[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5306-5309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27964]



[[Page 5305]]

Vol. 87

Monday,

No. 20

January 31, 2022

Part XIX





Small Business Administration





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 87 , No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / UA: 
Reg Flex Agenda  

[[Page 5306]]


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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 semiannual Regulatory Agenda (Agenda) is a summary of 
current and projected rulemakings and completed actions of the Small 
Business Administration (SBA). This summary information is intended to 
enable the public to be more aware of, and effectively participate in, 
SBA's regulatory activities. Accordingly, 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 K. Bundy, U.S. Small 
Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW, Washington, DC 20416; 
(202) 205-6585; [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: The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 
requires SBA to publish in the Federal Register a semiannual regulatory 
flexibility agenda describing those Agency rules that are likely to 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities (5 U.S.C. 602). The summary information published in the 
Federal Register is limited to those rules. Additional information 
regarding all the rulemaking SBA expects to consider in the next 12 
months is included in the Federal Government's unified Regulatory 
Agenda, which will be available online at www.reginfo.gov in a format 
that offers users enhanced ability to obtain information about SBA's 
rules.

    Dated: September 29, 2021.
Isabella Casillas Guzman,
Administrator.

           Small Business Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
398.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG16
                             Standards; Alternative
                             Size Standard for 7(a),
                             504, and Disaster Loan
                             Programs.
399.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AH09
                             Standards: Manufacturing
                             and Industries With
                             Employee Based Size
                             Standards in Other
                             Sectors Except Wholesale
                             Trade and Retail Trade.
400.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AH26
                             Standards: Calculation of
                             Number of Employees for
                             All Programs and of
                             Average Annual Receipts
                             in Business Loan,
                             Disaster Loan, and Small
                             Business Investment
                             Company Programs.
401.......................  National Defense                   3245-AH28
                             Authorization Act of
                             2020, Credit for Lower
                             Tier Subcontracting and
                             Other Amendments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


             Small Business Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
402.......................  Small Business Timber Set-         3245-AG69
                             Aside Program.
403.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG88
                             Standards: Educational
                             Services; Health Care and
                             Social Assistance; Arts,
                             Entertainment and
                             Recreation; Accommodation
                             and Food Services; Other
                             Services.
404.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG89
                             Standards: Agriculture,
                             Forestry, Fishing and
                             Hunting; Mining,
                             Quarrying, and Oil and
                             Gas Extraction;
                             Utilities; Construction.
405.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG90
                             Standards: Transportation
                             and Warehousing;
                             Information; Finance and
                             Insurance; Real Estate
                             and Rental and Leasing.
406.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG91
                             Standards: Professional,
                             Scientific and Technical
                             Services; Management of
                             Companies and
                             Enterprises;
                             Administrative and
                             Support and Waste
                             Management and
                             Remediation Services.
407.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AH10
                             Standards: Wholesale
                             Trade and Retail Trade.
408.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AH17
                             Standards: Adjustment of
                             Monetary Based Size
                             Standards for Inflation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


            Small Business Administration--Long-Term Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
409.......................  Small Business Development         3245-AE05
                             Center Program Revisions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Proposed Rule Stage

398. 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 propose amendments 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. SBA loan program 
alternative size standards do not affect other Federal Government 
programs, including Federal procurement.
    Timetable:

[[Page 5307]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM...............................   03/22/18  83 FR 12506
ANPRM Comment Period End............   05/21/18  .......................
NPRM................................   09/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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

399. Small Business Size Standards: Manufacturing and Industries With 
Employee Based Size Standards in Other Sectors Except Wholesale Trade 
and Retail Trade

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act) requires 
SBA to conduct every five years a detailed review of all size standards 
and to make appropriate adjustments to reflect market conditions. As 
part of the second 5-year review of size standards under the Jobs Act, 
in this proposed rule, SBA will evaluate all industries in North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 31-33 
(Manufacturing) and industries with employee-based size standards in 
other sectors except Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade and make 
necessary adjustments to their size standards. This is one of a series 
of proposed rules that will examine groups of NAICS sectors. SBA will 
apply its revised Size Standards Methodology, which is available on its 
website at http://www.sba.gov/size, to this proposed rule.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   03/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-AH09

