[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35098-35107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14371]



[[Page 35097]]

Vol. 80

Thursday,

No. 117

June 18, 2015

Part XVII





Small Business Administration





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Unified Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 117 / Thursday, June 18, 2015 / 
Unified Agenda  

[[Page 35098]]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

13 CFR Ch. I


Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This Regulatory Agenda is a semiannual summary of all current 
and projected rulemakings and completed actions of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA). SBA expects that this summary information will 
enable the public to be more aware of, and effectively participate in, 
SBA's regulatory activity. SBA invites the public to submit comments on 
any aspect of this Agenda.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

General

    Please direct general comments or inquiries to Imelda A. Kish, Law 
Librarian, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205-6849, [email protected].

Specific

    Please direct specific comments and inquiries on individual 
regulatory activities identified in this Agenda to the individual 
listed in the summary of the regulation as the point of contact for 
that regulation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SBA provides this notice under the 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. sections 601 
to 612 and Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' 
which require each agency to publish a semiannual agenda of 
regulations. The Regulatory Agenda is a summary of all current and 
projected Agency rulemakings, as well as actions completed since the 
publication of the last Regulatory Agenda. SBA's last Semiannual 
Regulatory Agenda was published on December 22, 2014, at 79 FR 76788. 
The Semiannual Agenda of the SBA conforms to the Unified Agenda format 
developed by the Regulatory Information Service Center.
    Beginning with the fall 2007 edition, the Unified Agenda has been 
disseminated via the Internet. The complete Unified Agenda will be 
available online at www.reginfo.gov in a format that greatly enhances a 
user's ability to obtain information about the rules in SBA's Agenda.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires federal agencies to publish 
their regulatory flexibility agendas in the Federal Register. 
Therefore, SBA's printed agenda entries include regulatory actions that 
are in the SBA's regulatory flexibility agenda because they are likely 
to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Printing of these entries is limited to fields that contain 
information required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act's Agenda 
requirements. Additional information on these entries is available in 
the Unified Agenda published on the Internet.

Maria Contreras-Sweet,
Administrator.

              Small Business Administration--Prerule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
224.......................  Small Business Timber Set          3245-AG69
                             Aside Program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


           Small Business Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
225.......................  Small Business Development         3245-AE05
                             Center Program Revisions.
226.......................  Loan Program Miscellaneous         3245-AF85
                             Amendments.
227.......................  Implementation of Small            3245-AF88
                             Business Disaster
                             Response and Loan
                             Improvement Act:
                             Expedited Disaster
                             Assistance Program.
228.......................  Implementation of Small            3245-AF99
                             Business Disaster
                             Response and Loan
                             Improvement Act: Private
                             Disaster Loan Program.
229.......................  Office of Women Owned              3245-AG02
                             Business: Women's
                             Business Center Program.
230.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG16
                             Standards; Alternative
                             Size Standard for 7(a),
                             504, and Disaster Loan
                             Programs.
231.......................  Small Business HUBZone             3245-AG38
                             Program.
232.......................  Record Disclosure and              3245-AG52
                             Privacy.
233.......................  Small Business Innovation          3245-AG64
                             Research (SBIR) and Small
                             Business Technology
                             Transfer (STTR) Policy
                             Directives; Data Rights;
                             Phase III Award
                             Preference; Other
                             Clarifying Amendments.
234.......................  Small Business Investment          3245-AG66
                             Companies; Impact SBICs.
235.......................  Small Business Investment          3245-AG67
                             Companies; Passive
                             Business Expansion &
                             Technical Clarifications.
236.......................  Surety Bond Guarantee              3245-AG70
                             Program; Miscellaneous
                             Amendments.
237.......................  Credit for Lower Tier              3245-AG71
                             Subcontracting.
238.......................  Women-Owned Small Business         3245-AG72
                             Federal Contract Program.
239.......................  Affiliation for Business           3245-AG73
                             Loan Programs and Surety
                             Bond Guarantee Program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


             Small Business Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
240.......................  Small Business Mentor-             3245-AG24
                             Prot[eacute]g[eacute]
                             Programs.
241.......................  Agent Revocation and               3245-AG40
                             Suspension Procedures.
242.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG49
                             Standards: Employee Based
                             Size Standards in
                             Wholesale Trade and
                             Retail Trade.
243.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG50
                             Standards for
                             Manufacturing.

