Federal Acquisition Regulation: Set-Asides Under Multiple-Award Contracts, 88072-88095 [2016-28432]

Download as PDF 88072 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check www.regulations.gov, approximately two to three days after submission to verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted by mail). DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION Ms. Mahruba Uddowla, Procurement Analyst, at 703–605–2868 or by email at mahruba.uddowla@gsa.gov for clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 202–501–4755. Please cite FAR Case 2014–002. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 48 CFR Parts 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 42, and 52 [FAR Case 2014–002; Docket No. 2014– 0002, Sequence No. 1] RIN 9000–AM93 Federal Acquisition Regulation: SetAsides Under Multiple-Award Contracts Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement regulatory changes made by the Small Business Administration, which provide Government-wide policy for partial set-asides and reserves, and setting aside orders for small business concerns under multiple-award contracts. SUMMARY: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat Division at one of the addresses shown below on or before February 6, 2017 to be considered in the formation of the final rule. ADDRESSES: Submit comments in response to FAR case 2014–002 by any of the following methods: • Regulations.gov: https:// www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for ‘‘FAR Case 2014–002.’’ Select the link ‘‘Comment Now’’ that corresponds with ‘‘FAR Case 2014– 002.’’ Follow the instructions provided on the screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and ‘‘FAR Case 2014–002’’ on your attached document. • Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20405. Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAR Case 2014–002, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal and/or business confidential information provided. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 I. Background DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to revise the FAR to implement regulatory changes made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in its final rule at 78 FR 61114, dated October 2, 2013, regarding the use of small business partial set-asides, reserves, and orders placed under multiple-award contracts. SBA’s final rule implements the statutory requirements set forth at section 1331 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)), (Jobs Act). The Jobs Act, signed into law by President Obama on September 27, 2010, was a landmark event aimed at reenergizing small business entrepreneurship. It provided an array of tools to enhance small business participation in Federal procurement. In particular, section 1331 of the Jobs Act, the focus of this rule, provided authority for three acquisition techniques to facilitate contracting with small businesses on multiple-award contracts: (1) Setting aside part or parts of the requirement for small businesses. (2) Reserving one or more contract awards for small business concerns under full and open multiple-award procurements. (3) Setting aside orders placed against multiple-award contracts, notwithstanding the fair opportunity requirements of 10 U.S.C. 2304c(b) and 41 U.S.C. 4106(c). Multiple-award contracts, due to their inherent flexibility, competitive nature, and administrative efficiency, are commonly used in Federal procurement. They have proven to be an effective means of contracting for large quantities of supplies and services for which the quantity and delivery requirements cannot be definitively determined at contract award. However, prior to 2011, the FAR was largely silent on the use of acquisition strategies to promote small business participation in PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 conjunction with multiple-award contracts. DoD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule in the Federal Register, at 76 FR 68032, on November 2, 2011, under FAR Case 2011–024, so that Federal agencies could begin taking advantage of the authorities set forth in section 1331 while SBA developed rules with additional detail on the use of these tools. DoD, GSA, and NASA intended to provide more complete guidance after publication of SBA’s final rule. This proposed rule provides additional guidance on the use of partial set-asides, reserves, and set-asides of orders under multiple-award contracts, based on SBA’s final rule published in the Federal Register at 78 FR 61114, dated October 2, 2013. It also clarifies agencies’ and small business contractors’ responsibilities with respect to performance of work requirements, i.e., the limitations on subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule. Inasmuch as small businesses have this preference, compliance with the limitations on subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule is essential to assure that the small business contractor performs the appropriate percentage of requirements in contracts or orders that have been set aside, in total or in part, and is not acting as a pass-through. Because the interim rule described above to implement section 1331 of the Jobs Act has already authorized agencies to use partial set-asides, reserves, and order set-asides under multiple award contracts, agencies are encouraged to provide feedback on their use of these tools to date and how their use of the tools compares to the guidance and procedures outlined in this proposed rule. II. Discussion and Analysis A. Analysis of Public Comments DoD, GSA, and NASA reviewed the comments to the FAR interim rule in development of this proposed rule. Many of the public comments submitted in response to the interim rule have been overcome by events, primarily the issuance of SBA’s final rule. A discussion of the comments is as follows: • Clarification of new multiple-award contract procedures. Comment: Many respondents indicated that the guidance provided in the interim rule lacked clarity. Response: The intent of the interim rule was to provide authority to Federal agencies for using the new acquisition tools established by section 1331 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)) as quickly as possible, E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules allowing time for SBA to complete the drafting, coordination, and publication process for its forthcoming, more explicit, regulatory guidance. SBA has since completed these efforts and published the requisite regulatory changes in its final rule (78 FR 61114, dated October 2, 2013). This proposed rule implements the regulatory changes in SBA’s final rule and provides more in-depth guidance in the FAR. One respondent pointed out that the prescription for new FAR clause 52.219–13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders, states the purpose of including the clause but not the types of solicitations and contracts in which inclusion of 52.219–13 is required. Language has been added in the proposed rule clarifying the circumstances under which clause 52.219–13 should be used. • Updating of Federal data systems. Comment: A few respondents mentioned that Federal data systems such as the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and FedBizOpps do not presently have the capability to accept the new data inputs associated with the implementation of section 1331 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)). Response: This concern is duly noted. The system enhancements needed to accommodate the new data requirements are in process. • Application of the limitations on subcontracting to multiple-award contracts. Comment: A number of respondents pointed out that the limitations on subcontracting requirements only come into play when a small business receives a contract award under a small business set-aside and should not apply when a small business receives a contract award under a full and open solicitation, even when the award was made pursuant to a reserve under a full and open, multiple-award solicitation. Response: The interim rule did not change the basic requirements for the application of the limitations on subcontracting, i.e., the limitations on subcontracting restrictions only apply when the small business contractor received the award as the result of a solicitation that limited the field of potential offerors to small businesses. SBA, in its final rule, further clarified that the limitations on subcontracting do not apply to contract reserves but will apply to orders that are set aside under such contracts. • Written justifications for small business set-asides. Comment: One respondent stated that a written justification should be required for order set-asides under multiple-award contracts. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 Response: The interim rule did not change FAR subpart 6.2, which provides that a written justification is not required for small business set-asides or set-asides to any small business concern participating in the socioeconomic programs identified at FAR 19.000(a). In addition, section 1331 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)) established an exception to the fair opportunity requirements for set-asides of orders under multiple-award contracts, which was incorporated into FAR subparts 8.4 and 16.5 under the interim rule. However, contracting officers are required to adhere to the criteria at FAR 19.502–2 to determine whether or not a small business setaside is feasible before proceeding with this acquisition strategy. • Mandatory set aside of orders below the simplified acquisition threshold. Comment: A number of respondents stated that 15 U.S.C. 644(j) requires orders between the micropurchase threshold and the simplified acquisition threshold to be automatically set aside for small business, and recommended amendments to the FAR to ensure this. Response: The interim FAR rule was published in advance of SBA’s own rulemaking to provide authority for contracting officers to use the new acquisition tools established in section 1331 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)) as quickly as possible. The proposed FAR rule implements the regulatory changes provided in SBA’s final rule, including clarification of the procedures for setting aside task and delivery orders under multiple-award contracts. SBA’s rule does not require orders to be set aside. • Out-of-scope comments. Comment: A number of respondents submitted comments that are out of scope of both the interim rule and this proposed rule. These comments ranged from updating the clause matrix for clauses other than those prescribed in FAR part 19 to providing guidance on contractor team arrangements under Federal Supply Schedules to concerns associated with the bundling of requirements. Response: No changes were made for the out-of-scope comments. B. Summary of Significant Changes • Partial set-asides. The proposed rule clarifies the distinction between the use of partial set-asides on multiple-award contracts and partial set-asides on all other contracts. Section 1331 only addresses multiple-award contracts and provides that partial set-asides should be considered when market research indicates a total set-aside is not feasible, and the acquisition can be divided into PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88073 smaller discrete portions or categories which can then be set aside with the reasonable expectation of obtaining adequate competition from small business, and a fair market price. For all other contracts, the Small Business Act already mandated that partial set-asides be considered when market research indicates a total set-aside is not feasible, and the acquisition can be divided into smaller discrete portions or categories which can then be set aside with the reasonable expectation of obtaining adequate competition from small business, and a fair market price. The proposed rule expands on the current guidance provided in the FAR for the use of partial small business set-asides and initiates changes to improve the overall process. Most significantly, small businesses will no longer be required to submit an offer on the nonset-aside portion of a solicitation in order to be considered for the set-aside portion of the solicitation. • Reserves. The proposed rule adds substantial coverage for the new concept of a ‘‘reserve’’. Reserves are used in solicitations for a multiple-award contract when a total or a partial setaside of the work is not feasible, but the agency wants to be sure that small businesses participate at the prime contract level. • Orders under multiple-award contracts. The proposed rule builds on the guidance provided in the FAR interim rule, published in the Federal Register at 76 FR 68032, on November 2, 2011, for setting aside orders under multipleaward contracts and provides several new methodologies to complement various acquisition conditions. For example, in solicitations employing a partial set-aside of a multiple-award contract, the contracting officer may establish terms and conditions in the solicitation and resultant contract providing that all subsequent task or delivery orders are set aside for any of the small businesses awarded contracts under the set-aside portion. Or, the contracting officer may state in the solicitation and resultant contract that the determination to set aside an order will be made on a case-by-case basis. This flexibility allows the contracting officer to employ the ordering technique that is best suited to the surrounding acquisition environment. • Assignment of NAICS codes and size standards. The proposed rule provides new guidance for assigning North American Industry Category System (NAICS) codes in solicitations that will result in E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 88074 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 multiple-award contracts. Contracting officers have the discretion to— (1) Assign one NAICS code (and corresponding size standard) to the entire solicitation; or (2) When the procurement can be divided into portions or categories, assign each a NAICS code and corresponding size standard which best describes the principal purpose attributed to the part or category. • Application of the limitations on subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule. The proposed rule moves the nonmanufacturer rule coverage and limitations on subcontracting together in FAR part 19. Collectively referred to as the ‘‘performance of work’’ requirements, these restrictions set forth the contractual obligations of small business concerns awarded contracts or orders by virtue of their small business status. Limitations on subcontracting are the minimum percentages of work the prime small business contractor must itself perform. The limitations currently appear in the clauses; the proposed rule also places them in FAR part 19 for easier reference by contracting officers. In addition, the proposed rule clarifies that compliance with the limitations on subcontracting may be determined by measuring the minimum percentage of work performed at the aggregate contract level or order level. The proposed rule also clarifies that the performance of work requirements do not apply when full and open competition procurement methods are used, including reserves. C. Other Changes FAR part 2—Definitions of Words and Terms. • FAR 2.101, Definitions. The proposed rule revises the definition of ‘‘HUBZone contract’’ to add awards to HUBZone concerns under a reserve in a solicitation for a multiple-award contract. The proposed rule also adds a definition for the term ‘‘HUBZone order’’. FAR part 4—Administrative Matters. • FAR 4.803, Contents of contract files. The proposed rule adds a reference to the documentation requirements in new FAR section 19.506. • FAR 4.1202, Solicitation provision and contract clause. The proposed rule adds the prescription for use of new Alternate I to FAR provision 52.204–8. FAR part 7—Acquisition Planning. • FAR 7.105(b)(1), Sources. The proposed rule makes editorial changes. FAR part 8—Required Sources of Supplies and Services. • FAR 8.405–5(b), Small business. The change references the discretionary VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 authority that ordering contracting officers have to require a contractor to rerepresent its small business size and socioeconomic status for an individual task or delivery order. FAR part 9—Contractor Qualifications. • FAR 9.104–3, Application of standards. The proposed rule revises this subsection to clarify when compliance with the limitations on subcontracting factors into the determination of small business offerors’ responsiveness. FAR part 10—Market Research. • FAR 10.001, Policy. The proposed rule revises this section to clarify that the results of market research are to be used to determine whether small business programs should be utilized for the acquisition. • FAR 10.002, Procedures. Æ FAR 10.002(b)(1)(vii). This paragraph has been revised to more clearly require contracting officers to consider small business. Æ FAR 10.002(b)(2)(ix), Procedures. The proposed rule revises the paragraph to include the review of databases such as the System for Award Management database and SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search as another technique for conducting market research. FAR part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. • FAR 13.003, Policy. The proposed rule makes revisions to this section to remove an obsolete use of the term ‘‘reserve’’. FAR part 15—Contracting by Negotiation. • FAR 15.101–3, Tiered evaluation of small business offers. The proposed rule advises that agencies cannot use a tiered evaluation approach during source selection of a multiple-award contract unless the agency has statutory authority to do so. FAR part 16—Types of Contracts. • FAR 16.500, Scope of subpart. A reference has been added for set-asides and reserves. • FAR 16.505, Ordering. References have been added for protests of order set-asides and for the rerepresentation authority. FAR part 19—Small Business Programs. • FAR 19.000, Scope of part. Language has been added to specify that part 19 now includes coverage on reserves. • FAR 19.001, Definitions. The definition of ‘‘nonmanufacturer rule’’ is removed, and a definition of ‘‘nonmanufacturer’’ is added. • FAR 19.102, Assignment of North American Industry Classification System codes and small business size PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 standards. The previous coverage regarding the nonmanufacturer rule has been moved from FAR 19.102(f) to FAR 19.505(c) (for HUBZones, see FAR 19.1308). The revisions in this section reflect a combination of guidance that is currently in the FAR and new guidance that has been added to accommodate the assignment of NAICS codes in solicitations that will result in multipleaward contracts, including guidance for assigning NAICS codes in the subsequent task or delivery orders. Contracting officers have the discretion to— (1) Assign one North American Industry Category System (NAICS) code (and corresponding size standard), to the entire solicitation; or (2) When the procurement can be divided into portions or categories, assign each a NAICS code and corresponding size standard which best describes the principal purpose attributed to the portion or category. This is authorized for solicitations issued after January 31, 2017. • FAR 19.103, Appealing the contracting officer’s North American Industry Classification. This information has been moved from FAR 19.303. • FAR subpart 19.2, Policies. Guidance is added on duties of the agency small business specialist. • FAR subpart 19.3, Representations and rerepresentations. Æ 19.301–1, Representation by the offeror. Paragraph (a) of this subsection has been revised to implement SBA’s regulations. These changes underscore SBA’s requirements for representing small business size and socioeconomic status by clarifying that the offeror shall represent at the time of its initial offer, which includes price, that— (1) It meets the size standard for the NAICS code identified in the solicitation; or (2) It meets the size standard identified in the solicitation for the specific portion or category on which it intends to make an offer. This direction corresponds to FAR 19.101. Paragraph (c) of this subsection has been revised to clarify that for awards under the HUBZone program, the offeror must also represent its HUBZone status at time of contract award. Paragraph (d) adds new language to clarify that a business that represents itself as small at the time of its initial offer, either for the entire contract or for each portion or category it submits an offer on, will then be small for each order issued under the contract, or relevant portion or category. Æ FAR 19.301–2, Rerepresentation by a contractor that represented itself as a E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules small business concern. The following revisions are proposed by this rule: (1) Clarification of the requirement for a contractor to rerepresent its size and socioeconomic status for an order issued under a multiple-award contract when the contracting officer specifically requires it to do so. (2) In the case of a multiple-award contract with more than one assigned NAICS code, clarification that the contractor shall rerepresent that it meets the size standard set forth in each relevant category. (3) Clarification that an order-level rerepresentation does not change the size representation made to the contract. (4) Clarification that when a contractor rerepresents as a different type of small business than it represented for award (e.g., a HUBZone small business concern rerepresents as a women-owned small business), an agency may take credit for that contract going forward in its small business prime contracting goal achievements consistent with the rerepresentation (e.g., women-owned small business goal instead of HUBZone small business goal). Æ FAR 19.303, Determining North American Industry Classification System codes and size standards. The language currently in this section has been moved to FAR 19.102 and FAR 19.103. Æ FAR 19.307, Protesting a firm’s status as a service-disabled veteranowned small business concern. The proposed language in paragraph (b)(1) was added to bring the FAR into alignment with SBA’s regulations at 13 CFR 125.8(b). It clarifies that only the contracting officer or SBA may protest the apparently successful offeror’s status as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business when award will be made on a sole-source basis. Æ FAR 19.309, Solicitation provisions and contract clauses. The proposed rule adds the prescription for use of new Alternate II to FAR provision 52.219–1. • FAR subpart 19.4, Cooperation with the Small Business Administration. Æ FAR 19.401, General. The proposed rule adds language clarifying the appropriate point of contact at the Office of Small Business Programs for DoD. Æ FAR 19.402, Small Business Administration procurement center representatives. The proposed rule adds a reference to SBA’s regulations for a complete description of the responsibilities of SBA’s procurement center representatives. • FAR subpart 19.5, Small Business Total Set-Asides, Partial Set-Asides and Reserves. The title of this subpart has VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 been changed to reflect the addition of guidance regarding reserves. Æ FAR 19.501, General. The proposed rule clarifies that reserves may only be used in solicitations that will result in multiple-award contracts and provides the name of the appropriate office in agencies that have cognizance over the agency’s small business programs. Paragraph (h) clarifies that small businesses that receive a contract or order as a result of a set-aside or that receive a sole-source award pursuant to the socioeconomic programs identified at FAR subparts 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, or 19.15 shall comply with the limitations on subcontracting and nonmanufacturing rule requirements set forth in the contract. This material previously appeared in the clauses, and now is also being shown in FAR part 19. Æ FAR 19.502, Setting aside acquisitions. Sections have been moved to place all text related to set-asides in one location: FAR 19.502–6 is moved to FAR 19.502–5; FAR 19.503 through FAR 19.507 have been moved to FAR 19.502–6 through FAR 19.502–10, respectively. Æ FAR 19.502–1, Requirements for setting aside acquisitions. The proposed rule updates the text to reflect that Federal Supply Schedule contracts are not ‘‘required sources’’ under FAR part 8. Æ FAR 19.502–2, Total small business set-asides. The FAR currently requires that the contracting officer expect offers to be received from two small business concerns offering products of different small business concerns before setting aside an acquisition. This requirement has been revised to remove the expectation that the products of different small businesses will be offered. The proposed rule moves paragraph (c) of this subsection regarding the nonmanufacturer rule. This guidance is now located in FAR 19.505. Æ FAR 19.502–3, Partial set-asides of contracts other than multiple-award contracts. (1) The proposed rule clarifies that the contracting officer shall specify in the solicitation how offers will be submitted. (2) The proposed rule removes cumbersome requirements for awarding and evaluating offers for partial setasides, such as the requirement for awarding the non-set-aside portion of the solicitation prior to awarding the set-aside portion, and the requirement that the contracting officer will conduct negotiations only with those small business offerors that submitted offers on both the non-set-aside and the setaside portion of the solicitation. PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88075 (3) The proposed rule clarifies that the requirements in this subsection apply to contracts other than multiple-award contracts. Æ FAR 19.502–4. Most of the previous coverage at FAR 19.502–4 has been moved to the different sections which now provide guidance on reserves and order set-asides: FAR sections 19.503 and 19.504. New coverage has been added for partial set-asides of multipleaward contracts. Æ FAR 19.502–5. The previous coverage at FAR 19.502–5(b) has been moved to FAR 19.502–3. Æ FAR 19.503, Reserves. The proposed rule implements the policies and procedures provided in SBA’s final rule regarding the use of reserves: (1) The use of a reserve under a multiple-award contract is discretionary. Nevertheless, the contracting officer should consider using a reserve when neither a total setaside nor partial set-aside is feasible because— • There is no reasonable expectation of receiving offers from at least two responsible small business concerns, at a fair market price, for the entire requirement; or • The requirement cannot be divided into discrete portions or categories, or even if it were possible to divide the requirement, there is still no reasonable expectation of receiving offers from at least two responsible small business concerns able to perform any portion of the requirement at a fair market price. (2) Paragraph (b) of the proposed rule describes the possible outcomes resulting from solicitations using reserves: • One or more contract awards to any one or more types of small business. • In the case of a bundled requirement, an award to one or more Small Business Teaming Arrangements. Æ FAR 19.504, Setting aside orders under multiple-award contracts. The proposed rule revises the FAR to provide guidance for using set-asides of task or delivery orders under a multipleaward contract. (1) Partial set-asides. Only small business concerns awarded contracts under the partial set-aside may compete for orders for those portions that have been set aside. (2) Reserves. The contracting officer may set aside orders for small business concerns or, when only one small business award was made under the reserve, may issue orders directly to that contractor. (3) Orders under full and open, multiple-award contracts. The contracting officer is required to specify in the solicitation whether order set- E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 88076 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules asides will be discretionary or mandatory. When setting aside orders under a full and open multiple-award contract, the contracting officer has to comply with the requirements of 19.203(b) and (c). Æ FAR 19.505, Performance of work requirements. The proposed rule consolidates guidance from other areas of the FAR regarding the application of the limitations on subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule for contracts and orders. It also clarifies the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting for contracts that are set aside, in total or in part, and for orders that are set aside. Similar guidance is provided for 8(a), HUBZones, SDVOSBs, and women-owned small businesses in their respective subparts. Æ FAR 19.506, Documentation Requirements. The proposed rule consolidates guidance from other areas of the FAR regarding the documentation requirements that are necessary when a contracting officer does not use a setaside or reserve. Æ FAR 19.507, Solicitation provisions and contract clauses. The revisions proposed for this section have been made to accommodate the new text in FAR 52.219–14(d), a new alternate for FAR 52.219–13 for multiple-award contracts under which order set-asides will be mandatory, a new clause for reserves under multiple-award contracts, and a new clause for the requirements of the nonmanufacturer rule. In addition, the prescription for the use of the basic clause at FAR 52.219– 13 is revised to clarify that it is to be used when orders may be set aside under a multiple-award contract, and a prescription is added for the use of Alternate I of FAR 52.219–13. • FAR subpart 19.6, Certificates of Competency and Determinations of Responsibility. The proposed rule explains that, for the purposes of receiving a Certificate of Competency (COC) as a nonmanufacturer, the small business may furnish any domestically produced or manufactured product. Language has been added to clarify that a contracting officer is not required to issue an award to a contractor that receives a COC if the reason for not doing so is unrelated to responsibility. • FAR subpart 19.8, Contracting with the Small Business Administration (The 8(a) Program). Æ FAR 19.804–2, Agency offering. The proposed rule clarifies that agencies are required to notify SBA of multipleaward contracts that are reserved under the 8(a) program. Æ FAR 19.804–6, Indefinite delivery contracts. The proposed rule clarifies that under the 8(a) program, a VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 contracting officer may issue a solesource task or delivery order as long as the value of the order is equal to or less than the thresholds at FAR 19.805– 1(a)(2), the contract was set aside for exclusive competition among 8(a) participants, and the agency goes through offer and acceptance for the order. Æ FAR 19.809–2, Performance of work requirements. The proposed rule clarifies the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting requirement. In addition, the applicable SBA District Director may permit the 8(a) contractor to exceed the limitations on subcontracting, if it is essential to do so during certain stages of contract performance. • FAR subpart 19.13, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program. Æ FAR 19.1307, Price evaluation preference for HUBZone small business concerns. The proposed rule clarifies that the price evaluation preference for HUBZone small business concerns shall not be used when the solicitation for the multiple-award contract has been reserved for a HUBZone small business concern. Æ FAR 19.1308, Performance of work requirements. The proposed rule clarifies the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting requirement. In addition, this section includes the HUBZone nonmanufacturer rule, which currently appears within the HUBZone clause. Æ FAR 19.1309 has been amended to consolidate the language regarding the Alternate I version of FAR clauses 52.219–3 and 52.219–4. Language has also been added to direct the contracting workforce to the prescription for the new nonmanufacturer rule clause. • FAR subpart 19.14, ServiceDisabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Procurement Program. Æ FAR 19.1407 Performance of work requirements. The proposed rule clarifies the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting requirement. In addition, the proposed rule now provides information pertaining to the nonmanufacturer rule in this new location. • FAR subpart 19.15, Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program. Æ FAR 19.1506, Performance of work requirements. The proposed rule clarifies the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting requirement. In addition, the proposed rule provides information regarding the nonmanufacturer rule in this location. FAR part 42—Contract Administration and Audit Services. PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 • FAR 42.1503, Procedures. The proposed rule clarifies that contractor past performance evaluations are to include compliance with the limitations on subcontracting, as applicable. FAR part 52—Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses. • FAR 52.204–8, Annual Representations and Certifications. A new Alternate I has been added to allow small businesses to represent their status as a small business for solicitations of multiple-award contracts that have more than one NAICS code assigned. • FAR 52.212–1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items. Revises the language to refer offerors to the solicitation for the NAICS code(s) and corresponding size standard(s) assigned to the acquisition instead of limiting the location to the Standard Form 1449. • FAR 52.212–5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders— Commercial Items. Conforming changes have been made to accommodate changes made to existing clauses and the incorporation of two new clauses. • FAR 52.219–1, Small Business Program Representations. A new Alternate II has been added to allow small businesses to represent their status as a small business for solicitations of multiple-award contracts that have more than one NAICS code assigned. • FAR 52.219–3, Notice of HUBZone Set-aside or Sole Source Award. Adds a new paragraph (e) to allow contracting officers to identify the appropriate compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting requirement. • FAR 52.219–4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns. The clause has been revised to exempt solicitations containing a reserve for HUBZone small business concerns from using the price evaluation preference. • FAR 52.219–6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside. Language relating to the nonmanufacturer rule has been removed, since it will now reside in 52.219–YY. • FAR 52.219–7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside. The proposed rule replaces the existing, cumbersome procedures for awarding contracts under the set-aside and non-set-aside portions with the new, more simplified approach. New language has been added for multiple-award contracts to clarify the requirements issuing orders against the set-aside and non-set-aside portions. • FAR 52.219–13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders. The clause has been revised to clarify that the basic version is for use when orders may be set aside. In E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules addition, Alternate I has been created for use when orders will be set aside. • FAR 52.219–14, Limitations on Subcontracting. The clause has been revised to reflect the changes made at FAR 19.505 to clarify the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting. • FAR 52.219–18, Notification Of Competition Limited To Eligible 8(a) Concerns. Language relating to the nonmanufacturer rule has been removed, since it will now reside in FAR 52.219–YY. • FAR 52.219–27, Notice of ServiceDisabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside. The clause has been revised to reflect the changes made at FAR 19.1407 to clarify the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting. • FAR 52.219–28, Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation. New language has been added to advise small businesses they shall rerepresent their size and socioeconomic status for an order issued under a multiple-award contract when explicitly required by the contracting officer. New language has also been added to allow for small businesses to rerepresent their socioeconomic status (i.e., 8(a), small disadvantaged, HUBZone, servicedisabled veteran-owned, womenowned) in addition to size. • FAR 52.219–29, Notice of Set-Aside for Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns. The clause has been revised to reflect the changes made at FAR 19.1506 to clarify the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting. • FAR 52.219–30, Notice of Set-Aside for Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the WomenOwned Small Business Program. The clause has been revised to reflect the changes made at FAR 19.1506 to clarify the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting. • In addition, language relating to the nonmanufacturer rule in FAR sections 52.219–3, 52,219–4, 52.219–6, 52.219–7, 52.219–27, 52.219–29, and 52.219–30 has been removed, since it will now reside in the new clause at FAR 52.219– YY. • FAR 52.219–XX, Notice of Small Business Reserve. This is a new clause to provide notification and guidance to offerors when a solicitation that will result in the award of a multiple-award contract is solicited under full and open procedures, and the contracting officer has provided for a reserve or reserves. The proposed clause provides guidance— VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 (1) For submitting offers on a reserve to offerors eligible to participate in the reserve; and (2) Clarifying that the contracting officer may set-aside orders for the small businesses that received awards pursuant to the reserve for small business; or (3) Clarifying when only one small business concern has received a contract pursuant to a reserve, that the contracting officer may issue orders directly to that small business. • FAR 52.219–YY, Nonmanufacturer Rule. This new clause is added to provide guidance to offerors regarding the application and requirements of the nonmanufacturer rule. III. Applicability to Acquisitions Not Greater Than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, Commercial Items, and Commercial Off-the-Shelf Items The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has made preliminary determinations, in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1905 and 41 U.S.C. 1906, that the rule will apply to acquisitions under the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) and acquisitions of commercial items. Discussion of these preliminary determinations is set forth below. The FAR Council will consider public feedback before making a final determination on the scope of the final rule. The rule will also apply to acquisitions for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items. As explained below, no determination is necessary by the FAR Council in connection with applicability to COTS items, because 41 U.S.C. 1907 requires that a law be applied to the acquisition of COTS if the law concerns authorities or responsibilities under the Small Business Act. A. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) 41 U.S.C. 1905 governs the applicability of laws to acquisitions at or below the SAT. Section 1905 generally limits the applicability of new laws when agencies are making acquisitions at or below the SAT, but provides that such acquisitions will not be exempt from a provision of law if— • The law contains criminal or civil penalties, • The law specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1905 and states that the law applies to contracts and subcontracts in amounts not greater than the SAT, or • The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council makes a written determination and finding that it would not be in the PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88077 best interest of the Federal Government to exempt contracts and subcontracts in amounts not greater that the SAT from the provision of law. Section 1331 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 is silent on the applicability of the requirements set forth above to acquisitions at or below the SAT and does not provide for criminal or civil penalties. Therefore, under 41 U.S.C. 1905, section 1331 does not apply to SAT acquisitions unless the FAR Council makes a written determination that such application is in the best interest of the Federal Government. The FAR Council has made a preliminary determination that applicability of the proposed rule to SAT acquisitions is in the best interest of the government for the following reasons. SAT acquisitions are often well suited for performance by small businesses. While few, if any, multipleaward contracts are likely to be in values under the SAT, a very significant portion of orders made under multipleaward contracts could fall below the SAT. In addition, as a result of current legal and regulatory requirements applicable to contracts other than multiple-award contracts, which call for work below the SAT to be set aside for small businesses, most agency practices are already geared towards taking advantage of this important tool in connection with small dollar purchases to maximize small business participation. B. Applicability to Contracts for the Acquisition of Commercial Items 41 U.S.C. 1906 governs the applicability of laws to the acquisition of commercial items (other than COTS items). Section 1906 generally limits the applicability of new laws when agencies are acquiring commercial items, but provides that such acquisitions will not be exempt from a provision of law if— • The law contains criminal or civil penalties; • The law specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1906 and states that the law applies to the acquisition of commercial items; or • The FAR Council makes a written determination that it is not in the best interest of the Federal Government to exempt the acquisition of commercial items from the provision of law. Section 1331 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 is silent on the applicability of the requirements set forth above to contracts for commercial items and does not provide for criminal or civil penalties. Therefore, under 41 U.S.C. 1906, section 1331 does not apply to acquisitions for commercial E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 88078 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules items unless the FAR Council makes a written determination that such application is in the best interest of the Federal Government. In making its initial determination of whether application of section 1331 to commercial items is in the best interest of the Federal Government, the FAR Council considered the following factors: (i) The benefits of the policy in furthering Administration goals, (ii) the extent to which the benefits of the policy would be reduced if an exemption is provided for commercial items, and (iii) the burden on contractors if the policy is applied to acquisitions for commercial items. With respect to the first factor, this Administration has long recognized the important nexus between maximizing small business participation in federal contracting and having effective tools to promote such participation under multiple-award contracts, including the Federal Supply Schedules, through which a significant portion of federal contract spending flows. The Interagency Task Force on Small Business Contracting, created by the President in 2010 to identify meaningful ways to strengthen small business contracting, recommended that rules on set-asides for multiple-award contracts be clarified. In support of its recommendation, the Task Force noted that set-asides accounted for a substantial portion of all small business contract awards yet ‘‘there has been no attempt to create a comprehensive policy for orders placed under either general task-and-delivery-order contracts or schedule contracts that rationalizes and appropriately balances the need for efficiency with the need to maximize opportunities for small businesses.’’ Shortly after the Task Force released its recommendations, the President signed the Jobs Act to protect the interests of small businesses and expand their opportunities in the Federal marketplace. In addition, as explained in the Background section of this notice, DOD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule, with SBA’s concurrence, to provide general guidance ahead of SBA providing more specific guidance in its regulations. This action allowed agencies to begin taking advantage of these impactful tools instead of having to wait until more detailed changes were promulgated. In short, the FAR Council believes these tools provide an important benefit in helping agencies to carry out the purposes of the Small Business Act and in helping the government meet its small business contracting goals. With respect to the second factor (the impact of excluding commercial item VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 acquisitions on the overall benefits of the underlying policy), the FAR Council believes based on an analysis of FPDS data that a significant amount of spending on new contracts is for commercial item acquisitions and a substantial amount of these activities (including all the transactions through the Federal Supply Schedules) are for commercial items, many of which can be performed by small businesses. Denying agencies the ability to apply the authorities in section 1331 to commercial item acquisitions could result in many missed opportunities for capable small business contractors seeking work in the federal marketplace. For these reasons, the FAR Council believes exclusion could have a material negative impact. With respect to the third factor, burden on contractors selling commercial items, there are no specific systems costs imposed by the rule and reporting costs are minimal (see discussion on the Paperwork Reduction Act under section VI). Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, the FAR Council has made a preliminary determination that it is in the best interest of the government to apply section 1331 to commercial item acquisitions. C. Applicability to Contracts for the Acquisition of COTS Items 41 U.S.C. 1907 governs the applicability of laws to the acquisition of COTS items. Section 1907 generally limits the applicability of new laws when agencies are acquiring COTS items, but provides that such acquisitions will not be exempt from a provision of law if— • The law contains criminal or civil penalties; • The law specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1907 and states that the law applies to the acquisition of COTS items; • The law concerns authorities or responsibilities under the Small Business Act or bid procedures; or • The Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy makes a written determination that it is not in the best interest of the Federal Government to exempt the acquisition of COTS items from the provision of law. Section 1331 amends section 15 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644) to address the use of partial set-asides, order set-asides, and reserves under multiple-award contracts. For this reason, the rule applies to acquisitions of COTS items. PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This is a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804. V. Regulatory Flexibility Act These changes may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. The Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) is summarized as follows: DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to provide uniform guidance consistent with SBA’s final rule at 78 FR 61114, dated October 2, 2013, which implements section 1331 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)). Specifically, this rule proposes to provide regulatory guidance by which Federal agencies may— (1) Set aside part or parts of multipleaward contracts for small business; (2) Reserve one or more awards when conducting multiple-award procurements using full and open competition; and (3) Set aside orders under multiple-award contracts, notwithstanding the fair opportunity requirements. This rule may have a positive economic impact on any small business entity that wishes to participate in the Federal procurement arena. By providing clarification and additional guidance on the use of the Section 1331 authorities, small businesses are expected to have greater access to multiple-award contracts, including orders issued against such contracts. Analysis of the System for Award Management (SAM) database indicates there are over 304,980 small business registrants that can potentially benefit from this rule. This rule does not impose any new reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small businesses. This rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other Federal rules. The Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted a copy of the IRFA to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. A copy of the IRFA may be obtained from the Regulatory Secretariat Division. DoD, E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules GSA, and NASA invite comments from small business concerns and other interested parties on the expected impact of this rule on small entities. DoD, GSA, and NASA will also consider comments from small entities concerning the existing regulations in subparts affected by the rule consistent with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (FAR Case 2014–002), in correspondence. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 VI. Paperwork Reduction Act The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) applies. The proposed rule contains information collection requirements. Accordingly, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted a request for approval to revise existing information collection requirements, in connection with FAR Case 2014–002, Set-Asides under Multiple-Award Contracts, to the Office of Management and Budget. Based on the proposed revisions to the FAR, an upward adjustment is being made to the number of respondents, responses per respondent, total annual responses, total hours, and the total cost. As a result, the estimated annual reporting burden is being adjusted upward from the estimate in the notice regarding the extension of OMB Clearance 9000–0163, published in the Federal Register at 80 FR 25293, on May 4, 2015. The annual reporting burden is estimated as follows: (1) Rerepresentation on long-term contracts, and other contracts as a result of acquisitions, mergers, and novations: Respondents: 1,700. Responses per respondent: 1. Total annual responses: 1,700. Preparation hours per response: .5. Total response burden hours: 850. Cost per hour: $31. Total annual burden: $26,350. (2) Adjustment to OMB Clearance 9000–0163 for rerepresentation for individual task or delivery orders under multiple-award contracts: Respondents: 530. Responses per respondent: 3. Total annual responses: 1,590. Preparation hours per response: .5. Total response burden hours: 795. Cost per hour: $31. Total annual burden: $24,645. Total combined annual burden: Burden hours: 1,645. Total Cost: $50,995. B. Request for Comments Regarding Paperwork Burden Submit comments, including suggestions for reducing this burden, no later than February 6, 2017 to: FAR Desk VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 Officer, OMB, Room 10102, NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, and a copy to the General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20405. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, or clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Requesters may obtain a copy of the supporting statements from the General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20405. Please cite OMB Control Number 9000–0163, Small Business Size Representation, in all correspondence. List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 42, and 52 Government procurement. Dated: November 21, 2016. William F. Clark, Director, Office of Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Governmentwide Policy. Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend 48 CFR parts 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 42, and 52 as set forth below: ■ 1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 42, and 52 continues to read as follows: Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 U.S.C. 20113. PART 2—DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS 2. In section 2.101 amend paragraph (b)(2) by adding to the definition ‘‘HUBZone contract’’ paragraph (4); and adding, in alphabetical order, the definition ‘‘HUBZone order’’ to read as follows: ■ 2.101 Definitions. * * * * * (b) * * * (2) * * * HUBZone contract * * * (4) Awards based on a reserve for HUBZone small business concerns in a PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88079 solicitation for a multiple-award contract. HUBZone order means an order set aside for a HUBZone small business concern under a multiple-award contract, which had been awarded under full and open competition. * * * * * PART 4—ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 4.803 [Amended] 3. Amend section 4.803 by removing from paragraph (a)(6) ‘‘decision’’ and adding ‘‘decision (see 19.506)’’ in its place. ■ 4. Amend section 4.1202 by revising the introductory text of paragraph (a) and paragraph (a)(12) to read as follows: ■ 4.1202 Solicitation provision and contract clause. (a) Except for commercial item solicitations issued under FAR part 12, insert in solicitations the provision at 52.204–8, Annual Representations and Certifications. The contracting officer shall check the applicable provisions at 52.204–8(c)(2). Use the provision with its Alternate I in solicitations that will result in a multiple-award contract with more than one North American Industry Classification System code assigned; this is authorized for solicitations issued after January 1, 2017 (see 19.102(b)). When the provision at 52.204–7, System for Award Management, is included in the solicitation, do not include the following representations and certifications: * * * (12) 52.219–1, Small Business Program Representation (Basic, Alternates I, and II). PART 7—ACQUISITION PLANNING 5. Amend section 7.104 by revising the first sentence of paragraph (d)(1) to read as follows: ■ 7.104 General procedures. * * * * * (d)(1) The planner shall coordinate the acquisition plan or strategy with the cognizant small business specialist when the strategy contemplates an acquisition meeting the dollar amounts in paragraph (d)(2) of this section unless the contract or order is set-aside, in total or in part, for small business under part 19. * * * ■ 6. Amend section 7.105 by revising the introductory text of paragraph (b) and paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows: 7.105 Contents of written acquisition plans * * * * * (b) Plan of action. (1) Sources. Indicate the prospective sources of E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 88080 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules supplies or services that can meet the need. Consider required sources of supplies or services (see Part 8) and sources identifiable through databases including the Governmentwide database of contracts and other procurement instruments intended for use by multiple agencies available at https:// www.contractdirectory.gov/ contractdirectory/. Include consideration of small business, veteran-owned small business, servicedisabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and womenowned small business concerns (see part 19). Also, include consideration of the impact of any bundling that might affect small business participation in the acquisition (see 7.107) (15 U.S.C. 644(e)). When the proposed acquisition strategy involves bundling, identify the incumbent contractors and contracts affected by the bundling. Address the extent and results of the market research and indicate their impact on the various elements of the plan (see part 10). * * * * * PART 8—REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES 7. Amend section 8.405–5 by removing from paragraph (b) ‘‘against’’ and adding ‘‘under’’ in its place and revising the last sentence to read as follows: ■ 8.405–5 Small business. * * * * * (b) * * * Ordering activities should rely on the small business representations made by schedule contractors at the contract level (but see section 19.301–2(b)(4) concerning rerepresentation for an order). * * * * * PART 9—CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS 8. Amend section 9.104–3 by revising paragraph (d)(2) to read as follows: ■ 9.104–3 Application of standards. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 * * * * * (d) * * * (2) A small business that is unable to comply with the limitations on subcontracting may be considered nonresponsible (see 52.219–3 Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award, 52.219–4 Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns, 52.219–14 Limitations on Subcontracting, 52.219– 27 Notice of Service-Disabled VeteranOwned Small Business Set-Aside, 52.219–29 Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns, 52.219–30 Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the WomenOwned Small Business Program). A small business that has not agreed to comply with the limitations on subcontracting may be considered nonresponsive. PART 10—MARKET RESEARCH 9. Amend section 10.001 by— a. Removing from paragraph (a)(3)(v) ‘‘and’’; ■ b. Removing the period from paragraph (a)(3)(vi) and adding a semicolon in its place; ■ c. Redesignating paragraph (a)(3)(vii) as paragraph (a)(3)(viii); ■ d. Adding paragraph (a)(3)(vii); and ■ e. Removing from newly designated paragraph (a)(3)(viii) ‘‘Subpart 39.2’’ and adding ‘‘subpart 39.2’’ in its place. The addition to read as follows: ■ ■ 10.001 Procedures. * * * * * (b) * * * (1) * * * (vii) Whether the Government’s needs can be met by small business concerns that will likely submit a competitive offer at fair market prices (see part 19). (2) * * * (ix) Reviewing databases such as the System for Award Management (SAM) and the SBA’s Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS). * * * * * PART 13—SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES 11. Amend section 13.003 by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows: ■ 13.003 Policy. * * * * * (b)(1) Acquisitions of supplies or services that have an anticipated dollar value exceeding $3,500 ($20,000 for acquisitions as described in 13.201(g)(1)) but not exceeding $150,000 ($300,000 for acquisitions described in PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4701 PART 15—CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION 15.101–3 Sfmt 4702 [Added] 12. Add section 15.101–3 to read as follows: ■ 15.101–3 Tiered evaluation of small business offers. An agency cannot create a tiered (or ‘‘cascading’’) evaluation of offers, as described in 13 CFR 125.2, for multipleaward contracts unless an agency has statutory authority. PART 16—TYPES OF CONTRACTS 13. Amend section 16.500 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows: ■ 16.500 Policy. (a) * * * (3) * * * (vii) Determine whether the acquisition should utilize any of the small business programs in accordance with part 19; and * * * * * ■ 10. Amend section 10.002 by revising paragraph (b)(1)(vii); and adding paragraph (b)(2)(ix). The addition and revision to read as follows: 10.002 paragraph (1)(i) of the simplified acquisition threshold definition at 2.101) shall be set aside for small business concerns (see 19.000, 19.203, and subpart 19.5). * * * * * Scope of subpart. * * * * * (e) See subpart 19.5 for procedures to set aside part or parts of multiple-award contracts for small business; to reserve one or more awards for small business on multiple-award contracts; and to set aside orders for small businesses under multiple-award contracts. ■ 14. Amend section 16.505 by ■ a. Adding paragraph (a)(10)(iii); ■ b. Removing from the end of the introductory text of paragraph (b) ‘‘contracts—’’ and adding ‘‘contracts.’’ in its place; ■ c. Revising paragraph (b)(4); ■ d. Revising the heading of paragraph (b)(6); and ■ e. Adding paragraph (b)(9). The addition and revisions to read as follows: 16.505 Ordering. (a) * * * (10) * * * (iii) For protests of small business size status for set-aside orders, see 19.302. * * * * * (b) * * * (4) For additional requirements for cost-reimbursement orders, see 16.301– 3. * * * * * (6) Postaward notices and debriefing of awardees for orders exceeding $5 million. * * * * * * * * (9) Small business. The contracting officer should rely on the small business representations at the contract level (but see section 19.301–2(b)(4) for order rerepresentations). * * * * * E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules PART 19—SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS 15. Amend section 19.000 by— a. Removing from paragraph (a)(3) ‘‘aside’’ and adding ‘‘aside, in total or in part,’’ in its place; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (a)(8) ‘‘and’’; ■ c. Removing from paragraph (a)(9) ‘‘Program.’’ and adding ‘‘Program; and’’ in its place; and ■ d. Adding paragraph (a)(10). The addition to read as follows: ■ ■ 19.000 Scope of part. (a) * * * (10) The use of reserves. * * * * * ■ 16. Amend section 19.001 by removing the definition ‘‘Nonmanufacturer rule’’ and adding, in alphabetical order, the definition ‘‘Nonmanufacturer’’ to read as follows: 19.001 Definitions. * * * * * Nonmanufacturer means a concern that furnishes a product it did not manufacture or produce (see 13 CFR 121.406). ■ 17. Revise section 19.102 to read as follows: mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 19.102 Small business size standards and North American Industry Classification System codes. (a) Locating size standards and North American Industry Classification System codes. (1) SBA establishes small business size standards on an industryby-industry basis. Small business size standards and corresponding North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes are provided at 13 CFR 121.201. They are also available at https://www.sba.gov/content/tablesmall-business-size-standards. (2) NAICS codes are updated by the Office of Management and Budget through its Economic Classification Policy Committee every five years. New NAICS codes are not available for use in Federal contracting until SBA publishes corresponding size standards. NAICS codes are available from the U.S. Census Bureau at https://www.census.gov/eos/ www/naics/. (b) Determining the appropriate NAICS codes for the solicitation. (1) The contracting officer shall determine the appropriate NAICS code by classifying the product or service being acquired in the one industry which best describes the principal purpose of the supply or service being acquired. Primary consideration is given to the industry descriptions in the U.S. NAICS Manual, the product or service descriptions in the solicitation, the relative value and VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 importance of the components of the requirement making up the end item being procured, and the function of the goods or services being purchased. A procurement is usually classified according to the component which accounts for the greatest percentage of contract value. (2)(i) For solicitations issued on or before January 31, 2017 that will result in multiple-award contracts, the contracting officer shall assign a NAICS code in accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section. (ii) For solicitations issued after January 31, 2017 that will result in multiple-award contracts, the contracting officer shall— (A) Assign a single NAICS code (and corresponding size standard) which best describes the principal purpose of the acquisition and will also best describe the principal purpose of each subsequent order; or (B) Divide the acquisition into distinct portions or categories (e.g., Line Item Numbers (LINs), Special Item Numbers (SINs), Sectors, Functional Areas (FAs), or equivalent) and assign each portion or category a single NAICS code and size standard which best describes the principal purpose of the supplies or services to be acquired under that distinct portion or category. (3)(i) When placing orders under multiple-award contracts whose solicitations were issued on or before January 31, 2017, the contracting officer shall assign the order the same NAICS code and corresponding size standard designated in the contract. (ii) When placing orders under multiple-award contracts whose solicitations were issued after January 31, 2017, the contracting officer shall— (A) Assign the order the same NAICS code and corresponding size standard designated in the contract when conditions in (b)(2)(ii)(A) are met; or (B) Assign the order the NAICS code and corresponding size standard designated for the distinct portion or category designated in the contract when conditions in (b)(2)(ii)(B) are met. If an order covers multiple portions or categories, select the NAICS code and corresponding size standard which best represents the principal purpose of the order. (4) The contracting officer’s designation is final. Appeal procedures can be found in 19.103. (c) Application of small business size standards to solicitations. (1) The contracting officer shall apply the size standard in effect on the date the solicitation is issued. (2) The contracting officer may amend the solicitation and use the new size PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88081 standard if SBA amends the size standard and it becomes effective before the due date for receipt of initial offers. ■ 18. Add section 19.103 to read as follows: 19.103 Appealing the contracting officer’s North American Industry Classification System code and size standard determination. (a) The contracting officer’s determination is final unless appealed as follows: (1) An appeal from a contracting officer’s NAICS code designation and the applicable size standard shall be served and filed within 10 calendar days after the issuance of the initial solicitation or any amendment affecting the NAICS code or size standard. However, SBA may file a NAICS code appeal at any time before offers are due. (2) Appeals from a contracting officer’s NAICS code designation or applicable size standard may be filed with SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) by— (i) Any person adversely affected by a NAICS code designation or applicable size standard. However, with respect to a particular sole source 8(a) contract, only the SBA Associate Administrator for Business Development may appeal a NAICS code designation; or (ii) The Associate or Assistant Director for the SBA program involved, through SBA’s Office of General Counsel. (3) Contracting officers shall advise the public, by amendment to the solicitation, of the existence of a NAICS code appeal (see 5.102(a)(1)). Such notices shall include the procedures and the deadline for interested parties to file and serve arguments concerning the appeal. (4) SBA’s OHA will dismiss summarily an untimely NAICS code appeal. (5)(i) The appeal petition must be in writing and must be addressed to the Office of Hearings and Appeals, Small Business Administration, Suite 5900, 409 3rd Street SW., Washington, DC 20416. (ii) There is no required format for the appeal; however, the appeal must include— (A) The solicitation or contract number and the name, address, email address, and telephone number of the contracting officer; (B) A full and specific statement as to why the NAICS code designation is allegedly erroneous and argument supporting the allegation; and (C) The name, address, telephone number, and signature of the appellant or its attorney. E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 88082 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules (6) The appellant must serve the appeal petition upon— (i) The contracting officer who assigned the NAICS code to the acquisition; and (ii) SBA’s Office of General Counsel, Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law, 409 3rd Street SW., Washington, DC 20416, facsimile 202– 205–6873, or email at OPLService@ sba.gov. (7) Upon receipt of a NAICS code appeal, OHA will notify the contracting officer by a notice and order of the date OHA received the appeal, the docket number, and the Administrative Judge assigned to the case. The contracting officer’s response to the appeal, if any, must include argument and evidence (see 13 CFR part 134), and must be received by OHA within 15 calendar days from the date of the docketing notice and order, unless otherwise specified by the Administrative Judge. Upon receipt of OHA’s docketing notice and order, the contracting officer must withhold award, unless withholding award is not in the best interests of the Government, and immediately send to OHA an electronic link to or a paper copy of both the original solicitation and all amendments relating to the NAICS code appeal. The contracting officer shall inform OHA of any amendments, actions, or developments concerning the procurement in question. (8) After close of record, OHA will issue a decision and inform the contracting officer. If OHA’s decision is received by the contracting officer before the date the offers are due, the decision shall be final and the solicitation must be amended to reflect the decision, if appropriate. OHA’s decision received after the due date of the initial offers shall not apply to the pending solicitation but shall apply to future solicitations of the same products or services. (b) SBA’s regulations concerning appeals of NAICS code designations are found at 13 CFR 121.1101 to 121.1103 and 13 CFR part 134. ■ 19. Amend section 19.201 by— ■ a. In paragraph (c), revising the second sentence of the introductory text of the paragraph; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (c)(1) ‘‘Director of’’ wherever it appears and adding ‘‘Director of the Office of’’ in its place; ■ c. Revising paragraph (c)(3) and the introductory text of (c)(5); and ■ d. Revising paragraph (d). The revised text reads as follows: 19.201 * * General policy. * VerDate Sep<11>2014 * * 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 (c) * * * For the Department of Defense, in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 144 note, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization has been redesignated as the Office of Small Business Programs. * * * (3) Be responsible to and report directly to the agency head or the deputy to the agency head (except that for the Department of Defense, the Director of the Office of Small Business Programs reports to the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee); * * * * * (5) Work with the SBA procurement center representative (PCR) (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) to— * * * * * (d) Small business specialists shall be appointed and act in accordance with agency regulations. (1) The contracting activity shall coordinate with the small business specialist as early in the acquisition planning process as practicable, but no later than 30 days before the issuance of a solicitation, or prior to placing an order without a solicitation when the acquisition meets the dollar thresholds set forth at 7.104(d)(2). (2) The small business specialist shall notify the agency’s Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Utilization, and for the Department of Defense, the Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, when the criteria relating to substantial bundling at 7.104(d)(2) are met. (3) The small business specialist shall coordinate with the contracting activity and the SBA PCR on all determinations and findings required by 7.107 for consolidation or bundling of contract requirements. ■ 20. Revise section 19.202 to read as follows: 19.202 Specific policies. In order to further the policy in 19.201(a), contracting officers shall comply with the specific policies listed in this section and shall consider recommendations of the agency Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, or for the Department of Defense, the Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, or the Director’s designee, as to whether a particular acquisition should be awarded under subpart 19.5, 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, or 19.15. Agencies shall establish procedures including dollar thresholds for review of acquisitions by the Director or the Director’s designee for the purpose of making these recommendations. The contracting officer shall document the contract file whenever the Director’s PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 recommendations are not accepted, in accordance with 19.506. ■ 21. Amend section 19.202–1 by revising the introductory text of paragraph (e)(1) and removing from paragraph (e)(4) ‘‘19.505’’ and adding ‘‘19.502–8’’ in its place. The revision reads as follows: 19.202–1 Encouraging small business participation in acquisitions. * * * * * (e)(1) Provide a copy of the proposed acquisition package and other reasonably obtainable information related to the acquisition, to the SBA PCR (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) at least 30 days prior to the issuance of the solicitation if— * * * * * ■ 22. Amend section 19.202–2 by removing from the introductory paragraph ‘‘must’’ and adding ‘‘shall’’ in its place and revising paragraph (a) to read as follows: 19.202–2 sources. Locating small business * * * * * (a) Before issuing solicitations, make every reasonable effort to find additional small business concerns (see 10.002(b)(2)). This effort should include contacting the agency small business specialist and SBA PCR (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) * * * * * 19.202–4 [Amended] 23. Amend section 19.202–4 by removing from the introductory paragraph ‘‘must’’ and adding ‘‘shall’’ in its place; and removing from paragraph (c) ‘‘bid sets and specifications’’ and adding ‘‘solicitations’’ in its place. ■ 24. Amend section 19.202–5 by removing from the introductory paragraph ‘‘must’’ and adding ‘‘shall’’ in its place and revising paragraph (c)(1) to read as follows: ■ 19.202–5 Data collection and reporting requirements. * * * * * (c) * * * (1) Require a contractor that represented itself as any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) prior to award of the contract to rerepresent its size and socioeconomic status (i.e., 8(a), small disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, or women-owned small business status); and * * * * * E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules 19.202–6 [Amended] 25. Amend section 19.202–6 by removing from paragraph (a)(1) ‘‘setasides’’ and adding ‘‘set-asides, and reserves’’. ■ 19.203 [Amended] 26. Amend section 19.203 by removing from paragraph (b) ‘‘exclusively reserve’’ and adding ‘‘set aside’’ in its place. ■ 27. Amend section 19.301–1 by— ■ a. Revising paragraph (a); ■ b. Redesignating paragraphs (b) through (d) as paragraphs (e) through (g); and ■ c. Adding new paragraphs (b) through (d). The revision and additions read as follows: ■ mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 19.301–1 Representation by the offeror. (a) To be eligible for award as a small business concern identified in 19.000(a)(3), an offeror is required to represent in good faith— (1)(i) That it meets the small business size standard corresponding to the North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code identified in the solicitation; or (ii) For a multiple-award contract where there is more than one NAICS code assigned, that it meets the small business size standard set forth for each distinct portion or category (e.g. Line Item Numbers (LINs), Special Item Numbers (SINs), Sectors, Functional Areas (FAs), or the equivalent) for which it submits an offer. If the small business concern submits an offer for the entire multiple-award contract, it must meet the size standard for each distinct portion or category (e.g. LIN, SIN, Sector, FA, or equivalent); and (2) The Small Business Administration (SBA) has not issued a written determination stating otherwise pursuant to 13 CFR 121.1009. (b) An offeror is required to represent its size and socioeconomic status in writing to the contracting officer at the time of initial offer, including offers for Basic Ordering Agreements, and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), except for BPAs issued under a multiple award schedule contract pursuant to subpart 8.4. (c) To be eligible for an award under the HUBZone Program (see subpart 19.13), a HUBZone small business concern must represent its size and socioeconomic status at the time of initial offer and at the time of contract award. (d) Multiple-award contract representations. (1) A business that represents as a small business concern at the time of its VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 initial offer for the contract is considered a small business concern for each order issued under the contract (but see 19.301–2 for rerepresentations). (2) A business that represents as a small business concern at the time of its initial offer for a distinct portion or category as set forth in paragraph (a)(2) is considered a small business concern for each order issued under that distinct portion or category (but see 19.301–2 for rerepresentations). * * * * * ■ 28. Amend section 19.301–2 by— ■ a. Revising the introductory text of paragraph (b); ■ b. Removing the period from the end of paragraph (b)(1) and adding a semicolon in its place; ■ c. Revising paragraph (b)(2); ■ d. Removing from paragraph (b)(3)(ii) ‘‘thereafter.’’ and adding ‘‘thereafter; or’’ in its place; ■ e. Adding paragraph (b)(4); and ■ f. Revising paragraphs (c) and (d). The revisions and addition read as follows: 19.301–2 Rerepresentation by a contractor that represented itself as a small business concern. * * * * * (b) A contractor that represented itself as any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) before contract award is required to rerepresent its size and socioeconomic status for the NAICS code in the contract— * * * * * (2) Within 30 days after a merger or acquisition (whether the contractor acquires or is acquired by another company) of the contractor that does not require novation or within 30 days after modification of the contract to include the clause at FAR 52.219–28, PostAward Small Business Program Rerepresentation, if the merger or acquisition occurred prior to inclusion of this clause in the contract; * * * * * (4) If the contracting officer requires contractors to rerepresent their size and socioeconomic status for an order issued under a multiple-award contract. (c) A contractor is required to rerepresent its size status in accordance with the size standard in effect at the time of its rerepresentation that corresponds to the NAICS code that was initially assigned to the contract. For multiple-award contracts where there is more than one NAICS code assigned, the contractor is required to rerepresent whether it meets the small business size standard set forth for each distinct category or portion (e.g., LINs, SINS, Sectors, FAs, or the equivalent) for PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88083 which the contractor had previously represented. (d)(1) Contract rerepresentation. When a contractor rerepresents for a contract that it no longer qualifies as a small business concern identified in 19.000(a)(3) in accordance with FAR 52.219–28, the agency may no longer include the value of options exercised, modifications issued, orders issued, or purchases made under BPAs on that contract in its small business prime contracting goal achievements. When a contractor’s rerepresentation for a contract qualifies it as a different small business concern identified in 19.000(a)(3) than what it represented for award, the agency may include the value of options exercised, modifications issued, orders issued, or purchases made under BPAs on that contract in its small business prime contracting goal achievements, consistent with the rerepresentation. Agencies should issue a modification to the contract capturing the rerepresentation and report it to FPDS within 30 days after notification of the rerepresentation. (2) Rerepresentation for an order. When a contractor rerepresents for an order that it no longer qualifies as a small business concern identified in 19.000(a)(3), the agency cannot include the value of the order in its small business prime contracting goal achievements. When a contractor’s rerepresentation for an order qualifies it as a different small business concern identified in 19.000(a)(3) than what it represented for contract award, the agency can include the value of the order in its small business prime contracting goal achievement, consistent with the rerepresentation. A rerepresentation for an order does not change the size or socioeconomic status representation for the contract. * * * * * ■ 29. Amend section 19.302 by revising paragraphs (a), (b), and (d)(1)(ii) to read as follows: 19.302 Protesting a small business representation or rerepresentation. (a)(1) The SBA regulations on small business size and size protests are found at 13 CFR part 121. (2) An offeror, the contracting officer, SBA, or another interested party may protest the small business representation of an offeror in a specific offer for a contract. However, for competitive 8(a) contracts, the filing of a protest is limited to an offeror, the contracting officer, or the SBA. (b) Any time after offers are received by the contracting officer, or in the case of bids, opened, the contracting officer E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 88084 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules may question the small business representation of any offeror in a specific offer by filing a contracting officer’s protest (see paragraph (c) of this section). * * * * * (d) * * * (1) * * * (ii) A protest may be made in writing if it is delivered to the contracting officer by hand, telegram, mail, facsimile, email, express or overnight delivery service or letter postmarked within the 5-day period. * * * * * 19.303 [Reserved] 30. Remove and reserve section 19.303. ■ 31. Amend section 19.307 by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows: ■ 19.307 Protesting a firm’s status as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern. * * * * * (b)(1) For sole source acquisitions, the contracting officer or SBA may protest the apparently successful offeror’s service-disabled veteran-owned small business status. For all other acquisitions, any interested party (see 13 CFR 125.8(b)) may protest the apparently successful offeror’s servicedisabled veteran-owned small business status. * * * * * ■ 32. Amend section 19.309 by adding paragraph (a)(3) to read as follows: 19.309 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses. (a)(1) * * * (3) Use the provision with its Alternate II in solicitations that will result in a multiple-award contract with more than one NAICS code assigned. This is authorized for solicitations issued after January 31, 2017 (see 19.102(b)). ■ 33. Amend section 19.401 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows: 19.401 General. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 * * * * * (b) The Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization serves as the agency focal point for interfacing with SBA. The Director of the Office of Small Business Programs is the agency focal point for the Department of Defense. ■ 34. Amend section 19.402 by revising paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (b), and the introductory text to paragraph (c) to read as follows: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 19.402 Small Business Administration procurement center representatives. (a)(1) The SBA may assign one or more procurement center representatives (PCR) to any contracting activity or contract administration office to carry out SBA policies and programs. Assigned SBA PCRs are required to comply with the contracting agency’s directives governing the conduct of contracting personnel and the release of contract information. The SBA must obtain for its PCRs security clearances required by the contracting agency. (2) If an SBA PCR is not assigned to the procuring activity or contract administration office, contact the SBA Office of Government Contracting Area Office serving the area in which the procuring activity is located for assistance in carrying out SBA policies and programs. See https://www.sba.gov/ content/procurement-centerrepresentatives for the location of the SBA office servicing the activity. (b) Upon their request and subject to applicable acquisition and security regulations, contracting officers shall give SBA PCRs (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see paragraph (a) of this section) access to all reasonably obtainable contract information that is directly pertinent to their official duties. (c) The duties assigned by SBA to its PCR are set forth at 13 CFR 125.2(b) and include but are not limited to the following: * * * * * 19.403 [Amended] 35. Amend section 19.403 by removing from paragraph (c)(8) ‘‘at 19.505’’ and adding ‘‘at 19.502–8’’ in its place. ■ 36. Revise the heading of subpart 19.5 to read as follows: ■ Subpart 19.5 Small Business Total Set-Asides, Partial Set-Asides, and Reserves 37. Revise section 19.501 to read as follows: ■ 19.501 General. (a)(1) The purpose of small business set-asides is to award certain acquisitions exclusively to small business concerns. A ‘‘set-aside for small business’’ is the limiting of an acquisition exclusively for participation by small business concerns. A small business set-aside may be open to any of the small business concerns identified at 19.000(a)(3). A small business set-aside of a single acquisition or a class of acquisitions may be total or partial. (2) The purpose of a small business reserve is to award one or more PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 contracts to any of the small business concerns identified at 19.000(a)(3), under a full and open competition that will result in a multiple-award contract. A small business reserve shall not be used when the acquisition can be set aside, in total or in part. (b) The contracting officer makes the determination to make a small business set-aside, in total or in part, or a reserve. The Small Business Administration (SBA) PCR (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) may make a recommendation to the contracting officer. (c) The contracting officer shall review acquisitions to determine if they can be set aside, in total or in part, or reserved, for small business, giving consideration to the recommendations of agency personnel in the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, or for the Department of Defense, in the Office of Small Business Programs. Agencies may establish threshold levels for this review depending upon their needs. (d) At the request of an SBA PCR, (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) the contracting officer shall make available for review at the contracting office (to the extent of the SBA representative’s security clearance) all proposed acquisitions in excess of the micro-purchase threshold that have not been unilaterally set aside for small business. (e) To the extent practicable, unilateral determinations initiated by a contracting officer shall be used as the basis for small business set-asides, in total or in part, or reserves, rather than joint determinations by an SBA PCR and a contracting officer. (f) All solicitations involving setasides, in total or in part, or reserves, shall] specify the NAICS code(s) and corresponding size standard(s) (see 19.102). (g) Except as authorized by law, a contract may not be awarded as a result of a small business set-aside if the cost to the awarding agency exceeds the fair market price. (h) The performance of work requirements (i.e., limitations on subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule) apply to small business set-asides, in total or in part, sole source awards made pursuant to subparts 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, and 19.15, and orders that are set aside (see 19.505). ■ 38. Amend section 19.502–1 by removing from paragraph (a)(2) ‘‘industry category’’ and adding ‘‘industry’’ in its place; and revising paragraph (b) to read as follows: E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules 19.502–1 Requirements for setting aside acquisitions. * * * * * (b) This requirement does not apply to purchases of $3,500 or less ($20,000 or less for acquisitions as described in 13.201(g)(1)), or purchases from required sources under part 8 (e.g., Committee for Purchase From People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled). ■ 39. Amend section 19.502–2 by revising paragraphs (a), (b)(1), and (b)(2); and removing paragraph (c) to read as follows: mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 19.502–2 Total small business set-asides. (a) Before setting aside an acquisition under this paragraph, refer to 19.203(b). Each acquisition of supplies or services that has an anticipated dollar value exceeding $3,500 ($20,000 for acquisitions as described in 13.201(g)(1)), but not over $150,000 ($300,000 for acquisitions described in paragraph (1)(i) of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold definition at 2.101), shall be set aside for small business unless the contracting officer determines there is not a reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more responsible small business concerns that are competitive in terms of fair market prices, quality, and delivery. If the contracting officer receives only one acceptable offer from a responsible small business concern in response to a set-aside, the contracting officer should make an award to that firm. If the contracting officer receives no acceptable offers from responsible small business concerns, the set-aside shall be withdrawn and the requirement, if still valid, shall be resolicited on an unrestricted basis. The small business set-aside does not preclude the award of a contract as described in 19.203. (b) * * * (1) Offers will be obtained from at least two responsible small business concerns; and (2) Award will be made at fair market prices. Total small business set-asides shall not be made unless such a reasonable expectation exists (see 19.502–3 for partial set-asides). Although past acquisition history and market research of an item or similar items are always important, these are not the only factors to be considered in determining whether a reasonable expectation exists. In making R&D small business set-asides, there must also be a reasonable expectation of obtaining from small businesses the best scientific and technological sources consistent with the demands of the proposed acquisition for the best mix of cost, performances, and schedules. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 40. Revise section 19.502–3 to read as follows: ■ 19.502–3 Partial set-asides of contracts other than multiple-award contracts. (a) The contracting officer shall set aside a portion or portions of an acquisition, except for construction, for exclusive small business participation when— (1) Market research indicates that a total set-aside is not appropriate (see 19.502–2); (2) The requirement can be divided into distinct portions or categories (e.g., Line Item Numbers (LINs), Special Item Numbers (SINs), Sectors, Functional Areas (FAs), or equivalent); (3) The acquisition is not subject to simplified acquisition procedures; (4) Two or more responsible small business concerns are expected to submit an offer on the set-aside portion or portions of the acquisition at a fair market price; (5) The specific program eligibility requirements identified in this part apply; and (6) The solicitation will result in a contract other than a multiple-award contract (see 2.101 for definition of multiple-award contract. (b) When the contracting officer determines that a requirement is to be partially set aside, the solicitation shall identify which portion or portions are set aside and not set aside. (c) The contracting officer shall specify in the solicitation how offers shall be submitted with regards to the set-aside and non-set-aside portions. (d) Offers received from concerns that do not qualify as small business concerns shall be considered nonresponsive and shall be rejected on the set-aside portion of partial setasides. However, before rejecting an offer otherwise eligible for award because of questions concerning the size representation, an SBA determination must be obtained (see subpart 19.3). ■ 41. Revise section 19.502–4 to read as follows: 19.502–4 Partial set-asides of multipleaward contracts. (a) In accordance with section 1331 of Public Law 111–240 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)(1)), the contracting officer may set aside a portion or portions of a multiple-award contract, except for construction, for any of the small business concerns identified at 19.000(a)(3) when— (1) Market research indicates that a total set-aside is not appropriate (see 19.502–2); (2) The requirement can be divided into distinct portions or categories (e.g., PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88085 Line Item Numbers (LINs), Special Item Numbers (SINs), Sectors, Functional Areas (FAs), or equivalent); (3) The acquisition is not subject to simplified acquisition procedures; (4) Two or more responsible small business concerns are expected to submit an offer on the set-aside portion or portions of the acquisition at a fair market price; and (5) The specific program eligibility requirements identified in this part apply. (b) When the contracting officer determines that a requirement is to be partially set aside, the solicitation shall identify which portion or portions are set aside and not set aside. (c) The contracting officer shall specify in the solicitation how offers shall be submitted with regards to the set-aside and non-set-aside portions. (d) Offers received from concerns that do not qualify as small business concerns shall be considered nonresponsive and shall be rejected on the set-aside portion of partial setasides. However, before rejecting an offer otherwise eligible for award because of questions concerning the size representation, an SBA determination must be obtained (see subpart 19.3). 19.502–5 ■ [Removed] 42. Remove section 19.502–5. 19.502–6 [Redesignated as 19.502–5] 43. Redesignate section 19.502–6 as section 19.502–5 and revise the heading to read as follows: ■ 19.502–5 Insufficient reasons for not setting aside an acquisition. 19.503 thru 19.507 [Redesignated as 19.502–6 thru 19.502–10] 44. Redesignate sections 19.503 through 19.507 as sections 19.502–6 through 19.502–10. ■ 45. Amend newly designated section 19.502–8 by— ■ a. Revising paragraph (a); and ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b) ‘‘procurement center representative’’ wherever it appears and adding ‘‘PCR’’ in its place. The revision to read as follows: ■ 19.502–8 Rejecting Small Business Administration recommendations. (a) If the contracting officer rejects a recommendation of the SBA, written notice shall be furnished to the appropriate SBA representative within 5 working days of the contracting officer’s receipt of the recommendation. ■ 46. Amend newly designated section 19.502–9 by revising paragraph (a); and removing from paragraph (b) ‘‘SBA representative’’ and ‘‘procurement E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 88086 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules center representative’’ and adding ‘‘SBA PCR’’ and ‘‘PCR’’ in their places, respectively to read as follows: 19.502–9 Withdrawing or modifying small business set-asides. (a) If, before award of a contract involving a total or partial small business set-aside, the contracting officer considers that award would be detrimental to the public interest (e.g., payment of more than a fair market price), the contracting officer may withdraw the small business set-aside, whether it was unilateral or joint. The contracting officer shall initiate a withdrawal of an individual small business set-aside in total or in part, by giving written notice to the agency small business specialist and the SBA PCR (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) stating the reasons. In a similar manner, the contracting officer may modify a unilateral or joint class small business set-aside to withdraw one or more individual acquisitions. ■ 47. Add new section 19.503 to read as follows: mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 19.503 Reserves. (a) In accordance with section 1331 of Public Law 111–240 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)(3)) and 13 CFR 125.2(e)(4), contracting officers may, at their discretion when conducting multipleaward procurements using full and open competition, reserve one or more contract awards for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), when market research indicates— (1) A total set-aside is not feasible because there is no reasonable expectation of receiving offers from at least two responsible small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), at a fair market price that can perform the entire requirement; and (2) A partial set-aside is not feasible because— (i) The contracting officer is unable to divide the requirement into distinct portions or categories (e.g. Line Item Numbers (LINs), Special Item Numbers (SINs), Functional Areas (FAs), or other equivalent); or (ii) There is no reasonable expectation that at least two responsible small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) can perform any portion of the requirement at a fair market price. (b) A reserve will result in one of the following— (1) One or more contract awards to any one or more types of small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3); or (2) In the case of a solicitation of a bundled requirement that will result in a multiple-award contract, an award to VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 one or more small businesses with a Small Business Teaming Arrangement. (c) The specific program eligibility requirements identified in this part apply. (d) The limitation on subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule do not apply to reserves at the contract level, but shall apply to orders that are set aside (see 19.505). ■ 48. Add new section 19.504 to read as follows: 19.504 Setting aside orders under multiple-award contracts. (a) In accordance with section 1331 of Public Law 111–240 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)(2)), contracting officers may, at their discretion, set aside orders placed under multiple-award contracts for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3). (b) Orders under partial set-aside contracts. (1) Only small business concerns awarded contracts for the portion(s) or category(s) that were set aside under the solicitation for the multiple-award contract may compete for orders issued under those portion(s) or category(s). (2) Small business awardees may compete against other-than-small business awardees for an order issued under the portion of the multiple-award contract that was not set aside, if the small business received a contract award for the non-set-aside portion. (c) Orders under reserves. (1) The contracting officer may set aside orders for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) when there are two or more contract awards for that type of small business concern; or (2) The contracting officer may issue orders directly to one small business concern for work that it can perform when there is only one contract award to any one type of small business concern identified in 19.000(a)(3). (3) Small business awardees may compete against other-than-small business awardees for an order that is not set aside if the small business received a contract award for the supplies or services being ordered. (d) Orders under Full and Open contracts. (1) The contracting officer shall state in the solicitation and resulting contract whether order set-asides will be discretionary or mandatory when the conditions in 19.502–2 are met at the time of order set-aside, and the specific program eligibility requirements, as applicable, are also then met. (2) Below $150,000. When setting aside an order below $150,000, the contracting officer may set aside for any PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 of the small businesses identified in 19.000(a)(3). (3) Above $150,000. When setting aside an order above $150,000, the contracting officer shall first consider setting aside the order for the small business socioeconomic programs (i.e., 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)) before considering a small business set-aside. (4) The contracting officer shall comply with the specific program eligibility requirements identified in this part in addition to the ordering procedures for a multiple-award contract. For orders placed under the Federal Supply Schedules Program, see 8.405–5. For orders placed under all other multiple-award contracts, see 16.505. ■ 49. Add new section 19.505 to read as follows: 19.505 Performance of work requirements. (a) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order under a set-aside, the small business concern is required to perform: (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of the cost incurred for personnel with its own employees. (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing the supplies or products (not including the costs of materials). (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost (not including the costs of materials) with its own employees. (4) For construction by special trade contractors, at least 25 percent of the cost (not including the cost of materials) with its own employees. (b) Compliance period. A small business contractor is required to comply with the limitation on subcontracting— (1) For a contract that has been set aside, by the end of the base term and then by the end of each subsequent option period. However, the contracting officer may instead require the contractor to comply with the limitation on subcontracting by the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract; and (2) For an order set aside under a contract as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the performance period for the order. (c) Nonmanufacturer Rule. (1) To be awarded a set-aside contract or order for supplies as a nonmanufacturer, a contractor is required— E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules (i) To provide the end item of a small business manufacturer, that has been manufactured or produced in the United States or its outlying areas (but see 19.1308(e)(1)(i) for HUBZone contracts and HUBZone orders); (ii) To not exceed 500 employees; (iii) To be primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sell the type of item being supplied; and (iv) To take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice. (2) In addition to the requirements set forth in (c)(1) of this section, when the end item being acquired is a kit of supplies or other goods, 50 percent of the total value of the components of the kit shall be manufactured in the United States or its outlying areas by small business concerns. Where the Government has specified an item for the kit which is not produced by U.S. small business concerns, such items shall be excluded from the 50 percent calculation. See 13 CFR 121.406(c) for further information regarding nonmanufacturer kit assemblers. (3) For size determination purposes, there can be only one manufacturer of the end product being acquired. For the purposes of the nonmanufacturer rule, the manufacturer of the end product being acquired is the concern that transforms raw materials and/or miscellaneous parts or components into the end product. Firms which only minimally alter the item being procured do not qualify as manufacturers of the end item, such as firms that add substances, parts, or components to an existing end item to modify its performance will not be considered the end item manufacturer, where those identical modifications can be performed by and are available from the manufacturer of the existing end item. See 13 CFR 121.406 for further information regarding manufacturers. (4) Waiver of nonmanufacturer rule. (i) The SBA may grant an individual or a class waiver so that a nonmanufacturer does not have to furnish the product of a small business (but see 19.1308(e)(2)). (A) Class waiver. SBA may waive the performance of work requirement for nonmanufacturers when SBA has determined that there are no small business manufacturers or processors in the Federal market for a particular class of products. This type of waiver is known as a class waiver and would apply to an acquisition for a specific product (or a product in a class of products). Contracting officers and other interested parties may request that the SBA issue a waiver of the VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 nonmanufacturer rule, for a particular class of products. (B) Individual waiver. The contracting officer may also request a waiver for an individual acquisition because no known domestic small business manufacturers or processors can reasonably be expected to offer a product meeting the requirements of the solicitation. The type of waiver is known as an individual waiver and would apply only to a specific acquisition. (ii) Requests for waivers shall be sent via email to nmrwaivers@sba.gov or by mail to the— Director for Government Contracting United States Small Business Administration Mail Code 6700 409 Third Street SW. Washington, DC 20416. (iii) For the most current listing of class waivers, contact the SBA Office of Government Contracting or go to https:// www.sba.gov/content/class-waivers. (5) Exception to the nonmanufacturer rule. The SBA provides for an exception to the nonmanufacturer rule when— (i) The procurement of supplies or a manufactured end product— (A) Is processed under simplified acquisition procedures (see part 13); or (B) Is for an order set aside for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), placed under a full and openly competed multiple-award contract; (ii) The cost is not anticipated to exceed $25,000; and (iii) The offeror supplies an end product that is manufactured or produced in the United States. (d) The contracting officer shall document a small business contractor’s compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part of its performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set forth in 42.1502. ■ 50. Add section 19.506 to read as follows: 19.506 Documentation requirements (a)(1) The contracting officer shall document the rationale when a contract is not set aside for small business in accordance with 19.502–2. (2) The contracting officer shall document the rationale when a multiple-award contract is not partially set aside, not reserved, and does not allow for setting aside of orders, when these authorities could have been used. (b) If applicable, the documentation shall include the rationale for not accepting the recommendations made by the agency Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, or, PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88087 for the Department of Defense, the Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, or the Director’s designee, as to whether a particular acquisition should be awarded under subparts 19.5, 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, or 19.15. (c) Documentation is not required if a contract award is anticipated to a small business under subparts 19.5, 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, or 19.15. 19.508 [Redesignated as 19.507] 51. Redesignate section 19.508 as section 19.507 and amend newly designated section 19.507 by revising paragraphs (c) through (f); and adding new paragraphs (g) and (h) to read as follows: ■ 19.507 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses. * * * * * (c) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219–6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside, in solicitations and contracts involving total small business set-asides. This includes multiple-award contracts when orders may be set aside for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F). Use the clause at 52.219–6 with its Alternate I when including FPI in the competition in accordance with 19.502–7. (d) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219–7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside, in solicitations and contracts involving partial small business set-asides. This includes part or parts of multiple-award contracts, including those described in 38.101. Use the clause at 52.219–7 with its Alternate I when including FPI in the competition in accordance with 19.502– 7. (e) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219–14, Limitations on Subcontracting, in solicitations and contracts for supplies, services, and construction, if any portion of the requirement is to be set aside for small business and the contract amount is expected to exceed $150,000. This includes multiple-award contracts when orders may be set aside for small business concerns, as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F). For contracts that are set aside, the contracting officer shall indicate in paragraph (d) of the clause whether compliance with the limitations on subcontracting is required at the contract or order level. (f)(1) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219–13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders, in all solicitations for multiple-award contracts under which orders may be set aside for any E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 88088 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), and all contracts awarded from such solicitations. (2) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219–13 with its Alternate I in all full and open solicitations and contracts for multipleaward contracts without reserves, under which orders will be set aside for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) if the conditions in 19.502–2 are met at the time of order set-aside, and the specific program eligibility requirements, as applicable, are also then met. (g) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219–XX Notice of Small Business Reserve, in solicitations and contracts involving multiple-award contracts that have reserves. (h)(1) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219–YY, Nonmanufacturer Rule, in solicitations and contracts when the item being acquired has been assigned a manufacturing or supply NAICS code, and any portion of the requirement is set-aside for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) (with the exception of HUBZone small business concerns) including multipleaward contracts that provide for the setaside of orders to small business concerns, or is awarded on a sole-source basis in accordance with subparts 19.8 and 19.14. The clause shall not be used when the Small Business Administration has determined that there are no small business manufacturers of the product or end items and has waived the nonmanufacturer rule (see 19.505(c)(4)). (2) The clause at 52.219–YY with its Alternate I shall be used in solicitations and contracts that have been set-aside or awarded on a sole-source basis to HUBZone small business concerns, including multiple-award contracts that provide for the set-aside of orders as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F). ■ 52. Amend section 19.601 by adding paragraph (f) to read as follows: 19.601 General. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 * * * * * (f) For the purpose of receiving a COC on an unrestricted acquisition, a small business nonmanufacturer may furnish any domestically produced or manufactured product. 19.602–3 [Amended] 53. Amend section 19.602–3 by removing from paragraph (a)(2) ‘‘Director,’’ and adding ‘‘Director of the’’ in its place. ■ VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 54. Amend section 19.602–4 by adding a sentence to the end of paragraph (b) to read as follows: ■ 19.602–4 Awarding the contract. * * * * * (b) * * * Where SBA issues a COC, the contracting officer may decide not to award to that offeror for reasons unrelated to responsibility. ■ 55. Amend section 19.804–2 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows: 19.804–2 Agency offering. (a) After completing its evaluation, the agency shall notify the SBA of the extent of its plans to place 8(a) contracts with the SBA for specific quantities of items or work, including 8(a) contracts that are reserved in accordance with 19.503. * * * * * ■ 56. Amend section 19.804–6 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as follows: 19.804–6 Indefinite delivery contracts. (a) Separate offers and acceptances are not required for individual orders under multiple-award contracts that have been set aside for exclusive competition among 8(a) contractors, and the individual order is to be competed among all 8(a) contract holders. SBA’s acceptance of the original contract is valid for the term of the contract. (b) Sole source orders. The contracting officer may issue an order as a sole source when— (1) The multiple-award contract was set aside for exclusive competition among 8(a) participants; (2) The order has an estimated value less than or equal to the dollar thresholds set forth at 19.805–1(a)(2); (3) The offering and acceptance procedures at 19.804–2 and 19.804–3 are followed. * * * * * 19.805–2 [Amended] 57. Amend section 19.805–2 by removing from paragraph (b)(2) ‘‘under 19.809’’ and adding ‘‘under 19.809–1’’ in its place. ■ 58. Revise section 19.809 to read as follows: ■ 19.809 Preaward considerations. 19.809–1 Preaward survey. The contracting officer should request a preaward survey of the 8(a) contractor whenever considered useful. If the results of the preaward survey or other information available to the contracting officer raise substantial doubt as to the firm’s ability to perform, the contracting officer shall refer the matter to SBA for PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 Certificate of Competency consideration under subpart 19.6. 19.809–2 Performance of work requirements. (a) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order under the 8(a) program, the 8(a) participant is required to perform— (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of the cost incurred for personnel with its own employees; (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing the supplies or products (not including the costs of materials); (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost with its own employees (not including the costs of materials); and (4) For construction by special trade contractors, at least 25 percent of the cost with its own employees (not including the cost of materials). (b) Compliance period. An 8(a) contractor is required to comply with the limitation on subcontracting— (1) For a contract under the 8(a) program, by the end of the base term and then by the end of each subsequent option period. However, the contracting officer may instead require the contractor to comply with the limitation on subcontracting by the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract; and (2) For an order set aside under the 8(a) program as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the performance period for the order. (c) The applicable SBA District Director may waive the provisions in paragraph (b)(1) requiring a participant to comply with the limitation on subcontracting for each period of performance or for each order. Instead, the District Director may permit the participant to subcontract in excess of the limitations on subcontracting where the District Director makes a written determination that larger amounts of subcontracting are essential during certain stages of performance. (1) The 8(a) participant is required to provide the SBA District Director written assurance that the participant will ultimately comply with the requirements of this section prior to contract completion. The contracting officer shall review and concur with the written assurance before submission to the SBA District Director. (2) The contracting officer does not have the authority to waive the provisions of this section requiring a participant to comply with the E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules limitation on subcontracting for each period of performance or order, even if the agency has a Partnership Agreement with SBA. (3) Where the participant does not ultimately comply with the performance of work requirements by the end of the contract, SBA will not grant future waivers for the participant. (d) Nonmanufacturer Rule. See 19.505(c) for application of the nonmanufacturer rule, inclusive of waivers and exceptions to the nonmanufacturer rule. (e) The contracting officer shall document an 8(a) participant’s compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part of its performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set forth in 42.1502. 19.810 [Amended] 59. Amend section 19.810 by removing from paragraph (b) ‘‘for Small’’ and adding ‘‘for the Office of Small’’ in its place. ■ 60. Amend section 19.811–3 by revising paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as follows: ■ 19.811–3 Contract clauses. * * * * * (d) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219–18, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Concerns, in competitive solicitations and contracts when the acquisition is accomplished using the procedures of 19.805. The clause at 52.219–18 with its Alternate I shall be used when competition is to be limited to 8(a) concerns within one or more specific SBA districts pursuant to 19.804–2. (e) See 19.507(e) regarding the limitations on subcontracting and 19.507(h) regarding the nonmanufacturer rule to any contract or order resulting from this subpart. 19.1303 [Amended] 61. Amend section 19.1303 by removing paragraph (e). ■ 62. Amend section 19.1307 by— ■ a. Removing from paragraph (a)(1) ‘‘or’’; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (a)(2) ‘‘contracts).’’ and adding ‘‘contracts); or’’ in its place; and ■ c. Adding paragraph (a)(3). The addition to read as follows: mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 ■ 19.1307 Price evaluation preference for HUBZone small business concerns. (a) * * * (3) Where the solicitation has been reserved for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3). * * * * * ■ 63. Revise section 19.1308 to read as follows: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 19.1308 Performance of work requirements. (a) See 13 CFR 125.1 for definitions of terms used in paragraph (b) of this section. (b) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order that was set aside or awarded on a sole source basis to a HUBZone small business concern, the HUBZone small business concern is required— (1) For services (except construction), to spend at least 50 percent of the cost of performance incurred for personnel on its own employees or on the employees of other HUBZone small business concerns; (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), to spend at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing, excluding the cost of materials, on performing the contract in a HUBZone. (3) For general construction— (i) To spend at least 15 percent of the cost of performance incurred for personnel on its own employees; and (ii) To spend at least 50 percent of the cost of performance incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of its own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern subcontractors. (4) For construction by special trade contractors— (i) To spend at least 25 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel on its own employees; and (ii) To spend at least 50 percent of the cost of the contract incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of its own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern subcontractors. (c) Before issuing a solicitation for general construction or construction by special trade contractors, the contracting officer shall determine if at least two HUBZone small business concerns can spend at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance to be incurred for personnel on their own employees or subcontract employees of other HUBZone small business concerns. If the contracting officer is unable to make this determination, he or she may waive the 50 percent requirement; however, the HUBzone small business concern is still required to meet the cost incurred for personnel requirements in paragraphs (b)(3)(i) and (b)(4)(i). (d) Compliance period. A HUBZone small business contractor is required to comply with the limitation on subcontracting— (1) For a contract that has been set aside or awarded on a sole source basis to a HUBZone small business concern, PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88089 by the end of the base term and then by the end of each subsequent option period. However, the contracting officer may instead require the contractor to comply with the limitation on subcontracting by the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract; and (2) For an order set aside for HUBZone small business concerns as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the performance period for the order. (e) Nonmanufacturer rule. (1) To be awarded a set-aside contract or order for supplies as a nonmanufacturer, a contractor is required— (i) To provide the end item of a HUBZone small business manufacturer, that has been manufactured or produced in the United States or its outlying areas; (ii) Not to exceed 500 employees; (iii) To be primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sell the type of item being supplied; and (iv) To take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice. (2) There are no class waivers or waivers to the nonmanufacturer rule for individual solicitations for HUBZone contracts and HUBZone orders. (3) For HUBZone contracts and HUBZone orders at or below $25,000 in total value, a HUBZone small business concern may supply the end item of any manufacturer, including a large business, so long as the product acquired is manufactured or produced in the United States. (f) The contracting officer shall document a HUBZone contractor’s compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part of its performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set forth in 42.1502. ■ 64. Revise section 19.1309 to read as follows: 19.1309 Contract clauses. (a)(1) The contracting officer shall insert the clause 52.219–3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award, in solicitations and contracts for acquisitions that are set aside or awarded on a sole source basis to, HUBZone small business concerns under 19.1305 or 19.1306. This includes multiple-award contracts when orders may be set aside for HUBZone small business concerns as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F). (2) The contracting officer shall use the clause with its Alternate I to waive the 50 percent requirement if the conditions at 19.1308(c) apply. (b)(1) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at FAR 52.219–4, E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 88090 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns, in solicitations and contracts for acquisitions conducted using full and open competition. (2) The contracting officer shall use the clause with its Alternate I to waive the 50 percent requirement if the conditions at 19.1308(c) apply. (c) For use of clause 52.219–YY, Nonmanufacturer Rule, see the prescription at 19.507(h)(2). ■ 65. Amend section 19.403 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows: 19.1403 Status as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern. * * * * * (d) Any service-disabled veteranowned small business concern (nonmanufacturer) is required to meet the requirements in 19.1407(c) to receive a benefit under this program. 19.1407 [Redesignated as 19.1408] 66. Redesignate section 19.1407 as section 19.1408. ■ 67. Add new section 19.1407 to read as follows: ■ 19.1408 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 19.1407 Performance of work requirements. (a) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order under an SDVOSB set-aside or a contract as an SDVOSB sole source, the SDVOSB concern is required to— (1) For services (except construction), spend at least 50 percent of the cost incurred for personnel on its own employees or the employees of other SDVOSBs; (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), spend at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing the supplies or products (not including the costs of materials) on itself or by other SDVOSBs; (3) For general construction, spend at least 15 percent of the cost (not including the costs of materials) incurred for personnel on its own employees or the employees of other SDVOSBs; or (4) For construction by special trade contractors, incur at least 25 percent of the cost (not including the cost of materials) incurred for personnel on its own employees or the employees of other SDVOSBs. (b) Compliance period. An SDVOSB contractor is required to comply with the limitation on subcontracting— (1) For a contract that has been set aside or awarded on a sole source basis to an SDVOSB concern, by the end of the base term and then by the end of VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 each subsequent option period. However, the contracting officer may instead require the contractor to comply with the limitation on subcontracting by the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract; and (2) For an order set aside for SDVOSB contractor as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the performance period for the order. (c) Nonmanufacturer rule. See 19.505(c) for application of the nonmanufacturer rule, inclusive of waivers and exceptions to the nonmanufacturer rule. (d) The contracting officer shall document an SDVOSB contractor’s compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part of its performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set forth in 42.1502. ■ 68. Amend the newly designated section 19.1408 by removing from the body paragraph ‘‘or reserved for,’’ and adding a sentence to the end of the paragraph to read as follows: Contract clauses. * * * For contracts that are set-aside, the contracting officer shall indicate in paragraph (e) of the clause whether compliance with the limitations on subcontracting is required at the contract level or order level. 19.1503 [Amended] 69. Amend section 19.1503 by removing paragraph (g). ■ 19.1507 [Redesignated as 19.1508] 70. Redesignate section 19.1507 as section 19.1508. ■ 71. Add new section 19.1507 to read as follows: ■ 19.1507 Performance of work requirements. (a) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order that is set aside for an EDWOSB or for a WOSB eligible under the WOSB Program, the contractor is required to perform— (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of the cost incurred for personnel with its own employees; (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing the supplies or products (not including the costs of materials); (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost with its own employees (not including the costs of materials); or (4) For construction by special trade contractors, at least 25 percent of the PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 cost with its own employees (not including the cost of materials). (b) Compliance period. An EDWOSB or WOSB is required to comply with the limitation on subcontracting— (1) For a contract that has been set aside, by the end of the base term and then by the end of each subsequent option period. However, the contracting officer may instead require the contractor to comply with the limitation on subcontracting by the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract; and (2) For an order set aside as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the performance period for the order. (c) Nonmanufacturer rule. See 19.505(c) for application of the nonmanufacturer rule, inclusive of waivers and exceptions to the nonmanufacturer rule. (d) The contracting officer shall document an EDWOSB or WOSB contractor’s compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part of its performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set forth in 42.1502. ■ 72. Revise section 19.1508 by— ■ a. Redesignating paragraph (a) as paragraph (a)(1); ■ b. Removing from the newly designated paragraph (a)(1) ‘‘or reserved’’; ■ c. Adding paragraph (a)(2); ■ d. Redesignating paragraph (b) as paragraph (b)(1); ■ e. Removing from the newly designated paragraph (b)(1) ‘‘or reserved’’; and ■ f. Adding paragraph (b)(2). The additions to read as follows: 19.1508 Contract clauses. (a) * * * (2) For contracts that are set aside, the contracting officer shall indicate in paragraph (e) of the clause whether compliance with the limitations on subcontracting is required at the contract level or order level. (b) * * * (2) For contracts that are set aside, the contracting officer shall indicate in paragraph (e) of the clause whether compliance with the limitations on subcontracting is required at the contract level or order level. Part 42—Contract Administration and Audit Services 73. Amend section 42.1503 by revising paragraph (b)(2)(vi) to read as follows: ■ 42.1503 * E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM * Procedures. * 06DEP3 * * 88091 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules 52.212–1 Instructions to Offerors— Commercial Items. (b) * * * (2) * * * (vi) Other (as applicable) (e.g., compliance with limitation on subcontracting, late or nonpayment to subcontractors, trafficking violations, tax delinquency, failure to report in accordance with contract terms and conditions, defective cost or pricing data, terminations, suspension and debarments). * * * * * * 74. Amend section 52.204–8 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause; ■ b. Revising paragraph (c)(1)(x); ■ c. Adding paragraph (c)(1)(x)(C); and ■ d. Adding Alternate I. The revisions and additions to read as follows: 52.204–8 Annual Representations and Certifications. * * * Annual Representations and Certifications (Date) * * * * * (c)(1) * * * (x) 52.219–1, Small Business Program Representations (Basic, Alternates I and II). This provision applies to solicitations when the contract will be performed in the United States or its outlying areas. * * * * * (C) The provision with its Alternate II applies to solicitations that will result in a multiple-award contract with more than one NAICS code assigned. * * * * * Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 4.1202(a), substitute the following paragraph (a) for paragraph (a) of the basic provision: (a)(1) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and corresponding size standards for this acquisition are as follows; the categories or portions these NAICS codes are assigned to are specified elsewhere in the solicitation: Size standard —— —— —— mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 NAICS code —— —— —— 75. Amend section 52.212–1 by revising the date of the provision and paragraph (a) to read as follows: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 * * * * * * 76. Amend section 52.212–5 by— a. Revising the date of the clause; b. Revising paragraphs (b)(11), (b)(12), (b)(14), (b)(15), (b)(19), and (b)(21) through (b)(24); ■ c. Redesignating paragraphs (b)(25) through (b)(58) as paragraphs (b)(27) through (b)(59), respectively; and ■ d. Adding new paragraphs (b)(25) and (b)(26). The additions and revisions to read as follows: ■ ■ ■ 52.212–5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items. * * * * * Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items (Date) * * * * * (b) * * * l(11)(i) 52.219–3, Notice of HUBZone SetAside or Sole-Source Award (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 657a). l(ii) Alternate I (DATE) of 52.219–3. l(12)(i) 52.219–4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (DATE) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a). l(ii) Alternate I (DATE) of 52.219–4. * * * * * l(14)(i) 52.219–6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 644). l(ii) Alternate I (DATE). l(15)(i) 52.219–7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 644). l(ii) Alternate I (DATE) of 52.219–7. * [Contracting Officer to insert NAICS codes and size standards]. (2) The small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, other than on a construction or service contract, but which proposes to furnish a product which it did not itself manufacture (i.e. nonmanufacturer), is 500 employees. ■ * (a) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and small business size standard. The NAICS code(s) and small business size standard(s) for this acquisition appear elsewhere in the solicitation. However, the small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, but which proposes to furnish an item which it did not itself manufacture, is 500 employees. ■ * * Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items (Date) Part 52—Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 77. Amend section 52.219–1 by— a. Revising the date of the clause and paragraph (b)(3); ■ b. Removing the heading from paragraph (d) and paragraph (d)(1); ■ c. Redesignating paragraph (d)(2) as the introductory text of paragraph (d); ■ d. Redesignating paragraphs (d)(2)(i) through (iii) as paragraphs (d)(1) through (3); ■ e. Removing from the newly designated introductory paragraph (d) ‘‘Under’’ and adding ‘‘Notice. Under’’ in its place; and ■ f. Adding Alternate II to read as follows: ■ ■ 52.219–1 Small Business Program Representations. * * * PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 * * * * * * (b) * * * (3) The small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, other than on a construction or service contract, but which proposes to furnish a product which it did not itself manufacture i.e. nonmanufacturer, is 500 employees. * * * * * Alternate II (DATE). As prescribed in 19.309(a)(3), substitute the following paragraphs (b) and (c)(1) for paragraphs (b) and (c)(1) of the basic provision: (b)(1) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and corresponding size standards for this acquisition are as follows; the categories or portions these NAICS codes are assigned to are specified elsewhere in the solicitation: NAICS code Size standard —— —— —— —— —— —— l(19) 52.219–14, Limitations on Subcontracting (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)). l(21) 52.219–27, Notice of ServiceDisabled Veteran-Owned Small Business SetAside (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 657 f). l(22) 52.219–28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)). l(23) 52.219–29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically * Small Business Program Rerepresentations (Date) * * Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) Concerns (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)). l(24) 52.219–30, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)). l(25) 52.219–XX, Notice of Small Business Reserve (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)). l(26) 52.219–YY, Nonmanufacturer Rule (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(17)). l(i) Alternate I (DATE) of 52.219–YY. [Contracting Officer to insert NAICS codes and size standards]. (2) The small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, other than on a construction or service contract, but which proposes to furnish a product which it did not itself manufacture (i.e. nonmanufacturer), is 500 employees. (c) Representations. E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 88092 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules (1) The offeror shall represent its small business size status for each one of the NAICS codes assigned to this acquisition under which it is submitting an offer. NAICS code Small business concern (yes/no) —— —— —— —— —— —— 78. Amend section 52.219–3 by— a. Revising the introductory paragraph, the date of the clause, and paragraph (a); ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ‘‘or reserved for,’’ ■ c. Revising paragraphs (d), (e), and (f); and ■ d. Revising Alternate I. The revised text to read as follows: ■ ■ 52.219–3 Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award. As prescribed in 19.1309(a)(1), insert the following clause: Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award (Date) (a) Definition. See 13 CFR 125.1 and 126.103 for definitions of terms used in the clause. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 * * * * * (d) Limitation on subcontracting. The Contractor shall spend— (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel on its own employees or employees of other HUBZone small business concerns; (2) For supplies (other than acquisition from a nonmanufacturer of the supplies), at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing, excluding the cost of materials, in a HUBZone; (3) For general construction— (i) At least 15 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel on its own employees; (ii) At least 50 percent of the cost of the contract performance incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of its own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern subcontractors; and (iii) No more than 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel on concerns that are not HUBZone small business concerns; or (4) For construction by special trade contractors— (i) At least 25 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel on its own employees; (ii) At least 50 percent of the cost of the contract performance incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of its own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern subcontractors; (iii) No more than 50 percent of the cost of contract performance to be incurred for VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 personnel on concerns that are not HUBZone small business concerns. (e) A HUBZone small business contractor shall comply with the limitation on subcontracting as follows: (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this clause— [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] lBy the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end of each subsequent option period; or lBy the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract. (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this clause, by the end of the performance period for the order. (f) A HUBZone joint venture agrees that, in the performance of the contract, the applicable percentage specified in paragraph (c) of this clause shall be performed by the aggregate of the HUBZone small business participants. * * * * * Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.1309(a)(2), substitute the following paragraphs (d)(3) and (d)(4) for paragraphs (d)(3) and (d)(4) of the basic clause: (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost of the contract performance to be incurred for personnel shall be spent on the concern’s employees; or (4) For specialty trade construction, at least 25 percent of the cost of the contract performance to be incurred for personnel shall be spent on the concern’s employees. * * * * * 79. Amend section 52.219–4 by— a. Revising the introductory paragraph, date, and paragraph (a) of the clause; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1)(i) ‘‘preference; and’’ and adding ‘‘preference;’’ in its place; ■ c. Removing from paragraph (b)(1)(ii) ‘‘concerns.’’ and adding ‘‘concerns; and’’ in its place; ■ d. Adding paragraph (b)(1)(iii); ■ e. Revising paragraph (d); ■ f. Removing paragraph (f); ■ g. Redesignating paragraph (g) as paragraph (f); and ■ h. Revising Alternate I. The additions and revisions to read as follows: ■ ■ 52.219–4 Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns. As prescribed in 19.1309(b)(1), insert the following clause: Notice of Price Evaluation for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (Date) (a) Definition. See 13 CFR 126.103 for definition of HUBZone. (b) * * * (1) * * * (iii) Where the solicitation has been reserved for a HUBZone small business concern. * * * * * (d) Limitation on subcontracting. The Contractor shall spend— PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of the cost of personnel for contract performance on its own employees or employees of other HUBZone small business concerns; (2) For supplies (other than acquisition from a nonmanufacturer of the supplies), at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing, excluding the cost of materials, in a HUBZone; (3) For general construction— (i) At least 15 percent of the cost of contract performance to be incurred for personnel on its own employees; (ii) At least 50 percent of the cost of the contract performance to be incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of its own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern subcontractors; and (iii) No more than 50 percent of the cost of contract performance to be incurred for personnel on concerns that are not HUBZone small business concerns; or (4) For construction by special trade contractors— (i) At least 25 percent of the cost of contract performance to be incurred for on its own employees; (ii) At least 50 percent of the cost of the contract performance to be incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of its own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern subcontractors; (iii) No more than 50 percent of the cost of contract performance to be incurred for personnel on concerns that are not HUBZone small business concerns. * * * * * (End of clause) Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.1309(b)(2), substitute the following paragraphs (d)(3) and (d)(4) for paragraphs (d)(3) and (d)(4) of the basic clause: (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost of the contract performance to be incurred for personnel on its own employees; or (4) For construction by special trade contractors, at least 25 percent of the cost of the contract performance to be incurred for personnel on its own employees. * * * * * 80. Amend section 52.219–6 by— a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ‘‘or reserved’’; ■ c. Removing paragraph (d) and Alternate I; ■ d. Redesignating Alternate II as Alternate I; and ■ e. Revising the date and the introductory text of the newly designated Alternate I. The revisions to read as follows: ■ ■ 52.219–6 Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside. As prescribed in 19.507(c), insert the following clause: E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules Notice of Total Business Set-Aside (Date) * * * * * Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.507(c), substitute the following paragraph (c) for paragraph (c) of the basic clause: * * * 81. Amend section 52.219–7 by— a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause; ■ b. Revising paragraphs (b) and (c); ■ c. Adding paragraphs (d) and (e); ■ d. Removing Alternate I; and ■ e. Redesignating Alternate II as Alternate I and revising the alternate. The addition and revisions to read as follows: ■ ■ 52.219–7 Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside. As prescribed in 19.507(d), insert the following clause: Notice of Partial Small Business SetAside (Date) * * * * * mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 (b) Applicability. This clause applies only to contracts that have been partially set aside for small business concerns. (c) General. (1) A portion of this requirement, identified elsewhere in this solicitation, has been set aside for award to one or more small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3). Offers received from concerns that do not qualify as small business concerns shall be considered nonresponsive and shall be rejected on the set-aside portion of the requirement. (2) Small business concerns may submit offers and compete for the non-set-aside portion and the set-aside portion. (d) The Offeror shall— [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] lSubmit a separate offer for each portion of the solicitation for which it wants to compete (i.e. set-aside portion, non-set-aside portion, or both); or lSubmit one offer to include all portions for which it wants to compete. (e) Partial set-asides of multiple-award contracts. (1) Small business concerns will not compete against other-than-small business concerns for any order issued under the part or parts of the multiple-award contract that are set aside. (2) Small business concerns may compete for orders issued under the part or parts of the multiple-award contract that are not set aside, if the small business concern received a contract award for the non-set-aside portion. (End of Clause) Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.507(d), add the following paragraph (f) to the basic clause: (f) Notwithstanding paragraph (c) of this clause, offers from Federal Prison Industries, Inc., will be solicited and considered for both the set-aside and non-set-aside portion of this requirement. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 82. Amend section 52.219–13 by— a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause; ■ b. Redesignating the body paragraph as paragraph (b); ■ c. Adding paragraph (a); and ■ d. Adding Alternate I. The revised and added text reads as follows: ■ ■ 52.219–13 Notice of Set-Aside of Orders. As prescribed in 19.507(f)(1), insert the following clause: Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Date) (a) The contracting officer may set aside orders to the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3). * * * * * Alternate I (Date). As prescribed in 19.507(f)(2), substitute the following paragraph (a) for paragraph (a) of the basic clause: (a) The contracting officer will set aside orders to the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) when the conditions of FAR 19.502–2 and the specific program eligibility requirements are met, as applicable. 83. Amend section 52.219–14 by— a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ‘‘or reserved’’; ■ c. Revising the introductory text of paragraph (c); and ■ d. Adding paragraph (d). The addition and revision to read as follows: ■ ■ 52.219–14 Limitations on Subcontracting. As prescribed in 19.507(e), insert the following clause: Limitations on Subcontracting (Date) * * * * * (c) Limitation on subcontracting. By submission of an offer and execution of a contract, the Offeror/Contractor agrees that in performance of the contract in the case of a contract for— * * * * * (d) The Contractor shall comply with the limitation on subcontracting as follows: (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this clause— [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] lBy the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end of each subsequent option period; or lBy the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract. (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this clause, by the end of the performance period for the order. (End of clause) 84. Amend section 52.219–18 by revising the date of the clause and paragraph (d); and removing Alternate II to read as follows: ■ PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 88093 52.219–18 Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Concerns. * * * * * Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Concerns (Date) * * * * * (d) Thelll[insert name of SBA’s contractor] shall notify thelll [insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to transfer all or part of its stock. (End of clause) * * * * ■ 85. Amend section 52.219–27 by— ■ a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ‘‘or reserved’’; ■ c. Revising the heading of paragraph (d); ■ d. Removing paragraph (f); ■ e. Redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph (f); and ■ f. Adding new paragraph (e). The addition and revisions to read as follows: * 52.219–27 Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside. As prescribed in 19.1408, insert the following clause: Notice of Service-Disabled VeteranOwned Small Business Set-Aside (Date) * * * * * (d) Limitation on subcontracting. * * * (e) A service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern shall comply with the limitation on subcontracting as follows: (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this clause— [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] lBy the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end of each subsequent option period; or lBy the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract. (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this clause, by the end of the performance period for the order. * * * * * 86. Amend section 52.219–28 by— a. Revising the date of the clause; b. Removing from paragraph (b) ‘‘status’’ and adding ‘‘and socioeconomic status’’ in its place; ■ c. Removing from paragraph (c) ‘‘code’’ and adding ‘‘code(s)’’ in its place, twice; ■ d. Revising paragraph (g); and ■ e. Adding paragraph (h). The addition and revision to read as follows: ■ ■ ■ 52.219–28 Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation. * E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM * * 06DEP3 * * 88094 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepesentation (Date) mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 * * * * * (g) If the Contractor does not have representations and certifications in SAM, or does not have a representation in SAM for the NAICS code applicable to this contract, the Contractor is required to complete the following rerepresentation and submit it to the contracting office, along with the contract number and the date on which the rerepresentation was completed: (1) The Contractor represents that it b is, b is not a small business concern under NAICS Codelllassigned to contract numberlll. (2) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (g)(1) of this clause.] The Contractor rerepresents that it b is, b is not, a small disadvantaged business concern as defined in 13 CFR 124.1002. (3) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (g)(1) of this clause.] The Contractor rerepresents that it b is, b is not a women-owned small business concern. (4) Women-owned small business (WOSB) concern eligible under the WOSB Program. [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a women-owned small business concern in paragraph (g)(3) of this clause.] The Contractor rerepresents that— (i) It b is, b is not a WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program, has provided all the required documents to the WOSB Repository, and no change in circumstances or adverse decisions have been issued that affects its eligibility; and (ii) It b is, b is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 127, and the rerepresentation in paragraph (g)(4)(i) of this clause is accurate for each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the joint venture. [The Contractor shall enter the name or names of the WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program and other small businesses that are participating in the joint venture: lll] Each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the WOSB rerepresentation. (5) Economically disadvantaged womenowned small business (EDWOSB) concern. [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a women-owned small business concern eligible under the WOSB Program in (g)(4) of this clause.] The Contractor represents that— (i) It b is, b is not an EDWOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program, has provided all the required documents to the WOSB Repository, and no change in circumstances or adverse decisions have been issued that affects its eligibility; and (ii) It b is, b is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 127, and the rerepresentation in paragraph (g)(5)(i) of this clause is accurate for each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture. [The Contractor shall enter the name or names of the EDWOSB concern and other small businesses that are participating in the joint venture:lll.] VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 Each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the EDWOSB rerepresentation. (6) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (g)(1) of this provision.] The Contractor rerepresents as part of its offer that it b is, b is not a veteran-owned small business concern. (7) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a veteran-owned small business concern in paragraph (g)(6) of this clause.] The Contractor rerepresents that it b is, b is not a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern. (8) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (g)(1) of this clause.] The Contractor represents that— (i) It b is, b is not a HUBZone small business concern listed, on the date of this rerepresentation, on the List of Qualified HUBZone Small Business Concerns maintained by the Small Business Administration, and no material changes in ownership and control, principal office, or HUBZone employee percentage have occurred since it was certified in accordance with 13 CFR part 126; and (ii) It b is, b is not a HUBZone joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 126, and the rerepresentation in paragraph (g)(8)(i) of this clause is accurate for each HUBZone small business concern participating in the HUBZone joint venture. [The Contractor shall enter the names of each of the HUBZone small business concerns participating in the HUBZone joint venture: lll] Each HUBZone small business concern participating in the HUBZone joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the HUBZone rerepresentation. [Contractor to sign and date and insert authorized signer’s name and title.] (h) If the Contractor represented that it was a small business concern prior to award of this contract, the Contractor shall rerepresent its size and socioeconomic status according to paragraph (e) of this clause or, if applicable, paragraph (g) of this clause, when the contracting officer explicitly requires it for an order issued under a multiple-award contract. (End of clause) 87. Amend section 52.219–29 by— a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ‘‘or reserved’’; ■ c. Revising the heading of paragraph (d); ■ d. Removing paragraph (f); ■ e. Redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph (f); and ■ f. Adding new paragraph (e). The addition and revisions to read as follows: ■ ■ Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns (Date) * * * * * (d) Limitation on subcontracting. * * * (e) An EDWOSB concern shall comply with the limitation on subcontracting as follows: (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this clause— [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] _By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end of each subsequent option period; or _By the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract. (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this clause, by the end of the performance period for the order. * * * * * 88. Amend section 52.219–30 by— a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ‘‘or reserved’’; ■ c. Revising the heading of paragraph (d); ■ d. Removing paragraph (f); ■ e. Redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph (f); and ■ f. Adding new paragraph (e). The additions and revisions to read as follows: ■ ■ 52.219–30 Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program. As prescribed in 19.1508(b), insert the following clause: Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under The WomenOwned Small Business Program (Date) * * * * * (d) Limitation on subcontracting. * * * (e) A WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program shall comply with the limitation on subcontracting as follows: (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this clause— [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.] _By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end of each subsequent option period; or _By the end of the performance period for each order issued under the contract. (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this clause, by the end of the performance period for the order. * * * * * 89. Add section 52.219–XX to read as follows: ■ 52.219–29 Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns. 52.219–XX Reserve. As prescribed in 19.1508(a), insert the following clause: As prescribed in 19.507(g), insert the following clause: PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM Notice of Small Business 06DEP3 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / Proposed Rules Notice of Small Business Reserve (Date) Nonmanufacturer Rule (DATE) (a) Applicability. This clause applies only to contracts that have been reserved for any of the small business concerns identified at 19.000(a)(3). The small business program eligibility requirements apply. (b) General. (1) This solicitation contains a reserve for one or more small business concerns identified at 19.000(a)(3) and the applicable small business program. (2) The small business concern(s) eligible for participation in the reserve shall submit one offer to include all portions of the solicitation for which consideration for award is wanted. Award of the contract will be based on criteria identified elsewhere in the solicitation. (c) If there are two or more contract awards to small businesses as a result of the reserve, the Contracting Officer may, at his or her discretion, set aside an order or orders for the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) and the applicable small business program, that were awarded contracts under a reserve, provided the requirements of 19.502–2(b) are met. (d) If there is only one contract award to a small business as a result of the reserve, the Contracting Officer may, at his or her discretion, issue an order or orders directly to the small business concern. (a) This clause does not apply to the unrestricted portion of a partial set-aside. (b) Applicability. This clause applies to contracts that have been set aside, in total or in part, or orders under multiple-award contracts as described in 8.405–5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F) that have been set aside, for any of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3). (c)(1) The contractor shall— (i)(A) Provide the end item of a small business manufacturer, that has been manufactured or produced in the United States or its outlying areas; or (B) If this procurement is an order as described in 8.405–5 or 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F) or processed under simplified acquisition procedures (see part 13), and the total amount does not exceed $25,000, provide the end item of any domestic manufacturer; (ii) Not exceed 500 employees; (iii) Be primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sell the type of item being supplied; and (iv) Take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice. (2) In addition to the requirements set forth in (c)(1) of this clause, when the end item being acquired is a kit of supplies or other goods, 50 percent of the total value of the components of the kit shall be manufactured in the United States or its outlying areas by small business concerns. Where the Government has specified an item for the kit which is not produced by U.S. small business (End of clause) 90. Add section 52.219–YY to read as follows: ■ 52.219–YY Nonmanufacturer Rule. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with PROPOSALS3 As prescribed in 19.507(h)(1), insert the following clause: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Dec 05, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 9990 88095 concerns, such items shall be excluded from the 50 percent calculation. See 13 CFR 121.406(c) for further information regarding nonmanufacturers. (3) For size determination purposes, there can be only one manufacturer of the end product being acquired. For the purposes of the nonmanufacturer rule, the manufacturer of the end product being acquired is the concern that transforms raw materials and/or miscellaneous parts or components into the end product. Firms which only minimally alter the item being procured do not qualify as manufacturers of the end item, such as firms that add substances, parts, or components to an existing end item to modify its performance will not be considered the end item manufacturer, where those identical modifications can be performed by and are available from the manufacturer of the existing end item. See 13 CFR 121.406 for further information regarding manufacturers. (End of clause) Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.507(h)(2), substitute the following paragraph in place of paragraph (c)(1)(i)(A) of the basic clause: (i)(A) Provide the end item of a HUBZone small business manufacturer, that has been manufactured or produced in the United States or its outlying areas; or [FR Doc. 2016–28432 Filed 12–5–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P E:\FR\FM\06DEP3.SGM 06DEP3

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 88072-88095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28432]



[[Page 88071]]

Vol. 81

Tuesday,

No. 234

December 6, 2016

Part III





Department of Defense

General Services Administration

National Aeronautics and Space Administration





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48 CFR Parts 2, 4, 7, et al.





Federal Acquisition Regulation: Set-Asides Under Multiple-Award 
Contracts; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 234 / Tuesday, December 6, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 88072]]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 42, and 52

[FAR Case 2014-002; Docket No. 2014-0002, Sequence No. 1]
RIN 9000-AM93


Federal Acquisition Regulation: Set-Asides Under Multiple-Award 
Contracts

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement regulatory changes made by 
the Small Business Administration, which provide Government-wide policy 
for partial set-asides and reserves, and setting aside orders for small 
business concerns under multiple-award contracts.

DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments to the 
Regulatory Secretariat Division at one of the addresses shown below on 
or before February 6, 2017 to be considered in the formation of the 
final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in response to FAR case 2014-002 by any of 
the following methods:
     Regulations.gov: https://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for ``FAR Case 
2014-002.'' Select the link ``Comment Now'' that corresponds with ``FAR 
Case 2014-002.'' Follow the instructions provided on the screen. Please 
include your name, company name (if any), and ``FAR Case 2014-002'' on 
your attached document.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat Division (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., 2nd 
Floor, Washington, DC 20405.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAR Case 2014-
002, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments received 
will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal and/or business confidential information provided.
    To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check 
www.regulations.gov, approximately two to three days after submission 
to verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments 
submitted by mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mahruba Uddowla, Procurement 
Analyst, at 703-605-2868 or by email at mahruba.uddowla@gsa.gov for 
clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or 
publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 
202-501-4755. Please cite FAR Case 2014-002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to revise the FAR to implement 
regulatory changes made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in 
its final rule at 78 FR 61114, dated October 2, 2013, regarding the use 
of small business partial set-asides, reserves, and orders placed under 
multiple-award contracts. SBA's final rule implements the statutory 
requirements set forth at section 1331 of the Small Business Jobs Act 
of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)), (Jobs Act).
    The Jobs Act, signed into law by President Obama on September 27, 
2010, was a landmark event aimed at reenergizing small business 
entrepreneurship. It provided an array of tools to enhance small 
business participation in Federal procurement. In particular, section 
1331 of the Jobs Act, the focus of this rule, provided authority for 
three acquisition techniques to facilitate contracting with small 
businesses on multiple-award contracts:
    (1) Setting aside part or parts of the requirement for small 
businesses.
    (2) Reserving one or more contract awards for small business 
concerns under full and open multiple-award procurements.
    (3) Setting aside orders placed against multiple-award contracts, 
notwithstanding the fair opportunity requirements of 10 U.S.C. 2304c(b) 
and 41 U.S.C. 4106(c).
    Multiple-award contracts, due to their inherent flexibility, 
competitive nature, and administrative efficiency, are commonly used in 
Federal procurement. They have proven to be an effective means of 
contracting for large quantities of supplies and services for which the 
quantity and delivery requirements cannot be definitively determined at 
contract award. However, prior to 2011, the FAR was largely silent on 
the use of acquisition strategies to promote small business 
participation in conjunction with multiple-award contracts.
    DoD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule in the Federal 
Register, at 76 FR 68032, on November 2, 2011, under FAR Case 2011-024, 
so that Federal agencies could begin taking advantage of the 
authorities set forth in section 1331 while SBA developed rules with 
additional detail on the use of these tools. DoD, GSA, and NASA 
intended to provide more complete guidance after publication of SBA's 
final rule.
    This proposed rule provides additional guidance on the use of 
partial set-asides, reserves, and set-asides of orders under multiple-
award contracts, based on SBA's final rule published in the Federal 
Register at 78 FR 61114, dated October 2, 2013. It also clarifies 
agencies' and small business contractors' responsibilities with respect 
to performance of work requirements, i.e., the limitations on 
subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule. Inasmuch as small 
businesses have this preference, compliance with the limitations on 
subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule is essential to assure that 
the small business contractor performs the appropriate percentage of 
requirements in contracts or orders that have been set aside, in total 
or in part, and is not acting as a pass-through.
    Because the interim rule described above to implement section 1331 
of the Jobs Act has already authorized agencies to use partial set-
asides, reserves, and order set-asides under multiple award contracts, 
agencies are encouraged to provide feedback on their use of these tools 
to date and how their use of the tools compares to the guidance and 
procedures outlined in this proposed rule.

II. Discussion and Analysis

A. Analysis of Public Comments

    DoD, GSA, and NASA reviewed the comments to the FAR interim rule in 
development of this proposed rule. Many of the public comments 
submitted in response to the interim rule have been overcome by events, 
primarily the issuance of SBA's final rule. A discussion of the 
comments is as follows:
     Clarification of new multiple-award contract procedures.
    Comment: Many respondents indicated that the guidance provided in 
the interim rule lacked clarity.
    Response: The intent of the interim rule was to provide authority 
to Federal agencies for using the new acquisition tools established by 
section 1331 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)) as quickly as possible,

[[Page 88073]]

allowing time for SBA to complete the drafting, coordination, and 
publication process for its forthcoming, more explicit, regulatory 
guidance. SBA has since completed these efforts and published the 
requisite regulatory changes in its final rule (78 FR 61114, dated 
October 2, 2013). This proposed rule implements the regulatory changes 
in SBA's final rule and provides more in-depth guidance in the FAR.
    One respondent pointed out that the prescription for new FAR clause 
52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders, states the purpose of 
including the clause but not the types of solicitations and contracts 
in which inclusion of 52.219-13 is required. Language has been added in 
the proposed rule clarifying the circumstances under which clause 
52.219-13 should be used.
     Updating of Federal data systems.
    Comment: A few respondents mentioned that Federal data systems such 
as the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and FedBizOpps do not 
presently have the capability to accept the new data inputs associated 
with the implementation of section 1331 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)).
    Response: This concern is duly noted. The system enhancements 
needed to accommodate the new data requirements are in process.
     Application of the limitations on subcontracting to 
multiple-award contracts.
    Comment: A number of respondents pointed out that the limitations 
on subcontracting requirements only come into play when a small 
business receives a contract award under a small business set-aside and 
should not apply when a small business receives a contract award under 
a full and open solicitation, even when the award was made pursuant to 
a reserve under a full and open, multiple-award solicitation.
    Response: The interim rule did not change the basic requirements 
for the application of the limitations on subcontracting, i.e., the 
limitations on subcontracting restrictions only apply when the small 
business contractor received the award as the result of a solicitation 
that limited the field of potential offerors to small businesses. SBA, 
in its final rule, further clarified that the limitations on 
subcontracting do not apply to contract reserves but will apply to 
orders that are set aside under such contracts.
     Written justifications for small business set-asides.
    Comment: One respondent stated that a written justification should 
be required for order set-asides under multiple-award contracts.
    Response: The interim rule did not change FAR subpart 6.2, which 
provides that a written justification is not required for small 
business set-asides or set-asides to any small business concern 
participating in the socioeconomic programs identified at FAR 
19.000(a). In addition, section 1331 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)) established an 
exception to the fair opportunity requirements for set-asides of orders 
under multiple-award contracts, which was incorporated into FAR 
subparts 8.4 and 16.5 under the interim rule. However, contracting 
officers are required to adhere to the criteria at FAR 19.502-2 to 
determine whether or not a small business set-aside is feasible before 
proceeding with this acquisition strategy.
     Mandatory set aside of orders below the simplified 
acquisition threshold.
    Comment: A number of respondents stated that 15 U.S.C. 644(j) 
requires orders between the micropurchase threshold and the simplified 
acquisition threshold to be automatically set aside for small business, 
and recommended amendments to the FAR to ensure this.
    Response: The interim FAR rule was published in advance of SBA's 
own rulemaking to provide authority for contracting officers to use the 
new acquisition tools established in section 1331 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)) as 
quickly as possible. The proposed FAR rule implements the regulatory 
changes provided in SBA's final rule, including clarification of the 
procedures for setting aside task and delivery orders under multiple-
award contracts. SBA's rule does not require orders to be set aside.
     Out-of-scope comments.
    Comment: A number of respondents submitted comments that are out of 
scope of both the interim rule and this proposed rule. These comments 
ranged from updating the clause matrix for clauses other than those 
prescribed in FAR part 19 to providing guidance on contractor team 
arrangements under Federal Supply Schedules to concerns associated with 
the bundling of requirements.
    Response: No changes were made for the out-of-scope comments.

B. Summary of Significant Changes

     Partial set-asides.
    The proposed rule clarifies the distinction between the use of 
partial set-asides on multiple-award contracts and partial set-asides 
on all other contracts. Section 1331 only addresses multiple-award 
contracts and provides that partial set-asides should be considered 
when market research indicates a total set-aside is not feasible, and 
the acquisition can be divided into smaller discrete portions or 
categories which can then be set aside with the reasonable expectation 
of obtaining adequate competition from small business, and a fair 
market price. For all other contracts, the Small Business Act already 
mandated that partial set-asides be considered when market research 
indicates a total set-aside is not feasible, and the acquisition can be 
divided into smaller discrete portions or categories which can then be 
set aside with the reasonable expectation of obtaining adequate 
competition from small business, and a fair market price. The proposed 
rule expands on the current guidance provided in the FAR for the use of 
partial small business set-asides and initiates changes to improve the 
overall process. Most significantly, small businesses will no longer be 
required to submit an offer on the non-set-aside portion of a 
solicitation in order to be considered for the set-aside portion of the 
solicitation.
     Reserves.
    The proposed rule adds substantial coverage for the new concept of 
a ``reserve''. Reserves are used in solicitations for a multiple-award 
contract when a total or a partial set-aside of the work is not 
feasible, but the agency wants to be sure that small businesses 
participate at the prime contract level.
     Orders under multiple-award contracts.
    The proposed rule builds on the guidance provided in the FAR 
interim rule, published in the Federal Register at 76 FR 68032, on 
November 2, 2011, for setting aside orders under multiple-award 
contracts and provides several new methodologies to complement various 
acquisition conditions. For example, in solicitations employing a 
partial set-aside of a multiple-award contract, the contracting officer 
may establish terms and conditions in the solicitation and resultant 
contract providing that all subsequent task or delivery orders are set 
aside for any of the small businesses awarded contracts under the set-
aside portion. Or, the contracting officer may state in the 
solicitation and resultant contract that the determination to set aside 
an order will be made on a case-by-case basis. This flexibility allows 
the contracting officer to employ the ordering technique that is best 
suited to the surrounding acquisition environment.
     Assignment of NAICS codes and size standards.
    The proposed rule provides new guidance for assigning North 
American Industry Category System (NAICS) codes in solicitations that 
will result in

[[Page 88074]]

multiple-award contracts. Contracting officers have the discretion to--
    (1) Assign one NAICS code (and corresponding size standard) to the 
entire solicitation; or
    (2) When the procurement can be divided into portions or 
categories, assign each a NAICS code and corresponding size standard 
which best describes the principal purpose attributed to the part or 
category.
     Application of the limitations on subcontracting and the 
nonmanufacturer rule.
    The proposed rule moves the nonmanufacturer rule coverage and 
limitations on subcontracting together in FAR part 19. Collectively 
referred to as the ``performance of work'' requirements, these 
restrictions set forth the contractual obligations of small business 
concerns awarded contracts or orders by virtue of their small business 
status. Limitations on subcontracting are the minimum percentages of 
work the prime small business contractor must itself perform. The 
limitations currently appear in the clauses; the proposed rule also 
places them in FAR part 19 for easier reference by contracting 
officers. In addition, the proposed rule clarifies that compliance with 
the limitations on subcontracting may be determined by measuring the 
minimum percentage of work performed at the aggregate contract level or 
order level. The proposed rule also clarifies that the performance of 
work requirements do not apply when full and open competition 
procurement methods are used, including reserves.

C. Other Changes

    FAR part 2--Definitions of Words and Terms.
     FAR 2.101, Definitions. The proposed rule revises the 
definition of ``HUBZone contract'' to add awards to HUBZone concerns 
under a reserve in a solicitation for a multiple-award contract. The 
proposed rule also adds a definition for the term ``HUBZone order''.
    FAR part 4--Administrative Matters.
     FAR 4.803, Contents of contract files. The proposed rule 
adds a reference to the documentation requirements in new FAR section 
19.506.
     FAR 4.1202, Solicitation provision and contract clause. 
The proposed rule adds the prescription for use of new Alternate I to 
FAR provision 52.204-8.
    FAR part 7--Acquisition Planning.
     FAR 7.105(b)(1), Sources. The proposed rule makes 
editorial changes.
    FAR part 8--Required Sources of Supplies and Services.
     FAR 8.405-5(b), Small business. The change references the 
discretionary authority that ordering contracting officers have to 
require a contractor to rerepresent its small business size and 
socioeconomic status for an individual task or delivery order.
    FAR part 9--Contractor Qualifications.
     FAR 9.104-3, Application of standards. The proposed rule 
revises this subsection to clarify when compliance with the limitations 
on subcontracting factors into the determination of small business 
offerors' responsiveness.
    FAR part 10--Market Research.
     FAR 10.001, Policy. The proposed rule revises this section 
to clarify that the results of market research are to be used to 
determine whether small business programs should be utilized for the 
acquisition.
     FAR 10.002, Procedures.
    [cir] FAR 10.002(b)(1)(vii). This paragraph has been revised to 
more clearly require contracting officers to consider small business.
    [cir] FAR 10.002(b)(2)(ix), Procedures. The proposed rule revises 
the paragraph to include the review of databases such as the System for 
Award Management database and SBA's Dynamic Small Business Search as 
another technique for conducting market research.
    FAR part 13--Simplified Acquisition Procedures.
     FAR 13.003, Policy. The proposed rule makes revisions to 
this section to remove an obsolete use of the term ``reserve''.
    FAR part 15--Contracting by Negotiation.
     FAR 15.101-3, Tiered evaluation of small business offers. 
The proposed rule advises that agencies cannot use a tiered evaluation 
approach during source selection of a multiple-award contract unless 
the agency has statutory authority to do so.
    FAR part 16--Types of Contracts.
     FAR 16.500, Scope of subpart. A reference has been added 
for set-asides and reserves.
     FAR 16.505, Ordering. References have been added for 
protests of order set-asides and for the rerepresentation authority.
    FAR part 19--Small Business Programs.
     FAR 19.000, Scope of part. Language has been added to 
specify that part 19 now includes coverage on reserves.
     FAR 19.001, Definitions. The definition of 
``nonmanufacturer rule'' is removed, and a definition of 
``nonmanufacturer'' is added.
     FAR 19.102, Assignment of North American Industry 
Classification System codes and small business size standards. The 
previous coverage regarding the nonmanufacturer rule has been moved 
from FAR 19.102(f) to FAR 19.505(c) (for HUBZones, see FAR 19.1308). 
The revisions in this section reflect a combination of guidance that is 
currently in the FAR and new guidance that has been added to 
accommodate the assignment of NAICS codes in solicitations that will 
result in multiple-award contracts, including guidance for assigning 
NAICS codes in the subsequent task or delivery orders. Contracting 
officers have the discretion to--
    (1) Assign one North American Industry Category System (NAICS) code 
(and corresponding size standard), to the entire solicitation; or
    (2) When the procurement can be divided into portions or 
categories, assign each a NAICS code and corresponding size standard 
which best describes the principal purpose attributed to the portion or 
category. This is authorized for solicitations issued after January 31, 
2017.
     FAR 19.103, Appealing the contracting officer's North 
American Industry Classification. This information has been moved from 
FAR 19.303.
     FAR subpart 19.2, Policies. Guidance is added on duties of 
the agency small business specialist.
     FAR subpart 19.3, Representations and rerepresentations.
    [cir] 19.301-1, Representation by the offeror. Paragraph (a) of 
this subsection has been revised to implement SBA's regulations. These 
changes underscore SBA's requirements for representing small business 
size and socioeconomic status by clarifying that the offeror shall 
represent at the time of its initial offer, which includes price, 
that--
    (1) It meets the size standard for the NAICS code identified in the 
solicitation; or
    (2) It meets the size standard identified in the solicitation for 
the specific portion or category on which it intends to make an offer. 
This direction corresponds to FAR 19.101.
    Paragraph (c) of this subsection has been revised to clarify that 
for awards under the HUBZone program, the offeror must also represent 
its HUBZone status at time of contract award.
    Paragraph (d) adds new language to clarify that a business that 
represents itself as small at the time of its initial offer, either for 
the entire contract or for each portion or category it submits an offer 
on, will then be small for each order issued under the contract, or 
relevant portion or category.
    [cir] FAR 19.301-2, Rerepresentation by a contractor that 
represented itself as a

[[Page 88075]]

small business concern. The following revisions are proposed by this 
rule:
    (1) Clarification of the requirement for a contractor to 
rerepresent its size and socioeconomic status for an order issued under 
a multiple-award contract when the contracting officer specifically 
requires it to do so.
    (2) In the case of a multiple-award contract with more than one 
assigned NAICS code, clarification that the contractor shall 
rerepresent that it meets the size standard set forth in each relevant 
category.
    (3) Clarification that an order-level rerepresentation does not 
change the size representation made to the contract.
    (4) Clarification that when a contractor rerepresents as a 
different type of small business than it represented for award (e.g., a 
HUBZone small business concern rerepresents as a women-owned small 
business), an agency may take credit for that contract going forward in 
its small business prime contracting goal achievements consistent with 
the rerepresentation (e.g., women-owned small business goal instead of 
HUBZone small business goal).
    [cir] FAR 19.303, Determining North American Industry 
Classification System codes and size standards. The language currently 
in this section has been moved to FAR 19.102 and FAR 19.103.
    [cir] FAR 19.307, Protesting a firm's status as a service-disabled 
veteran-owned small business concern. The proposed language in 
paragraph (b)(1) was added to bring the FAR into alignment with SBA's 
regulations at 13 CFR 125.8(b). It clarifies that only the contracting 
officer or SBA may protest the apparently successful offeror's status 
as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business when award will be 
made on a sole-source basis.
    [cir] FAR 19.309, Solicitation provisions and contract clauses. The 
proposed rule adds the prescription for use of new Alternate II to FAR 
provision 52.219-1.
     FAR subpart 19.4, Cooperation with the Small Business 
Administration.
    [cir] FAR 19.401, General. The proposed rule adds language 
clarifying the appropriate point of contact at the Office of Small 
Business Programs for DoD.
    [cir] FAR 19.402, Small Business Administration procurement center 
representatives. The proposed rule adds a reference to SBA's 
regulations for a complete description of the responsibilities of SBA's 
procurement center representatives.
     FAR subpart 19.5, Small Business Total Set-Asides, Partial 
Set-Asides and Reserves. The title of this subpart has been changed to 
reflect the addition of guidance regarding reserves.
    [cir] FAR 19.501, General. The proposed rule clarifies that 
reserves may only be used in solicitations that will result in 
multiple-award contracts and provides the name of the appropriate 
office in agencies that have cognizance over the agency's small 
business programs. Paragraph (h) clarifies that small businesses that 
receive a contract or order as a result of a set-aside or that receive 
a sole-source award pursuant to the socioeconomic programs identified 
at FAR subparts 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, or 19.15 shall comply with the 
limitations on subcontracting and non manu fac tur ing rule 
requirements set forth in the contract. This material previously 
appeared in the clauses, and now is also being shown in FAR part 19.
    [cir] FAR 19.502, Setting aside acquisitions. Sections have been 
moved to place all text related to set-asides in one location: FAR 
19.502-6 is moved to FAR 19.502-5; FAR 19.503 through FAR 19.507 have 
been moved to FAR 19.502-6 through FAR 19.502-10, respectively.
    [cir] FAR 19.502-1, Requirements for setting aside acquisitions. 
The proposed rule updates the text to reflect that Federal Supply 
Schedule contracts are not ``required sources'' under FAR part 8.
    [cir] FAR 19.502-2, Total small business set-asides. The FAR 
currently requires that the contracting officer expect offers to be 
received from two small business concerns offering products of 
different small business concerns before setting aside an acquisition. 
This requirement has been revised to remove the expectation that the 
products of different small businesses will be offered.
    The proposed rule moves paragraph (c) of this subsection regarding 
the nonmanufacturer rule. This guidance is now located in FAR 19.505.
    [cir] FAR 19.502-3, Partial set-asides of contracts other than 
multiple-award contracts.
    (1) The proposed rule clarifies that the contracting officer shall 
specify in the solicitation how offers will be submitted.
    (2) The proposed rule removes cumbersome requirements for awarding 
and evaluating offers for partial set-asides, such as the requirement 
for awarding the non-set-aside portion of the solicitation prior to 
awarding the set-aside portion, and the requirement that the 
contracting officer will conduct negotiations only with those small 
business offerors that submitted offers on both the non-set-aside and 
the set-aside portion of the solicitation.
    (3) The proposed rule clarifies that the requirements in this 
subsection apply to contracts other than multiple-award contracts.
    [cir] FAR 19.502-4. Most of the previous coverage at FAR 19.502-4 
has been moved to the different sections which now provide guidance on 
reserves and order set-asides: FAR sections 19.503 and 19.504. New 
coverage has been added for partial set-asides of multiple-award 
contracts.
    [cir] FAR 19.502-5. The previous coverage at FAR 19.502-5(b) has 
been moved to FAR 19.502-3.
    [cir] FAR 19.503, Reserves. The proposed rule implements the 
policies and procedures provided in SBA's final rule regarding the use 
of reserves:
    (1) The use of a reserve under a multiple-award contract is 
discretionary. Nevertheless, the contracting officer should consider 
using a reserve when neither a total set-aside nor partial set-aside is 
feasible because--
     There is no reasonable expectation of receiving offers 
from at least two responsible small business concerns, at a fair market 
price, for the entire requirement; or
     The requirement cannot be divided into discrete portions 
or categories, or even if it were possible to divide the requirement, 
there is still no reasonable expectation of receiving offers from at 
least two responsible small business concerns able to perform any 
portion of the requirement at a fair market price.
    (2) Paragraph (b) of the proposed rule describes the possible 
outcomes resulting from solicitations using reserves:
     One or more contract awards to any one or more types of 
small business.
     In the case of a bundled requirement, an award to one or 
more Small Business Teaming Arrangements.
    [cir] FAR 19.504, Setting aside orders under multiple-award 
contracts. The proposed rule revises the FAR to provide guidance for 
using set-asides of task or delivery orders under a multiple-award 
contract.
    (1) Partial set-asides. Only small business concerns awarded 
contracts under the partial set-aside may compete for orders for those 
portions that have been set aside.
    (2) Reserves. The contracting officer may set aside orders for 
small business concerns or, when only one small business award was made 
under the reserve, may issue orders directly to that contractor.
    (3) Orders under full and open, multiple-award contracts. The 
contracting officer is required to specify in the solicitation whether 
order set-

[[Page 88076]]

asides will be discretionary or mandatory. When setting aside orders 
under a full and open multiple-award contract, the contracting officer 
has to comply with the requirements of 19.203(b) and (c).
    [cir] FAR 19.505, Performance of work requirements. The proposed 
rule consolidates guidance from other areas of the FAR regarding the 
application of the limitations on subcontracting and the 
nonmanufacturer rule for contracts and orders. It also clarifies the 
compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting for contracts 
that are set aside, in total or in part, and for orders that are set 
aside. Similar guidance is provided for 8(a), HUBZones, SDVOSBs, and 
women-owned small businesses in their respective subparts.
    [cir] FAR 19.506, Documentation Requirements. The proposed rule 
consolidates guidance from other areas of the FAR regarding the 
documentation requirements that are necessary when a contracting 
officer does not use a set-aside or reserve.
    [cir] FAR 19.507, Solicitation provisions and contract clauses. The 
revisions proposed for this section have been made to accommodate the 
new text in FAR 52.219-14(d), a new alternate for FAR 52.219-13 for 
multiple-award contracts under which order set-asides will be 
mandatory, a new clause for reserves under multiple-award contracts, 
and a new clause for the requirements of the nonmanufacturer rule. In 
addition, the prescription for the use of the basic clause at FAR 
52.219-13 is revised to clarify that it is to be used when orders may 
be set aside under a multiple-award contract, and a prescription is 
added for the use of Alternate I of FAR 52.219-13.
     FAR subpart 19.6, Certificates of Competency and 
Determinations of Responsibility. The proposed rule explains that, for 
the purposes of receiving a Certificate of Competency (COC) as a 
nonmanufacturer, the small business may furnish any domestically 
produced or manufactured product. Language has been added to clarify 
that a contracting officer is not required to issue an award to a 
contractor that receives a COC if the reason for not doing so is 
unrelated to responsibility.
     FAR subpart 19.8, Contracting with the Small Business 
Administration (The 8(a) Program).
    [cir] FAR 19.804-2, Agency offering. The proposed rule clarifies 
that agencies are required to notify SBA of multiple-award contracts 
that are reserved under the 8(a) program.
    [cir] FAR 19.804-6, Indefinite delivery contracts. The proposed 
rule clarifies that under the 8(a) program, a contracting officer may 
issue a sole-source task or delivery order as long as the value of the 
order is equal to or less than the thresholds at FAR 19.805-1(a)(2), 
the contract was set aside for exclusive competition among 8(a) 
participants, and the agency goes through offer and acceptance for the 
order.
    [cir] FAR 19.809-2, Performance of work requirements. The proposed 
rule clarifies the compliance period for the limitation on 
subcontracting requirement. In addition, the applicable SBA District 
Director may permit the 8(a) contractor to exceed the limitations on 
subcontracting, if it is essential to do so during certain stages of 
contract performance.
     FAR subpart 19.13, Historically Underutilized Business 
Zone (HUBZone) Program.
    [cir] FAR 19.1307, Price evaluation preference for HUBZone small 
business concerns. The proposed rule clarifies that the price 
evaluation preference for HUBZone small business concerns shall not be 
used when the solicitation for the multiple-award contract has been 
reserved for a HUBZone small business concern.
    [cir] FAR 19.1308, Performance of work requirements. The proposed 
rule clarifies the compliance period for the limitation on 
subcontracting requirement. In addition, this section includes the 
HUBZone nonmanufacturer rule, which currently appears within the 
HUBZone clause.
    [cir] FAR 19.1309 has been amended to consolidate the language 
regarding the Alternate I version of FAR clauses 52.219-3 and 52.219-4. 
Language has also been added to direct the contracting workforce to the 
prescription for the new nonmanufacturer rule clause.
     FAR subpart 19.14, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small 
Business Procurement Program.
    [cir] FAR 19.1407 Performance of work requirements. The proposed 
rule clarifies the compliance period for the limitation on 
subcontracting requirement. In addition, the proposed rule now provides 
information pertaining to the nonmanufacturer rule in this new 
location.
     FAR subpart 19.15, Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) 
Program.
    [cir] FAR 19.1506, Performance of work requirements. The proposed 
rule clarifies the compliance period for the limitation on 
subcontracting requirement. In addition, the proposed rule provides 
information regarding the nonmanufacturer rule in this location.
    FAR part 42--Contract Administration and Audit Services.
     FAR 42.1503, Procedures. The proposed rule clarifies that 
contractor past performance evaluations are to include compliance with 
the limitations on subcontracting, as applicable.
    FAR part 52--Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses.
     FAR 52.204-8, Annual Representations and Certifications. A 
new Alternate I has been added to allow small businesses to represent 
their status as a small business for solicitations of multiple-award 
contracts that have more than one NAICS code assigned.
     FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items. 
Revises the language to refer offerors to the solicitation for the 
NAICS code(s) and corresponding size standard(s) assigned to the 
acquisition instead of limiting the location to the Standard Form 1449.
     FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to 
Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items. Conforming 
changes have been made to accommodate changes made to existing clauses 
and the incorporation of two new clauses.
     FAR 52.219-1, Small Business Program Representations. A 
new Alternate II has been added to allow small businesses to represent 
their status as a small business for solicitations of multiple-award 
contracts that have more than one NAICS code assigned.
     FAR 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-aside or Sole Source 
Award. Adds a new paragraph (e) to allow contracting officers to 
identify the appropriate compliance period for the limitation on 
subcontracting requirement.
     FAR 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for 
HUBZone Small Business Concerns. The clause has been revised to exempt 
solicitations containing a reserve for HUBZone small business concerns 
from using the price evaluation preference.
     FAR 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside. 
Language relating to the nonmanufacturer rule has been removed, since 
it will now reside in 52.219-YY.
     FAR 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside. 
The proposed rule replaces the existing, cumbersome procedures for 
awarding contracts under the set-aside and non-set-aside portions with 
the new, more simplified approach. New language has been added for 
multiple-award contracts to clarify the requirements issuing orders 
against the set-aside and non-set-aside portions.
     FAR 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders. The clause 
has been revised to clarify that the basic version is for use when 
orders may be set aside. In

[[Page 88077]]

addition, Alternate I has been created for use when orders will be set 
aside.
     FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting. The clause 
has been revised to reflect the changes made at FAR 19.505 to clarify 
the compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting.
     FAR 52.219-18, Notification Of Competition Limited To 
Eligible 8(a) Concerns. Language relating to the nonmanufacturer rule 
has been removed, since it will now reside in FAR 52.219-YY.
     FAR 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned 
Small Business Set-Aside. The clause has been revised to reflect the 
changes made at FAR 19.1407 to clarify the compliance period for the 
limitation on subcontracting.
     FAR 52.219-28, Post-Award Small Business Program 
Rerepresentation. New language has been added to advise small 
businesses they shall rerepresent their size and socioeconomic status 
for an order issued under a multiple-award contract when explicitly 
required by the contracting officer. New language has also been added 
to allow for small businesses to rerepresent their socioeconomic status 
(i.e., 8(a), small disadvantaged, HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-
owned, women-owned) in addition to size.
     FAR 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for Economically 
Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns. The clause has been 
revised to reflect the changes made at FAR 19.1506 to clarify the 
compliance period for the limitation on subcontracting.
     FAR 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for Women-Owned Small 
Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business 
Program. The clause has been revised to reflect the changes made at FAR 
19.1506 to clarify the compliance period for the limitation on 
subcontracting.
     In addition, language relating to the nonmanufacturer rule 
in FAR sections 52.219-3, 52,219-4, 52.219-6, 52.219-7, 52.219-27, 
52.219-29, and 52.219-30 has been removed, since it will now reside in 
the new clause at FAR 52.219-YY.
     FAR 52.219-XX, Notice of Small Business Reserve. This is a 
new clause to provide notification and guidance to offerors when a 
solicitation that will result in the award of a multiple-award contract 
is solicited under full and open procedures, and the contracting 
officer has provided for a reserve or reserves. The proposed clause 
provides guidance--
    (1) For submitting offers on a reserve to offerors eligible to 
participate in the reserve; and
    (2) Clarifying that the contracting officer may set-aside orders 
for the small businesses that received awards pursuant to the reserve 
for small business; or
    (3) Clarifying when only one small business concern has received a 
contract pursuant to a reserve, that the contracting officer may issue 
orders directly to that small business.
     FAR 52.219-YY, Nonmanufacturer Rule. This new clause is 
added to provide guidance to offerors regarding the application and 
requirements of the nonmanufacturer rule.

III. Applicability to Acquisitions Not Greater Than the Simplified 
Acquisition Threshold, Commercial Items, and Commercial Off-the-Shelf 
Items

    The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has made preliminary 
determinations, in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 1905 and 41 U.S.C. 1906, 
that the rule will apply to acquisitions under the simplified 
acquisition threshold (SAT) and acquisitions of commercial items. 
Discussion of these preliminary determinations is set forth below. The 
FAR Council will consider public feedback before making a final 
determination on the scope of the final rule.
    The rule will also apply to acquisitions for commercial off-the-
shelf (COTS) items. As explained below, no determination is necessary 
by the FAR Council in connection with applicability to COTS items, 
because 41 U.S.C. 1907 requires that a law be applied to the 
acquisition of COTS if the law concerns authorities or responsibilities 
under the Small Business Act.

A. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition 
Threshold (SAT)

    41 U.S.C. 1905 governs the applicability of laws to acquisitions at 
or below the SAT. Section 1905 generally limits the applicability of 
new laws when agencies are making acquisitions at or below the SAT, but 
provides that such acquisitions will not be exempt from a provision of 
law if--
     The law contains criminal or civil penalties,
     The law specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1905 and states 
that the law applies to contracts and subcontracts in amounts not 
greater than the SAT, or
     The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council makes a written 
determination and finding that it would not be in the best interest of 
the Federal Government to exempt contracts and subcontracts in amounts 
not greater that the SAT from the provision of law.
    Section 1331 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 is silent on 
the applicability of the requirements set forth above to acquisitions 
at or below the SAT and does not provide for criminal or civil 
penalties. Therefore, under 41 U.S.C. 1905, section 1331 does not apply 
to SAT acquisitions unless the FAR Council makes a written 
determination that such application is in the best interest of the 
Federal Government.
    The FAR Council has made a preliminary determination that 
applicability of the proposed rule to SAT acquisitions is in the best 
interest of the government for the following reasons. SAT acquisitions 
are often well suited for performance by small businesses. While few, 
if any, multiple-award contracts are likely to be in values under the 
SAT, a very significant portion of orders made under multiple-award 
contracts could fall below the SAT. In addition, as a result of current 
legal and regulatory requirements applicable to contracts other than 
multiple-award contracts, which call for work below the SAT to be set 
aside for small businesses, most agency practices are already geared 
towards taking advantage of this important tool in connection with 
small dollar purchases to maximize small business participation.

B. Applicability to Contracts for the Acquisition of Commercial Items

    41 U.S.C. 1906 governs the applicability of laws to the acquisition 
of commercial items (other than COTS items). Section 1906 generally 
limits the applicability of new laws when agencies are acquiring 
commercial items, but provides that such acquisitions will not be 
exempt from a provision of law if--
     The law contains criminal or civil penalties;
     The law specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1906 and states 
that the law applies to the acquisition of commercial items; or
     The FAR Council makes a written determination that it is 
not in the best interest of the Federal Government to exempt the 
acquisition of commercial items from the provision of law.
    Section 1331 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 is silent on 
the applicability of the requirements set forth above to contracts for 
commercial items and does not provide for criminal or civil penalties. 
Therefore, under 41 U.S.C. 1906, section 1331 does not apply to 
acquisitions for commercial

[[Page 88078]]

items unless the FAR Council makes a written determination that such 
application is in the best interest of the Federal Government.
    In making its initial determination of whether application of 
section 1331 to commercial items is in the best interest of the Federal 
Government, the FAR Council considered the following factors: (i) The 
benefits of the policy in furthering Administration goals, (ii) the 
extent to which the benefits of the policy would be reduced if an 
exemption is provided for commercial items, and (iii) the burden on 
contractors if the policy is applied to acquisitions for commercial 
items.
    With respect to the first factor, this Administration has long 
recognized the important nexus between maximizing small business 
participation in federal contracting and having effective tools to 
promote such participation under multiple-award contracts, including 
the Federal Supply Schedules, through which a significant portion of 
federal contract spending flows. The Interagency Task Force on Small 
Business Contracting, created by the President in 2010 to identify 
meaningful ways to strengthen small business contracting, recommended 
that rules on set-asides for multiple-award contracts be clarified. In 
support of its recommendation, the Task Force noted that set-asides 
accounted for a substantial portion of all small business contract 
awards yet ``there has been no attempt to create a comprehensive policy 
for orders placed under either general task-and-delivery-order 
contracts or schedule contracts that rationalizes and appropriately 
balances the need for efficiency with the need to maximize 
opportunities for small businesses.'' Shortly after the Task Force 
released its recommendations, the President signed the Jobs Act to 
protect the interests of small businesses and expand their 
opportunities in the Federal marketplace. In addition, as explained in 
the Background section of this notice, DOD, GSA, and NASA published an 
interim rule, with SBA's concurrence, to provide general guidance ahead 
of SBA providing more specific guidance in its regulations. This action 
allowed agencies to begin taking advantage of these impactful tools 
instead of having to wait until more detailed changes were promulgated. 
In short, the FAR Council believes these tools provide an important 
benefit in helping agencies to carry out the purposes of the Small 
Business Act and in helping the government meet its small business 
contracting goals.
    With respect to the second factor (the impact of excluding 
commercial item acquisitions on the overall benefits of the underlying 
policy), the FAR Council believes based on an analysis of FPDS data 
that a significant amount of spending on new contracts is for 
commercial item acquisitions and a substantial amount of these 
activities (including all the transactions through the Federal Supply 
Schedules) are for commercial items, many of which can be performed by 
small businesses. Denying agencies the ability to apply the authorities 
in section 1331 to commercial item acquisitions could result in many 
missed opportunities for capable small business contractors seeking 
work in the federal marketplace. For these reasons, the FAR Council 
believes exclusion could have a material negative impact.
    With respect to the third factor, burden on contractors selling 
commercial items, there are no specific systems costs imposed by the 
rule and reporting costs are minimal (see discussion on the Paperwork 
Reduction Act under section VI).
    Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, the FAR Council has 
made a preliminary determination that it is in the best interest of the 
government to apply section 1331 to commercial item acquisitions.

C. Applicability to Contracts for the Acquisition of COTS Items

    41 U.S.C. 1907 governs the applicability of laws to the acquisition 
of COTS items. Section 1907 generally limits the applicability of new 
laws when agencies are acquiring COTS items, but provides that such 
acquisitions will not be exempt from a provision of law if--
     The law contains criminal or civil penalties;
     The law specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1907 and states 
that the law applies to the acquisition of COTS items;
     The law concerns authorities or responsibilities under the 
Small Business Act or bid procedures; or
     The Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy makes a 
written determination that it is not in the best interest of the 
Federal Government to exempt the acquisition of COTS items from the 
provision of law.
    Section 1331 amends section 15 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
644) to address the use of partial set-asides, order set-asides, and 
reserves under multiple-award contracts. For this reason, the rule 
applies to acquisitions of COTS items.

IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess 
all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 
13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, 
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. 
This is a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was subject to 
review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and 
Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 
U.S.C. 804.

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    These changes may have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. The Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) is summarized as follows:

    DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to provide 
uniform guidance consistent with SBA's final rule at 78 FR 61114, 
dated October 2, 2013, which implements section 1331 of the Small 
Business Jobs Act of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 644(r)). Specifically, this 
rule proposes to provide regulatory guidance by which Federal 
agencies may--
    (1) Set aside part or parts of multiple-award contracts for 
small business;
    (2) Reserve one or more awards when conducting multiple-award 
procurements using full and open competition; and
    (3) Set aside orders under multiple-award contracts, 
notwithstanding the fair opportunity requirements.
    This rule may have a positive economic impact on any small 
business entity that wishes to participate in the Federal 
procurement arena. By providing clarification and additional 
guidance on the use of the Section 1331 authorities, small 
businesses are expected to have greater access to multiple-award 
contracts, including orders issued against such contracts. Analysis 
of the System for Award Management (SAM) database indicates there 
are over 304,980 small business registrants that can potentially 
benefit from this rule.
    This rule does not impose any new reporting, recordkeeping or 
other compliance requirements for small businesses. This rule does 
not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other Federal rules.

    The Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted a copy of the 
IRFA to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration. A copy of the IRFA may be obtained from the Regulatory 
Secretariat Division. DoD,

[[Page 88079]]

GSA, and NASA invite comments from small business concerns and other 
interested parties on the expected impact of this rule on small 
entities.
    DoD, GSA, and NASA will also consider comments from small entities 
concerning the existing regulations in subparts affected by the rule 
consistent with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such 
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (FAR Case 2014-002), 
in correspondence.

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) applies. The 
proposed rule contains information collection requirements. 
Accordingly, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted a 
request for approval to revise existing information collection 
requirements, in connection with FAR Case 2014-002, Set-Asides under 
Multiple-Award Contracts, to the Office of Management and Budget.
    Based on the proposed revisions to the FAR, an upward adjustment is 
being made to the number of respondents, responses per respondent, 
total annual responses, total hours, and the total cost. As a result, 
the estimated annual reporting burden is being adjusted upward from the 
estimate in the notice regarding the extension of OMB Clearance 9000-
0163, published in the Federal Register at 80 FR 25293, on May 4, 2015.
    The annual reporting burden is estimated as follows:
    (1) Rerepresentation on long-term contracts, and other contracts as 
a result of acquisitions, mergers, and novations:
    Respondents: 1,700.
    Responses per respondent: 1.
    Total annual responses: 1,700.
    Preparation hours per response: .5.
    Total response burden hours: 850.
    Cost per hour: $31.
    Total annual burden: $26,350.
    (2) Adjustment to OMB Clearance 9000-0163 for rerepresentation for 
individual task or delivery orders under multiple-award contracts:
    Respondents: 530.
    Responses per respondent: 3.
    Total annual responses: 1,590.
    Preparation hours per response: .5.
    Total response burden hours: 795.
    Cost per hour: $31.
    Total annual burden: $24,645.
    Total combined annual burden:
    Burden hours: 1,645.
    Total Cost: $50,995.

B. Request for Comments Regarding Paperwork Burden

    Submit comments, including suggestions for reducing this burden, no 
later than February 6, 2017 to: FAR Desk Officer, OMB, Room 10102, 
NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, and a copy to the General Services 
Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. 
Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20405.
    Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
functions of the FAR, and will have practical utility; whether our 
estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is 
accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, or clarity of the information to be 
collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use 
of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Requesters may obtain a copy of the supporting statements from the 
General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division 
(MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 
20405. Please cite OMB Control Number 9000-0163, Small Business Size 
Representation, in all correspondence.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 
42, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: November 21, 2016.
William F. Clark,
Director, Office of Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, Office of 
Acquisition Policy, Office of Governmentwide Policy.

    Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend 48 CFR parts 
2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 42, and 52 as set forth below:

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 
16, 19, 42, and 52 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 
U.S.C. 20113.

PART 2--DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS

0
2. In section 2.101 amend paragraph (b)(2) by adding to the definition 
``HUBZone contract'' paragraph (4); and adding, in alphabetical order, 
the definition ``HUBZone order'' to read as follows:


2.101   Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    HUBZone contract * * *
    (4) Awards based on a reserve for HUBZone small business concerns 
in a solicitation for a multiple-award contract.
    HUBZone order means an order set aside for a HUBZone small business 
concern under a multiple-award contract, which had been awarded under 
full and open competition.
* * * * *

PART 4--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS


4.803   [Amended]

0
3. Amend section 4.803 by removing from paragraph (a)(6) ``decision'' 
and adding ``decision (see 19.506)'' in its place.
0
4. Amend section 4.1202 by revising the introductory text of paragraph 
(a) and paragraph (a)(12) to read as follows:


4.1202   Solicitation provision and contract clause.

    (a) Except for commercial item solicitations issued under FAR part 
12, insert in solicitations the provision at 52.204-8, Annual 
Representations and Certifications. The contracting officer shall check 
the applicable provisions at 52.204-8(c)(2). Use the provision with its 
Alternate I in solicitations that will result in a multiple-award 
contract with more than one North American Industry Classification 
System code assigned; this is authorized for solicitations issued after 
January 1, 2017 (see 19.102(b)). When the provision at 52.204-7, System 
for Award Management, is included in the solicitation, do not include 
the following representations and certifications:
     * * *
    (12) 52.219-1, Small Business Program Representation (Basic, 
Alternates I, and II).

PART 7--ACQUISITION PLANNING

0
5. Amend section 7.104 by revising the first sentence of paragraph 
(d)(1) to read as follows:


7.104   General procedures.

* * * * *
    (d)(1) The planner shall coordinate the acquisition plan or 
strategy with the cognizant small business specialist when the strategy 
contemplates an acquisition meeting the dollar amounts in paragraph 
(d)(2) of this section unless the contract or order is set-aside, in 
total or in part, for small business under part 19. * * *
0
6. Amend section 7.105 by revising the introductory text of paragraph 
(b) and paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:


7.105   Contents of written acquisition plans

* * * * *
    (b) Plan of action. (1) Sources. Indicate the prospective sources 
of

[[Page 88080]]

supplies or services that can meet the need. Consider required sources 
of supplies or services (see Part 8) and sources identifiable through 
databases including the Governmentwide database of contracts and other 
procurement instruments intended for use by multiple agencies available 
at https://www.contractdirectory.gov/contractdirectory/. Include 
consideration of small business, veteran-owned small business, service-
disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small 
disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns (see 
part 19). Also, include consideration of the impact of any bundling 
that might affect small business participation in the acquisition (see 
7.107) (15 U.S.C. 644(e)). When the proposed acquisition strategy 
involves bundling, identify the incumbent contractors and contracts 
affected by the bundling. Address the extent and results of the market 
research and indicate their impact on the various elements of the plan 
(see part 10).
* * * * *

PART 8--REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

0
7. Amend section 8.405-5 by removing from paragraph (b) ``against'' and 
adding ``under'' in its place and revising the last sentence to read as 
follows:


8.405-5   Small business.

* * * * *
    (b) * * * Ordering activities should rely on the small business 
representations made by schedule contractors at the contract level (but 
see section 19.301-2(b)(4) concerning re-representation for an order).
* * * * *

PART 9--CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

0
8. Amend section 9.104-3 by revising paragraph (d)(2) to read as 
follows:


9.104-3   Application of standards.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) A small business that is unable to comply with the limitations 
on subcontracting may be considered nonresponsible (see 52.219-3 Notice 
of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award, 52.219-4 Notice of Price 
Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns, 52.219-14 
Limitations on Subcontracting, 52.219-27 Notice of Service-Disabled 
Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside, 52.219-29 Notice of Set-Aside 
for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned 
Small Business Concerns, 52.219-30 Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole 
Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the 
Women-Owned Small Business Program). A small business that has not 
agreed to comply with the limitations on subcontracting may be 
considered nonresponsive.

PART 10--MARKET RESEARCH

0
9. Amend section 10.001 by--
0
a. Removing from paragraph (a)(3)(v) ``and'';
0
b. Removing the period from paragraph (a)(3)(vi) and adding a semicolon 
in its place;
0
c. Redesignating paragraph (a)(3)(vii) as paragraph (a)(3)(viii);
0
d. Adding paragraph (a)(3)(vii); and
0
e. Removing from newly designated paragraph (a)(3)(viii) ``Subpart 
39.2'' and adding ``subpart 39.2'' in its place.
    The addition to read as follows:


10.001   Policy.

    (a) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (vii) Determine whether the acquisition should utilize any of the 
small business programs in accordance with part 19; and
* * * * *
0
10. Amend section 10.002 by revising paragraph (b)(1)(vii); and adding 
paragraph (b)(2)(ix).
    The addition and revision to read as follows:


10.002   Procedures.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (vii) Whether the Government's needs can be met by small business 
concerns that will likely submit a competitive offer at fair market 
prices (see part 19).
    (2) * * *
    (ix) Reviewing databases such as the System for Award Management 
(SAM) and the SBA's Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS).
* * * * *

PART 13--SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

0
11. Amend section 13.003 by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as 
follows:


13.003   Policy.

* * * * *
    (b)(1) Acquisitions of supplies or services that have an 
anticipated dollar value exceeding $3,500 ($20,000 for acquisitions as 
described in 13.201(g)(1)) but not exceeding $150,000 ($300,000 for 
acquisitions described in paragraph (1)(i) of the simplified 
acquisition threshold definition at 2.101) shall be set aside for small 
business concerns (see 19.000, 19.203, and subpart 19.5).
* * * * *

PART 15--CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION


15.101-3   [Added]

0
12. Add section 15.101-3 to read as follows:


15.101-3   Tiered evaluation of small business offers.

    An agency cannot create a tiered (or ``cascading'') evaluation of 
offers, as described in 13 CFR 125.2, for multiple-award contracts 
unless an agency has statutory authority.

PART 16--TYPES OF CONTRACTS

0
13. Amend section 16.500 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


16.500   Scope of subpart.

* * * * *
    (e) See subpart 19.5 for procedures to set aside part or parts of 
multiple-award contracts for small business; to reserve one or more 
awards for small business on multiple-award contracts; and to set aside 
orders for small businesses under multiple-award contracts.
0
14. Amend section 16.505 by
0
a. Adding paragraph (a)(10)(iii);
0
b. Removing from the end of the introductory text of paragraph (b) 
``contracts--'' and adding ``contracts.'' in its place;
0
c. Revising paragraph (b)(4);
0
d. Revising the heading of paragraph (b)(6); and
0
e. Adding paragraph (b)(9).
    The addition and revisions to read as follows:


16.505   Ordering.

    (a) * * *
    (10) * * *
    (iii) For protests of small business size status for set-aside 
orders, see 19.302.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) For additional requirements for cost-reimbursement orders, see 
16.301-3.
* * * * *
    (6) Postaward notices and debriefing of awardees for orders 
exceeding $5 million. * * *
* * * * *
    (9) Small business. The contracting officer should rely on the 
small business representations at the contract level (but see section 
19.301-2(b)(4) for order rerepresentations).
* * * * *

[[Page 88081]]

PART 19--SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

0
15. Amend section 19.000 by--
0
a. Removing from paragraph (a)(3) ``aside'' and adding ``aside, in 
total or in part,'' in its place;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (a)(8) ``and'';
0
c. Removing from paragraph (a)(9) ``Program.'' and adding ``Program; 
and'' in its place; and
0
d. Adding paragraph (a)(10).
    The addition to read as follows:


19.000   Scope of part.

    (a) * * *
    (10) The use of reserves.
* * * * *
0
16. Amend section 19.001 by removing the definition ``Nonmanufacturer 
rule'' and adding, in alphabetical order, the definition 
``Nonmanufacturer'' to read as follows:


19.001   Definitions.

* * * * *
    Nonmanufacturer means a concern that furnishes a product it did not 
manufacture or produce (see 13 CFR 121.406).
0
17. Revise section 19.102 to read as follows:


19.102   Small business size standards and North American Industry 
Classification System codes.

    (a) Locating size standards and North American Industry 
Classification System codes. (1) SBA establishes small business size 
standards on an industry-by-industry basis. Small business size 
standards and corresponding North American Industry Classification 
System (NAICS) codes are provided at 13 CFR 121.201. They are also 
available at https://www.sba.gov/content/table-small-business-size-standards.
    (2) NAICS codes are updated by the Office of Management and Budget 
through its Economic Classification Policy Committee every five years. 
New NAICS codes are not available for use in Federal contracting until 
SBA publishes corresponding size standards. NAICS codes are available 
from the U.S. Census Bureau at https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/.
    (b) Determining the appropriate NAICS codes for the solicitation. 
(1) The contracting officer shall determine the appropriate NAICS code 
by classifying the product or service being acquired in the one 
industry which best describes the principal purpose of the supply or 
service being acquired. Primary consideration is given to the industry 
descriptions in the U.S. NAICS Manual, the product or service 
descriptions in the solicitation, the relative value and importance of 
the components of the requirement making up the end item being 
procured, and the function of the goods or services being purchased. A 
procurement is usually classified according to the component which 
accounts for the greatest percentage of contract value.
    (2)(i) For solicitations issued on or before January 31, 2017 that 
will result in multiple-award contracts, the contracting officer shall 
assign a NAICS code in accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section.
    (ii) For solicitations issued after January 31, 2017 that will 
result in multiple-award contracts, the contracting officer shall--
    (A) Assign a single NAICS code (and corresponding size standard) 
which best describes the principal purpose of the acquisition and will 
also best describe the principal purpose of each subsequent order; or
    (B) Divide the acquisition into distinct portions or categories 
(e.g., Line Item Numbers (LINs), Special Item Numbers (SINs), Sectors, 
Functional Areas (FAs), or equivalent) and assign each portion or 
category a single NAICS code and size standard which best describes the 
principal purpose of the supplies or services to be acquired under that 
distinct portion or category.
    (3)(i) When placing orders under multiple-award contracts whose 
solicitations were issued on or before January 31, 2017, the 
contracting officer shall assign the order the same NAICS code and 
corresponding size standard designated in the contract.
    (ii) When placing orders under multiple-award contracts whose 
solicitations were issued after January 31, 2017, the contracting 
officer shall--
    (A) Assign the order the same NAICS code and corresponding size 
standard designated in the contract when conditions in (b)(2)(ii)(A) 
are met; or
    (B) Assign the order the NAICS code and corresponding size standard 
designated for the distinct portion or category designated in the 
contract when conditions in (b)(2)(ii)(B) are met. If an order covers 
multiple portions or categories, select the NAICS code and 
corresponding size standard which best represents the principal purpose 
of the order.
    (4) The contracting officer's designation is final. Appeal 
procedures can be found in 19.103.
    (c) Application of small business size standards to solicitations.
    (1) The contracting officer shall apply the size standard in effect 
on the date the solicitation is issued.
    (2) The contracting officer may amend the solicitation and use the 
new size standard if SBA amends the size standard and it becomes 
effective before the due date for receipt of initial offers.
0
18. Add section 19.103 to read as follows:


19.103   Appealing the contracting officer's North American Industry 
Classification System code and size standard determination.

    (a) The contracting officer's determination is final unless 
appealed as follows:
    (1) An appeal from a contracting officer's NAICS code designation 
and the applicable size standard shall be served and filed within 10 
calendar days after the issuance of the initial solicitation or any 
amendment affecting the NAICS code or size standard. However, SBA may 
file a NAICS code appeal at any time before offers are due.
    (2) Appeals from a contracting officer's NAICS code designation or 
applicable size standard may be filed with SBA's Office of Hearings and 
Appeals (OHA) by--
    (i) Any person adversely affected by a NAICS code designation or 
applicable size standard. However, with respect to a particular sole 
source 8(a) contract, only the SBA Associate Administrator for Business 
Development may appeal a NAICS code designation; or
    (ii) The Associate or Assistant Director for the SBA program 
involved, through SBA's Office of General Counsel.
    (3) Contracting officers shall advise the public, by amendment to 
the solicitation, of the existence of a NAICS code appeal (see 
5.102(a)(1)). Such notices shall include the procedures and the 
deadline for interested parties to file and serve arguments concerning 
the appeal.
    (4) SBA's OHA will dismiss summarily an untimely NAICS code appeal.
    (5)(i) The appeal petition must be in writing and must be addressed 
to the Office of Hearings and Appeals, Small Business Administration, 
Suite 5900, 409 3rd Street SW., Washington, DC 20416.
    (ii) There is no required format for the appeal; however, the 
appeal must include--
    (A) The solicitation or contract number and the name, address, 
email address, and telephone number of the contracting officer;
    (B) A full and specific statement as to why the NAICS code 
designation is allegedly erroneous and argument supporting the 
allegation; and
    (C) The name, address, telephone number, and signature of the 
appellant or its attorney.

[[Page 88082]]

    (6) The appellant must serve the appeal petition upon--
    (i) The contracting officer who assigned the NAICS code to the 
acquisition; and
    (ii) SBA's Office of General Counsel, Associate General Counsel for 
Procurement Law, 409 3rd Street SW., Washington, DC 20416, facsimile 
202-205-6873, or email at OPLService@sba.gov.
    (7) Upon receipt of a NAICS code appeal, OHA will notify the 
contracting officer by a notice and order of the date OHA received the 
appeal, the docket number, and the Administrative Judge assigned to the 
case. The contracting officer's response to the appeal, if any, must 
include argument and evidence (see 13 CFR part 134), and must be 
received by OHA within 15 calendar days from the date of the docketing 
notice and order, unless otherwise specified by the Administrative 
Judge. Upon receipt of OHA's docketing notice and order, the 
contracting officer must withhold award, unless withholding award is 
not in the best interests of the Government, and immediately send to 
OHA an electronic link to or a paper copy of both the original 
solicitation and all amendments relating to the NAICS code appeal. The 
contracting officer shall inform OHA of any amendments, actions, or 
developments concerning the procurement in question.
    (8) After close of record, OHA will issue a decision and inform the 
contracting officer. If OHA's decision is received by the contracting 
officer before the date the offers are due, the decision shall be final 
and the solicitation must be amended to reflect the decision, if 
appropriate. OHA's decision received after the due date of the initial 
offers shall not apply to the pending solicitation but shall apply to 
future solicitations of the same products or services.
    (b) SBA's regulations concerning appeals of NAICS code designations 
are found at 13 CFR 121.1101 to 121.1103 and 13 CFR part 134.
0
19. Amend section 19.201 by--
0
a. In paragraph (c), revising the second sentence of the introductory 
text of the paragraph;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (c)(1) ``Director of'' wherever it appears 
and adding ``Director of the Office of'' in its place;
0
c. Revising paragraph (c)(3) and the introductory text of (c)(5); and
0
d. Revising paragraph (d).
    The revised text reads as follows:


19.201   General policy.

* * * * *
    (c) * * * For the Department of Defense, in accordance with 10 
U.S.C. 144 note, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization has been redesignated as the Office of Small Business 
Programs. * * *
    (3) Be responsible to and report directly to the agency head or the 
deputy to the agency head (except that for the Department of Defense, 
the Director of the Office of Small Business Programs reports to the 
Secretary or the Secretary's designee);
* * * * *
    (5) Work with the SBA procurement center representative (PCR) (or, 
if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) to--
* * * * *
    (d) Small business specialists shall be appointed and act in 
accordance with agency regulations.
    (1) The contracting activity shall coordinate with the small 
business specialist as early in the acquisition planning process as 
practicable, but no later than 30 days before the issuance of a 
solicitation, or prior to placing an order without a solicitation when 
the acquisition meets the dollar thresholds set forth at 7.104(d)(2).
    (2) The small business specialist shall notify the agency's 
Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Utilization, and for 
the Department of Defense, the Director of the Office of Small Business 
Programs, when the criteria relating to substantial bundling at 
7.104(d)(2) are met.
    (3) The small business specialist shall coordinate with the 
contracting activity and the SBA PCR on all determinations and findings 
required by 7.107 for consolidation or bundling of contract 
requirements.
0
20. Revise section 19.202 to read as follows:


19.202   Specific policies.

    In order to further the policy in 19.201(a), contracting officers 
shall comply with the specific policies listed in this section and 
shall consider recommendations of the agency Director of the Office of 
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, or for the Department of 
Defense, the Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, or the 
Director's designee, as to whether a particular acquisition should be 
awarded under subpart 19.5, 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, or 19.15. Agencies 
shall establish procedures including dollar thresholds for review of 
acquisitions by the Director or the Director's designee for the purpose 
of making these recommendations. The contracting officer shall document 
the contract file whenever the Director's recommendations are not 
accepted, in accordance with 19.506.
0
21. Amend section 19.202-1 by revising the introductory text of 
paragraph (e)(1) and removing from paragraph (e)(4) ``19.505'' and 
adding ``19.502-8'' in its place. The revision reads as follows:


19.202-1   Encouraging small business participation in acquisitions.

* * * * *
    (e)(1) Provide a copy of the proposed acquisition package and other 
reasonably obtainable information related to the acquisition, to the 
SBA PCR (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a)) at least 30 days 
prior to the issuance of the solicitation if--
* * * * *
0
22. Amend section 19.202-2 by removing from the introductory paragraph 
``must'' and adding ``shall'' in its place and revising paragraph (a) 
to read as follows:


19.202-2   Locating small business sources.

* * * * *
    (a) Before issuing solicitations, make every reasonable effort to 
find additional small business concerns (see 10.002(b)(2)). This effort 
should include contacting the agency small business specialist and SBA 
PCR (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 19.402(a))
* * * * *


19.202-4   [Amended]

0
23. Amend section 19.202-4 by removing from the introductory paragraph 
``must'' and adding ``shall'' in its place; and removing from paragraph 
(c) ``bid sets and specifications'' and adding ``solicitations'' in its 
place.
0
24. Amend section 19.202-5 by removing from the introductory paragraph 
``must'' and adding ``shall'' in its place and revising paragraph 
(c)(1) to read as follows:


19.202-5   Data collection and reporting requirements.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Require a contractor that represented itself as any of the 
small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) prior to award of 
the contract to rerepresent its size and socioeconomic status (i.e., 
8(a), small disadvantaged business, HUBZone small business, service-
disabled veteran-owned small business, or women-owned small business 
status); and
* * * * *

[[Page 88083]]

19.202-6   [Amended]

0
25. Amend section 19.202-6 by removing from paragraph (a)(1) ``set-
asides'' and adding ``set-asides, and reserves''.


19.203   [Amended]

0
26. Amend section 19.203 by removing from paragraph (b) ``exclusively 
reserve'' and adding ``set aside'' in its place.
0
27. Amend section 19.301-1 by--
0
a. Revising paragraph (a);
0
b. Redesignating paragraphs (b) through (d) as paragraphs (e) through 
(g); and
0
c. Adding new paragraphs (b) through (d).
    The revision and additions read as follows:


19.301-1   Representation by the offeror.

    (a) To be eligible for award as a small business concern identified 
in 19.000(a)(3), an offeror is required to represent in good faith--
    (1)(i) That it meets the small business size standard corresponding 
to the North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code 
identified in the solicitation; or
    (ii) For a multiple-award contract where there is more than one 
NAICS code assigned, that it meets the small business size standard set 
forth for each distinct portion or category (e.g. Line Item Numbers 
(LINs), Special Item Numbers (SINs), Sectors, Functional Areas (FAs), 
or the equivalent) for which it submits an offer. If the small business 
concern submits an offer for the entire multiple-award contract, it 
must meet the size standard for each distinct portion or category (e.g. 
LIN, SIN, Sector, FA, or equivalent); and
    (2) The Small Business Administration (SBA) has not issued a 
written determination stating otherwise pursuant to 13 CFR 121.1009.
    (b) An offeror is required to represent its size and socioeconomic 
status in writing to the contracting officer at the time of initial 
offer, including offers for Basic Ordering Agreements, and Blanket 
Purchase Agreements (BPAs), except for BPAs issued under a multiple 
award schedule contract pursuant to subpart 8.4.
    (c) To be eligible for an award under the HUBZone Program (see 
subpart 19.13), a HUBZone small business concern must represent its 
size and socioeconomic status at the time of initial offer and at the 
time of contract award.
    (d) Multiple-award contract representations.
    (1) A business that represents as a small business concern at the 
time of its initial offer for the contract is considered a small 
business concern for each order issued under the contract (but see 
19.301-2 for rerepresentations).
    (2) A business that represents as a small business concern at the 
time of its initial offer for a distinct portion or category as set 
forth in paragraph (a)(2) is considered a small business concern for 
each order issued under that distinct portion or category (but see 
19.301-2 for rerepresentations).
* * * * *
0
28. Amend section 19.301-2 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory text of paragraph (b);
0
b. Removing the period from the end of paragraph (b)(1) and adding a 
semicolon in its place;
0
c. Revising paragraph (b)(2);
0
d. Removing from paragraph (b)(3)(ii) ``thereafter.'' and adding 
``thereafter; or'' in its place;
0
e. Adding paragraph (b)(4); and
0
f. Revising paragraphs (c) and (d).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


19.301-2   Rerepresentation by a contractor that represented itself as 
a small business concern.

* * * * *
    (b) A contractor that represented itself as any of the small 
business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) before contract award is 
required to rerepresent its size and socioeconomic status for the NAICS 
code in the contract--
* * * * *
    (2) Within 30 days after a merger or acquisition (whether the 
contractor acquires or is acquired by another company) of the 
contractor that does not require novation or within 30 days after 
modification of the contract to include the clause at FAR 52.219-28, 
Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation, if the merger or 
acquisition occurred prior to inclusion of this clause in the contract;
* * * * *
    (4) If the contracting officer requires contractors to rerepresent 
their size and socioeconomic status for an order issued under a 
multiple-award contract.
    (c) A contractor is required to rerepresent its size status in 
accordance with the size standard in effect at the time of its 
rerepresentation that corresponds to the NAICS code that was initially 
assigned to the contract. For multiple-award contracts where there is 
more than one NAICS code assigned, the contractor is required to 
rerepresent whether it meets the small business size standard set forth 
for each distinct category or portion (e.g., LINs, SINS, Sectors, FAs, 
or the equivalent) for which the contractor had previously represented.
    (d)(1) Contract rerepresentation. When a contractor rerepresents 
for a contract that it no longer qualifies as a small business concern 
identified in 19.000(a)(3) in accordance with FAR 52.219-28, the agency 
may no longer include the value of options exercised, modifications 
issued, orders issued, or purchases made under BPAs on that contract in 
its small business prime contracting goal achievements. When a 
contractor's rerepresentation for a contract qualifies it as a 
different small business concern identified in 19.000(a)(3) than what 
it represented for award, the agency may include the value of options 
exercised, modifications issued, orders issued, or purchases made under 
BPAs on that contract in its small business prime contracting goal 
achievements, consistent with the rerepresentation. Agencies should 
issue a modification to the contract capturing the rerepresentation and 
report it to FPDS within 30 days after notification of the 
rerepresentation.
    (2) Rerepresentation for an order. When a contractor rerepresents 
for an order that it no longer qualifies as a small business concern 
identified in 19.000(a)(3), the agency cannot include the value of the 
order in its small business prime contracting goal achievements. When a 
contractor's rerepresentation for an order qualifies it as a different 
small business concern identified in 19.000(a)(3) than what it 
represented for contract award, the agency can include the value of the 
order in its small business prime contracting goal achievement, 
consistent with the rerepresentation. A rerepresentation for an order 
does not change the size or socioeconomic status representation for the 
contract.
* * * * *
0
29. Amend section 19.302 by revising paragraphs (a), (b), and 
(d)(1)(ii) to read as follows:


19.302   Protesting a small business representation or 
rerepresentation.

    (a)(1) The SBA regulations on small business size and size protests 
are found at 13 CFR part 121.
    (2) An offeror, the contracting officer, SBA, or another interested 
party may protest the small business representation of an offeror in a 
specific offer for a contract. However, for competitive 8(a) contracts, 
the filing of a protest is limited to an offeror, the contracting 
officer, or the SBA.
    (b) Any time after offers are received by the contracting officer, 
or in the case of bids, opened, the contracting officer

[[Page 88084]]

may question the small business representation of any offeror in a 
specific offer by filing a contracting officer's protest (see paragraph 
(c) of this section).
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) A protest may be made in writing if it is delivered to the 
contracting officer by hand, telegram, mail, facsimile, email, express 
or overnight delivery service or letter postmarked within the 5-day 
period.
* * * * *


19.303   [Reserved]

0
30. Remove and reserve section 19.303.
0
31. Amend section 19.307 by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as 
follows:


19.307   Protesting a firm's status as a service-disabled veteran-owned 
small business concern.

* * * * *
    (b)(1) For sole source acquisitions, the contracting officer or SBA 
may protest the apparently successful offeror's service-disabled 
veteran-owned small business status. For all other acquisitions, any 
interested party (see 13 CFR 125.8(b)) may protest the apparently 
successful offeror's service-disabled veteran-owned small business 
status.
* * * * *
0
32. Amend section 19.309 by adding paragraph (a)(3) to read as follows:


19.309   Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.

    (a)(1) * * *
    (3) Use the provision with its Alternate II in solicitations that 
will result in a multiple-award contract with more than one NAICS code 
assigned. This is authorized for solicitations issued after January 31, 
2017 (see 19.102(b)).
0
33. Amend section 19.401 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


19.401   General.

* * * * *
    (b) The Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization serves as the agency focal point for interfacing with SBA. 
The Director of the Office of Small Business Programs is the agency 
focal point for the Department of Defense.
0
34. Amend section 19.402 by revising paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (b), 
and the introductory text to paragraph (c) to read as follows:


19.402   Small Business Administration procurement center 
representatives.

    (a)(1) The SBA may assign one or more procurement center 
representatives (PCR) to any contracting activity or contract 
administration office to carry out SBA policies and programs. Assigned 
SBA PCRs are required to comply with the contracting agency's 
directives governing the conduct of contracting personnel and the 
release of contract information. The SBA must obtain for its PCRs 
security clearances required by the contracting agency.
    (2) If an SBA PCR is not assigned to the procuring activity or 
contract administration office, contact the SBA Office of Government 
Contracting Area Office serving the area in which the procuring 
activity is located for assistance in carrying out SBA policies and 
programs. See https://www.sba.gov/content/procurement-center-representatives for the location of the SBA office servicing the 
activity.
    (b) Upon their request and subject to applicable acquisition and 
security regulations, contracting officers shall give SBA PCRs (or, if 
a PCR is not assigned, see paragraph (a) of this section) access to all 
reasonably obtainable contract information that is directly pertinent 
to their official duties.
    (c) The duties assigned by SBA to its PCR are set forth at 13 CFR 
125.2(b) and include but are not limited to the following:
* * * * *


19.403   [Amended]

0
35. Amend section 19.403 by removing from paragraph (c)(8) ``at 
19.505'' and adding ``at 19.502-8'' in its place.
0
36. Revise the heading of subpart 19.5 to read as follows:

Subpart 19.5 Small Business Total Set-Asides, Partial Set-Asides, 
and Reserves

0
37. Revise section 19.501 to read as follows:


19.501   General.

    (a)(1) The purpose of small business set-asides is to award certain 
acquisitions exclusively to small business concerns. A ``set-aside for 
small business'' is the limiting of an acquisition exclusively for 
participation by small business concerns. A small business set-aside 
may be open to any of the small business concerns identified at 
19.000(a)(3). A small business set-aside of a single acquisition or a 
class of acquisitions may be total or partial.
    (2) The purpose of a small business reserve is to award one or more 
contracts to any of the small business concerns identified at 
19.000(a)(3), under a full and open competition that will result in a 
multiple-award contract. A small business reserve shall not be used 
when the acquisition can be set aside, in total or in part.
    (b) The contracting officer makes the determination to make a small 
business set-aside, in total or in part, or a reserve. The Small 
Business Administration (SBA) PCR (or, if a PCR is not assigned, see 
19.402(a)) may make a recommendation to the contracting officer.
    (c) The contracting officer shall review acquisitions to determine 
if they can be set aside, in total or in part, or reserved, for small 
business, giving consideration to the recommendations of agency 
personnel in the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization, or for the Department of Defense, in the Office of Small 
Business Programs. Agencies may establish threshold levels for this 
review depending upon their needs.
    (d) At the request of an SBA PCR, (or, if a PCR is not assigned, 
see 19.402(a)) the contracting officer shall make available for review 
at the contracting office (to the extent of the SBA representative's 
security clearance) all proposed acquisitions in excess of the micro-
purchase threshold that have not been unilaterally set aside for small 
business.
    (e) To the extent practicable, unilateral determinations initiated 
by a contracting officer shall be used as the basis for small business 
set-asides, in total or in part, or reserves, rather than joint 
determinations by an SBA PCR and a contracting officer.
    (f) All solicitations involving set-asides, in total or in part, or 
reserves, shall] specify the NAICS code(s) and corresponding size 
standard(s) (see 19.102).
    (g) Except as authorized by law, a contract may not be awarded as a 
result of a small business set-aside if the cost to the awarding agency 
exceeds the fair market price.
    (h) The performance of work requirements (i.e., limitations on 
subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule) apply to small business 
set-asides, in total or in part, sole source awards made pursuant to 
subparts 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, and 19.15, and orders that are set aside 
(see 19.505).
0
38. Amend section 19.502-1 by removing from paragraph (a)(2) ``industry 
category'' and adding ``industry'' in its place; and revising paragraph 
(b) to read as follows:

[[Page 88085]]

19.502-1   Requirements for setting aside acquisitions.

* * * * *
    (b) This requirement does not apply to purchases of $3,500 or less 
($20,000 or less for acquisitions as described in 13.201(g)(1)), or 
purchases from required sources under part 8 (e.g., Committee for 
Purchase From People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled).
0
39. Amend section 19.502-2 by revising paragraphs (a), (b)(1), and 
(b)(2); and removing paragraph (c) to read as follows:


19.502-2   Total small business set-asides.

    (a) Before setting aside an acquisition under this paragraph, refer 
to 19.203(b). Each acquisition of supplies or services that has an 
anticipated dollar value exceeding $3,500 ($20,000 for acquisitions as 
described in 13.201(g)(1)), but not over $150,000 ($300,000 for 
acquisitions described in paragraph (1)(i) of the Simplified 
Acquisition Threshold definition at 2.101), shall be set aside for 
small business unless the contracting officer determines there is not a 
reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more responsible 
small business concerns that are competitive in terms of fair market 
prices, quality, and delivery. If the contracting officer receives only 
one acceptable offer from a responsible small business concern in 
response to a set-aside, the contracting officer should make an award 
to that firm. If the contracting officer receives no acceptable offers 
from responsible small business concerns, the set-aside shall be 
withdrawn and the requirement, if still valid, shall be resolicited on 
an unrestricted basis. The small business set-aside does not preclude 
the award of a contract as described in 19.203.
    (b) * * *
    (1) Offers will be obtained from at least two responsible small 
business concerns; and
    (2) Award will be made at fair market prices. Total small business 
set-asides shall not be made unless such a reasonable expectation 
exists (see 19.502-3 for partial set-asides). Although past acquisition 
history and market research of an item or similar items are always 
important, these are not the only factors to be considered in 
determining whether a reasonable expectation exists. In making R&D 
small business set-asides, there must also be a reasonable expectation 
of obtaining from small businesses the best scientific and 
technological sources consistent with the demands of the proposed 
acquisition for the best mix of cost, performances, and schedules.
0
40. Revise section 19.502-3 to read as follows:


19.502-3   Partial set-asides of contracts other than multiple-award 
contracts.

    (a) The contracting officer shall set aside a portion or portions 
of an acquisition, except for construction, for exclusive small 
business participation when--
    (1) Market research indicates that a total set-aside is not 
appropriate (see 19.502-2);
    (2) The requirement can be divided into distinct portions or 
categories (e.g., Line Item Numbers (LINs), Special Item Numbers 
(SINs), Sectors, Functional Areas (FAs), or equivalent);
    (3) The acquisition is not subject to simplified acquisition 
procedures;
    (4) Two or more responsible small business concerns are expected to 
submit an offer on the set-aside portion or portions of the acquisition 
at a fair market price;
    (5) The specific program eligibility requirements identified in 
this part apply; and
    (6) The solicitation will result in a contract other than a 
multiple-award contract (see 2.101 for definition of multiple-award 
contract.
    (b) When the contracting officer determines that a requirement is 
to be partially set aside, the solicitation shall identify which 
portion or portions are set aside and not set aside.
    (c) The contracting officer shall specify in the solicitation how 
offers shall be submitted with regards to the set-aside and non-set-
aside portions.
    (d) Offers received from concerns that do not qualify as small 
business concerns shall be considered nonresponsive and shall be 
rejected on the set-aside portion of partial set-asides. However, 
before rejecting an offer otherwise eligible for award because of 
questions concerning the size representation, an SBA determination must 
be obtained (see subpart 19.3).
0
41. Revise section 19.502-4 to read as follows:


19.502-4   Partial set-asides of multiple-award contracts.

    (a) In accordance with section 1331 of Public Law 111-240 (15 
U.S.C. 644(r)(1)), the contracting officer may set aside a portion or 
portions of a multiple-award contract, except for construction, for any 
of the small business concerns identified at 19.000(a)(3) when--
    (1) Market research indicates that a total set-aside is not 
appropriate (see 19.502-2);
    (2) The requirement can be divided into distinct portions or 
categories (e.g., Line Item Numbers (LINs), Special Item Numbers 
(SINs), Sectors, Functional Areas (FAs), or equivalent);
    (3) The acquisition is not subject to simplified acquisition 
procedures;
    (4) Two or more responsible small business concerns are expected to 
submit an offer on the set-aside portion or portions of the acquisition 
at a fair market price; and
    (5) The specific program eligibility requirements identified in 
this part apply.
    (b) When the contracting officer determines that a requirement is 
to be partially set aside, the solicitation shall identify which 
portion or portions are set aside and not set aside.
    (c) The contracting officer shall specify in the solicitation how 
offers shall be submitted with regards to the set-aside and non-set-
aside portions.
    (d) Offers received from concerns that do not qualify as small 
business concerns shall be considered nonresponsive and shall be 
rejected on the set-aside portion of partial set-asides. However, 
before rejecting an offer otherwise eligible for award because of 
questions concerning the size representation, an SBA determination must 
be obtained (see subpart 19.3).


19.502-5   [Removed]

0
42. Remove section 19.502-5.


19.502-6   [Redesignated as 19.502-5]

0
43. Redesignate section 19.502-6 as section 19.502-5 and revise the 
heading to read as follows:


19.502-5   Insufficient reasons for not setting aside an acquisition.


19.503 thru 19.507   [Redesignated as 19.502-6 thru 19.502-10]

0
44. Redesignate sections 19.503 through 19.507 as sections 19.502-6 
through 19.502-10.
0
45. Amend newly designated section 19.502-8 by--
0
a. Revising paragraph (a); and
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b) ``procurement center representative'' 
wherever it appears and adding ``PCR'' in its place.
    The revision to read as follows:


19.502-8   Rejecting Small Business Administration recommendations.

    (a) If the contracting officer rejects a recommendation of the SBA, 
written notice shall be furnished to the appropriate SBA representative 
within 5 working days of the contracting officer's receipt of the 
recommendation.
0
46. Amend newly designated section 19.502-9 by revising paragraph (a); 
and removing from paragraph (b) ``SBA representative'' and 
``procurement

[[Page 88086]]

center representative'' and adding ``SBA PCR'' and ``PCR'' in their 
places, respectively to read as follows:


19.502-9   Withdrawing or modifying small business set-asides.

    (a) If, before award of a contract involving a total or partial 
small business set-aside, the contracting officer considers that award 
would be detrimental to the public interest (e.g., payment of more than 
a fair market price), the contracting officer may withdraw the small 
business set-aside, whether it was unilateral or joint. The contracting 
officer shall initiate a withdrawal of an individual small business 
set-aside in total or in part, by giving written notice to the agency 
small business specialist and the SBA PCR (or, if a PCR is not 
assigned, see 19.402(a)) stating the reasons. In a similar manner, the 
contracting officer may modify a unilateral or joint class small 
business set-aside to withdraw one or more individual acquisitions.
0
47. Add new section 19.503 to read as follows:


19.503   Reserves.

    (a) In accordance with section 1331 of Public Law 111-240 (15 
U.S.C. 644(r)(3)) and 13 CFR 125.2(e)(4), contracting officers may, at 
their discretion when conducting multiple-award procurements using full 
and open competition, reserve one or more contract awards for any of 
the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), when market 
research indicates--
    (1) A total set-aside is not feasible because there is no 
reasonable expectation of receiving offers from at least two 
responsible small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), at a 
fair market price that can perform the entire requirement; and
    (2) A partial set-aside is not feasible because--
    (i) The contracting officer is unable to divide the requirement 
into distinct portions or categories (e.g. Line Item Numbers (LINs), 
Special Item Numbers (SINs), Functional Areas (FAs), or other 
equivalent); or
    (ii) There is no reasonable expectation that at least two 
responsible small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) can 
perform any portion of the requirement at a fair market price.
    (b) A reserve will result in one of the following--
    (1) One or more contract awards to any one or more types of small 
business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3); or
    (2) In the case of a solicitation of a bundled requirement that 
will result in a multiple-award contract, an award to one or more small 
businesses with a Small Business Teaming Arrangement.
    (c) The specific program eligibility requirements identified in 
this part apply.
    (d) The limitation on subcontracting and the nonmanufacturer rule 
do not apply to reserves at the contract level, but shall apply to 
orders that are set aside (see 19.505).
0
48. Add new section 19.504 to read as follows:


19.504   Setting aside orders under multiple-award contracts.

    (a) In accordance with section 1331 of Public Law 111-240 (15 
U.S.C. 644(r)(2)), contracting officers may, at their discretion, set 
aside orders placed under multiple-award contracts for any of the small 
business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3).
    (b) Orders under partial set-aside contracts.
    (1) Only small business concerns awarded contracts for the 
portion(s) or category(s) that were set aside under the solicitation 
for the multiple-award contract may compete for orders issued under 
those portion(s) or category(s).
    (2) Small business awardees may compete against other-than-small 
business awardees for an order issued under the portion of the 
multiple-award contract that was not set aside, if the small business 
received a contract award for the non-set-aside portion.
    (c) Orders under reserves.
    (1) The contracting officer may set aside orders for any of the 
small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) when there are two 
or more contract awards for that type of small business concern; or
    (2) The contracting officer may issue orders directly to one small 
business concern for work that it can perform when there is only one 
contract award to any one type of small business concern identified in 
19.000(a)(3).
    (3) Small business awardees may compete against other-than-small 
business awardees for an order that is not set aside if the small 
business received a contract award for the supplies or services being 
ordered.
    (d) Orders under Full and Open contracts.
    (1) The contracting officer shall state in the solicitation and 
resulting contract whether order set-asides will be discretionary or 
mandatory when the conditions in 19.502-2 are met at the time of order 
set-aside, and the specific program eligibility requirements, as 
applicable, are also then met.
    (2) Below $150,000. When setting aside an order below $150,000, the 
contracting officer may set aside for any of the small businesses 
identified in 19.000(a)(3).
    (3) Above $150,000. When setting aside an order above $150,000, the 
contracting officer shall first consider setting aside the order for 
the small business socioeconomic programs (i.e., 8(a), HUBZone, 
service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned 
Small Business (WOSB)) before considering a small business set-aside.
    (4) The contracting officer shall comply with the specific program 
eligibility requirements identified in this part in addition to the 
ordering procedures for a multiple-award contract. For orders placed 
under the Federal Supply Schedules Program, see 8.405-5. For orders 
placed under all other multiple-award contracts, see 16.505.
0
49. Add new section 19.505 to read as follows:


19.505   Performance of work requirements.

    (a) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order 
under a set-aside, the small business concern is required to perform:
    (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of the 
cost incurred for personnel with its own employees.
    (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a 
nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), at least 50 percent of 
the cost of manufacturing the supplies or products (not including the 
costs of materials).
    (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost (not 
including the costs of materials) with its own employees.
    (4) For construction by special trade contractors, at least 25 
percent of the cost (not including the cost of materials) with its own 
employees.
    (b) Compliance period. A small business contractor is required to 
comply with the limitation on subcontracting--
    (1) For a contract that has been set aside, by the end of the base 
term and then by the end of each subsequent option period. However, the 
contracting officer may instead require the contractor to comply with 
the limitation on subcontracting by the end of the performance period 
for each order issued under the contract; and
    (2) For an order set aside under a contract as described in 8.405-5 
and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the performance period for the 
order.
    (c) Nonmanufacturer Rule. (1) To be awarded a set-aside contract or 
order for supplies as a nonmanufacturer, a contractor is required--

[[Page 88087]]

    (i) To provide the end item of a small business manufacturer, that 
has been manufactured or produced in the United States or its outlying 
areas (but see 19.1308(e)(1)(i) for HUBZone contracts and HUBZone 
orders);
    (ii) To not exceed 500 employees;
    (iii) To be primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and 
normally sell the type of item being supplied; and
    (iv) To take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its 
personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry 
practice.
    (2) In addition to the requirements set forth in (c)(1) of this 
section, when the end item being acquired is a kit of supplies or other 
goods, 50 percent of the total value of the components of the kit shall 
be manufactured in the United States or its outlying areas by small 
business concerns. Where the Government has specified an item for the 
kit which is not produced by U.S. small business concerns, such items 
shall be excluded from the 50 percent calculation. See 13 CFR 
121.406(c) for further information regarding nonmanufacturer kit 
assemblers.
    (3) For size determination purposes, there can be only one 
manufacturer of the end product being acquired. For the purposes of the 
nonmanufacturer rule, the manufacturer of the end product being 
acquired is the concern that transforms raw materials and/or 
miscellaneous parts or components into the end product. Firms which 
only minimally alter the item being procured do not qualify as 
manufacturers of the end item, such as firms that add substances, 
parts, or components to an existing end item to modify its performance 
will not be considered the end item manufacturer, where those identical 
modifications can be performed by and are available from the 
manufacturer of the existing end item. See 13 CFR 121.406 for further 
information regarding manufacturers.
    (4) Waiver of nonmanufacturer rule. (i) The SBA may grant an 
individual or a class waiver so that a nonmanufacturer does not have to 
furnish the product of a small business (but see 19.1308(e)(2)).
    (A) Class waiver. SBA may waive the performance of work requirement 
for nonmanufacturers when SBA has determined that there are no small 
business manufacturers or processors in the Federal market for a 
particular class of products. This type of waiver is known as a class 
waiver and would apply to an acquisition for a specific product (or a 
product in a class of products). Contracting officers and other 
interested parties may request that the SBA issue a waiver of the 
nonmanufacturer rule, for a particular class of products.
    (B) Individual waiver. The contracting officer may also request a 
waiver for an individual acquisition because no known domestic small 
business manufacturers or processors can reasonably be expected to 
offer a product meeting the requirements of the solicitation. The type 
of waiver is known as an individual waiver and would apply only to a 
specific acquisition.
    (ii) Requests for waivers shall be sent via email to 
nmrwaivers@sba.gov or by mail to the--

Director for Government Contracting
United States Small Business Administration
Mail Code 6700
409 Third Street SW.
Washington, DC 20416.

    (iii) For the most current listing of class waivers, contact the 
SBA Office of Government Contracting or go to https://www.sba.gov/content/class-waivers.
    (5) Exception to the nonmanufacturer rule. The SBA provides for an 
exception to the nonmanufacturer rule when--
    (i) The procurement of supplies or a manufactured end product--
    (A) Is processed under simplified acquisition procedures (see part 
13); or
    (B) Is for an order set aside for any of the small business 
concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), placed under a full and openly 
competed multiple-award contract;
    (ii) The cost is not anticipated to exceed $25,000; and
    (iii) The offeror supplies an end product that is manufactured or 
produced in the United States.
    (d) The contracting officer shall document a small business 
contractor's compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part 
of its performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set 
forth in 42.1502.
0
50. Add section 19.506 to read as follows:


19.506   Documentation requirements

    (a)(1) The contracting officer shall document the rationale when a 
contract is not set aside for small business in accordance with 19.502-
2.
    (2) The contracting officer shall document the rationale when a 
multiple-award contract is not partially set aside, not reserved, and 
does not allow for setting aside of orders, when these authorities 
could have been used.
    (b) If applicable, the documentation shall include the rationale 
for not accepting the recommendations made by the agency Director of 
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, or, for the Department of 
Defense, the Director of the Office of Small Business Programs, or the 
Director's designee, as to whether a particular acquisition should be 
awarded under subparts 19.5, 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, or 19.15.
    (c) Documentation is not required if a contract award is 
anticipated to a small business under subparts 19.5, 19.8, 19.13, 
19.14, or 19.15.


19.508   [Redesignated as 19.507]

0
51. Redesignate section 19.508 as section 19.507 and amend newly 
designated section 19.507 by revising paragraphs (c) through (f); and 
adding new paragraphs (g) and (h) to read as follows:


19.507   Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.

* * * * *
    (c) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-6, 
Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside, in solicitations and 
contracts involving total small business set-asides. This includes 
multiple-award contracts when orders may be set aside for any of the 
small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), as described in 
8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F). Use the clause at 52.219-6 with its 
Alternate I when including FPI in the competition in accordance with 
19.502-7.
    (d) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-7, 
Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside, in solicitations and 
contracts involving partial small business set-asides. This includes 
part or parts of multiple-award contracts, including those described in 
38.101. Use the clause at 52.219-7 with its Alternate I when including 
FPI in the competition in accordance with 19.502-7.
    (e) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-14, 
Limitations on Subcontracting, in solicitations and contracts for 
supplies, services, and construction, if any portion of the requirement 
is to be set aside for small business and the contract amount is 
expected to exceed $150,000. This includes multiple-award contracts 
when orders may be set aside for small business concerns, as described 
in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F). For contracts that are set aside, 
the contracting officer shall indicate in paragraph (d) of the clause 
whether compliance with the limitations on subcontracting is required 
at the contract or order level.
    (f)(1) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-
13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders, in all solicitations for multiple-
award contracts under which orders may be set aside for any

[[Page 88088]]

of the small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3), and all 
contracts awarded from such solicitations.
    (2) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-13 
with its Alternate I in all full and open solicitations and contracts 
for multiple-award contracts without reserves, under which orders will 
be set aside for any of the small business concerns identified in 
19.000(a)(3) if the conditions in 19.502-2 are met at the time of order 
set-aside, and the specific program eligibility requirements, as 
applicable, are also then met.
    (g) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-XX 
Notice of Small Business Reserve, in solicitations and contracts 
involving multiple-award contracts that have reserves.
    (h)(1) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-
YY, Nonmanufacturer Rule, in solicitations and contracts when the item 
being acquired has been assigned a manufacturing or supply NAICS code, 
and any portion of the requirement is set-aside for any of the small 
business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) (with the exception of 
HUBZone small business concerns) including multiple-award contracts 
that provide for the set-aside of orders to small business concerns, or 
is awarded on a sole-source basis in accordance with subparts 19.8 and 
19.14. The clause shall not be used when the Small Business 
Administration has determined that there are no small business 
manufacturers of the product or end items and has waived the 
nonmanufacturer rule (see 19.505(c)(4)).
    (2) The clause at 52.219-YY with its Alternate I shall be used in 
solicitations and contracts that have been set-aside or awarded on a 
sole-source basis to HUBZone small business concerns, including 
multiple-award contracts that provide for the set-aside of orders as 
described in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F).
0
52. Amend section 19.601 by adding paragraph (f) to read as follows:


19.601   General.

* * * * *
    (f) For the purpose of receiving a COC on an unrestricted 
acquisition, a small business nonmanufacturer may furnish any 
domestically produced or manufactured product.


19.602-3   [Amended]

0
53. Amend section 19.602-3 by removing from paragraph (a)(2) 
``Director,'' and adding ``Director of the'' in its place.
0
54. Amend section 19.602-4 by adding a sentence to the end of paragraph 
(b) to read as follows:


19.602-4   Awarding the contract.

* * * * *
    (b) * * * Where SBA issues a COC, the contracting officer may 
decide not to award to that offeror for reasons unrelated to 
responsibility.
0
55. Amend section 19.804-2 by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


19.804-2   Agency offering.

    (a) After completing its evaluation, the agency shall notify the 
SBA of the extent of its plans to place 8(a) contracts with the SBA for 
specific quantities of items or work, including 8(a) contracts that are 
reserved in accordance with 19.503.
* * * * *
0
56. Amend section 19.804-6 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read 
as follows:


19.804-6   Indefinite delivery contracts.

    (a) Separate offers and acceptances are not required for individual 
orders under multiple-award contracts that have been set aside for 
exclusive competition among 8(a) contractors, and the individual order 
is to be competed among all 8(a) contract holders. SBA's acceptance of 
the original contract is valid for the term of the contract.
    (b) Sole source orders. The contracting officer may issue an order 
as a sole source when--
    (1) The multiple-award contract was set aside for exclusive 
competition among 8(a) participants;
    (2) The order has an estimated value less than or equal to the 
dollar thresholds set forth at 19.805-1(a)(2);
    (3) The offering and acceptance procedures at 19.804-2 and 19.804-3 
are followed.
* * * * *


19.805-2   [Amended]

0
57. Amend section 19.805-2 by removing from paragraph (b)(2) ``under 
19.809'' and adding ``under 19.809-1'' in its place.
0
58. Revise section 19.809 to read as follows:


19.809  Preaward considerations.


19.809-1   Preaward survey.

    The contracting officer should request a preaward survey of the 
8(a) contractor whenever considered useful. If the results of the 
preaward survey or other information available to the contracting 
officer raise substantial doubt as to the firm's ability to perform, 
the contracting officer shall refer the matter to SBA for Certificate 
of Competency consideration under subpart 19.6.


19.809-2   Performance of work requirements.

    (a) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order 
under the 8(a) program, the 8(a) participant is required to perform--
    (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of the 
cost incurred for personnel with its own employees;
    (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a 
nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), at least 50 percent of 
the cost of manufacturing the supplies or products (not including the 
costs of materials);
    (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost with 
its own employees (not including the costs of materials); and
    (4) For construction by special trade contractors, at least 25 
percent of the cost with its own employees (not including the cost of 
materials).
    (b) Compliance period. An 8(a) contractor is required to comply 
with the limitation on subcontracting--
    (1) For a contract under the 8(a) program, by the end of the base 
term and then by the end of each subsequent option period. However, the 
contracting officer may instead require the contractor to comply with 
the limitation on subcontracting by the end of the performance period 
for each order issued under the contract; and
    (2) For an order set aside under the 8(a) program as described in 
8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the performance period 
for the order.
    (c) The applicable SBA District Director may waive the provisions 
in paragraph (b)(1) requiring a participant to comply with the 
limitation on subcontracting for each period of performance or for each 
order. Instead, the District Director may permit the participant to 
subcontract in excess of the limitations on subcontracting where the 
District Director makes a written determination that larger amounts of 
subcontracting are essential during certain stages of performance.
    (1) The 8(a) participant is required to provide the SBA District 
Director written assurance that the participant will ultimately comply 
with the requirements of this section prior to contract completion. The 
contracting officer shall review and concur with the written assurance 
before submission to the SBA District Director.
    (2) The contracting officer does not have the authority to waive 
the provisions of this section requiring a participant to comply with 
the

[[Page 88089]]

limitation on subcontracting for each period of performance or order, 
even if the agency has a Partnership Agreement with SBA.
    (3) Where the participant does not ultimately comply with the 
performance of work requirements by the end of the contract, SBA will 
not grant future waivers for the participant.
    (d) Nonmanufacturer Rule. See 19.505(c) for application of the 
nonmanufacturer rule, inclusive of waivers and exceptions to the 
nonmanufacturer rule.
    (e) The contracting officer shall document an 8(a) participant's 
compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part of its 
performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set forth in 
42.1502.


19.810   [Amended]

0
59. Amend section 19.810 by removing from paragraph (b) ``for Small'' 
and adding ``for the Office of Small'' in its place.
0
60. Amend section 19.811-3 by revising paragraphs (d) and (e) to read 
as follows:


19.811-3   Contract clauses.

* * * * *
    (d) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.219-18, 
Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Concerns, in 
competitive solicitations and contracts when the acquisition is 
accomplished using the procedures of 19.805. The clause at 52.219-18 
with its Alternate I shall be used when competition is to be limited to 
8(a) concerns within one or more specific SBA districts pursuant to 
19.804-2.
    (e) See 19.507(e) regarding the limitations on subcontracting and 
19.507(h) regarding the nonmanufacturer rule to any contract or order 
resulting from this subpart.


19.1303   [Amended]

0
61. Amend section 19.1303 by removing paragraph (e).
0
62. Amend section 19.1307 by--
0
a. Removing from paragraph (a)(1) ``or'';
0
b. Removing from paragraph (a)(2) ``contracts).'' and adding 
``contracts); or'' in its place; and
0
c. Adding paragraph (a)(3).
    The addition to read as follows:


19.1307   Price evaluation preference for HUBZone small business 
concerns.

    (a) * * *
    (3) Where the solicitation has been reserved for any of the small 
business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3).
* * * * *
0
63. Revise section 19.1308 to read as follows:


19.1308   Performance of work requirements.

    (a) See 13 CFR 125.1 for definitions of terms used in paragraph (b) 
of this section.
    (b) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order 
that was set aside or awarded on a sole source basis to a HUBZone small 
business concern, the HUBZone small business concern is required--
    (1) For services (except construction), to spend at least 50 
percent of the cost of performance incurred for personnel on its own 
employees or on the employees of other HUBZone small business concerns;
    (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a 
nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), to spend at least 50 
percent of the cost of manufacturing, excluding the cost of materials, 
on performing the contract in a HUBZone.
    (3) For general construction--
    (i) To spend at least 15 percent of the cost of performance 
incurred for personnel on its own employees; and
    (ii) To spend at least 50 percent of the cost of performance 
incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of its 
own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern 
subcontractors.
    (4) For construction by special trade contractors--
    (i) To spend at least 25 percent of the cost of contract 
performance incurred for personnel on its own employees; and
    (ii) To spend at least 50 percent of the cost of the contract 
incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of its 
own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern 
subcontractors.
    (c) Before issuing a solicitation for general construction or 
construction by special trade contractors, the contracting officer 
shall determine if at least two HUBZone small business concerns can 
spend at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance to be 
incurred for personnel on their own employees or subcontract employees 
of other HUBZone small business concerns. If the contracting officer is 
unable to make this determination, he or she may waive the 50 percent 
requirement; however, the HUBzone small business concern is still 
required to meet the cost incurred for personnel requirements in 
paragraphs (b)(3)(i) and (b)(4)(i).
    (d) Compliance period. A HUBZone small business contractor is 
required to comply with the limitation on subcontracting--
    (1) For a contract that has been set aside or awarded on a sole 
source basis to a HUBZone small business concern, by the end of the 
base term and then by the end of each subsequent option period. 
However, the contracting officer may instead require the contractor to 
comply with the limitation on subcontracting by the end of the 
performance period for each order issued under the contract; and
    (2) For an order set aside for HUBZone small business concerns as 
described in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the 
performance period for the order.
    (e) Nonmanufacturer rule. (1) To be awarded a set-aside contract or 
order for supplies as a nonmanufacturer, a contractor is required--
    (i) To provide the end item of a HUBZone small business 
manufacturer, that has been manufactured or produced in the United 
States or its outlying areas;
    (ii) Not to exceed 500 employees;
    (iii) To be primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and 
normally sell the type of item being supplied; and
    (iv) To take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its 
personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry 
practice.
    (2) There are no class waivers or waivers to the nonmanufacturer 
rule for individual solicitations for HUBZone contracts and HUBZone 
orders.
    (3) For HUBZone contracts and HUBZone orders at or below $25,000 in 
total value, a HUBZone small business concern may supply the end item 
of any manufacturer, including a large business, so long as the product 
acquired is manufactured or produced in the United States.
    (f) The contracting officer shall document a HUBZone contractor's 
compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part of its 
performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set forth in 
42.1502.
0
64. Revise section 19.1309 to read as follows:


19.1309   Contract clauses.

    (a)(1) The contracting officer shall insert the clause 52.219-3, 
Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award, in solicitations and 
contracts for acquisitions that are set aside or awarded on a sole 
source basis to, HUBZone small business concerns under 19.1305 or 
19.1306. This includes multiple-award contracts when orders may be set 
aside for HUBZone small business concerns as described in 8.405-5 and 
16.505(b)(2)(i)(F).
    (2) The contracting officer shall use the clause with its Alternate 
I to waive the 50 percent requirement if the conditions at 19.1308(c) 
apply.
    (b)(1) The contracting officer shall insert the clause at FAR 
52.219-4,

[[Page 88090]]

Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business 
Concerns, in solicitations and contracts for acquisitions conducted 
using full and open competition.
    (2) The contracting officer shall use the clause with its Alternate 
I to waive the 50 percent requirement if the conditions at 19.1308(c) 
apply.
    (c) For use of clause 52.219-YY, Nonmanufacturer Rule, see the 
prescription at 19.507(h)(2).
0
65. Amend section 19.403 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:


19.1403   Status as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business 
concern.

* * * * *
    (d) Any service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern 
(nonmanufacturer) is required to meet the requirements in 19.1407(c) to 
receive a benefit under this program.


19.1407   [Redesignated as 19.1408]

0
66. Redesignate section 19.1407 as section 19.1408.
0
67. Add new section 19.1407 to read as follows:


19.1407   Performance of work requirements.

    (a) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order 
under an SDVOSB set-aside or a contract as an SDVOSB sole source, the 
SDVOSB concern is required to--
    (1) For services (except construction), spend at least 50 percent 
of the cost incurred for personnel on its own employees or the 
employees of other SDVOSBs;
    (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a 
nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), spend at least 50 
percent of the cost of manufacturing the supplies or products (not 
including the costs of materials) on itself or by other SDVOSBs;
    (3) For general construction, spend at least 15 percent of the cost 
(not including the costs of materials) incurred for personnel on its 
own employees or the employees of other SDVOSBs; or
    (4) For construction by special trade contractors, incur at least 
25 percent of the cost (not including the cost of materials) incurred 
for personnel on its own employees or the employees of other SDVOSBs.
    (b) Compliance period. An SDVOSB contractor is required to comply 
with the limitation on subcontracting--
    (1) For a contract that has been set aside or awarded on a sole 
source basis to an SDVOSB concern, by the end of the base term and then 
by the end of each subsequent option period. However, the contracting 
officer may instead require the contractor to comply with the 
limitation on subcontracting by the end of the performance period for 
each order issued under the contract; and
    (2) For an order set aside for SDVOSB contractor as described in 
8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the performance period 
for the order.
    (c) Nonmanufacturer rule. See 19.505(c) for application of the 
nonmanufacturer rule, inclusive of waivers and exceptions to the 
nonmanufacturer rule.
    (d) The contracting officer shall document an SDVOSB contractor's 
compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part of its 
performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set forth in 
42.1502.
0
68. Amend the newly designated section 19.1408 by removing from the 
body paragraph ``or reserved for,'' and adding a sentence to the end of 
the paragraph to read as follows:


19.1408   Contract clauses.

    * * * For contracts that are set-aside, the contracting officer 
shall indicate in paragraph (e) of the clause whether compliance with 
the limitations on subcontracting is required at the contract level or 
order level.


19.1503   [Amended]

0
69. Amend section 19.1503 by removing paragraph (g).


19.1507   [Redesignated as 19.1508]

0
70. Redesignate section 19.1507 as section 19.1508.
0
71. Add new section 19.1507 to read as follows:


19.1507   Performance of work requirements.

    (a) Limitation on subcontracting. To be awarded a contract or order 
that is set aside for an EDWOSB or for a WOSB eligible under the WOSB 
Program, the contractor is required to perform--
    (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of the 
cost incurred for personnel with its own employees;
    (2) For supplies or products (other than a procurement from a 
nonmanufacturer of such supplies or products), at least 50 percent of 
the cost of manufacturing the supplies or products (not including the 
costs of materials);
    (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost with 
its own employees (not including the costs of materials); or
    (4) For construction by special trade contractors, at least 25 
percent of the cost with its own employees (not including the cost of 
materials).
    (b) Compliance period. An EDWOSB or WOSB is required to comply with 
the limitation on subcontracting--
    (1) For a contract that has been set aside, by the end of the base 
term and then by the end of each subsequent option period. However, the 
contracting officer may instead require the contractor to comply with 
the limitation on subcontracting by the end of the performance period 
for each order issued under the contract; and
    (2) For an order set aside as described in 8.405-5 and 
16.505(b)(2)(i)(F), by the end of the performance period for the order.
    (c) Nonmanufacturer rule. See 19.505(c) for application of the 
nonmanufacturer rule, inclusive of waivers and exceptions to the 
nonmanufacturer rule.
    (d) The contracting officer shall document an EDWOSB or WOSB 
contractor's compliance with the limitation on subcontracting as part 
of its performance evaluation in accordance with the procedures set 
forth in 42.1502.
0
72. Revise section 19.1508 by--
0
a. Redesignating paragraph (a) as paragraph (a)(1);
0
b. Removing from the newly designated paragraph (a)(1) ``or reserved'';
0
c. Adding paragraph (a)(2);
0
d. Redesignating paragraph (b) as paragraph (b)(1);
0
e. Removing from the newly designated paragraph (b)(1) ``or reserved''; 
and
0
f. Adding paragraph (b)(2).
    The additions to read as follows:


19.1508   Contract clauses.

    (a) * * *
    (2) For contracts that are set aside, the contracting officer shall 
indicate in paragraph (e) of the clause whether compliance with the 
limitations on subcontracting is required at the contract level or 
order level.
    (b) * * *
    (2) For contracts that are set aside, the contracting officer shall 
indicate in paragraph (e) of the clause whether compliance with the 
limitations on subcontracting is required at the contract level or 
order level.

Part 42--Contract Administration and Audit Services

0
73. Amend section 42.1503 by revising paragraph (b)(2)(vi) to read as 
follows:


42.1503   Procedures.

* * * * *

[[Page 88091]]

    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (vi) Other (as applicable) (e.g., compliance with limitation on 
subcontracting, late or nonpayment to subcontractors, trafficking 
violations, tax delinquency, failure to report in accordance with 
contract terms and conditions, defective cost or pricing data, 
terminations, suspension and debarments).
* * * * *

Part 52--Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses

0
74. Amend section 52.204-8 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Revising paragraph (c)(1)(x);
0
c. Adding paragraph (c)(1)(x)(C); and
0
d. Adding Alternate I.
    The revisions and additions to read as follows:


52.204-8   Annual Representations and Certifications.

* * * * *

Annual Representations and Certifications (Date)

* * * * *
    (c)(1) * * *
    (x) 52.219-1, Small Business Program Representations (Basic, 
Alternates I and II). This provision applies to solicitations when 
the contract will be performed in the United States or its outlying 
areas.
* * * * *
    (C) The provision with its Alternate II applies to solicitations 
that will result in a multiple-award contract with more than one 
NAICS code assigned.
* * * * *
    Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 4.1202(a), substitute the 
following paragraph (a) for paragraph (a) of the basic provision:
    (a)(1) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
codes and corresponding size standards for this acquisition are as 
follows; the categories or portions these NAICS codes are assigned 
to are specified elsewhere in the solicitation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             NAICS code                         Size standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    ----                                 ----
                    ----                                 ----
                    ----                                 ----
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Contracting Officer to insert NAICS codes and size standards].

    (2) The small business size standard for a concern which submits 
an offer in its own name, other than on a construction or service 
contract, but which proposes to furnish a product which it did not 
itself manufacture (i.e. nonmanufacturer), is 500 employees.
0
75. Amend section 52.212-1 by revising the date of the provision and 
paragraph (a) to read as follows:


52.212-1   Instructions to Offerors--Commercial Items.

* * * * *

Instructions to Offerors--Commercial Items (Date)

    (a) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 
and small business size standard. The NAICS code(s) and small 
business size standard(s) for this acquisition appear elsewhere in 
the solicitation. However, the small business size standard for a 
concern which submits an offer in its own name, but which proposes 
to furnish an item which it did not itself manufacture, is 500 
employees.
* * * * *

0
76. Amend section 52.212-5 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Revising paragraphs (b)(11), (b)(12), (b)(14), (b)(15), (b)(19), and 
(b)(21) through (b)(24);
0
c. Redesignating paragraphs (b)(25) through (b)(58) as paragraphs 
(b)(27) through (b)(59), respectively; and
0
d. Adding new paragraphs (b)(25) and (b)(26).
    The additions and revisions to read as follows:


52.212-5   Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes 
or Executive Orders--Commercial Items.

* * * * *

Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or 
Executive Orders--Commercial Items (Date)

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    _(11)(i) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source 
Award (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 657a).
    _(ii) Alternate I (DATE) of 52.219-3.
    _(12)(i) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for 
HUBZone Small Business Concerns (DATE) (if the offeror elects to 
waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 
657a).
    _(ii) Alternate I (DATE) of 52.219-4.
* * * * *
    _(14)(i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside 
(DATE) (15 U.S.C. 644).
    _(ii) Alternate I (DATE).
    _(15)(i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside 
(DATE) (15 U.S.C. 644).
    _(ii) Alternate I (DATE) of 52.219-7.
* * * * *
    _(19) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 
637(a)(14)).
* * * * *
    _(21) 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small 
Business Set-Aside (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 657 f).
    _(22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program 
Rerepresentation (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)).
    _(23) 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award 
to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) 
Concerns (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).
    _(24) 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award 
to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-
Owned Small Business Program (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).
    _(25) 52.219-XX, Notice of Small Business Reserve (DATE) (15 
U.S.C. 644(r)).
    _(26) 52.219-YY, Nonmanufacturer Rule (DATE) (15 U.S.C. 
637(a)(17)).
    _(i) Alternate I (DATE) of 52.219-YY.
* * * * *

0
77. Amend section 52.219-1 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause and paragraph (b)(3);
0
b. Removing the heading from paragraph (d) and paragraph (d)(1);
0
c. Redesignating paragraph (d)(2) as the introductory text of paragraph 
(d);
0
d. Redesignating paragraphs (d)(2)(i) through (iii) as paragraphs 
(d)(1) through (3);
0
e. Removing from the newly designated introductory paragraph (d) 
``Under'' and adding ``Notice. Under'' in its place; and
0
f. Adding Alternate II to read as follows:


52.219-1  Small Business Program Representations.

* * * * *

Small Business Program Rerepresentations (Date)

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) The small business size standard for a concern which submits 
an offer in its own name, other than on a construction or service 
contract, but which proposes to furnish a product which it did not 
itself manufacture i.e. nonmanufacturer, is 500 employees.
* * * * *
    Alternate II (DATE). As prescribed in 19.309(a)(3), substitute 
the following paragraphs (b) and (c)(1) for paragraphs (b) and 
(c)(1) of the basic provision:
    (b)(1) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
codes and corresponding size standards for this acquisition are as 
follows; the categories or portions these NAICS codes are assigned 
to are specified elsewhere in the solicitation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             NAICS code                         Size standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    ----                                 ----
                    ----                                 ----
                    ----                                 ----
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Contracting Officer to insert NAICS codes and size standards].

    (2) The small business size standard for a concern which submits 
an offer in its own name, other than on a construction or service 
contract, but which proposes to furnish a product which it did not 
itself manufacture (i.e. nonmanufacturer), is 500 employees.
    (c) Representations.

[[Page 88092]]

    (1) The offeror shall represent its small business size status 
for each one of the NAICS codes assigned to this acquisition under 
which it is submitting an offer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             NAICS code               Small business  concern  (yes/no)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    ----                                 ----
                    ----                                 ----
                    ----                                 ----
------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
78. Amend section 52.219-3 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory paragraph, the date of the clause, and 
paragraph (a);
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ``or reserved for,''
0
c. Revising paragraphs (d), (e), and (f); and
0
d. Revising Alternate I.
    The revised text to read as follows:


52.219-3   Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award.

    As prescribed in 19.1309(a)(1), insert the following clause:

Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award (Date)

    (a) Definition. See 13 CFR 125.1 and 126.103 for definitions of 
terms used in the clause.
* * * * *
    (d) Limitation on subcontracting. The Contractor shall spend--
    (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of 
the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel on its own 
employees or employees of other HUBZone small business concerns;
    (2) For supplies (other than acquisition from a nonmanufacturer 
of the supplies), at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing, 
excluding the cost of materials, in a HUBZone;
    (3) For general construction--
    (i) At least 15 percent of the cost of contract performance 
incurred for personnel on its own employees;
    (ii) At least 50 percent of the cost of the contract performance 
incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of 
its own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern 
subcontractors; and
    (iii) No more than 50 percent of the cost of contract 
performance incurred for personnel on concerns that are not HUBZone 
small business concerns; or
    (4) For construction by special trade contractors--
    (i) At least 25 percent of the cost of contract performance 
incurred for personnel on its own employees;
    (ii) At least 50 percent of the cost of the contract performance 
incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a combination of 
its own employees and employees of HUBZone small business concern 
subcontractors;
    (iii) No more than 50 percent of the cost of contract 
performance to be incurred for personnel on concerns that are not 
HUBZone small business concerns.
    (e) A HUBZone small business contractor shall comply with the 
limitation on subcontracting as follows:
    (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this 
clause--

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]

    _By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end 
of each subsequent option period; or
    _By the end of the performance period for each order issued 
under the contract.
    (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this 
clause, by the end of the performance period for the order.
    (f) A HUBZone joint venture agrees that, in the performance of 
the contract, the applicable percentage specified in paragraph (c) 
of this clause shall be performed by the aggregate of the HUBZone 
small business participants.
* * * * *
    Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.1309(a)(2), substitute 
the following paragraphs (d)(3) and (d)(4) for paragraphs (d)(3) and 
(d)(4) of the basic clause:
    (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost of 
the contract performance to be incurred for personnel shall be spent 
on the concern's employees; or
    (4) For specialty trade construction, at least 25 percent of the 
cost of the contract performance to be incurred for personnel shall 
be spent on the concern's employees.
* * * * *
0
79. Amend section 52.219-4 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory paragraph, date, and paragraph (a) of the 
clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1)(i) ``preference; and'' and adding 
``preference;'' in its place;
0
c. Removing from paragraph (b)(1)(ii) ``concerns.'' and adding 
``concerns; and'' in its place;
0
d. Adding paragraph (b)(1)(iii);
0
e. Revising paragraph (d);
0
f. Removing paragraph (f);
0
g. Redesignating paragraph (g) as paragraph (f); and
0
h. Revising Alternate I.
    The additions and revisions to read as follows:


52.219-4   Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small 
Business Concerns.

    As prescribed in 19.1309(b)(1), insert the following clause:

Notice of Price Evaluation for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (Date)

    (a) Definition. See 13 CFR 126.103 for definition of HUBZone.
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) Where the solicitation has been reserved for a HUBZone 
small business concern.
* * * * *
    (d) Limitation on subcontracting. The Contractor shall spend--
    (1) For services (except construction), at least 50 percent of 
the cost of personnel for contract performance on its own employees 
or employees of other HUBZone small business concerns;
    (2) For supplies (other than acquisition from a nonmanufacturer 
of the supplies), at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing, 
excluding the cost of materials, in a HUBZone;
    (3) For general construction--
    (i) At least 15 percent of the cost of contract performance to 
be incurred for personnel on its own employees;
    (ii) At least 50 percent of the cost of the contract performance 
to be incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a 
combination of its own employees and employees of HUBZone small 
business concern subcontractors; and
    (iii) No more than 50 percent of the cost of contract 
performance to be incurred for personnel on concerns that are not 
HUBZone small business concerns; or
    (4) For construction by special trade contractors--
    (i) At least 25 percent of the cost of contract performance to 
be incurred for on its own employees;
    (ii) At least 50 percent of the cost of the contract performance 
to be incurred for personnel on its own employees or on a 
combination of its own employees and employees of HUBZone small 
business concern subcontractors;
    (iii) No more than 50 percent of the cost of contract 
performance to be incurred for personnel on concerns that are not 
HUBZone small business concerns.
* * * * *

    (End of clause)

    Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.1309(b)(2), substitute 
the following paragraphs (d)(3) and (d)(4) for paragraphs (d)(3) and 
(d)(4) of the basic clause:
    (3) For general construction, at least 15 percent of the cost of 
the contract performance to be incurred for personnel on its own 
employees; or
    (4) For construction by special trade contractors, at least 25 
percent of the cost of the contract performance to be incurred for 
personnel on its own employees.

* * * * *
0
80. Amend section 52.219-6 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ``or reserved'';
0
c. Removing paragraph (d) and Alternate I;
0
d. Redesignating Alternate II as Alternate I; and
0
e. Revising the date and the introductory text of the newly designated 
Alternate I.
    The revisions to read as follows:


52.219-6   Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside.

    As prescribed in 19.507(c), insert the following clause:

[[Page 88093]]

Notice of Total Business Set-Aside (Date)

* * * * *
    Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.507(c), substitute the 
following paragraph (c) for paragraph (c) of the basic clause: * * *

0
81. Amend section 52.219-7 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause;
0
b. Revising paragraphs (b) and (c);
0
c. Adding paragraphs (d) and (e);
0
d. Removing Alternate I; and
0
e. Redesignating Alternate II as Alternate I and revising the 
alternate.
    The addition and revisions to read as follows:


52.219-7   Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside.

    As prescribed in 19.507(d), insert the following clause:

Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (Date)

* * * * *
    (b) Applicability. This clause applies only to contracts that 
have been partially set aside for small business concerns.
    (c) General. (1) A portion of this requirement, identified 
elsewhere in this solicitation, has been set aside for award to one 
or more small business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3). Offers 
received from concerns that do not qualify as small business 
concerns shall be considered nonresponsive and shall be rejected on 
the set-aside portion of the requirement.
    (2) Small business concerns may submit offers and compete for 
the non-set-aside portion and the set-aside portion.
    (d) The Offeror shall--

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]

    _Submit a separate offer for each portion of the solicitation 
for which it wants to compete (i.e. set-aside portion, non-set-aside 
portion, or both); or
    _Submit one offer to include all portions for which it wants to 
compete.
    (e) Partial set-asides of multiple-award contracts.
    (1) Small business concerns will not compete against other-than-
small business concerns for any order issued under the part or parts 
of the multiple-award contract that are set aside.
    (2) Small business concerns may compete for orders issued under 
the part or parts of the multiple-award contract that are not set 
aside, if the small business concern received a contract award for 
the non-set-aside portion.

    (End of Clause)

    Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.507(d), add the following 
paragraph (f) to the basic clause:

    (f) Notwithstanding paragraph (c) of this clause, offers from 
Federal Prison Industries, Inc., will be solicited and considered 
for both the set-aside and non-set-aside portion of this 
requirement.

0
82. Amend section 52.219-13 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause;
0
b. Redesignating the body paragraph as paragraph (b);
0
c. Adding paragraph (a); and
0
d. Adding Alternate I.
    The revised and added text reads as follows:


52.219-13   Notice of Set-Aside of Orders.

    As prescribed in 19.507(f)(1), insert the following clause:

Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Date)

    (a) The contracting officer may set aside orders to the small 
business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3).
* * * * *

    Alternate I (Date). As prescribed in 19.507(f)(2), substitute the 
following paragraph (a) for paragraph (a) of the basic clause:

    (a) The contracting officer will set aside orders to the small 
business concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) when the conditions of 
FAR 19.502-2 and the specific program eligibility requirements are 
met, as applicable.

0
83. Amend section 52.219-14 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ``or reserved'';
0
c. Revising the introductory text of paragraph (c); and
0
d. Adding paragraph (d).
    The addition and revision to read as follows:


52.219-14   Limitations on Subcontracting.

    As prescribed in 19.507(e), insert the following clause:

Limitations on Subcontracting (Date)

* * * * *
    (c) Limitation on subcontracting. By submission of an offer and 
execution of a contract, the Offeror/Contractor agrees that in 
performance of the contract in the case of a contract for--
* * * * *
    (d) The Contractor shall comply with the limitation on 
subcontracting as follows:
    (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this 
clause--

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]

    _By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end 
of each subsequent option period; or
    _By the end of the performance period for each order issued 
under the contract.
    (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this 
clause, by the end of the performance period for the order.

    (End of clause)
0
84. Amend section 52.219-18 by revising the date of the clause and 
paragraph (d); and removing Alternate II to read as follows:


52.219-18   Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) 
Concerns.

* * * * *

Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Concerns (Date)

* * * * *
    (d) The___[insert name of SBA's contractor] shall notify the___ 
[insert name of contracting agency] Contracting Officer in writing 
immediately upon entering an agreement (either oral or written) to 
transfer all or part of its stock.

    (End of clause)
* * * * *
0
85. Amend section 52.219-27 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ``or reserved'';
0
c. Revising the heading of paragraph (d);
0
d. Removing paragraph (f);
0
e. Redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph (f); and
0
f. Adding new paragraph (e).
    The addition and revisions to read as follows:


52.219-27   Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business 
Set-Aside.

    As prescribed in 19.1408, insert the following clause:

Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside 
(Date)

* * * * *
    (d) Limitation on subcontracting. * * *
    (e) A service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern 
shall comply with the limitation on subcontracting as follows:
    (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this 
clause--

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]

    _By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end 
of each subsequent option period; or
    _By the end of the performance period for each order issued 
under the contract.
    (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this 
clause, by the end of the performance period for the order.

* * * * *
0
86. Amend section 52.219-28 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b) ``status'' and adding ``and 
socioeconomic status'' in its place;
0
c. Removing from paragraph (c) ``code'' and adding ``code(s)'' in its 
place, twice;
0
d. Revising paragraph (g); and
0
e. Adding paragraph (h).
    The addition and revision to read as follows:


52.219-28   Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation.

* * * * *

[[Page 88094]]

Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepesentation (Date)

* * * * *
    (g) If the Contractor does not have representations and 
certifications in SAM, or does not have a representation in SAM for 
the NAICS code applicable to this contract, the Contractor is 
required to complete the following rerepresentation and submit it to 
the contracting office, along with the contract number and the date 
on which the rerepresentation was completed:
    (1) The Contractor represents that it [square] is, [square] is 
not a small business concern under NAICS Code___assigned to contract 
number___.
    (2) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a 
small business concern in paragraph (g)(1) of this clause.] The 
Contractor rerepresents that it [square] is, [square] is not, a 
small disadvantaged business concern as defined in 13 CFR 124.1002.
    (3) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a 
small business concern in paragraph (g)(1) of this clause.] The 
Contractor rerepresents that it [square] is, [square] is not a 
women-owned small business concern.
    (4) Women-owned small business (WOSB) concern eligible under the 
WOSB Program. [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself 
as a women-owned small business concern in paragraph (g)(3) of this 
clause.] The Contractor rerepresents that--
    (i) It [square] is, [square] is not a WOSB concern eligible 
under the WOSB Program, has provided all the required documents to 
the WOSB Repository, and no change in circumstances or adverse 
decisions have been issued that affects its eligibility; and
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a joint venture that 
complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 127, and the 
rerepresentation in paragraph (g)(4)(i) of this clause is accurate 
for each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating 
in the joint venture. [The Contractor shall enter the name or names 
of the WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program and other small 
businesses that are participating in the joint venture: ___] Each 
WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the 
joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the WOSB 
rerepresentation.
    (5) Economically disadvantaged women-owned small business 
(EDWOSB) concern. [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented 
itself as a women-owned small business concern eligible under the 
WOSB Program in (g)(4) of this clause.] The Contractor represents 
that--
    (i) It [square] is, [square] is not an EDWOSB concern eligible 
under the WOSB Program, has provided all the required documents to 
the WOSB Repository, and no change in circumstances or adverse 
decisions have been issued that affects its eligibility; and
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a joint venture that 
complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 127, and the 
rerepresentation in paragraph (g)(5)(i) of this clause is accurate 
for each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture. [The 
Contractor shall enter the name or names of the EDWOSB concern and 
other small businesses that are participating in the joint 
venture:___.] Each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture 
shall submit a separate signed copy of the EDWOSB rerepresentation.
    (6) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a 
small business concern in paragraph (g)(1) of this provision.] The 
Contractor rerepresents as part of its offer that it [square] is, 
[square] is not a veteran-owned small business concern.
    (7) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a 
veteran-owned small business concern in paragraph (g)(6) of this 
clause.] The Contractor rerepresents that it [square] is, [square] 
is not a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern.
    (8) [Complete only if the Contractor rerepresented itself as a 
small business concern in paragraph (g)(1) of this clause.] The 
Contractor represents that--
    (i) It [square] is, [square] is not a HUBZone small business 
concern listed, on the date of this rerepresentation, on the List of 
Qualified HUBZone Small Business Concerns maintained by the Small 
Business Administration, and no material changes in ownership and 
control, principal office, or HUBZone employee percentage have 
occurred since it was certified in accordance with 13 CFR part 126; 
and
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a HUBZone joint venture 
that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 126, and the 
rerepresentation in paragraph (g)(8)(i) of this clause is accurate 
for each HUBZone small business concern participating in the HUBZone 
joint venture. [The Contractor shall enter the names of each of the 
HUBZone small business concerns participating in the HUBZone joint 
venture: ___] Each HUBZone small business concern participating in 
the HUBZone joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the 
HUBZone rerepresentation.
    [Contractor to sign and date and insert authorized signer's name 
and title.]
    (h) If the Contractor represented that it was a small business 
concern prior to award of this contract, the Contractor shall 
rerepresent its size and socioeconomic status according to paragraph 
(e) of this clause or, if applicable, paragraph (g) of this clause, 
when the contracting officer explicitly requires it for an order 
issued under a multiple-award contract.

    (End of clause)

0
87. Amend section 52.219-29 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ``or reserved'';
0
c. Revising the heading of paragraph (d);
0
d. Removing paragraph (f);
0
e. Redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph (f); and
0
f. Adding new paragraph (e).
    The addition and revisions to read as follows:


52.219-29   Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, 
Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns.

    As prescribed in 19.1508(a), insert the following clause:

Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically 
Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns (Date)

* * * * *
    (d) Limitation on subcontracting. * * *
    (e) An EDWOSB concern shall comply with the limitation on 
subcontracting as follows:
    (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this 
clause--

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]

    _By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end 
of each subsequent option period; or
    _By the end of the performance period for each order issued 
under the contract.
    (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this 
clause, by the end of the performance period for the order.

* * * * *
0
88. Amend section 52.219-30 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory text and the date of the clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1) ``or reserved'';
0
c. Revising the heading of paragraph (d);
0
d. Removing paragraph (f);
0
e. Redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph (f); and
0
f. Adding new paragraph (e).
    The additions and revisions to read as follows:


52.219-30   Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-
Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small 
Business Program.

    As prescribed in 19.1508(b), insert the following clause:

Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically 
Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under The 
Women-Owned Small Business Program (Date)

* * * * *
    (d) Limitation on subcontracting. * * *
    (e) A WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program shall comply 
with the limitation on subcontracting as follows:
    (1) For contracts, in accordance with (b)(1) and (2) of this 
clause--

[Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]

    _By the end of the base term of the contract and then by the end 
of each subsequent option period; or
    _By the end of the performance period for each order issued 
under the contract.
    (2) For set-aside orders, in accordance with (b)(3) of this 
clause, by the end of the performance period for the order.

* * * * *
0
89. Add section 52.219-XX to read as follows:


52.219-XX   Notice of Small Business Reserve.

    As prescribed in 19.507(g), insert the following clause:

[[Page 88095]]

Notice of Small Business Reserve (Date)

    (a) Applicability. This clause applies only to contracts that 
have been reserved for any of the small business concerns identified 
at 19.000(a)(3). The small business program eligibility requirements 
apply.
    (b) General. (1) This solicitation contains a reserve for one or 
more small business concerns identified at 19.000(a)(3) and the 
applicable small business program.
    (2) The small business concern(s) eligible for participation in 
the reserve shall submit one offer to include all portions of the 
solicitation for which consideration for award is wanted. Award of 
the contract will be based on criteria identified elsewhere in the 
solicitation.
    (c) If there are two or more contract awards to small businesses 
as a result of the reserve, the Contracting Officer may, at his or 
her discretion, set aside an order or orders for the small business 
concerns identified in 19.000(a)(3) and the applicable small 
business program, that were awarded contracts under a reserve, 
provided the requirements of 19.502-2(b) are met.
    (d) If there is only one contract award to a small business as a 
result of the reserve, the Contracting Officer may, at his or her 
discretion, issue an order or orders directly to the small business 
concern.

    (End of clause)
0
90. Add section 52.219-YY to read as follows:


52.219-YY   Nonmanufacturer Rule.

    As prescribed in 19.507(h)(1), insert the following clause:

Nonmanufacturer Rule (DATE)

    (a) This clause does not apply to the unrestricted portion of a 
partial set-aside.
    (b) Applicability. This clause applies to contracts that have 
been set aside, in total or in part, or orders under multiple-award 
contracts as described in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F) that have 
been set aside, for any of the small business concerns identified in 
19.000(a)(3).
    (c)(1) The contractor shall--
    (i)(A) Provide the end item of a small business manufacturer, 
that has been manufactured or produced in the United States or its 
outlying areas; or
    (B) If this procurement is an order as described in 8.405-5 or 
16.505(b)(2)(i)(F) or processed under simplified acquisition 
procedures (see part 13), and the total amount does not exceed 
$25,000, provide the end item of any domestic manufacturer;
    (ii) Not exceed 500 employees;
    (iii) Be primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and 
normally sell the type of item being supplied; and
    (iv) Take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its 
personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with 
industry practice.
    (2) In addition to the requirements set forth in (c)(1) of this 
clause, when the end item being acquired is a kit of supplies or 
other goods, 50 percent of the total value of the components of the 
kit shall be manufactured in the United States or its outlying areas 
by small business concerns. Where the Government has specified an 
item for the kit which is not produced by U.S. small business 
concerns, such items shall be excluded from the 50 percent 
calculation. See 13 CFR 121.406(c) for further information regarding 
nonmanufacturers.
    (3) For size determination purposes, there can be only one 
manufacturer of the end product being acquired. For the purposes of 
the nonmanufacturer rule, the manufacturer of the end product being 
acquired is the concern that transforms raw materials and/or 
miscellaneous parts or components into the end product. Firms which 
only minimally alter the item being procured do not qualify as 
manufacturers of the end item, such as firms that add substances, 
parts, or components to an existing end item to modify its 
performance will not be considered the end item manufacturer, where 
those identical modifications can be performed by and are available 
from the manufacturer of the existing end item. See 13 CFR 121.406 
for further information regarding manufacturers.

    (End of clause)
    Alternate I (DATE). As prescribed in 19.507(h)(2), substitute the 
following paragraph in place of paragraph (c)(1)(i)(A) of the basic 
clause:

    (i)(A) Provide the end item of a HUBZone small business 
manufacturer, that has been manufactured or produced in the United 
States or its outlying areas; or

[FR Doc. 2016-28432 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P
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