119 HR 787 RH: Plain Language in Contracting Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-03-24 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IBUnion Calendar No. 23119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 787[Report No. 119–34]IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 28, 2025Mr. LaLota (for himself, Mr. Tran, and Mr. Thanedar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small BusinessMarch 24, 2025Additional sponsor: Ms. GoodlanderMarch 24, 2025Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printedStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicFor text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 28, 2025A BILLTo require plain language and the inclusion of key words in covered notices that are clear, concise, and accessible to small business concerns, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Plain Language in Contracting Act.

2.

Accessibility and clarity in covered notices for small business concerns

(a)

In general

Each covered notice shall be written in a manner—(1)such that a small business concern can easily understand the intent of the covered notice; and(2)that—(A)is clear, concise, and well-organized; and(B)to the maximum extent practicable, follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field of the covered notice and the intended audience of the covered notice.(b)

Inclusion of key words in covered notices

Each covered notice shall, to the maximum extent practicable, include key words in the description of the covered notice such that a small business concern seeking contract opportunities using the single Government-wide point of entry described under section 1708 of title 41, United States Code, can easily identify and understand such covered notice.(c)

Rulemaking

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall issue rules to carry out this section.(d)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Covered notice

The term covered notice means a notice pertaining to small business concerns published by a Federal agency on the single Government-wide point of entry described under section 1708 of title 41, United States Code.(2)

Small Business Act definitions

The terms Federal agency and small business concern have the meanings given those terms, respectively, in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).

3.

Compliance with CUTGO

No additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.

March 24, 2025Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed