[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 94823-94828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29918]



[[Page 94823]]

Vol. 81

Friday,

No. 247

December 23, 2016

Part XX





Small Business Administration





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





Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / 
Unified Agenda  

[[Page 94824]]


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

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

13 CFR Ch. I


Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

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. 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 June 9, 2016, at 81 FR 37392. The Semiannual Agenda of the 
SBA conforms to the Unified Agenda format developed by the Regulatory 
Information Service Center. 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 
those regulatory actions that are likely to have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities in their regulatory 
flexibility agendas in the Federal Register. SBA's Regulatory Agenda 
includes regulatory actions that are in the SBA's regulatory 
flexibility agenda. Publication 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--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
400.......................  Small Business Development         3245-AE05
                             Center Program Revisions.
401.......................  Small Business HUBZone             3245-AG38
                             Program; Government
                             Contracting Programs;
                             Office of Hearings and
                             Appeals.
402.......................  Record Disclosure and              3245-AG52
                             Privacy.
403.......................  Small Business Timber Set-         3245-AG69
                             Aside Program.
404.......................  Women-Owned Small Business         3245-AG75
                             and Economically
                             Disadvantaged Women-Owned
                             Small Business--
                             Certification.
405.......................  Disaster Loan Programs;            3245-AG77
                             Federal Flood Risk
                             Management Standard.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


             Small Business Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
406.......................  Miscellaneous Amendments           3245-AF85
                             to Business Loan Programs
                             and Surety Bond Guarantee
                             Program.
407.......................  Agent Revocation and               3245-AG40
                             Suspension Procedures.
408.......................  Small Business Investment          3245-AG66
                             Company (SBIC) Program--
                             Impact SBICs (Reg Plan
                             Seq No. 142).
409.......................  Small Business Investment          3245-AG67
                             Companies; Passive
                             Business Expansion &
                             Technical Clarifications.
410.......................  Credit for Lower Tier              3245-AG71
                             Small Business
                             Subcontracting.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in The Regulatory Plan in part II of this
  issue of the Federal Register.


            Small Business Administration--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
411.......................  Immediate, Expedited, and          3245-AF99
                             Private Disaster
                             Assistance Loan Programs.
412.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG16
                             Standards; Alternative
                             Size Standard for 7(a),
                             504, and Disaster Loan
                             Programs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


            Small Business Administration--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
413.......................  Small Business Mentor              3245-AG24
                             Prot[eacute]g[eacute]
                             Programs.
414.......................  Small Business Government          3245-AG58
                             Contracting and National
                             Defense Authorization Act
                             of 2013 Amendments.
415.......................  Affiliation for Business           3245-AG73
                             Loan Programs and Surety
                             Bond Guarantee Program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 94825]]

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Proposed Rule Stage

400. 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 proposing to 
amend: (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; (5) procedures regarding the 
determination to affect suspension, termination or non-renewal of an 
SBDC's cooperative agreement; and (6) 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................................   12/00/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Adriana Menchaca-Gendron, Associate Administrator 
for Small Business Development Centers, Small Business Administration, 
409 3rd Street SW., Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-6988.
    RIN: 3245-AE05

401. Small Business HUBZone Program; Government Contracting Programs; 
Office of Hearings and Appeals

    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................................   01/00/17  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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

402. 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 proposes to amend its Record Disclosure and Privacy 
regulations to implement the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our 
National Government Act and the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. 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.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Laura Magere, Director, Freedom of Information Act 
Office, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-6837, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG52

403. Small Business Timber Set-Aside Program

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 631; 15 U.S.C. 644(a)
    Abstract: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is 
proposing to amend its Small Business Timber Set-Aside Program (the 
Program) regulations. The Small Business Timber Set-Aside Program is 
rooted in the Small Business Act, which tasked SBA with ensuring that 
small businesses receive a fair proportion of the total sales of 
government property. Accordingly, the Program requires Timber sales to 
be set aside for small business when small business participation falls 
below a certain amount. SBA is considering comments received during the 
ANPRM process, including on issues such as, but not limited to, whether 
the saw timber volume purchased through stewardship timber contracts 
should be included in calculations, and whether the appraisal point 
used in set-aside sales should be the nearest small business mill. In 
addition, SBA is considering 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................................   09/27/16  81 FR 66199
NPRM Comment Period End.............   11/28/16  .......................
Final Rule..........................   05/00/17  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: David W. Loines, Area Director, Office of 
Government Contracting, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7311, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG69