[[Page 35099]]

 
244.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG51
                             Standards: Industries
                             With Employee-Based Size
                             Standards Not Part of
                             Manufacturing, Wholesale
                             Trade, or Retail Trade.
245.......................  Small Business Government          3245-AG58
                             Contracting and National
                             Defense Authorization Act
                             of 2013 Amendments.
246.......................  Advisory Small Business            3245-AG59
                             Size Decisions.
247.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG60
                             Standards; Inflation
                             Adjustment to Monetary-
                             Based Size Standards.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Prerule Stage

224. Small Business Timber Set Aside Program

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 631; 15 U.S.C. 644(a)
    Abstract: Under the Small Business Timber Set-Aside Program, timber 
sales must be set aside for small business when small business 
participation falls below a certain amount. This threshold is based on 
a computation of small business participation in a prior five-year 
period. Through this ANPRM SBA will seek public comment and information 
on whether the saw timber volume purchased through stewardship timber 
contracts should be included, which may expand the small business set-
aside calculation. SBA will also seek public comment on whether the 
appraisal point used in set-aside sales should be the nearest small 
business mill to reflect the actual cost to an eligible bidder. In 
addition, SBA is requesting data from the timber industry to help 
evaluate the current program and economic impact of potential changes.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   03/25/15  80 FR 15697
ANPRM Comment Period End............   05/26/15
NPRM................................   12/00/15
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brenda J. Fernandez, Procurement Analyst, Small 
Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416, 
Phone: 202 205-7337, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG69

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Proposed Rule Stage

225. Small Business Development Center Program Revisions

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 634(b)(6); 15 U.S.C. 648
    Abstract: Updates the SBDC program regulations by amending the (1) 
procedures for approving applications for new Host SBDCs; (2) approval 
procedures for travel outside the continental U.S. and U.S. 
territories; (3) procedures and requirements regarding findings and 
disputes resulting from financial exams, programmatic reviews, 
accreditation reviews, and other SBA oversight activities; (4) 
requirements for new or renewal applications for SBDC grants, including 
the requirements for electronic submission through the approved 
electronic Government submission facility; and (5) provisions regarding 
the collection and use of the individual SBDC client data.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   04/02/15  80 FR 17708
ANPRM Comment Period End............   06/01/15
NPRM................................   01/00/16
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: J. Chancy Lyford, Deputy Associate Administrator, 
Office of Small Development Centers, Small Business Administration, 409 
Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7159, Fax: 202 
481-2613, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AE05

226. Loan Program Miscellaneous Amendments

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(31) and (35)
    Abstract: Preferred Lender Program (PLP) and SBA Express and Export 
Express lenders are those which have been delegated the loan decision 
without prior approval from SBA under certain circumstances. The 
Express programs will be memorialized in regulations in this proposal. 
Several minor modifications to the 504 Loan Program and governance 
rules for Certified Development Company (CDC) are also proposed in a 
follow-on to the recent Final Rule: 504 and 7(a) Loan Program Updates 
(March 21, 2014), along with alignment of terminology for 7(a) lenders 
that are federally regulated to synchronize with existing industry 
requirements. Finally, SBA plans to propose several miscellaneous 
amendments to improve operations of its finance and disaster programs.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Action               Date                 FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM......................   10/00/15  .................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Linda Rusche, Director, Office of Financial 
Assistance, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-6396, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AF85

227. Implementation of Small Business Disaster Response and Loan 
Improvement Act: Expedited Disaster Assistance Program

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636j
    Abstract: This proposed rule would establish and implement an 
expedited disaster assistance business loan program under which the SBA 
will guarantee short-term loans made by private lenders to eligible 
small businesses located in a catastrophic disaster area. The maximum 
loan amount is $150,000, and SBA will guarantee timely payment of 
principal and interest to the lender. The maximum loan term will be 180 
days, and the interest rate will be limited to 300 basis points over 
the Federal funds rate.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Action               Date                 FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM......................   11/00/15  .................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.