400. Small Business Size Standards: Calculation of Number of Employees 
for All Programs and of Average Annual Receipts in Business Loan, 
Disaster Loan, and Small Business Investment Company Programs

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2); Pub. L. 115-324; Pub. L. 116-
283
    Abstract: In accordance with section 863 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, Public Law 116-238, in this 
rulemaking SBA proposes to change the averaging period for employee-
based size standards from 12 months to 24 months. In addition, the 
Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018, Public Law 115-324, 
amended the Small Business Act to provide for calculation of average 
annual gross receipts using a 5-year average, rather than the prior 3-
year average, in defined circumstances. In RIN 3245-AH16, SBA 
implemented the Small Business Runway Extension Act in programs other 
than SBA's loan programs--including SBA's procurement programs--and SBA 
issued its final rule in that first rulemaking on December 5, 2019 (84 
FR 66561). This second rulemaking would consider how to address the 
Small Business Runway Extension Act in SBA's business loan, disaster 
loan, and SBIC programs. Specifically, SBA also proposes to permit 
businesses in its Business Loan, Disaster Loan, and Small Business 
Investment Company (SBIC) Programs to use a 5-year averaging period, in 
addition to the existing 3-year averaging period, for the purposes of 
calculating annual average receipts. These proposed changes will allow 
larger small businesses to retain their small business size status for 
longer, and some mid-sized businesses to regain small business status.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/02/21  86 FR 60396
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/02/21  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-AH26

401. National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, Credit for Lower Tier 
Subcontracting and Other Amendments

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 116-92
    Abstract: Section 870 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 
2020 (NDAA 2020) made a change that will require SBA to amend its 
regulations. Specifically, the language of NDAA 2020 requires SBA to 
alter the method and means of accounting for lower tier small business 
subcontracting. This proposed rule may also contain several smaller 
changes that might be necessary to implement this provision and other 
provisions in NDAA 2020.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brenda J. Fernandez, Analyst, Office of Policy, 
Planning and Liaison, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7337, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AH28

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Final Rule Stage

402. 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 
amending 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 considered comments received during the Advance 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
processes, 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:

[[Page 5308]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
               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..........................   09/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: David W. Loines, Director, Office of Government 
Contracting, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 431-0472, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG69

403. Small Business Size Standards: Educational Services; Health Care 
and Social Assistance; Arts, Entertainment and Recreation; 
Accommodation and Food Services; Other Services

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act) requires 
SBA to conduct every five years a detailed review of all size standards 
and to make appropriate adjustments to reflect market conditions. As 
part of the second five-year review of size standards under the Jobs 
Act, in this rule, SBA has evaluated size standards for all industries 
in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 61 
(Educational Services), Sector 62 (Health Care and Social Assistance), 
Sector 71 (Arts, Entertainment and Recreation), Sector 72 
(Accommodation and Food Services), and Sector 81 (Other Services) and 
made necessary adjustments to size standards in these sectors. This is 
one of a series of rules that examines groups of NAICS sectors. SBA has 
applied its Size Standards Methodology to this rule.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/27/20  85 FR 76390
NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/26/21  .......................
Final Rule..........................   06/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-AG88

404. Small Business Size Standards: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and 
Hunting; Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction; Utilities; 
Construction

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act) requires 
SBA to conduct every five years a detailed review of all size standards 
and to make appropriate adjustments to reflect market conditions. As 
part of the second five-year review of size standards under the Jobs 
Act, in this rule, SBA has evaluated each industry that has a receipts-
based standard in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
Sector 11 (Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting), Sector 21 
(Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction), Sector 22 (Utilities), 
and Sector 23 (Construction), and made necessary adjustments to size 
standards in these sectors. This is one of a series of rules that 
examines groups of NAICS sectors. SBA has applied its Size Standards 
Methodology to this rule.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/02/20  85 FR 62239
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/01/20  .......................
Final Rule..........................   07/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-AG89

