by adding at the end the following:

(4)

Reporting

The Secretary shall determine, for each fiscal year, the number of individuals who received training under this subsection and shall make such number available to the public on an appropriate website operated by the Secretary. If the Secretary determines, with respect to a fiscal year, that fewer individuals received training under this subsection than in the previous fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make available to the public on an appropriate website operated by the Secretary, a report describing the reasons for the decrease. (5)

Assessment

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall assess the training program, including by soliciting feedback from stakeholders, and update the training program as appropriate.

; and

(3)by adding at the end the following:

(f)

Trend assessment

(1)

In general

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, and at least every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall study, using information reported by airports, trends in the participation of small business concerns referred to in subsection (b). (2)

Contents

The study under paragraph (1) shall include— (A)an analysis of whether the participation of small business concerns referred to in subsection (b) at reporting airports increased or decreased during the period studied, including for such concerns that were first time participants; (B)an analysis of the factors relating to any significant increases or decreases in participation compared to prior years; and (C)development of a plan to respond to the results of the study, including development of recommendations for sharing best practices for maintaining or boosting participation. (3)

Reporting

For each study completed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make available to the program contact at each airport that participates in the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program, a report describing the results of the study.

Passenger facility charges

Section 40117(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(5)With respect to an application under this subsection that relates to an airport that participates in the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program referenced in section 140(a) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 47113 note), the application shall include a detailed description of good faith efforts at the airport to contract with disadvantaged business enterprises in relation to any project that is a subject of the application and to ensure that all small businesses, including those owned by veterans, fairly compete for work funded with passenger facility charges.

Annual tracking of certain new firms at airports with a disadvantaged business enterprise program

(a)

Tracking required

Beginning in fiscal year 2017, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall require each covered airport to report to the Administrator on the number of new disadvantaged business enterprises that were awarded a contract or concession during the previous fiscal year at the airport. (b)

Training

The Administrator shall provide training to airports, on an ongoing basis, with respect to compliance with subsection (a). (c)

Reporting

During the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act and every fiscal year thereafter, the Administrator shall update dbE–Connect (or any successor online reporting system) to include information on the number of new disadvantaged business enterprises that were awarded a contract or concession during the previous fiscal year at a covered airport. (d)

Covered airport defined

In this section, the term covered airport means a large or medium hub airport that participates in the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program referenced in section 140(a) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 47113 note).

Audits

The Inspector General of the Department of Transportation shall conduct periodic audits regarding the accuracy of the data on disadvantaged business enterprises contained in the Federal Aviation Administration’s reporting database related to such enterprises or any similar or successor online reporting database developed by the Administration.

Prompt payments

(a)

Reporting of complaints

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall ensure that each airport that participates in the Program tracks, and reports to the Administrator, the number of covered complaints made in relation to activities at that airport. (b)

Improving compliance

(1)

In general

The Administrator shall take actions to assess and improve compliance with prompt payment requirements under part 26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. (2)

Contents of assessment

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall assess— (A)whether requirements relating to the inclusion of prompt payment language in contracts are being satisfied; (B)whether and how airports are enforcing prompt payment requirements; (C)the processes by which covered complaints are received and resolved by airports; (D)whether improvements need to be made to— (i)better track covered complaints received by airports; and (ii)assist the resolution of covered complaints in a timely manner; (E)the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms with respect to resolving covered complaints; (F)best practices that ensure prompt payment requirements are satisfied; (G)the Federal Aviation Administration resources, including staff, that are dedicated to helping resolve covered complaints; and (H)how the Federal Aviation Administration can enhance efforts to resolve covered complaints, including by using timelines and providing additional staffing and other resources. (3)

Reporting

The Administrator shall make available to the public on an appropriate website operated by the Administrator a report describing the results of the assessment completed under this subsection, including a plan to respond to such results. (c)

Definitions

In this section, the following definitions apply: (1)

Covered complaint

The term covered complaint means a complaint relating to an alleged failure to satisfy a prompt payment requirement under part 26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. (2)

Program

The term Program means the airport disadvantaged business enterprise program referenced in section 140(a) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 47113 note).