[[Page 35100]]

    Agency Contact: Linda Rusche, Director, Office of Financial 
Assistance, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-6396, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AF88

228. Implementation of Small Business Disaster Response and Loan 
Improvement Act: Private Disaster Loan Program

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636(c)
    Abstract: This proposed rule would establish and implement a 
private disaster loan program under which SBA will guarantee loans made 
by qualified lenders to eligible small businesses and homeowners 
located in a catastrophic disaster area. Private disaster loans made 
under this programs will have the same terms and conditions as SBA's 
direct disaster loans. In addition, SBA will guarantee timely payment 
of principal and interest to the lender. SBA may guarantee up to 85 
percent of any loan under this program, and the maximum loan amount is 
$2 million.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Action               Date                 FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM......................   11/00/15  .................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Linda Rusche, Director, Office of Financial 
Assistance, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-6396, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AF99

229. Office of Women Owned Business: Women's Business Center Program

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 631; 15 U.S.C. 656
    Abstract: SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) 
oversees a network of SBA-funded Women's Business Centers (WBCs) 
throughout the United States and its territories. WBCs provide 
management and technical assistance to small business concerns both 
nascent and established, with a focus on such businesses that are owned 
and controlled by women, or on women planning to start a business, 
especially women who are economically or socially disadvantaged. The 
training and counseling provided by the WBCs encompass a comprehensive 
array of topics, such as finance, management and marketing in various 
languages. This rule would propose to codify the requirements and 
procedures that govern the delivery, funding and evaluation of the 
management and technical assistance provided under the WBC Program. The 
rule would address, among other things, the eligibility criteria for 
selection as a WBC, use of Federal funds, standards for effectively 
carrying out program duties and responsibilities, and the requirements 
for reporting on financial and programmatic performance.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   04/22/15  80 FR 22434
ANPRM Comment Period End............   06/22/15  .......................
NPRM................................   05/00/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Bruce D. Purdy, Deputy Assistant Administrator, 
Office of Women's Business Ownership, Small Business Administration, 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7532, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG02

230. Small Business Size Standards; Alternative Size Standard for 7(A), 
504, and Disaster Loan Programs

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 111-240, sec 1116
    Abstract: SBA will amend its size eligibility criteria for Business 
Loans, community development company (CDC) loans under title V of the 
Small Business Investment Act (504) and economic injury disaster loans 
(EIDL). For the SBA 7(a) Business Loan Program and the 504 program, the 
amendments will provide an alternative size standard for loan 
applicants that do not meet the small business size standards for their 
industries. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act) established 
alternative size standards that apply to both of these programs until 
SBA's Administrator establishes other alternative size standards. For 
the disaster loan program, the amendments will provide an alternative 
size standard for loan applicants that do not meet the Small Business 
Size Standard for their industries. These alternative size standards do 
not affect other Federal Government programs, including Federal 
procurement.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Khem Raj Sharma, Chief, Office of Size 
Standards, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-6390, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG16

231. Small Business Hubzone Program

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 657a
    Abstract: SBA has been reviewing its processes and procedures for 
implementing the HUBZone program and has determined that several of the 
regulations governing the program should be amended in order to resolve 
certain issues that have arisen. As a result, the proposed rule would 
constitute a comprehensive revision of part 126 of SBA's regulations to 
clarify current HUBZone Program regulations, and implement various new 
procedures. The amendments will make it easier for participants to 
comply with the program requirements and enable them to maximize the 
benefits afforded by participation. In developing this proposed rule, 
SBA will focus on the principles of Executive Order 13563 to determine 
whether portions of regulations should be modified, streamlined, 
expanded or repealed to make the HUBZone program more effective and/or 
less burdensome on small business concerns. At the same time, SBA will 
maintain a framework that helps identify and reduce waste, fraud, and 
abuse in the program.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Mariana Pardo, Director, Office of HubZone, Small 
Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW., Washington, DC 20416, 
Phone: 202 205-2985, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG38