405. Small Business Size Standards: Transportation and Warehousing; 
Information; Finance and Insurance; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act) requires 
SBA to conduct every five years a detailed review of all size standards 
and to make appropriate adjustments to reflect market conditions. As 
part of the second five-year review of size standards under the Jobs 
Act, in this rule, SBA has evaluated each industry that has a receipts-
based standard in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
Sector 48-49 (Transportation and Warehousing), Sector 51 (Information), 
Sector 52 (Finance and Insurance), and Sector 53 (Real Estate and 
Rental and Leasing) and made necessary adjustments to size standards in 
these sectors. This is one of a series of rules that examines groups of 
NAICS sectors. SBA has applied its Size Standards Methodology to this 
rule.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/02/20  85 FR 62372
NPRM Comment Period End.............   12/01/20  .......................
Final Rule..........................   08/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-AG90

406. Small Business Size Standards: Professional, Scientific and 
Technical Services; Management of Companies and Enterprises; 
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation 
Services

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act) requires 
SBA to conduct every five years a detailed review of all size standards 
and to make appropriate adjustments to reflect market conditions. As 
part of the second five-year review of size standards under the Jobs 
Act, in this rule, SBA has evaluated each industry that has a receipts-
based standard in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
Sector 54 (Professional, Scientific and Technical Services), Sector 55 
(Management of Companies and Enterprises), and Sector 56 
(Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services) 
and made necessary adjustments to size standards in these sectors. This 
is one of a series of rules that examines groups of NAICS sectors. SBA 
has applied its Size Standards Methodology to this rule.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   11/13/20  85 FR 72584
NPRM Comment Period End.............   01/12/21  .......................
Final Rule..........................   06/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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

[[Page 5309]]

20416, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-6390, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AG91

407. Small Business Size Standards: Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)

    Abstract: The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act) requires 
SBA to conduct every five years a detailed review of all size standards 
and to make appropriate adjustments to reflect market conditions. As 
part of the second 5-year review of size standards under the Jobs Act, 
in this proposed rule, SBA will evaluate all industries in North 
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 42 (Wholesale 
Trade) and Sector 44-45 (Retail Trade) and make necessary adjustments 
to their size standards. This is one of a series of proposed rules that 
will examine groups of NAICS sectors. SBA will apply its revised Size 
Standards Methodology, which is available on its website at http://www.sba.gov/size, to this proposed rule.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/25/21  86 FR 28012
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/26/21  .......................
Final Rule..........................   06/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-AH10

408. Small Business Size Standards: Adjustment of Monetary Based Size 
Standards for Inflation

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    Abstract: In this final rule, the U.S. Small Business 
Administration (SBA or Agency) adjusts all monetary based industry size 
standards (i.e., receipts, assets, net worth, and net income) for 
inflation since the last adjustment in 2014. In accordance with its 
regulations in 13 CFR 121.102(c), SBA is required to review the effects 
of inflation on its monetary standards at least once every five years 
and adjust them, if necessary. In addition, the Small Business Jobs Act 
of 2010 (Jobs Act) also requires SBA to conduct every five years a 
detailed review of all size standards and to make appropriate 
adjustments to reflect market conditions. This action will restore the 
small business eligibility of businesses that have lost that status due 
to inflation.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interim Final Rule..................   07/18/19  84 FR 34261
Interim Final Rule Effective........   08/19/19  .......................
Interim Final Rule Comment Period      09/16/19  .......................
 End.
Final Action........................   07/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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-AH17

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Long-Term Actions

409. Small Business Development Center Program Revisions

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 634(b)(6); 15 U.S.C. 648
    Abstract: This rule proposes to update the Small Business 
Development Center (SBDC) Program regulations by proposing to amend: 
(1) Procedures for approving when a new Lead SBDC Center Director is 
selected; (2) procedures and requirements regarding findings and 
disputes resulting from financial exams, programmatic reviews, 
accreditation reviews, and other SBA oversight activities; (3) 
procedures regarding the determination to affect suspension, 
termination or non-renewal of an SBDC's cooperative agreement; and (4) 
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................................   11/00/22  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Rachel Newman-Karton, Phone: 202 619-1816, Email: 
[email protected].
    RIN: 3245-AE05

[FR Doc. 2021-27964 Filed 1-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8026-03-P