404. Women-Owned Small Business and Economically Disadvantaged Women-
Owned Small Business--Certification

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 113-291, sec. 825; 15 U.S.C. 637(m)
    Abstract: Section 825 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2015 (NDAA), Public Law 113-291, 128 Stat. 3292, Dec. 19, 
2014, included language requiring that women-owned small business 
concerns and economically disadvantaged women-owned small business 
concerns are certified by a Federal agency, a State government, the 
Administrator, or national certifying entity approved by the 
Administrator as a small business concern owned and controlled by 
women. SBA is issuing this Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to get 
public feedback on how best to implement this statutory provision. SBA

[[Page 94826]]

intends to request information on whether SBA should: Create its own 
certification program, rely on private certifiers, allow Federal 
agencies to create their own certification systems, or create a hybrid 
system. SBA also intends to request information from the public 
concerning State government certification programs.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   12/18/15  80 FR 78984
ANPRM Comment Period End............   02/16/16  .......................
NPRM................................   12/00/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Kenneth Dodds, Director, Office of Policy, Planning 
and Liaison, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 619-1766, Fax: 202 481-2950, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG75

405. Disaster Loan Programs; Federal Flood Risk Management Standard

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 634(b)(6); E.O. 11988; E.O. 13690
    Abstract: In accordance with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain 
Management, as amended by Executive Order 13690, Establishing a Federal 
Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and 
Considering Stakeholder Input, SBA will propose a rule to describe 
which disaster loans are subject to the FFRMS. SBA will propose to 
apply the FFRMS and corresponding elevation component to disaster loans 
that meet one of the following conditions: (1) SBA funds will be used 
for total real estate reconstruction at the damaged site that is 
located in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA); (2) SBA funds will be 
used for new real estate construction at a relocation site that is 
located in the SFHA; or (3) SBA funds will be used for code required 
elevation at the damaged site that is located in the SFHA.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/00/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Alejandro Contreras, Program Analyst, Office of 
Disaster Assistance, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-6674, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG77

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Final Rule Stage

406. Miscellaneous Amendments to Business Loan Programs and Surety Bond 
Guarantee Program

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636(a); 15 U.S.C. 694b
    Abstract: Certain lenders have been delegated the authority to make 
loan decisions without prior approval from SBA under certain 
circumstances. SBA plans to formalize such delegated authorities in 
this proposed rule. 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 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. SBA plans to propose several other miscellaneous 
amendments to improve oversight and operations of its finance programs.
    This rule proposes to make four changes to the Surety Bond 
Guarantee (SBG) Program. The first would change the threshold for 
notification to SBA of changes in the contract or bond amount. Second, 
the change would require sureties to submit quarterly contract 
completion reports. Third, SBA proposes to increase the eligible 
contract limit for the Quick Bond Application and Agreement from 
$250,000 to $400,000. Finally, SBA proposes to increase the guarantee 
percentage in the Preferred Surety Bond program to reflect the 
statutory change made by the National Defense Authorization Act of 
2016. The guarantee percentage will increase from 70% to 80% or 90%, 
depending on contract size and socioeconomic factors currently in 
effect in the Prior Approval Program.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   08/09/16  81 FR 52595
Comment Period End..................   10/11/16  .......................
Final Rule..........................   03/00/17  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dianna L. Seaborn, Acting Director, Office of 
Financial Assistance, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-3645, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AF85

407. Agent Revocation and Suspension Procedures

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 634; 15 U.S.C. 642
    Abstract: This rule establishes detailed procedures for the 
suspension and revocation of an Agent's privilege to do business with 
the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) within a single 
Part of the Code of Federal Regulations; removes 8(a) program specific 
procedures for Agent suspension and revocation; clarifies existing and 
related regulations as to suspension, revocation, and debarment; and 
removes Office of Hearings and Appeals jurisdiction over Agent 
suspensions and revocations and government-wide debarment and 
suspension actions. This rule will also conform SBA suspension and 
revocation procedures for Agents with general government-wide 
nonprocurement suspension and debarment procedures.
    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..........................   12/00/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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

408. Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program--Impact SBICS

    Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 142 in part II of this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    RIN: 3245-AG66

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

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 681 et seq.
    Abstract: The SBA is revising the regulations for the Small 
Business Investment Company (SBIC) program to

[[Page 94827]]

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 is simplifying 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 rule, SBA will also make 
technical corrections and clarifications, including conforming the 
regulation to the new ``family of funds'' statutory provision.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/05/15  80 FR 60077
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/04/15  .......................
Final Rule..........................   11/00/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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

