Federal Acquisition Regulation: Policy on Joint Ventures, 34561-34569 [2020-11159]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 109 / Friday, June 5, 2020 / Proposed Rules In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any other area where EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the proposed rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter, Sulfur oxides. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Dated: May 29, 2020. Gregory Sopkin, Regional Administrator, Region 8. [FR Doc. 2020–12060 Filed 6–4–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 48 CFR Parts 2, 9, 15, 19, and 52 [FAR Case 2017–019; Docket No. FAR– 2017–0019, Sequence No. 1] RIN 9000–AN59 I. Background Federal Acquisition Regulation: Policy on Joint Ventures Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and 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 statutory and regulatory changes regarding joint ventures made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in its final rule published in the Federal Register on July 25, 2016, and to clarify that 8(a) joint ventures are not certified into the 8(a) program and that 8(a) joint venture agreements need only be approved by the SBA prior to contract award. DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments at the address shown below on or before August 4, 2020 to be considered in the formation of the final rule. ADDRESSES: Submit comments in response to FAR Case 2017–019 to lotter on DSK9F5VC42PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Jun 04, 2020 Regulations.gov: https:// www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for ‘‘FAR Case 2017–019.’’ Select the link ‘‘Comment Now’’ that corresponds with FAR Case 2017–019. Follow the instructions provided at the ‘‘Comment Now’’ screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and ‘‘FAR Case 2017–019’’ on your attached document. If your comment cannot be submitted using https:// www.regulations.gov, call or email the points of contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions. Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAR Case 2017–019, in all correspondence related to this case. Comments received generally 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Malissa Jones, Procurement Analyst, at 703–605–2815 or by email at Malissa.Jones@gsa.gov for clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 202–501–4755 or GSARegSec@gsa.gov. Please cite FAR Case 2017–019. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Jkt 250001 DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to revise the FAR to implement statutory and regulatory changes made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) regarding joint ventures. These changes allow a joint venture comprised of a prote´ge´ and its mentor to qualify as a small business or under a socioeconomic program (e.g., 8(a)) for which the prote´ge´ qualifies. These changes also provide updated requirements for other joint ventures to qualify as a small business or under a socioeconomic program. Section 1347 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111–240) and section 1641 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 (Pub. L. 112–239; 15 U.S.C. 657r) authorized the SBA Administrator to establish mentorprote´ge´ programs for small business concerns, service-disabled veteranowned small business (SDVOSB) concerns, women-owned small business concerns in the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program, and HUBZone small business concerns PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 34561 modeled on the mentor-prote´ge´ program under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)). On July 25, 2016, SBA issued a final rule (81 FR 48558) that implemented the mentor-prote´ge´ programs at 13 CFR 125.9. SBA’s final rule allows a joint venture comprised of a prote´ge´ and its mentor to seek any type of small business contract, including under a socioeconomic program, for which the prote´ge´ qualifies. SBA’s final rule updated requirements for a joint venture to qualify as a small business concern or under a socioeconomic program. A joint venture qualifies as a small business concern when each of the parties to the joint venture qualifies as small for the size standard associated with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code in the solicitation. A joint venture may qualify under a socioeconomic program when at least one party to the joint venture qualifies under a socioeconomic program, and the joint venture meets the applicable joint venture requirements specified in the SBA regulations. SBA’s final rule also revised the joint venture regulations at 13 CFR 124.513 for 8(a) participants, 125.18(b) for SDVOSBs; 126.616 for HUBZone small business concerns; and 127.506 for WOSB and economically disadvantaged WOSB concerns. SBA required agencies to consider past performance of each party to a small business joint venture in addition to any work performed by the joint venture itself. DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to require contracting officers to consider the past performance of the joint venture, and to consider the past performance of each party to the joint venture if the joint venture does not demonstrate past performance. For consistency and fairness, DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to apply this requirement to joint ventures regardless of size status. Additionally, DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to clarify that 8(a) joint ventures are not certified into the 8(a) program and that 8(a) joint venture agreements need only be approved by the SBA prior to contract award. This clarification is necessary because Government Accountability Office (GAO) sustained a protest (BGI-Fiore JV, LLC, B–409520, May 29, 2014) in which an agency rejected an 8(a) joint venture’s proposal on the basis that the 8(a) joint venture had not been certified by the SBA prior to submission of proposals. Currently, paragraph (a) of the clause at FAR 52.219–18, Notification of Competition E:\FR\FM\05JNP1.SGM 05JNP1 34562 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 109 / Friday, June 5, 2020 / Proposed Rules lotter on DSK9F5VC42PROD with PROPOSALS Limited to Eligible 8(a) Concerns, states that, ‘‘Offers are solicited only from small business concerns expressly certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for participation in the SBA’s 8(a) program and which meet the following criteria at the time of submission of offer . . . .’’ This language could be interpreted to mean that 8(a) joint ventures that submit an offer for an 8(a) contract need to be ‘‘certified’’ by the SBA and that their joint venture agreement needs to be approved by the SBA by ‘‘the time of submission of offer.’’ This rule proposes clarifications to prevent the improper elimination of 8(a) joint venture proposals in the future. II. Discussion and Analysis The proposed changes to the FAR are summarized in the following paragraphs. A. Definition of ‘‘small business concern.’’ The definition of ‘‘small business concern’’ is revised in subpart 2.1, as well as in the following provisions and clauses: FAR 52.212–3, Offeror Representations and Certification—Commercial Items; FAR 52.219–1, Small Business Program Representations; FAR 52.219–8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns; and FAR 52.219–28, Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation. This revision removes extraneous material concerning how to determine whether a small business concern is ‘‘not dominant in its field of operation.’’ That determination is made by SBA and is addressed in SBA regulations at 13 CFR 121.102(b). B. Consideration of past performance of parties to a joint venture. This rule clarifies that the contracting officer shall consider the past performance of the joint venture. If the joint venture does not demonstrate past performance for award, the contracting officer shall consider the past performance of each party to the joint venture when making a responsibility determination and when past performance is an evaluation factor for source selection. This clarification is made in subpart 9.1, Responsible Prospective Contractors, and in subpart 15.3, Source Selection. C. Qualification of joint ventures as small business concerns. Subpart 19.3, Determination of Small Business Status for Small Business Programs, is amended to address how a joint venture may qualify for an award as a small business concern or under the socioeconomic programs. A joint venture may qualify as a small business concern if each participant in the joint venture qualifies as small under the size standard for the solicitation; or the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 prote´ge´ is small under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture comprised of a mentor and prote´ge´ with an approved agreement under a SBA mentor-prote´ge´ program. A joint venture may qualify under socioeconomic programs when the joint venture qualifies as a small business joint venture and one of the parties to the joint venture qualifies under one or more of the socioeconomic programs. Similar text is added to subparts 19.13, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program; 19.14, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Procurement Program; and 19.15, Women-Owned Small Business Program. Similar text is also added to the following provisions and clauses: FAR 52.212–3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items; FAR 52.219–1, Small Business Program Representations; FAR 52.219–8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns; FAR 52.219–18, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants; FAR 52.219–27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside; FAR 52.219–29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns; and FAR 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. D. Subpart 19.7, The Small Business Subcontracting Program. This subpart is amended to remove instructions for contractors that already exist in the clause at FAR 52.219–8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns. E. Subpart 19.8, Contracting with the Small Business Administration (the 8(a) Program). This subpart is amended to add language to FAR sections 19.804–3, SBA acceptance, and 19.805–2, Procedures, to clarify that at least one party to the joint venture must be certified as an 8(a) program participant at the time of proposal submission and that the 8(a) joint venture agreement shall be approved prior to contract award. In addition, pursuant to 13 CFR 124.503 and 13 CFR 124.507, language is added to clarify the general time period within which SBA expects to approve the joint venture agreement prior to award and the procedure to follow if a response is not received within that time period. The rule also proposes to delete text from 19.805–2(b) relating to how SBA determines eligibility because it creates confusion regarding the timing of SBA’s determination. F. Performance requirement for certain joint ventures. This rule PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 proposes to amend the following contract clauses to add the requirement that certain small business or socioeconomic parties to a joint venture perform 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture and that the work performed must be more than administrative functions: FAR 52.219–3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award; FAR 52.219–4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns; FAR 52.219–14, Limitations on Subcontracting; FAR 52.219–27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside; FAR 52.219– 29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns; and FAR 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. III. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) and for Commercial Items, Including Commercially Available Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Items This rule proposes to amend subparts 2.1, Definitions, 9.1, Responsible Prospective Contractors, and 15.3, Source Selection; multiple subparts of part 19, Small Business Programs; and multiple provisions and clauses related to small business programs. The objective of this rule is to update the FAR to align with SBA regulations regarding joint ventures and to provide clarifications for 8(a) joint ventures. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council has made the following preliminary determinations with respect to the proposed rule’s application of section 1641 of the NDAA for FY 2013 to contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) and for the acquisition of commercial items. The Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy has made the following preliminary determination with respect to commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) 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. A. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the SAT Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1905, a provision of law is not applicable to acquisitions at or below the SAT unless the law (i) contains criminal or civil penalties; (ii) specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1905 and states that the law E:\FR\FM\05JNP1.SGM 05JNP1 lotter on DSK9F5VC42PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 109 / Friday, June 5, 2020 / Proposed Rules applies to acquisitions at or below the SAT; or (iii) the FAR Council makes a written determination that it is not in the best interest of the Federal Government to exempt contracts or subcontracts at or below the SAT. If none of these conditions are met, the FAR is required to include the statutory requirement(s) on a list of provisions of law that are inapplicable to acquisitions at or below the SAT. The purpose of this rule is to implement section 1641 of the NDAA for FY 2013. Section 1641 authorized the SBA Administrator to establish mentor-prote´ge´ programs for small business concerns, SDVOSB concerns, WOSB concerns in the WOSB Program, and HUBZone small business concerns modeled on the mentor-prote´ge´ program under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)). These statutory requirements are reflected in SBA’s final rule published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 48558, on July 25, 2016, which did not exempt acquisitions at or below the SAT. The law is silent on the applicability of these requirements to acquisitions at or below the SAT and does not independently provide for criminal or civil penalties; nor does it include terms making express reference to 41 U.S.C. 1905 and its application to acquisitions at or below the SAT. Therefore, it does not apply to acquisitions at or below the SAT unless the FAR Council makes a written determination as provided at 41 U.S.C. 1905. Application of the law to acquisitions at or below the SAT will ensure that the benefits from socioeconomic set-aside and sole source contracts flow to the intended parties. According to the Federal Procurement Data System, an average of 283,374 contracts per year resulted from FAR part 19 set-asides and sole-source awards at or below the simplified acquisition threshold during fiscal years 2016–2018. Not applying section 1641 to the maximum extent possible would exclude a significant number of acquisitions and impede the Administration’s objectives to assist small businesses, including SDVOSB, HUBZone small business, and WOSB concerns, to succeed in enhancing their capabilities and improving their ability to successfully compete for both Government and commercial contracts. The provisions and clauses proposed for revision in this rule currently apply to all solicitations and contracts, as applicable, including those at or below the SAT. The proposed rule continues the existing applicability to solicitations and contracts below the SAT, while revising these clauses to implement the requirements of section 1641 concerning VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 joint ventures. Exclusion of these acquisitions would create confusion among contractors and the Federal contracting workforce. Under the FAR clauses amended by this rule, contractors are already required to comply with small business program set-aside requirements. The effort required for contractors to comply with the new requirements will be relatively small. For these reasons, it is in the best interest of the Federal Government to apply the requirements of the rule to acquisitions at or below the SAT. B. Applicability to Contracts for the Acquisition of Commercial Items Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1906, acquisitions of commercial items (other than acquisitions of COTS items, which are addressed in 41 U.S.C. 1907) are exempt from a provision of law unless the law (i) contains criminal or civil penalties; (ii) specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1906 and states that the law applies to acquisitions of commercial items; or (iii) the FAR Council makes a written determination and finding that it would not be in the best interest of the Federal Government to exempt contracts for the procurement of commercial items from the provision of law. If none of these conditions are met, the FAR is required to include the statutory requirement(s) on a list of provisions of law that are inapplicable to acquisitions of commercial items. The purpose of this rule is to implement section 1641 of the NDAA for FY 2013. Section 1641 allows a joint venture comprised of a prote´ge´ and its mentor to qualify as a small business or under a socioeconomic program for which the prote´ge´ qualifies and implements SBA regulations establishing mentor-prote´ge´ programs for small business concerns, SDVOSB concerns, WOSB concerns in the WOSB Program, and HUBZone small business concerns modeled on the mentorprote´ge´ program under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)). These statutory requirements are reflected in SBA’s final rule published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 48558, on July 25, 2016, which did not exempt acquisitions of commercial items. The law is silent on the applicability of these requirements to acquisitions of commercial items and does not independently provide for criminal or civil penalties; nor does it include terms making express reference to 41 U.S.C. 1906 and its application to acquisitions of commercial items. Therefore, it does not apply to acquisitions of commercial items unless the FAR Council makes a PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 34563 written determination as provided at 41 U.S.C. 1906. The law furthers the Administration’s goal of supporting small business. It advances the interests of small business concerns by allowing for more joint ventures that include a small business to qualify as a small business or under a socioeconomic program. Therefore, more small businesses can qualify for set-aside procurements. Exclusion of a large segment of Federal contracting, such as acquisitions for commercial items, will limit the full implementation of these objectives. The provisions and clauses proposed for revision in this rule currently apply to all solicitations and contracts, as applicable, including those for acquisition of commercial items. The proposed rule continues the existing applicability to the acquisition of commercial items as defined at FAR 2.101. Exclusion of acquisitions for commercial items from these requirements would create confusion among contractors and the Federal contracting workforce. Under the FAR clauses amended by this rule, contractors are already required to comply with small business program set-aside requirements. The effort required for contractors to comply with the new requirements will be relatively small. For these reasons, it is in the best interest of the Federal Government to apply the requirements of the rule to the acquisition of commercial items. C. Applicability to Contracts for the Acquisition of COTS Items Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1907, acquisitions of COTS items will be exempt from a provision of law unless the law (i) contains criminal or civil penalties; (ii) specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1907 and states that the law applies to acquisitions of COTS items; (iii) concerns authorities or responsibilities under the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644) or bid protest procedures developed under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 3551 et seq., 10 U.S.C. 2305(e) and (f), or 41 U.S.C. 3706 and 3707; or (iv) the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy makes a written determination and finding that it would not be in the best interest of the Federal Government to exempt contracts for the procurement of COTS items from the provision of law. If none of these conditions are met, the FAR is required to include the statutory requirement(s) on a list of provisions of law that are inapplicable to acquisitions of COTS items. The purpose of this rule is to implement section 1641 of the NDAA E:\FR\FM\05JNP1.SGM 05JNP1 lotter on DSK9F5VC42PROD with PROPOSALS 34564 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 109 / Friday, June 5, 2020 / Proposed Rules for FY 2013. Section 1641 allows a joint venture comprised of a prote´ge´ and its mentor to qualify as a small business or under a socioeconomic program for which the prote´ge´ qualifies, and implements SBA regulations establishing mentor-prote´ge´ programs for small business concerns, SDVOSB concerns, WOSB concerns in the WOSB Program, and HUBZone small business concerns modeled on the mentorprote´ge´ program under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)). These statutory requirements are reflected in SBA’s final rule published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 48558, on July 25, 2016, which did not exempt acquisitions of COTS items. The law is silent on the applicability of these requirements to acquisitions of COTS items and does not independently provide for criminal or civil penalties; nor does it include terms making express reference to 41 U.S.C. 1907 and its application to acquisitions of COTS items. Therefore, it does not apply to acquisitions of COTS items unless the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy makes a written determination as provided at 41 U.S.C. 1907. Section 1641 furthers the Administration’s goal of supporting small business. It advances the interests of small business concerns by allowing for more joint ventures that include a small business to qualify as a small business concern or under a socioeconomic program. Therefore, more small businesses can qualify for set-aside procurements. Exclusion of a large segment of Federal contracting, such as acquisitions for COTS items, will limit the full implementation of these objectives. The provisions and clauses proposed for revision in this rule currently apply to all solicitations and contracts, as applicable, including those for acquisition of COTS items. The proposed rule continues the existing applicability to the acquisition of COTS items as defined at FAR 2.101. Exclusion of these acquisitions would create confusion among contractors and the Federal contracting workforce. Under the FAR clauses amended by this rule, contractors are already required to comply with small business program set-aside requirements. The effort required for contractors to comply with the new requirements will be relatively small. For these reasons, it is in the best interest of the Federal Government to apply the requirements of the rule to the acquisition of COTS items. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 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 not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 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. Executive Order 13771 This rule is not expected to be subject to E.O. 13771, because this rule is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866. VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act This proposed rule 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 update joint venture requirements to align with the changes SBA made in its final rule dated July 25, 2016 (81 FR 48558), and to add clarifications regarding 8(a) joint ventures to address issues identified in a GAO protest decision (B– 409520). Section 1347 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and section 1641 of the NDAA for FY 2013 authorized SBA to establish mentor-prote´ge´ programs for small business concerns, service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns, women-owned small business concerns in the WomenOwned Small Business (WOSB) Program, and HUBZone small business concerns. SBA issued a final rule (81 FR 48558) that implemented the mentor-prote´ge´ programs at 13 CFR 125.9. SBA’s final rule allows a joint venture comprised of a prote´ge´ and its mentor to qualify as a small business or under a socioeconomic program for which the prote´ge´ qualifies. The rule also revised the requirements for joint ventures outside the mentor-prote´ge´ programs to qualify as small or for one of the socioeconomic programs. Updates are required in the FAR to reflect these regulatory changes. On May 29, 2014, the GAO sustained a protest (B–409520, BGI-Fiore JV, LLC) because an 8(a) joint venture proposal was improperly eliminated on the grounds that the joint venture had not been certified for the 8(a) program by the SBA and that the joint venture agreement had not been PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 approved by the SBA by the time of offer submission. The procuring agency had interpreted existing text in the clause at FAR 52.219–18 to require 8(a) joint ventures be certified by SBA and for the joint venture agreement to be approved by SBA at time of offer submission. Clarification for contracting officers is necessary in the FAR to more clearly reflect SBA’s regulations at 13 CFR 124.503(a), 124.507(b), and 124.513(e) as well as GAO’s bid protest decision. The proposed rule 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. This rule will impact small business joint ventures and small business entities in an SBA mentor-prote´ge´ program. Based on joint venture data in the System for Award Management (SAM), the estimated number of small business joint ventures is 3,500. Assuming that each joint venture includes 2 small businesses, the number of small entities impacted is 7,000. According to SBA’s final rule, there are an estimated 2,000 pairs of mentors and prote´ge´s that may be impacted. Therefore, the estimated number of total small entities to which the rule applies is 9,000. This proposed rule does not include any recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small businesses. Joint ventures will be required to represent themselves as small businesses in accordance with the updated representation provisions at FAR 52.212–3 or 52.219–1. Representation is currently required for all small entities doing business with the Government; representation is not a new requirement. The number of options for the entities to select from has increased to include joint venture options; however the number of selections a small entity must make (i.e., check boxes) has not increased. Therefore, the potential impact is minimal. This rule may have a positive economic impact on small entities. The updated SBA regulations allow for more joint ventures that include a small business to qualify as a small business or under a socioeconomic program; and therefore, more small businesses can qualify for set-aside procurements. This proposed rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other Federal rules. There are no known significant alternative approaches to the proposed rule. The Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted a copy of the IRFA to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA. A copy of the IRFA may be obtained from the Regulatory Secretariat Division. DoD, 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 this rule in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 E:\FR\FM\05JNP1.SGM 05JNP1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 109 / Friday, June 5, 2020 / Proposed Rules (FAR case 2017–019) in correspondence. VII. Paperwork Reduction Act The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) applies as this proposed rule contains information collection requirements. This rule affects the certification and information collection requirements in the provisions at FAR 52.212–3, Offeror Representations and Certifications— Commercial Items, and 52.204–7, System for Award Management, currently approved under OMB Control Numbers 9000–0136 and 9000–0097, respectively. The impact, however, is negligible because the public reporting burden for these collections remains unchanged from the approved burden. List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 2, 9, 15, 19, and 52 Government procurement. William F. Clark, Director, Office of Government-wide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy. Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA propose amending 48 CFR parts 2, 9, 15, 19, and 52 as set forth below: ■ 1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 2, 9, 15, 19, 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. Amend section 2.101, in paragraph (b) by revising the definition of ‘‘Small business concern’’ to read as follows: ■ 2.101 Definitions. * * * * * (b) * * * Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR part 121 (see 19.102). * * * * * PART 9—CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS 3. Amend section 9.104–3 by redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph (c)(1) and adding paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows: lotter on DSK9F5VC42PROD with PROPOSALS ■ 9.104–3 Application of standards. * * * * * (c)(1) * * * (2) Joint ventures. For a prospective contractor that is a joint venture, the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 contracting officer shall consider the past performance of the joint venture. If the joint venture does not demonstrate past performance for award, the contracting officer shall consider the past performance of each party to the joint venture. * * * * * PART 15—CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION 4. Amend section 15.305 by adding paragraph (a)(2)(vi) to read as follows: ■ 15.305 Proposal evaluation. (a) * * * (2) * * * (vi) For offerors that are joint ventures, the evaluation shall take into account past performance of the joint venture. If the joint venture does not demonstrate past performance for award, the contracting officer shall consider the past performance of each party to the joint venture. * * * * * PART 19—SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS 5. Amend section 19.301–1 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows: 19.301–1 Representation by the offeror. (a)(1) 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— (i)(A) That it meets the small business size standard corresponding to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code identified in the solicitation; or (B) For a multiple-award contract where there is more than one NAICS code assigned, that it meets the small business size standard for each distinct portion or category (e.g., line item numbers, Special Item Numbers (SINs), sectors, functional areas, or the equivalent) for which it submits an offer. If the small business concern submits an offer for the entire multipleaward contract, it must meet the size standard for each distinct portion or category (e.g., line item number, SIN, sector, functional area, or equivalent); and (ii) The Small Business Administration (SBA) has not issued a written determination stating otherwise pursuant to 13 CFR 121.1009. (2)(i) A joint venture may qualify as a small business concern if the joint venture complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 121.103(h) and 13 CFR 125.8(a) and (b) and if— PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 (A) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the size standard for the solicitation; or (B) The prote´ge´ is small under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture comprised of a mentor and prote´ge´ with an approved mentorprote´ge´ agreement under an SBA mentor-prote´ge´ program. (ii) A joint venture may qualify for an award under the socioeconomic programs as described in subparts 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, and 19.15. * * * * * ■ 6. Amend section 19.703 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows: 19.703 Eligibility requirements for participating in the program. * * * * * (d) Protests challenging the socioeconomic status of a HUBZone small business concern must be filed in accordance with 13 CFR 126.801. * * * * * ■ 7. Amend section 19.804–3, in paragraph (c) introductory text, by adding a sentence to the end of the paragraph to read as follows: 19.804–3 ■ 34565 SBA acceptance. * * * * * (c) * * * For a joint venture, SBA will determine eligibility as part of its acceptance of a sole source requirement and will approve the joint venture agreement prior to award in accordance with 13 CFR 124.513(e). * * * * * ■ 8. Amend section 19.805–2 by revising paragraph (b) introductory text, and adding paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as follows: 19.805–2 Procedures. * * * * * (b) The SBA will determine the eligibility of the apparent successful offeror. Eligibility is based on section 8(a) program criteria. See paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section regarding eligibility of joint ventures. * * * * * (d)(1) SBA does not certify joint ventures, as entities, into the 8(a) program. (2) A contracting officer may consider a joint venture for contract award if the SBA district office servicing the joint venture approves the joint venture agreement and provides a determination of eligibility pursuant to 13 CFR 124.507(b) prior to contract award. (e) If SBA does not approve the joint venture agreement within 5 working days after receipt of the contracting activity’s request for an eligibility determination, the contracting activity may seek SBA’s approval through the E:\FR\FM\05JNP1.SGM 05JNP1 34566 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 109 / Friday, June 5, 2020 / Proposed Rules SBA Associate Administrator for Business Development. ■ 9. Amend section 19.1303 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows: 19.1303 Status as a HUBZone small business concern. * * * * * (c) A joint venture may be considered a HUBZone small business concern if— (1) The joint venture qualifies as small under 19.301–1(a)(2)(i); (2) At least one party to the joint venture is a HUBZone small business concern; and (3) The joint venture complies with 13 CFR 126.616(a) through (c). * * * * * ■ 10. Amend section 19.1403 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows: 19.1403 Status as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern. * * * * * (c) A joint venture may be considered a service-disabled veteran owned small business concern if— (1) The joint venture qualifies as small under 19.301–1(a)(2)(i); (2) At least one party to the joint venture is a service-disabled veteranowned small business concern, and makes the representations in paragraph (b) of this section; and (3) The joint venture complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 125.18(b). * * * * * ■ 11. Amend section 19.1503 by revising paragraph (f) to read as follows: 19.1503 Status. * * * * * (f) A joint venture may be considered an EDWOSB concern or WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program if— (1) The joint venture qualifies as small under 19.301–1(a)(2)(i); (2) At least one party to the joint venture is an EDWOSB or WOSB, and complies with the criteria in paragraph (b) of this section; and (3) The joint venture complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 127.506(a) through (c). PART 52—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES 12. Amend section 52.212–3 by— a. Revising the date of the provision; b. Removing from the introductory text ‘‘(c) through (v))’’ and adding ‘‘(c) through (v)’’ in its place; ■ c. In paragraph (a), revising the definition of ‘‘Small business concern’’; ■ d. Revising paragraphs (c)(1) and (3); ■ e. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(6)(i) ‘‘and’’ and adding ‘‘or’’ in its place; ■ f. Revising paragraph (c)(6)(ii); lotter on DSK9F5VC42PROD with PROPOSALS ■ ■ ■ VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 g. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(7)(i) ‘‘and’’ and adding ‘‘or’’ in its place; ■ h. Revising paragraph (c)(7)(ii); ■ i. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(10)(i) ‘‘13 CFR Part 126; and’’ and adding ‘‘13 CFR 126.200; or’’ in its place; and ■ j. Revising paragraph (c)(10)(ii). The revisions read as follows: ■ 52.212–3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items. * * * * * Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items (DATE) * * * * * Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria in 13 CFR part 121 and size standards in this solicitation. * * * * * (c) * * * (1) Small business concern. The offeror represents as part of its offer that— (i) It b is, b is not a small business concern; or (ii) It b is, b is not a small business joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 121.103(h) and 13 CFR 125.8(a) and (b). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint venture: lll ll.] * * * * * (3) Service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a veteran-owned small business concern in paragraph (c)(2) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that— (i) It b is, b is not a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern; or (ii) It b is, b is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 125.18(b)(1) and (2). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint venture: lll ll.] Each service-disabled veteranowned small business concern participating in the joint venture shall provide representation of its servicedisabled veteran-owned small business concern status. * * * * * (6) * * * (ii) It b is, b is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 127.506(a) through (c). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 each party to the joint venture: lll ll.] Each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the joint venture shall provide representation of its WOSB status. (7) * * * (ii) It b is, b is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 127.506(a) through (c). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint venture: lll ll.] Each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture shall provide representation of its EDWOSB status. Note to paragraphs (c)(8) and (9): Complete paragraphs (c)(8) and (9) only if this solicitation is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. * * * * * (10) * * * (ii) It b is, b is not a HUBZone joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 126.616(a) through (c). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint venture: lllll.] Each HUBZone small business concern participating in the HUBZone joint venture shall provide representation of its HUBZone status. * * * * * ■ 13. Amend section 52.212–5 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause; ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b)(11)(i) ‘‘(MAR 2020)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ c. Removing from paragraph (b)(12)(i) ‘‘(MAR 2020)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ d. Removing from paragraph (b)(16) ‘‘(OCT 2018)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ e. Removing from paragraph (b)(17)(i) ‘‘(MAR 2020)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ f. Removing from paragraph (b)(19) ‘‘(MAR 2020)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ g. Removing from paragraph (b)(21) ‘‘(MAR 2020)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ h. Removing from paragraph (b)(22)(i) ‘‘(MAR 2020)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ i. Removing from paragraph (b)(23) ‘‘(MAR 2020)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ j. Removing from paragraph (b)(24) ‘‘(MAR 2020)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ k. Removing from paragraph (e)(1)(v) ‘‘(OCT 2018)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place; ■ l. Revising the date of Alternate II; and ■ m. Removing from paragraph (e)(1)(ii)(E) of Alternate II ‘‘(OCT 2018)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place. E:\FR\FM\05JNP1.SGM 05JNP1 34567 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 109 / Friday, June 5, 2020 / Proposed Rules The revisions 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) * * * * * Alternate II (DATE). * * * * * * * * ■ 14. Amend section 52.213–4 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause; and ■ b. Removing from paragraph (a)(2)(viii) ‘‘(AUG 2019)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place. The revision reads as follows: 52.213–4 Terms and Conditions— Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial Items). * * * * * Terms and Conditions—Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial Items) (DATE) * * * * * 15. Amend section 52.219–1 by— a. Revising the date of the provision; b. In paragraph (a), revising the definition of ‘‘Small business concern’’; ■ c. Revising paragraph (c)(1); ■ d. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(4)(i) ‘‘and’’ and adding ‘‘or’’ in its place, and revising paragraph (c)(4)(ii); ■ e. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(5)(i) ‘‘and’’ and adding ‘‘or’’ in its place; and revising paragraph (c)(5)(ii); ■ f. Revising paragraph (c)(7); and ■ g. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(8)(i) ‘‘13 CFR Part 126; and’’ and adding ‘‘13 CFR 126.200; or’’ in its place, and revising paragraph (c)(8)(ii); The revisions read as follows: ■ ■ ■ 52.219–1 Small Business Program Representations. * * * * * Small Business Program Representations (DATE) lotter on DSK9F5VC42PROD with PROPOSALS * * * * * Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria in 13 CFR part 121 and the size standard in paragraph (b) of this provision. * * * * * (c) * * * (1) The offeror represents as part of its offer that— (i) It b is, b is not a small business concern; or VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 (ii) It b is, b is not a small business joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 121.103(h) and 13 CFR 125.8(a) and (b). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint venture: lll ll.] * * * * * (4) * * * (ii) It b is, b is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 127.506(a) through (c). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint venture: lll ll.] Each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the joint venture shall provide representation of its WOSB status. * * * * * (5) * * * (ii) It b is, b is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 127.506(a) through (c). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint venture: lll ll.] Each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture shall provide representation of its EDWOSB status. * * * * * (7) [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a veteran-owned small business concern in paragraph (c)(6) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that— (i) It b is, b is not a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern; or (ii) It b is, b is not a service-disabled veteran-owned joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 125.18(b)(1) and (2). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint venture: lll ll.] Each service-disabled veteranowned small business concern participating in the joint venture shall provide representation of its servicedisabled veteran-owned small business concern status. (8) * * * (ii) It b is, b is not a HUBZone joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 126.616(a) through (c). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint venture: lllll.] Each HUBZone small business concern participating in the HUBZone joint venture shall provide representation of its HUBZone status. * * * * * ■ 16. Amend section 52.219–3 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause; ■ b. Redesignating paragraphs (f) and (g) as paragraphs (g) and (h), and adding a new paragraph (f); and ■ c. Revising the newly redesignated paragraph (g). PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 The revisions read as follows: 52.219–3 Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award. * * * * * Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award (DATE) * * * * * (f) Joint venture. A joint venture may be considered a HUBZone concern if— (1) At least one party to the joint venture is a HUBZone small business concern and complies with 13 CFR 126.616(c); and (2) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the size standard for the solicitation, or the prote´ge´ is small under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture comprised of a mentor and prote´ge´ with an approved mentor-prote´ge´ agreement under the SBA mentor-prote´ge´ program. (g) A HUBZone joint venture agrees that, in the performance of the contract, the applicable percentage specified in paragraph (d) of this clause shall be performed by the aggregate of the parties to the joint venture. At least 40 percent of the aggregate work performed by the joint venture shall be completed by the HUBZone small business parties to the joint venture. Work performed by the HUBZone small business party or parties to the joint venture must be more than administrative functions. * * * * * ■ 17. Amend section 52.219–4 by revising the clause title, date, and paragraph (e) to read as follows: 52.219–4 Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns. * * * * * Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (DATE) * * * * * (e) A HUBZone joint venture agrees that, in the performance of the contract, the applicable percentage specified in paragraph (d) of this clause shall be performed by the aggregate of the parties to the joint venture. At least 40 percent of the aggregate work performed by the joint venture shall be completed by the HUBZone small business parties to the joint venture. Work performed by the HUBZone small business parties to the joint venture must be more than administrative functions. * * * * * ■ 18. Amend section 52.219–8 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause; ■ b. In paragraph (a), revising the definition ‘‘Small business concern’’; E:\FR\FM\05JNP1.SGM 05JNP1 34568 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 109 / Friday, June 5, 2020 / Proposed Rules c. Redesignating paragraphs (c) and (d) as paragraphs (d) and (e), and adding a new paragraph (c); and ■ d. Revising the newly redesignated paragraph (e)(5) introductory text. The revisions read as follows: ■ * * * lotter on DSK9F5VC42PROD with PROPOSALS * * * * (a) * * * Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR part 121, including the size standard that corresponds to the NAICS code assigned to the contract or subcontract. * * * * * (c)(1) A joint venture qualifies as a small business concern if— (i) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the size standard for the solicitation; or (ii) The prote´ge´ is small under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture comprised of a mentor and prote´ge´ with an approved mentorprote´ge´ agreement under a SBA mentorprote´ge´ program. (2) A joint venture qualifies as— (i) A service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern if it complies with the requirements in 13 CFR part 125; or (ii) A HUBZone small business concern if it complies with the requirements in 13 CFR 126.616(a) through (c). * * * * * (e) * * * (5) The Contractor shall confirm that a subcontractor representing itself as a HUBZone small business concern is certified by SBA as a HUBZone small business concern. If the subcontractor is a joint venture, the Contractor shall confirm that at least one party to the joint venture is certified by SBA as a HUBZone small business concern. The Contractor may confirm the representation by accessing the System for Award Management or contacting SBA. Options for contacting the SBA include— * * * * * ■ 19. Amend section 52.219–9 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause; and ■ b. Removing from paragraph (e)(4) ‘‘52.219–8(d)(2)’’ and adding ‘‘52.219– 8(e)(2)’’ in its place. The revision reads as follows: 17:12 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 * * * Small Business Subcontracting Plan (DATE) * * * * 20. Amend section 52.219–14 by revising the date of the clause and adding paragraph (e) to read as follows: Utilization of Small Business Concerns (DATE) VerDate Sep<11>2014 * ■ * * * Small Business Subcontracting * 52.219–8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns. * 52.219–9 Plan. 52.219–14 Limitations on Subcontracting. * * * * * Limitations on Subcontracting (DATE) * * * * * (e) Joint ventures. (1) In a joint venture comprised of a small business prote´ge´ and its mentor approved by the Small Business Administration, the small business prote´ge´ shall perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work performed by the small business prote´ge´ in the joint venture must be more than administrative functions. (2) In an 8(a) joint venture, the 8(a) participant(s) shall perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work performed by the 8(a) participants in the joint venture must be more than administrative functions. * * * * * ■ 21. Amend section 52.219–18 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause and paragraph (a); ■ b. Removing from paragraph (b) ‘‘all of the’’ and adding ‘‘the applicable’’ in its place; and ■ c. Adding paragraph (e); ■ d. Revising Alternate I. The revisions and addition read as follows: 52.219–18 Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants. * * * * * Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants (DATE) (a) Offers are solicited only from— (1) Small business concerns expressly certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for participation in the SBA’s 8(a) program and which meet the following criteria at the time of submission of offer— (i) The Offeror is in conformance with the 8(a) support limitation set forth in its approved business plan; and (ii) The Offeror is in conformance with the Business Activity Targets set forth in its approved business plan or any remedial action directed by the SBA; or (2) A joint venture, in which at least one of the 8(a) program participants that is a party to the joint venture complies PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 with the criteria set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause, that complies with 13 CFR 124.513(c); or (3) A joint venture— (i) That is comprised of a mentor and an 8(a) prote´ge´ with an approved mentor-prote´ge´ agreement under the 8(a) program; (ii) In which at least one of the 8(a) program participants that is a party to the joint venture complies with the criteria set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause; and (iii) That complies with 13 CFR 124.513(c). * * * * * (e) 8(a) joint ventures. The Contracting Officer may consider a joint venture for contract award if SBA approves the joint venture agreement and provides a determination of eligibility pursuant to 13 CFR 124.507(b) prior to contract award. * * * * * Alternate I (DATE). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add the following paragraph (a)(1)(iii) to paragraph (a) of the clause: (iii) The offeror’s approved business plan is on the file and serviced by ll lll[ [Contracting Officer completes by inserting the appropriate SBA District and/or Regional Office(s) as identified by the SBA]. ■ 22. Amend section 52.219–27 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause, and paragraph (f); and ■ b. Adding paragraph (g). The revisions and addition read as follows: 52.219–27 Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside. * * * * * Notice of Service-Disabled VeteranOwned Small Business Set-Aside (DATE) * * * * * (f) A joint venture may be considered a service-disabled veteran owned small business concern if— (1) At least one party to the joint venture complies with the criteria defined in paragraph (a) of this clause and 13 CFR 125.18(b)(2); and (2) Each party to the joint venture is small under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the procurement, or the prote´ge´ is small under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the procurement in a joint venture comprised of a mentor and prote´ge´ with an approved mentorprote´ge´ agreement under an SBA mentor-prote´ge´ program. E:\FR\FM\05JNP1.SGM 05JNP1 34569 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 109 / Friday, June 5, 2020 / Proposed Rules (g) In a joint venture that complies with paragraph (f) of this clause, the service-disabled veteran-owned small business party or parties to the joint venture shall perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work performed by the servicedisabled veteran-owned small business party or parties to the joint venture must be more than administrative functions. * * * * * ■ 23. Amend section 52.219–28 by revising the date of the clause, and in paragraph (a) revising the definition of ‘‘Small business concern’’ to read as follows: 52.219–28 Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation. * * * * * Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (DATE) (a) * * * Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria in 13 CFR part 121 and the size standard in paragraph (d) of this clause. * * * * * ■ 24. Amend section 52.219–29 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause; ■ b. In paragraph (a), in the definition ‘‘Economically disadvantaged womenowned small business (EDWOSB)’’ removing ‘‘It automatically’’ and adding ‘‘An EDWOSB concern automatically’’ in its place; ■ c. Revising paragraph (f); and ■ d. Adding a new paragraph (g). The revisions and addition read as follows: 52.219–29 Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns. * * * * * Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns (DATE) lotter on DSK9F5VC42PROD with PROPOSALS * * * * * (f) Joint Venture. A joint venture may be considered an EDWOSB concern if— (1) At least one party to the joint venture complies with the criteria defined in paragraph (a) and paragraph (c)(3) of this clause, and 13 CFR 127.506(c); and (2) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the size standard for the solicitation, or the prote´ge´ is small under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture comprised of a mentor and prote´ge´ with VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 250001 an approved mentor-prote´ge´ agreement under the SBA mentor-prote´ge´ program. (g) In a joint venture that complies with paragraph (f) of this clause, the EDWOSB party or parties to the joint venture shall perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work performed by the EDWOSB party or parties to the joint venture must be more than administrative functions. * * * * * ■ 25. Amend section 52.219–30 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause and paragraph (f); and ■ b. Adding paragraph (g). The revisions and addition 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. * * * * * Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program (DATE) * * * * * (f) Joint Venture. A joint venture may be considered a WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program if— (1) At least one party to the joint venture complies with the criteria defined in paragraph (a) and (c)(3) of this clause, and 13 CFR 127.506(c); and (2) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the size standard for the solicitation, or the prote´ge´ is small under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture comprised of a mentor and prote´ge´ with an approved mentor-prote´ge´ agreement under the SBA mentor-prote´ge´ program. (g) In a joint venture that complies with paragraph (f) of this clause, the WOSB party or parties to the joint venture shall perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work performed by the WOSB party or parties to the joint venture must be more than administrative functions. * * * * * ■ 26. Amend section 52.244–6 by— ■ a. Revising the date of the clause; and ■ b. Removing from paragraph (c)(1)(vii) ‘‘(OCT 2018)’’ and adding ‘‘(DATE)’’ in its place. The revision reads as follows: 52.244–6 Items. * PO 00000 * Subcontracts for Commercial * Frm 00033 * Fmt 4702 * Sfmt 4702 Subcontracts for Commercial Items (DATE) * * * * * [FR Doc. 2020–11159 Filed 6–4–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Defense Acquisition Regulations System 48 CFR Parts 204, 212, and 252 [Docket DARS–2020–0007] RIN 0750–AK30 Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Data Collection and Inventory for Services Contracts (DFARS Case 2018–D063) Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to implement a section of the United States Code that requires the collection of data on certain DoD service contracts. DATES: Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to the address shown below on or before August 4, 2020, to be considered in the formation of a final rule. ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by DFARS Case 2018–D063, using any of the following methods: Æ Regulations.gov: https:// www.regulations.gov. Search for ‘‘DFARS Case 2018–D063’’ under the heading ‘‘Enter keyword or ID’’ and select ‘‘Search.’’ Select ‘‘Comment Now’’ and follow the instructions provided to submit a comment. Please include ‘‘DFARS Case 2018–D063’’ on any attached document. Æ Email: osd.dfars@mail.mil. Include DFARS Case 2018–D063 in the subject line of the message. Æ Fax: 571–372–6094. Æ Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Carrie Moore, OUSD(A&S)DPC/DARS, Room 3B941, 3060 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301–3060. Comments received generally will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal 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). SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05JNP1.SGM 05JNP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 109 (Friday, June 5, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34561-34569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11159]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 2, 9, 15, 19, and 52

