VA Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Guidelines, 41579-41580 [2017-18543]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 169 / Friday, September 1, 2017 / Proposed Rules PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES transportation or for replacing the fan or propulsor, without subsequent maintenance, does not constitute an engine shop visit. 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, FAA, ECO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. You may email your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/ certificate holding district office. ■ Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. § 39.13 [Amended] 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): ■ General Electric Company: Docket No. FAA– 2017–0660; Product Identifier 2017–NE– 21–AD. (a) Comments Due Date We must receive comments by October 16, 2017. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) GEnx–1B64/P2, –1B67/P2, –1B70/P2, –1B70/75/P2, –1B70C/P2, and –1B74/75/P2 turbofan engines, with a highpressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 blade retainer, part number (P/N) 2445M91P01 or 2383M99P02, with a serial number listed in Planning Information, paragraph 1.A., of GE GEnx–1B Service Bulletin (SB) 72–0326 R02, dated August 16, 2017. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine Section. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report of the failure of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 blade retainer and subsequent inflight shutdown of the engine. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPT stage 1 blade retainer. The unsafe condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (1) At the next engine shop visit after the effective date of this AD, perform a one-time inspection of the HPT stage 1 blade retainer. Use the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.A.(1), in GE GEnx–1B SB 72– 0326 R02, dated August 16, 2017, to do the inspection. (2) If any cracks are found in the HPT stage 1 blade retainer, or the retainer does not meet the dimensional criteria found in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.A.(1), in GEnx–1B SB 72–0326 R02, dated August 16, 2017, replace with a part eligible for installation. (g) Definition For the purpose of this AD, an ‘‘engine shop visit’’ is the induction of an engine into the shop for maintenance involving the separation of pairs of major mating engine case flanges, except separation of engine flanges solely for the purposes of VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:29 Aug 31, 2017 Jkt 241001 (i) Related Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Christopher McGuire, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, ECO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781– 238–7120; fax: 781–238–7199; email: Christopher.mcguire@faa.gov. (2) GE GEnx–1B SB 72–0326 R02, dated August 16, 2017, can be obtained from GE using the contact information in paragraph (i)(3) of this AD. (3) For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact General Electric Company, GE-Aviation, Room 285, 1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215, phone: 513–552–3272; fax: 513–552–3329; email: geae.aoc@ge.com. (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Policy and Innovation Division, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 29, 2017. Robert J. Ganley, Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2017–18571 Filed 8–31–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38 CFR Part 74 RIN 2900–AO63 VA Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Guidelines Department of Veterans Affairs. Withdrawal of proposed rule. AGENCY: ACTION: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a rule in the Federal Register on November 6, 2015, 80 FR 68795 that proposed amending its SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 41579 regulations governing the VA’s VeteranOwned Small Business (VOSB) Verification Program. The Verification Program has been the subject of reports from both the Government Accountability Office and VA’s Office of Inspector General stating that despite VA’s Verification Program, fraud still exists in the Veterans First Contracting Program. Some stakeholder feedback has been that the current regulation is too open to interpretation and is unnecessarily more rigorous than similar certification programs run by the United State Small Business Administration (SBA). The proposed rule sought to clarify the eligibility requirements for businesses to obtain ‘‘verified’’ status, added and revised definitions, reordered requirements, redefined the definition of ‘‘control,’’ and provided explanatory information on VA’s examination and review processes and procedures. The proposed rule additionally sought to implement new changes to community property restrictions, unconditional ownership, and day-to-day requirements and fulltime requirements. An exception for majority, supermajority, unanimous, and other voting provisions for extraordinary business decisions were also proposed. Comments to the proposed rule were to be provided to the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization on or before January 5, 2016. Due to the nature of the adverse comments received, VA has determined not to pursue implementation of the rule as originally proposed. Accordingly, this document withdraws the proposed rule. DATES: The proposed rule published on November 6, 2015, 80 FR 68795 is withdrawn as of September 1, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Leney, Executive Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420; (202) 462–4300. (This is not a toll-free number.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on November 6, 2015, 80 FR 68795, VA sought to amend 38 CFR part 74 to find an appropriate balance between preventing fraud in the Veterans First Contracting Program and providing a process that would make it easier for more VOSBs to become verified. VA received 203 comments from 96 commenters. 134 of these comments were adverse to the proposed rule and VA’s verification program in general. Of the 134 adverse comments, several were E:\FR\FM\01SEP1.SGM 01SEP1 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS 41580 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 169 / Friday, September 1, 2017 / Proposed Rules material comments which VA has accepted. SBA, Office of Advocacy, objected to the proposed rule on various grounds including that it fails to provide an adequate basis in its Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) certification concerning the proposed rule’s impact on small business entities. VA’s RFA language provided that ‘‘VA estimates the cost to an individual business to be less than $100.00 for 70–75 percent of the businesses seeking verification, and the average cost to the entire population of veterans seeking to become verified is less than $325.00 on average.’’ In its comment, SBA stated that ‘‘[o]ne of the most important provisions with the RFA requires that the promulgating agency give the public some idea of the number of small entities that any proposed rule will impact. VA’s proposed certification does not provide any indication of the number of small businesses that may be impacted by the proposed change.’’ After considering this comment, VA procured a survey to better demonstrate that the proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small business entities. SBA also objected to the proposed rule to the extent that it failed to provide statutory or other legal authority following each cited substantive provision. SBA, in its comment, stated that the proposed rule does not comply with 38 U.S.C. 501 in that the proposed rule does not ‘‘contain citations to the particular section or sections of statutory law or other legal authority upon which such issuance is based.’’ After considering the SBA’s comment, VA seeks to withdraw the proposed rule and to republish at a later date to ensure that each substantive revision is followed immediately by supporting statutory or other legal authority. Fourteen comments spoke to potential violations of due process through the immediate removal of a company without allowing the company an opportunity to refute the allegations, such as owners accused of criminal offenses. The proposed amendment to 38 CFR 74.2(b) provides that ‘‘[i]ndividuals having an ownership or control interest in VetBiz verified businesses must have good character. Concerns owned or controlled by a person(s) who is formally accused of a crime involving business integrity are ineligible for VetBiz VIP Verification. If, after verifying a participant’s eligibility the person(s) controlling the participant is found to lack good character, CVE will remove the participant from the VIP database immediately . . .’’ One VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:29 Aug 31, 2017 Jkt 241001 commenter, SBA, commented that ‘‘Section 74.2(b) of the proposed regulation would seem to deny an applicant due process of law . . . [and] . . . would seem to indicate that if an applicant is formally accused of an offense, that person is not eligible for Vet Biz Verification.’’ Another commenter stated ‘‘I would . . . question if being ‘formally accused’ and not actually proven guilty of any crime, is proper.’’ After considering these and other similar comments, VA seeks to remove the portion of the proposed rule prescribing the immediate removal of companies, under certain circumstances, prior to allowing such affected company a chance to refute the allegations. Six comments were lodged complaining that the increase of the waiting period following a denial of verification from 6 months to 12 months does not (i) benefit the Veteran, (ii) is unnecessarily long, and (iii) punitive in nature. One commenter stated that ‘‘extending the waiting period from six to 12 months does not allow sufficient time for ineligible concerns to address significant issues’’ any more than the current rule does. The current rule requires a minimum wait of six months—if issues require more time to address, the eligible veteran can make that determination and simply wait 12 months—or 16 months—to reapply. Second, the extended wait time will not incentivize applicants to avail themselves of CVE resources. In fact, lengthening the wait period will result in lost momentum and is described in the preamble as a form of punishment for veterans that do not use CVE resources. VA should not take this approach. Finally, the program will be no more efficient in the long run with a 12 month waiting period. Applications from concerns that are denied or cancelled will not decrease, they will only be filed in 12 months rather than in six.’’ After considering these and other similar comments, VA seeks to withdraw the portion of the proposed rule that increases the waiting period from 6 to 12 months, following a denial of verification. VA understands that in order to proceed forward without withdrawing the proposed rule and republishing, the proposed modifications to the proposed rule must be considered a logical outgrowth. Considering the extent of the revisions as outlined in this publication and that VA proposes to include additional modifications to the rule, it is unlikely that the proposed rule as modified would be considered a logical outgrowth. Because of the adverse comments received during the comment PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 period, VA is withdrawing the proposed rule. Signing Authority The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this document on June 23, 2017, for publication. Approved: June 23, 2017. Jeffrey Martin, Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs. [FR Doc. 2017–18543 Filed 8–31–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Parts 1, 22, 24, 27, 30, 74, 80, 90, 95, and 101 [WT Docket No. 10–112; FCC 17–105] Amendment of the Commission’s Rules To Establish Uniform License Renewal, Discontinuance of Operation, and Geographic Partitioning and Spectrum Disaggregation Rules and Policies for Certain Wireless Radio Services Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission seeks additional comment on a range of possible actions that may advance the Commission’s goal of increasing the number of rural Americans with access to wireless communications services. In order to encourage investment in wireless networks, facilitate access to scarce spectrum resources, and promote the rapid deployment of mobile services to rural Americans, the Commission seeks comment on additional, reasonable construction obligations during renewal terms that are targeted to reach rural areas that lack adequate service. SUMMARY: Interested parties may file comments on or before October 2, 2017, and reply comments on or before October 31, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WT Docket No. 10–112, by any of the following methods: DATES: E:\FR\FM\01SEP1.SGM 01SEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 169 (Friday, September 1, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41579-41580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18543]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 74