232. Record Disclosure and Privacy

    Legal Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, 552 and 552(a); 31 U.S.C. 9701; 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.; E.O. 12600; 52 FR 23781
    Abstract: SBA is amending its Record Disclosure and Privacy 
regulations to implement the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our 
National Government Act. The amendments, among other things, will 
update the Agency's Freedom of Information Act regulations to adjust 
the time for the public to submit an appeal of SBA's decision regarding 
a request for information, correct an obsolete address and provide 
applicable Web site addresses, and clarify the definition of news media 
for purposes of assessing processing fees.

[[Page 35101]]

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/00/15
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Linda M. DiGiandomenico, Acting Chief, Freedom of 
Information, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 401-8206, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG52

233. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business 
Technology Transfer (STTR) Policy Directives; Data Rights; Phase III 
Award Preference; Other Clarifying Amendments

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 638(p); Pub. L. 112-81, sec 5001, et 
seq.
    Abstract: This Directive seeks comments from the public on two key 
areas of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small 
Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Policy Directives that the SBA is 
considering revising: SBIR/STTR data rights, and the Government's 
responsibilities with respect to SBIR/STTR Phase III awards. The SBA 
intends to update policy directive language on miscellaneous topics 
including the calculation of extramural R/R&D and to provide greater 
clarity and detail on these issues in the Policy Directive. SBA also 
intends to combine the directives for the two programs into a single 
document to simplify the reference and revision processes.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   11/07/14  79 FR 66342
ANPRM Comment Period End............   01/06/15
NPRM................................   09/00/15
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Edsel M. Brown Jr., Assistant Director, Office of 
Innovation, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-6450, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG64

234. Small Business Investment Companies; Impact SBICs

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 681
    Abstract: This rule will establish a regulatory structure for the 
SBIC Programs Impact Investment Fund, which is currently being 
implemented through a policy memorandum to interested applicants. The 
rule will establish a new type of SBIC license called the Impact SBIC 
license and will include application and examination fee considerations 
to incentivize Impact Investment Fund participation. Impact SBICs may 
also be able to access Early Stage leverage on the same terms as Early 
Stage SBICs without applying through the Early Stage call process 
defined in 107.310. This will allow Impact SBICs with early stage 
strategies to apply for the program. The new license will be available 
to investment funds that meet the SBIC Programs licensing 
qualifications and commit to invest at least 50% of their invested 
capital in impact investments as defined in the rule. The rule will 
also outline reporting and performance measures for licensed funds to 
maintain Impact Investment Fund designation. The goal of the Impact 
Investment Fund is to support small business investment strategies that 
maximize financial returns while also yielding enhanced social 
environmental or economic impacts as part of the SBIC Programs overall 
effort to supplement the flow of private equity and long-term loan 
funds to small businesses whose capital needs are not being met.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/00/15
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Jeff Finkelman, Presidential Management Fellow, 
Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 
20416, Phone: 202 205-2414, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG66