[FAR Case 2017-019; Docket No. FAR-2017-0019, Sequence No. 1]
RIN 9000-AN59


Federal Acquisition Regulation: Policy on Joint Ventures

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and 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 statutory and regulatory 
changes regarding joint ventures made by the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) in its final rule published in the Federal 
Register on July 25, 2016, and to clarify that 8(a) joint ventures are 
not certified into the 8(a) program and that 8(a) joint venture 
agreements need only be approved by the SBA prior to contract award.

DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments at the address 
shown below on or before August 4, 2020 to be considered in the 
formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in response to FAR Case 2017-019 to 
Regulations.gov: https://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the 
Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for ``FAR Case 2017-019.'' 
Select the link ``Comment Now'' that corresponds with FAR Case 2017-
019. Follow the instructions provided at the ``Comment Now'' screen. 
Please include your name, company name (if any), and ``FAR Case 2017-
019'' on your attached document. If your comment cannot be submitted 
using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the points of contact 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for 
alternate instructions.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAR Case 2017-
019, in all correspondence related to this case. Comments received 
generally 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Malissa Jones, Procurement 
Analyst, at 703-605-2815 or by email at [email protected] for 
clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or 
publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 
202-501-4755 or [email protected]. Please cite FAR Case 2017-019.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to revise the FAR to implement 
statutory and regulatory changes made by the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) regarding joint ventures. These changes allow a 
joint venture comprised of a prot[eacute]g[eacute] and its mentor to 
qualify as a small business or under a socioeconomic program (e.g., 
8(a)) for which the prot[eacute]g[eacute] qualifies. These changes also 
provide updated requirements for other joint ventures to qualify as a 
small business or under a socioeconomic program.
    Section 1347 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-
240) and section 1641 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 (Pub. L. 112-239; 15 U.S.C. 657r) authorized 
the SBA Administrator to establish mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
programs for small business concerns, service-disabled veteran-owned 
small business (SDVOSB) concerns, women-owned small business concerns 
in the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program, and HUBZone small 
business concerns modeled on the mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program 
under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)). On 
July 25, 2016, SBA issued a final rule (81 FR 48558) that implemented 
the mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] programs at 13 CFR 125.9. SBA's final 
rule allows a joint venture comprised of a prot[eacute]g[eacute] and 
its mentor to seek any type of small business contract, including under 
a socioeconomic program, for which the prot[eacute]g[eacute] qualifies.
    SBA's final rule updated requirements for a joint venture to 
qualify as a small business concern or under a socioeconomic program. A 
joint venture qualifies as a small business concern when each of the 
parties to the joint venture qualifies as small for the size standard 
associated with the North American Industry Classification System 
(NAICS) code in the solicitation. A joint venture may qualify under a 
socioeconomic program when at least one party to the joint venture 
qualifies under a socioeconomic program, and the joint venture meets 
the applicable joint venture requirements specified in the SBA 
regulations.
    SBA's final rule also revised the joint venture regulations at 13 
CFR 124.513 for 8(a) participants, 125.18(b) for SDVOSBs; 126.616 for 
HUBZone small business concerns; and 127.506 for WOSB and economically 
disadvantaged WOSB concerns. SBA required agencies to consider past 
performance of each party to a small business joint venture in addition 
to any work performed by the joint venture itself.
    DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to require 
contracting officers to consider the past performance of the joint 
venture, and to consider the past performance of each party to the 
joint venture if the joint venture does not demonstrate past 
performance. For consistency and fairness, DoD, GSA, and NASA are 
proposing to amend the FAR to apply this requirement to joint ventures 
regardless of size status.
    Additionally, DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to 
clarify that 8(a) joint ventures are not certified into the 8(a) 
program and that 8(a) joint venture agreements need only be approved by 
the SBA prior to contract award. This clarification is necessary 
because Government Accountability Office (GAO) sustained a protest 
(BGI-Fiore JV, LLC, B-409520, May 29, 2014) in which an agency rejected 
an 8(a) joint venture's proposal on the basis that the 8(a) joint 
venture had not been certified by the SBA prior to submission of 
proposals. Currently, paragraph (a) of the clause at FAR 52.219-18, 
Notification of Competition

[[Page 34562]]

Limited to Eligible 8(a) Concerns, states that, ``Offers are solicited 
only from small business concerns expressly certified by the Small 
Business Administration (SBA) for participation in the SBA's 8(a) 
program and which meet the following criteria at the time of submission 
of offer . . . .'' This language could be interpreted to mean that 8(a) 
joint ventures that submit an offer for an 8(a) contract need to be 
``certified'' by the SBA and that their joint venture agreement needs 
to be approved by the SBA by ``the time of submission of offer.'' This 
rule proposes clarifications to prevent the improper elimination of 
8(a) joint venture proposals in the future.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    The proposed changes to the FAR are summarized in the following 
paragraphs.
    A. Definition of ``small business concern.'' The definition of 
``small business concern'' is revised in subpart 2.1, as well as in the 
following provisions and clauses: FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations 
and Certification--Commercial Items; FAR 52.219-1, Small Business 
Program Representations; FAR 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business 
Concerns; and FAR 52.219-28, Post-Award Small Business Program 
Rerepresentation. This revision removes extraneous material concerning 
how to determine whether a small business concern is ``not dominant in 
its field of operation.'' That determination is made by SBA and is 
addressed in SBA regulations at 13 CFR 121.102(b).
    B. Consideration of past performance of parties to a joint venture. 
This rule clarifies that the contracting officer shall consider the 
past performance of the joint venture. If the joint venture does not 
demonstrate past performance for award, the contracting officer shall 
consider the past performance of each party to the joint venture when 
making a responsibility determination and when past performance is an 
evaluation factor for source selection. This clarification is made in 
subpart 9.1, Responsible Prospective Contractors, and in subpart 15.3, 
Source Selection.
    C. Qualification of joint ventures as small business concerns. 
Subpart 19.3, Determination of Small Business Status for Small Business 
Programs, is amended to address how a joint venture may qualify for an 
award as a small business concern or under the socioeconomic programs. 
A joint venture may qualify as a small business concern if each 
participant in the joint venture qualifies as small under the size 
standard for the solicitation; or the prot[eacute]g[eacute] is small 
under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture 
comprised of a mentor and prot[eacute]g[eacute] with an approved 
agreement under a SBA mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program. A joint 
venture may qualify under socioeconomic programs when the joint venture 
qualifies as a small business joint venture and one of the parties to 
the joint venture qualifies under one or more of the socioeconomic 
programs. Similar text is added to subparts 19.13, Historically 
Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program; 19.14, Service-Disabled 
Veteran-Owned Small Business Procurement Program; and 19.15, Women-
Owned Small Business Program. Similar text is also added to the 
following provisions and clauses: FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations 
and Certifications--Commercial Items; FAR 52.219-1, Small Business 
Program Representations; FAR 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business 
Concerns; FAR 52.219-18, Notification of Competition Limited to 
Eligible 8(a) Participants; FAR 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled 
Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside; FAR 52.219-29, Notice of Set-
Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-
Owned Small Business Concerns; and FAR 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.
    D. Subpart 19.7, The Small Business Subcontracting Program. This 
subpart is amended to remove instructions for contractors that already 
exist in the clause at FAR 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business 
Concerns.
    E. Subpart 19.8, Contracting with the Small Business Administration 
(the 8(a) Program). This subpart is amended to add language to FAR 
sections 19.804-3, SBA acceptance, and 19.805-2, Procedures, to clarify 
that at least one party to the joint venture must be certified as an 
8(a) program participant at the time of proposal submission and that 
the 8(a) joint venture agreement shall be approved prior to contract 
award. In addition, pursuant to 13 CFR 124.503 and 13 CFR 124.507, 
language is added to clarify the general time period within which SBA 
expects to approve the joint venture agreement prior to award and the 
procedure to follow if a response is not received within that time 
period. The rule also proposes to delete text from 19.805-2(b) relating 
to how SBA determines eligibility because it creates confusion 
regarding the timing of SBA's determination.
    F. Performance requirement for certain joint ventures. This rule 
proposes to amend the following contract clauses to add the requirement 
that certain small business or socioeconomic parties to a joint venture 
perform 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture and that 
the work performed must be more than administrative functions: FAR 
52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole Source Award; FAR 52.219-
4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business 
Concerns; FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting; FAR 52.219-27, 
Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside; FAR 
52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, 
Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns; and FAR 
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.

III. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition 
Threshold (SAT) and for Commercial Items, Including Commercially 
Available Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Items

    This rule proposes to amend subparts 2.1, Definitions, 9.1, 
Responsible Prospective Contractors, and 15.3, Source Selection; 
multiple subparts of part 19, Small Business Programs; and multiple 
provisions and clauses related to small business programs. The 
objective of this rule is to update the FAR to align with SBA 
regulations regarding joint ventures and to provide clarifications for 
8(a) joint ventures.
    The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council has made the 
following preliminary determinations with respect to the proposed 
rule's application of section 1641 of the NDAA for FY 2013 to contracts 
at or below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) and for the 
acquisition of commercial items. The Administrator for Federal 
Procurement Policy has made the following preliminary determination 
with respect to commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) 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.

A. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the SAT

    Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1905, a provision of law is not applicable to 
acquisitions at or below the SAT unless the law (i) contains criminal 
or civil penalties; (ii) specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1905 and 
states that the law

[[Page 34563]]

applies to acquisitions at or below the SAT; or (iii) the FAR Council 
makes a written determination that it is not in the best interest of 
the Federal Government to exempt contracts or subcontracts at or below 
the SAT. If none of these conditions are met, the FAR is required to 
include the statutory requirement(s) on a list of provisions of law 
that are inapplicable to acquisitions at or below the SAT.
    The purpose of this rule is to implement section 1641 of the NDAA 
for FY 2013. Section 1641 authorized the SBA Administrator to establish 
mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] programs for small business concerns, 
SDVOSB concerns, WOSB concerns in the WOSB Program, and HUBZone small 
business concerns modeled on the mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program 
under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)).
    These statutory requirements are reflected in SBA's final rule 
published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 48558, on July 25, 2016, 
which did not exempt acquisitions at or below the SAT.
    The law is silent on the applicability of these requirements to 
acquisitions at or below the SAT and does not independently provide for 
criminal or civil penalties; nor does it include terms making express 
reference to 41 U.S.C. 1905 and its application to acquisitions at or 
below the SAT. Therefore, it does not apply to acquisitions at or below 
the SAT unless the FAR Council makes a written determination as 
provided at 41 U.S.C. 1905.
    Application of the law to acquisitions at or below the SAT will 
ensure that the benefits from socioeconomic set-aside and sole source 
contracts flow to the intended parties. According to the Federal 
Procurement Data System, an average of 283,374 contracts per year 
resulted from FAR part 19 set-asides and sole-source awards at or below 
the simplified acquisition threshold during fiscal years 2016-2018. Not 
applying section 1641 to the maximum extent possible would exclude a 
significant number of acquisitions and impede the Administration's 
objectives to assist small businesses, including SDVOSB, HUBZone small 
business, and WOSB concerns, to succeed in enhancing their capabilities 
and improving their ability to successfully compete for both Government 
and commercial contracts.
    The provisions and clauses proposed for revision in this rule 
currently apply to all solicitations and contracts, as applicable, 
including those at or below the SAT. The proposed rule continues the 
existing applicability to solicitations and contracts below the SAT, 
while revising these clauses to implement the requirements of section 
1641 concerning joint ventures. Exclusion of these acquisitions would 
create confusion among contractors and the Federal contracting 
workforce. Under the FAR clauses amended by this rule, contractors are 
already required to comply with small business program set-aside 
requirements. The effort required for contractors to comply with the 
new requirements will be relatively small.
    For these reasons, it is in the best interest of the Federal 
Government to apply the requirements of the rule to acquisitions at or 
below the SAT.

B. Applicability to Contracts for the Acquisition of Commercial Items

    Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1906, acquisitions of commercial items (other 
than acquisitions of COTS items, which are addressed in 41 U.S.C. 1907) 
are exempt from a provision of law unless the law (i) contains criminal 
or civil penalties; (ii) specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1906 and 
states that the law applies to acquisitions of commercial items; or 
(iii) the FAR Council makes a written determination and finding that it 
would not be in the best interest of the Federal Government to exempt 
contracts for the procurement of commercial items from the provision of 
law. If none of these conditions are met, the FAR is required to 
include the statutory requirement(s) on a list of provisions of law 
that are inapplicable to acquisitions of commercial items.
    The purpose of this rule is to implement section 1641 of the NDAA 
for FY 2013. Section 1641 allows a joint venture comprised of a 
prot[eacute]g[eacute] and its mentor to qualify as a small business or 
under a socioeconomic program for which the prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
qualifies and implements SBA regulations establishing mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] programs for small business concerns, SDVOSB 
concerns, WOSB concerns in the WOSB Program, and HUBZone small business 
concerns modeled on the mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program under 
section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)).
    These statutory requirements are reflected in SBA's final rule 
published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 48558, on July 25, 2016, 
which did not exempt acquisitions of commercial items.
    The law is silent on the applicability of these requirements to 
acquisitions of commercial items and does not independently provide for 
criminal or civil penalties; nor does it include terms making express 
reference to 41 U.S.C. 1906 and its application to acquisitions of 
commercial items. Therefore, it does not apply to acquisitions of 
commercial items unless the FAR Council makes a written determination 
as provided at 41 U.S.C. 1906.
    The law furthers the Administration's goal of supporting small 
business. It advances the interests of small business concerns by 
allowing for more joint ventures that include a small business to 
qualify as a small business or under a socioeconomic program. 
Therefore, more small businesses can qualify for set-aside 
procurements. Exclusion of a large segment of Federal contracting, such 
as acquisitions for commercial items, will limit the full 
implementation of these objectives.
    The provisions and clauses proposed for revision in this rule 
currently apply to all solicitations and contracts, as applicable, 
including those for acquisition of commercial items. The proposed rule 
continues the existing applicability to the acquisition of commercial 
items as defined at FAR 2.101. Exclusion of acquisitions for commercial 
items from these requirements would create confusion among contractors 
and the Federal contracting workforce. Under the FAR clauses amended by 
this rule, contractors are already required to comply with small 
business program set-aside requirements. The effort required for 
contractors to comply with the new requirements will be relatively 
small.
    For these reasons, it is in the best interest of the Federal 
Government to apply the requirements of the rule to the acquisition of 
commercial items.