RIN 2900-AO63


VA Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Guidelines

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a rule in 
the Federal Register on November 6, 2015, 80 FR 68795 that proposed 
amending its regulations governing the VA's Veteran-Owned Small 
Business (VOSB) Verification Program. The Verification Program has been 
the subject of reports from both the Government Accountability Office 
and VA's Office of Inspector General stating that despite VA's 
Verification Program, fraud still exists in the Veterans First 
Contracting Program. Some stakeholder feedback has been that the 
current regulation is too open to interpretation and is unnecessarily 
more rigorous than similar certification programs run by the United 
State Small Business Administration (SBA).
    The proposed rule sought to clarify the eligibility requirements 
for businesses to obtain ``verified'' status, added and revised 
definitions, reordered requirements, redefined the definition of 
``control,'' and provided explanatory information on VA's examination 
and review processes and procedures. The proposed rule additionally 
sought to implement new changes to community property restrictions, 
unconditional ownership, and day-to-day requirements and full-time 
requirements. An exception for majority, supermajority, unanimous, and 
other voting provisions for extraordinary business decisions were also 
proposed.
    Comments to the proposed rule were to be provided to the Office of 
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization on or before January 5, 
2016. Due to the nature of the adverse comments received, VA has 
determined not to pursue implementation of the rule as originally 
proposed. Accordingly, this document withdraws the proposed rule.

DATES: The proposed rule published on November 6, 2015, 80 FR 68795 is 
withdrawn as of September 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Leney, Executive Director, Office 
of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420; (202) 462-4300. 
(This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the proposed rule published in the 
Federal Register on November 6, 2015, 80 FR 68795, VA sought to amend 
38 CFR part 74 to find an appropriate balance between preventing fraud 
in the Veterans First Contracting Program and providing a process that 
would make it easier for more VOSBs to become verified.
    VA received 203 comments from 96 commenters. 134 of these comments 
were adverse to the proposed rule and VA's verification program in 
general. Of the 134 adverse comments, several were