235. Small Business Investment Companies; Passive Business Expansion & 
Technical Clarifications

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 681 et seq.
    Abstract: The SBA proposes to revise the regulations for the Small 
Business Investment Company (SBIC) program to further expand the use of 
Passive Businesses and provide needed protections for SBA with regard 
to such investments. SBICs are generally prohibited from investing in 
passive businesses under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 as 
amended as well as by regulations. Current program regulations provided 
for two exceptions that allow an SBIC to structure an investment 
utilizing a passive small business as a pass-through. The first 
exception identified in 107.720(b)(2) provides that an SBIC may 
structure an investment utilizing two pass-through entities to make an 
investment into an active business . The second exception identified in 
107.720(b)(3) allows partnership SBICs with SBA prior approval to 
invest in a wholly owned passive business that in turn provides 
financing to an active small business only if a direct financing would 
cause its investors to incur Unrelated Business Taxable Income (UBTI). 
The second exception is commonly known as a blocker corporation. The 
current rule creates unnecessary complications in defining two 
exceptions and does not provide SBA with sufficient protections. SBA 
proposes to simplify the rule to allow a more flexible two pass-through 
entity structure but provides SBA certain protections to offset risks 
associated with passive investment structures. As part of the proposed 
rule, SBA will also make technical corrections and clarifications.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Theresa M. Jamerson, Senior Policy Advisor, 
Investment Division, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20461, Phone: 202 205-7563, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG67

236.  Surety Bond Guarantee Program; Miscellaneous Amendments

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 694b
    Abstract: This rule proposes to change the regulations for SBA's 
Surety Bond Guarantee Program in four areas. First, as a condition for 
participating in the Prior Approval Program, the proposal would clarify 
that a Surety must directly employ an underwriting staff sufficient to 
oversee this function. Second, the proposed rule would require all 
Sureties to directly employ sufficient staff to perform all claims 
functions, and to vest final settlement authority for claims and 
recovery only in salaried employees of the Surety. Third, the proposal 
would provide that all costs incurred by the Surety's salaried claims 
staff are ineligible for reimbursement by SBA, but the Surety may seek 
reimbursement for amounts paid for specialized services that are 
provided by outside consultants in connection with the processing of a 
claim. Fourth, the rule proposes to modify the criteria for determining 
when a Principal that

[[Page 35102]]

caused a Loss to SBA is ineligible for a bond guaranteed by SBA.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Barbara J. Brannan, Management Analyst, Office of 
Surety Guarantees, Small Business Administration, Washington, DC 20416, 
Phone: 202 205-6545, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG70

237.  Credit for Lower Tier Subcontracting

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 113-66, sec. 1614
    Abstract: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is 
amending its regulations to implement Section 1614 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2014, Pub. L. 113-66, December 26, 
2013. Under the statute, when an other than small prime contractor has 
an individual subcontracting plan for a contract, the large business 
may receive credit towards its small business subcontracting goals for 
subcontract awards made to small business concerns at any tier. 
Currently, other than small business prime contractors only report on 
their performance awarding subcontracts to small businesses at the 
first tier level.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kenneth Dodds, Director, Office of Government 
Contracting, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 619-1766, Fax: 202 481-2950, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG71

238.  Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 637(m); 15 U.S.C. 634(b)(6)
    Abstract: Section 825 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2015 (NDAA), P. L. 113-291, 128 Stat. 3292, Dec. 19, 2014, 
included language granting contracting officers the authority to award 
sole source contracts to WOSBs and EDWOSBs. In order to implement this 
statutory change, SBA is proposing to amend 13 CFR part 127. SBA is 
proposing to amend Subpart E by incorporating the statutory language 
granting authority for sole source contracts. This new language would 
be in 127.504. If a contracting officer conducts market research in an 
industry where a WOSB or EDWOSB set aside is authorized, and the 
contracting officer cannot identify two or more WOSBs or EDWOSBs that 
can perform at a fair and reasonable price, but identifies one WOSB or 
EDWOSB that can perform at a fair and reasonable price, the contracting 
officer would be able to award the contract on a sole source basis, if 
the value of the contract, including options, does not exceed $6.5 
million for manufacturing contracts and $4 million for all other 
contracts. Section 825 of the NDAA also accelerated a statutory 
deadline by two years for SBA to conduct a study to determine the 
industries where WOSBs and EDWOSBs are substantially underrepresented 
or underrepresented. SBA must complete the study by January, 2, 2016. 
SBA intends to amend the regulatory definition of underrepresentation 
and substantial underrepresentation to align the regulatory definition 
with the more general statutory language and to ensure the agency can 
conduct a study using relevant and reliable methodologies.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/01/15  80 FR 24846
NPRM Comment Period End.............   06/30/15  .......................
Final Rule..........................   08/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kenneth Dodds, Director, Office of Government 
Contracting, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 619-1766, Fax: 202 481-2950, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG72