410. Credit for Lower Tier Small Business Subcontracting

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 113-66, sec. 1614
    Abstract: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is 
proposing to amend 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................................   10/06/15  80 FR 60300
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/07/15  .......................
Final Rule..........................   12/00/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Long-Term Actions

411. Immediate, Expedited, and Private Disaster Assistance Loan 
Programs

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636(c); 15 U.S.C. 636j; 15 U.S.C. 657n
    Abstract: Through this advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, SBA 
solicited comments from potential lenders and the public on three 
guaranteed disaster loan programs: (1) The expedited disaster 
assistance program (EDAP), under which the SBA would guarantee short-
term loans of up to $150,000 made by private lenders to eligible small 
businesses located in a catastrophic disaster area; (2) the private 
disaster assistance program (PDAP), under which SBA would guarantee 
loans of up to $2 million made by private lenders to eligible small 
businesses and homeowners located in a catastrophic disaster area; and 
(3) the immediate disaster assistance program (IDAP), under which the 
SBA would guarantee interim loans of up to $25,000 made by private 
lenders to eligible small businesses, which would then be repaid with 
the proceeds of SBA direct disaster loans. SBA will seek input on what 
program features would be required for lenders to participate in these 
guaranteed disaster loan programs. SBA plans to use this feedback in 
drafting proposed rules for the EDAP and PDAP programs and in 
considering changes to the existing IDAP regulations.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   10/21/15  80 FR 63715
ANPRM Comment Period End............   12/21/15  .......................
NPRM................................   08/00/18  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dianna L. Seaborn, Phone: 202 205-3645, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AF99

412. 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, certified 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................................           To Be Determined
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Khem Raj Sharma, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-
6390, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG16


[[Page 94828]]



SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Completed Actions

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

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 111-240; sec. 1347; 15 U.S.C. 657r
    Abstract: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is 
amending its regulations to implement provisions of the Small Business 
Jobs Act of 2010 and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2013. Based on authorities provided in these two statutes, the 
rule establishes a Government-wide mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program 
for all small business concerns, consistent with SBA's mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] program for Participants in SBA's 8(a) Business 
Development (BD) program. The rule also makes minor changes to the 
mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] provisions for the 8(a) Business 
Development program in order to make the mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
rules for each of the programs as consistent as possible. The rule 
amends the current joint venture provisions to clarify the conditions 
for creating and operating joint venture partnerships, including the 
effect of such partnerships on any mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
relationships. Finally, the rule makes several additional changes to 
current size, 8(a) Office of Hearings and Appeals or HUBZone 
regulations, concerning among other things, ownership and control, 
changes in primary industry, standards of review and interested party 
status for some appeals.
    Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Reason                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule..........................   07/25/16  81 FR 48558
Final Rule Effective................   08/24/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brenda J. Fernandez, Phone: 202 205-7337, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG24

414. 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 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is 
amending its regulations to implement provisions of the National 
Defense Authorization Act of 2013, which pertain to performance 
requirements applicable to small business and socioeconomic program set 
aside contracts and small business subcontracting. SBA is making 
changes to its regulations concerning the nonmanufacturer rule and 
affiliation rules. Further, SBA is allowing a joint venture to qualify 
as small for any government procurement as long as each partner to the 
joint venture qualifies individually as small under the size standard 
corresponding to the NAICS code assigned in the solicitation.
    Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Reason                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule..........................   05/31/16  81 FR 34243
Final Rule Effective................   06/30/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brenda J. Fernandez, Phone: 202 205-7337, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG58

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

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 634(b)(6)
    Abstract: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has 
determined that changing conditions in the American economy and a 
constantly evolving small business community compel it to seek ways to 
improve program efficiency for its Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program, 
and the business loan programs consisting of the 7(a) Loan Program, the 
Business Disaster Loan Programs (the Economic Injury Disaster Loans, 
Reservist Injury Disaster Loans, Physical Disaster Business Loans, 
Immediate Disaster Assistance Program loans), the Microloan Program, 
and the Development Company Program (the 504 Loan Program). As a 
result, SBA is simplifying guidelines for determining affiliation for 
eligibility based on size as it relates to these programs. This rule 
redefines affiliation for all five Programs, thereby simplifying 
eligibility determinations.
    Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Reason                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule..........................   06/27/16  81 FR 41423
Final Rule Effective................   07/27/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Dianna L. Seaborn, Phone: 202 205-3645, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG73

[FR Doc. 2016-29918 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P