[[Page 41580]]

material comments which VA has accepted.
    SBA, Office of Advocacy, objected to the proposed rule on various 
grounds including that it fails to provide an adequate basis in its 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) certification concerning the proposed 
rule's impact on small business entities. VA's RFA language provided 
that ``VA estimates the cost to an individual business to be less than 
$100.00 for 70-75 percent of the businesses seeking verification, and 
the average cost to the entire population of veterans seeking to become 
verified is less than $325.00 on average.'' In its comment, SBA stated 
that ``[o]ne of the most important provisions with the RFA requires 
that the promulgating agency give the public some idea of the number of 
small entities that any proposed rule will impact. VA's proposed 
certification does not provide any indication of the number of small 
businesses that may be impacted by the proposed change.'' After 
considering this comment, VA procured a survey to better demonstrate 
that the proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small business entities.
    SBA also objected to the proposed rule to the extent that it failed 
to provide statutory or other legal authority following each cited 
substantive provision. SBA, in its comment, stated that the proposed 
rule does not comply with 38 U.S.C. 501 in that the proposed rule does 
not ``contain citations to the particular section or sections of 
statutory law or other legal authority upon which such issuance is 
based.'' After considering the SBA's comment, VA seeks to withdraw the 
proposed rule and to republish at a later date to ensure that each 
substantive revision is followed immediately by supporting statutory or 
other legal authority.
    Fourteen comments spoke to potential violations of due process 
through the immediate removal of a company without allowing the company 
an opportunity to refute the allegations, such as owners accused of 
criminal offenses. The proposed amendment to 38 CFR 74.2(b) provides 
that ``[i]ndividuals having an ownership or control interest in VetBiz 
verified businesses must have good character. Concerns owned or 
controlled by a person(s) who is formally accused of a crime involving 
business integrity are ineligible for VetBiz VIP Verification. If, 
after verifying a participant's eligibility the person(s) controlling 
the participant is found to lack good character, CVE will remove the 
participant from the VIP database immediately . . .'' One commenter, 
SBA, commented that ``Section 74.2(b) of the proposed regulation would 
seem to deny an applicant due process of law . . . [and] . . . would 
seem to indicate that if an applicant is formally accused of an 
offense, that person is not eligible for Vet Biz Verification.'' 
Another commenter stated ``I would . . . question if being `formally 
accused' and not actually proven guilty of any crime, is proper.'' 
After considering these and other similar comments, VA seeks to remove 
the portion of the proposed rule prescribing the immediate removal of 
companies, under certain circumstances, prior to allowing such affected 
company a chance to refute the allegations.
    Six comments were lodged complaining that the increase of the 
waiting period following a denial of verification from 6 months to 12 
months does not (i) benefit the Veteran, (ii) is unnecessarily long, 
and (iii) punitive in nature. One commenter stated that ``extending the 
waiting period from six to 12 months does not allow sufficient time for 
ineligible concerns to address significant issues'' any more than the 
current rule does. The current rule requires a minimum wait of six 
months--if issues require more time to address, the eligible veteran 
can make that determination and simply wait 12 months--or 16 months--to 
reapply. Second, the extended wait time will not incentivize applicants 
to avail themselves of CVE resources. In fact, lengthening the wait 
period will result in lost momentum and is described in the preamble as 
a form of punishment for veterans that do not use CVE resources. VA 
should not take this approach. Finally, the program will be no more 
efficient in the long run with a 12 month waiting period. Applications 
from concerns that are denied or cancelled will not decrease, they will 
only be filed in 12 months rather than in six.'' After considering 
these and other similar comments, VA seeks to withdraw the portion of 
the proposed rule that increases the waiting period from 6 to 12 
months, following a denial of verification.
    VA understands that in order to proceed forward without withdrawing 
the proposed rule and republishing, the proposed modifications to the 
proposed rule must be considered a logical outgrowth. Considering the 
extent of the revisions as outlined in this publication and that VA 
proposes to include additional modifications to the rule, it is 
unlikely that the proposed rule as modified would be considered a 
logical outgrowth. Because of the adverse comments received during the 
comment period, VA is withdrawing the proposed rule.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina S. 
Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on June 23, 2017, for publication.

    Approved: June 23, 2017.
Jeffrey Martin,
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, 
Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-18543 Filed 8-31-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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