239.  Affiliation for Business Loan Programs and Surety Bond 
Guarantee Program

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 634(b)(6)
    Abstract: This rule would simplify the consideration of affiliated 
individuals and groups of individuals, which may own minority stakes in 
multiple businesses. Existing regulation defines groups as being 
affiliated, and thereby having some form of control, which in most 
circumstances is not applicable to the borrowing entity. By redefining 
how these lesser-percentage owners are grouped together, and shifting 
certain certifications of facts to the borrower, more businesses could 
be identified as ``small'' and therefore be eligible for SBA financial 
assistance. SBA also plans to propose one modification to improve 
operations of its finance programs.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   07/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Linda Rusche, Director, Office of Financial 
Assistance, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-6396, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG73

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Final Rule Stage

240. Small Business Mentor-Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Programs

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 111-240; sec 1347;15 U.S.C. 657r
    Abstract: SBA currently has a mentor-protege program for the 8(a) 
Business Development Program that is intended to enhance the 
capabilities of the protege and to improve its ability to successfully 
compete for Federal contracts. The Small Business Jobs Act authorized 
SBA to use this model to establish similar mentor-protege programs for 
the Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, HUBZone, and Women-Owned Small 
Federal Contract Business Programs and the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 authorized this for all small 
businesses. This authority is consistent with recommendations issued by 
an interagency task force created by President Obama on Federal 
Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses. As is the case with the 
current mentor-protege program, the various forms of assistance that a 
mentor will be expected to provide to a protege include technical and/
or management assistance; financial assistance in the form of equity 
investment and/or loans; subcontracts; and/or assistance in performing 
prime contracts with the Government in the form of joint venture 
arrangements.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/05/15  80 FR 6618

[[Page 35103]]

 
NPRM Comment Period End.............   04/06/15  .......................
NPRM Comment Period Extension.......   04/07/15  80 FR 18556
NPRM Comment Period End.............   05/06/15  .......................
Final Rule..........................   11/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brenda J. Fernandez, Procurement Analyst, Small 
Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416, 
Phone: 202 205-7337, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG24

241. Agent Revocation and Suspension Procedures

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 634; 15 U.S.C. 642
    Abstract: These changes to 13 CFR 103, 134, and 2 CFR 2700 lay out 
a procedural process for SBA's revocation of the privilege of agents to 
conduct business with the Agency. Included in this process are 
procedures for proposed revocation, the opportunity to object to the 
proposed revocation, the revocation decision, as well as requests for 
reconsideration. These procedures also provide for suspension of the 
privilege to conduct business with the Agency pending a revocation 
action. In addition, these changes remove Office of Hearings and 
Appeals review of suspension, revocation, and debarment actions by SBA.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/16/14  79 FR 62060
NPRM Comment Period Extended........   12/12/14  79 FR 73853
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/15/14  .......................
Second NPRM Comment Period End......   02/14/15  .......................
Final Rule..........................   11/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Debra Mayer, Chief, Supervision and Enforcement, 
Office of Credit Risk Management, Small Business Administration, 409 
Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7577, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG40

242. Small Business Size Standards: Employee Based Size Standards in 
Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: On May 19, 2014, the U.S. Small Business Administration 
(SBA) published a proposed rule to increase employee based size 
standards in 46 industries in North American Industry Classifcation 
System (NAICS) Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, and in one industry in 
Sector 44-45, Retail Trade. As a part of its comprehensive size 
standards review required by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2012, SBA 
reviewed all 71 industries in Sector 42 and two industries with 
employee based size standards in Sector 44-45 to determine whether 
their size standards should be retained or revised. The proposed 
revisions, if adopted, will primarily affect eligibility for SBA's 
financial assistance programs. This is one of the rules that will 
examine industries grouped by an NAICS Sector. SBA has applied its 
``Size Standards Methodology,'' which is available on its Web site at 
http://www.sba.gov/size, to this purposed rule. SBA expects to publish 
the final rule in the near future.

    NOTE: The title for this rule has been changed since the rule 
was first reported in the Regulatory Agenda on January 8, 2013, from 
``Small Business Size Standards for Wholesale Trade'' to ``Small 
Business Size Standards: Employee Based Size Standards for Wholesale 
Trade and Retail Trade.'' The title was changed to make it clear 
that the rule also addresses industries with employee based size 
standards in Retail Trade.

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/19/14  79 FR 28631
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/18/14  .......................
Final Rule..........................   07/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Khem Raj Sharma, Chief, Office of Size 
Standards, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-6390, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG49

243. Small Business Size Standards for Manufacturing

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: On September 10, 2014, the U.S. Small Business 
Administration (SBA), published a proposed rule to increase employee 
based size standards for 209 industries in North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) Section 31-33, Manufacturing. SBA also 
proposed to increase the refining capacity component of the Petroleum 
Refiners (NAICS 324110) size standard to 200,000 barrels per calendar 
day total capacity for businesses that are primarily engaged in 
petroleum refining. The proposed rule also eliminated the requirement 
that 90 percent of a refiner's output being delivered should be refined 
by the bidder. As a part of its comprehensive size standards review 
required by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, SBA evaluated all 364 
industries in NAICS Sector 31-33 to determine whether their size 
standards should be retained or revised. This is one of the rules that 
will examine industries grouped by an NAICS Sector. SBA has applied its 
``Size Standards Methodology,'' which is available on its Web site at 
http://www.sba.gov/size, to this proposed rule.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/10/14  79 FR 54146
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/10/14  .......................
Final Rule..........................   07/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Khem Raj Sharma, Chief, Office of Size 
Standards, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-6390, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG50

244. Small Business Size Standards: Industries With Employee-Based Size 
Standards Not Part of Manufacturing, Wholesale Trade, or Retail Trade

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: On September 10, 2014, the U.S. Small Business 
Administration (SBA) published a proposed rule to increase to increase 
the employee-based size standards for 30 industries and three 
exceptions and decrease them for three industries that are not a part 
of NAICS Sector 31-33 (Manufacturing) Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade) and 
Sector 44-45 (Retail Trade). Additionally, SBA proposed to remove the 
Information Technology Value Added Resellers exception under NAICS 
541519 (Other Computer Related Services) together with its 150-employee 
size standard. Similarly, SBA also proposed to eliminate the Offshore 
Marine Air Transportation Services exception under NAICS 481211 and 
481212 and Offshore Marine Services exception under NAICS Subsector 483 
and their $30.5 million receipts based size standard. As part of its 
comprehensive size standards review required by the Small Business Jobs 
Act of 2010 SBA evaluated 57 industries and five exceptions with 
employee based size

[[Page 35104]]

standards that are not in NAICS Sectors 31-33 42 or 4445. This is one 
of the rules that will examine industries grouped by an NAICS Sector. 
SBA has applied its Size Standards Methodology, which is available on 
its Web site at http://www.sba.gov/size to this proposed rule.
    Please Note: The title for this rule has been changed since it was 
first announced in the Regulatory Agenda on January 8, 2013 to add the 
words or Retail Trade at the end of the previous title. This change 
makes it clear that industries in the retail trade with employee based 
size standards are also not addressed in the rule.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   09/10/14  79 FR 53646
NPRM Rule Correction................   10/20/14  79 FR 62576
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/10/14  .......................
Final Rule..........................   07/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Khem Raj Sharma, Chief, Office of Size 
Standards, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-6390, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG51

245. Small Business Government Contracting and National Defense 
Authorization Act of 2013 Amendments

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 631; Pub. L. 112-239
    Abstract: The rule would propose various small business related 
amendments authorized by various sections of the NDAA of 2013 with 
respect to the limitations on subcontracting and non-manufacturer rules 
that apply to set aside contracts. SBA would propose amendments 
concerning joint ventures, the applicability of the non-manufacturer 
rule to the purchase of software; recertification of size; affiliation 
in the context of Small Innovation Research program; the definition of 
a construction contract for purposes of an adverse impact analysis in 
connection with 8(a) Business Development program contract; Procurement 
Center Representative responsibilities; small business subcontracting 
assistance and reporting; Certificates of Competency; and penalties for 
violations of the subcontracting limitations and protection for small 
businesses that acted in good faith in connection with such 
limitations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   12/29/14  79 FR 77955
NPRM Comment Period End.............   02/27/15  .......................
NPRM Comment Period Reopened........   03/09/15  80 FR 12353
Second NPRM Comment Period End......   04/06/15  .......................
Final Rule..........................   11/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brenda J. Fernandez, Procurement Analyst, Small 
Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416, 
Phone: 202 205-7337, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG58

246. Advisory Small Business Size Decisions

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 645(d)(3)
    Abstract: The purpose of the statute is to establish procedures for 
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) (SBA grantees) or 
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) (DOD grantees) to 
issue advisory size decisions. This rule provides guidance to SBDCs and 
PTACs regarding the minimum requirements that small business status 
advisory opinions must meet in order to be deemed adequate by SBA. The 
rule also requires the SBDC or PTAC issuing the advisory opinion to 
remit a copy of the opinion to SBA for review, and established a 10 day 
deadline by which SBA must either accept or reject the advisory 
opinion. If SBA rejects the advisory opinion, the Agency will notify 
the entity which issued the opinion and the firm to which it applies, 
after which time the firm is no longer entitled to rely upon the 
opinion or invoke the safe harbor provisions of the statute. If SBA 
accepts the advisory opinion, then the firm may rely on the SBDC or 
PTAC advisory opinion and is entitled to invoke the safe harbor 
provision as a defense to punishments imposed under 15 U.S.C. 645, 
Offenses and Penalties, which prescribes fines and imprisonment for 
false statements. The rule also makes clear that SBA has the authority 
to initiate a formal size determination of a firm that is the subject 
of a small business status advisory opinion where the Agency concludes 
that opinion contains information that calls into question the firm's 
small business status.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   06/25/14  79 FR 35963
NPRM Comment Period End.............   08/25/14  .......................
Final Rule..........................   02/11/15  80 FR 7533
Final Rule Effective................   08/10/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brenda J. Fernandez, Procurement Analyst, Small 
Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416. 
Phone: 202 205-7337. Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG59

247. Small Business Size Standards; Inflation Adjustment to Monetary-
Based Size Standards

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: On June 12, 2014, SBA issued an interim final rule with 
request for comments to adjust its monetary small business size 
standards (i.e., receipts, net income, net worth, and financial 
assets), for the effects of inflation that have occurred since the last 
inflation adjustment, which was effective August 19, 2008. The interim 
final rule aimed to restore small business eligibility to businesses 
that have lost their small business status due to inflation. The Small 
Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act) requires SBA to review and adjust 
(as necessary) all size standards within five years of its enactment. 
SBA's Small Business Size Regulations at 13 CFR 121.102(c) require the 
same quinquennial (or less) review and adjustment. The rule did not 
increase the $750,000 size standard for agricultural enterprises, which 
is established by the Small Business Act (Sec.  3(a)(1)). The alternate 
size standard used in the 7(a) and 504 business loan programs is 
unaffected by this adjustment.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interim Final Rule..................   06/12/14  79 FR 33647
Interim Final Rule Effective........   07/14/14  .......................
Interim Final Rule Comment Period      08/11/14  .......................
 End.
Final Rule..........................   05/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 35105]]

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dr. Khem Raj Sharma, Chief, Office of Size 
Standards, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416. Phone: 202 205-7189. Fax: 202 205-6390. Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG60

[FR Doc. 2015-14371 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P