C. Applicability to Contracts for the Acquisition of COTS Items

    Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1907, acquisitions of COTS items will be 
exempt from a provision of law unless the law (i) contains criminal or 
civil penalties; (ii) specifically refers to 41 U.S.C. 1907 and states 
that the law applies to acquisitions of COTS items; (iii) concerns 
authorities or responsibilities under the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
644) or bid protest procedures developed under the authority of 31 
U.S.C. 3551 et seq., 10 U.S.C. 2305(e) and (f), or 41 U.S.C. 3706 and 
3707; or (iv) the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy makes a 
written determination and finding that it would not be in the best 
interest of the Federal Government to exempt contracts for the 
procurement of COTS items from the provision of law. If none of these 
conditions are met, the FAR is required to include the statutory 
requirement(s) on a list of provisions of law that are inapplicable to 
acquisitions of COTS items.
    The purpose of this rule is to implement section 1641 of the NDAA

[[Page 34564]]

for FY 2013. Section 1641 allows a joint venture comprised of a 
prot[eacute]g[eacute] and its mentor to qualify as a small business or 
under a socioeconomic program for which the prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
qualifies, and implements SBA regulations establishing mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] programs for small business concerns, SDVOSB 
concerns, WOSB concerns in the WOSB Program, and HUBZone small business 
concerns modeled on the mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program under 
section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)).
    These statutory requirements are reflected in SBA's final rule 
published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 48558, on July 25, 2016, 
which did not exempt acquisitions of COTS items.
    The law is silent on the applicability of these requirements to 
acquisitions of COTS items and does not independently provide for 
criminal or civil penalties; nor does it include terms making express 
reference to 41 U.S.C. 1907 and its application to acquisitions of COTS 
items. Therefore, it does not apply to acquisitions of COTS items 
unless the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy makes a written 
determination as provided at 41 U.S.C. 1907.
    Section 1641 furthers the Administration's goal of supporting small 
business. It advances the interests of small business concerns by 
allowing for more joint ventures that include a small business to 
qualify as a small business concern or under a socioeconomic program. 
Therefore, more small businesses can qualify for set-aside 
procurements. Exclusion of a large segment of Federal contracting, such 
as acquisitions for COTS items, will limit the full implementation of 
these objectives.
    The provisions and clauses proposed for revision in this rule 
currently apply to all solicitations and contracts, as applicable, 
including those for acquisition of COTS items. The proposed rule 
continues the existing applicability to the acquisition of COTS items 
as defined at FAR 2.101. Exclusion of these acquisitions would create 
confusion among contractors and the Federal contracting workforce. 
Under the FAR clauses amended by this rule, contractors are already 
required to comply with small business program set-aside requirements. 
The effort required for contractors to comply with the new requirements 
will be relatively small.
    For these reasons, it is in the best interest of the Federal 
Government to apply the requirements of the rule to the acquisition 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 not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 
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. Executive Order 13771

    This rule is not expected to be subject to E.O. 13771, because this 
rule is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866.

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule 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 update 
joint venture requirements to align with the changes SBA made in its 
final rule dated July 25, 2016 (81 FR 48558), and to add 
clarifications regarding 8(a) joint ventures to address issues 
identified in a GAO protest decision (B-409520).
    Section 1347 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and section 
1641 of the NDAA for FY 2013 authorized SBA to establish mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] programs for small business concerns, service-
disabled veteran-owned small business concerns, women-owned small 
business concerns in the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program, 
and HUBZone small business concerns. SBA issued a final rule (81 FR 
48558) that implemented the mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] programs at 
13 CFR 125.9. SBA's final rule allows a joint venture comprised of a 
prot[eacute]g[eacute] and its mentor to qualify as a small business 
or under a socioeconomic program for which the prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
qualifies. The rule also revised the requirements for joint ventures 
outside the mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] programs to qualify as 
small or for one of the socioeconomic programs. Updates are required 
in the FAR to reflect these regulatory changes.
    On May 29, 2014, the GAO sustained a protest (B-409520, BGI-
Fiore JV, LLC) because an 8(a) joint venture proposal was improperly 
eliminated on the grounds that the joint venture had not been 
certified for the 8(a) program by the SBA and that the joint venture 
agreement had not been approved by the SBA by the time of offer 
submission. The procuring agency had interpreted existing text in 
the clause at FAR 52.219-18 to require 8(a) joint ventures be 
certified by SBA and for the joint venture agreement to be approved 
by SBA at time of offer submission. Clarification for contracting 
officers is necessary in the FAR to more clearly reflect SBA's 
regulations at 13 CFR 124.503(a), 124.507(b), and 124.513(e) as well 
as GAO's bid protest decision.
    The proposed rule 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. This rule will 
impact small business joint ventures and small business entities in 
an SBA mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program. Based on joint venture 
data in the System for Award Management (SAM), the estimated number 
of small business joint ventures is 3,500. Assuming that each joint 
venture includes 2 small businesses, the number of small entities 
impacted is 7,000. According to SBA's final rule, there are an 
estimated 2,000 pairs of mentors and prot[eacute]g[eacute]s that may 
be impacted. Therefore, the estimated number of total small entities 
to which the rule applies is 9,000.
    This proposed rule does not include any recordkeeping or other 
compliance requirements for small businesses. Joint ventures will be 
required to represent themselves as small businesses in accordance 
with the updated representation provisions at FAR 52.212-3 or 
52.219-1. Representation is currently required for all small 
entities doing business with the Government; representation is not a 
new requirement. The number of options for the entities to select 
from has increased to include joint venture options; however the 
number of selections a small entity must make (i.e., check boxes) 
has not increased. Therefore, the potential impact is minimal.
    This rule may have a positive economic impact on small entities. 
The updated SBA regulations allow for more joint ventures that 
include a small business to qualify as a small business or under a 
socioeconomic program; and therefore, more small businesses can 
qualify for set-aside procurements.
    This proposed rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with 
any other Federal rules.
    There are no known significant alternative approaches to the 
proposed rule.

    The Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted a copy of the 
IRFA to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA. A copy of the IRFA 
may be obtained from the Regulatory Secretariat Division. DoD, 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 this rule 
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit 
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610

[[Page 34565]]

(FAR case 2017-019) in correspondence.

VII. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) applies as this 
proposed rule contains information collection requirements. This rule 
affects the certification and information collection requirements in 
the provisions at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and 
Certifications--Commercial Items, and 52.204-7, System for Award 
Management, currently approved under OMB Control Numbers 9000-0136 and 
9000-0097, respectively. The impact, however, is negligible because the 
public reporting burden for these collections remains unchanged from 
the approved burden.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 2, 9, 15, 19, and 52

    Government procurement.

William F. Clark,
Director, Office of Government-wide Acquisition Policy, Office of 
Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy.

    Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA propose amending 48 CFR parts 2, 9, 
15, 19, and 52 as set forth below:

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 2, 9, 15, 19, 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. Amend section 2.101, in paragraph (b) by revising the definition of 
``Small business concern'' to read as follows:


2.101   Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, 
that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of 
operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size 
standards in 13 CFR part 121 (see 19.102).
* * * * *

PART 9--CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

0
3. Amend section 9.104-3 by redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph 
(c)(1) and adding paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows:


9.104-3   Application of standards.

* * * * *
    (c)(1) * * *
    (2) Joint ventures. For a prospective contractor that is a joint 
venture, the contracting officer shall consider the past performance of 
the joint venture. If the joint venture does not demonstrate past 
performance for award, the contracting officer shall consider the past 
performance of each party to the joint venture.
* * * * *

PART 15--CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION

0
4. Amend section 15.305 by adding paragraph (a)(2)(vi) to read as 
follows:


15.305  Proposal evaluation.

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (vi) For offerors that are joint ventures, the evaluation shall 
take into account past performance of the joint venture. If the joint 
venture does not demonstrate past performance for award, the 
contracting officer shall consider the past performance of each party 
to the joint venture.
* * * * *

PART 19--SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

0
5. Amend section 19.301-1 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


19.301-1   Representation by the offeror.

    (a)(1) 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--
    (i)(A) That it meets the small business size standard corresponding 
to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 
identified in the solicitation; or
    (B) For a multiple-award contract where there is more than one 
NAICS code assigned, that it meets the small business size standard for 
each distinct portion or category (e.g., line item numbers, Special 
Item Numbers (SINs), sectors, functional areas, 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., line item number, 
SIN, sector, functional area, or equivalent); and
    (ii) The Small Business Administration (SBA) has not issued a 
written determination stating otherwise pursuant to 13 CFR 121.1009.
    (2)(i) A joint venture may qualify as a small business concern if 
the joint venture complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 121.103(h) 
and 13 CFR 125.8(a) and (b) and if--
    (A) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the 
size standard for the solicitation; or
    (B) The prot[eacute]g[eacute] is small under the size standard for 
the solicitation in a joint venture comprised of a mentor and 
prot[eacute]g[eacute] with an approved mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
agreement under an SBA mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program.
    (ii) A joint venture may qualify for an award under the 
socioeconomic programs as described in subparts 19.8, 19.13, 19.14, and 
19.15.
* * * * *
0
6. Amend section 19.703 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:


19.703  Eligibility requirements for participating in the program.

* * * * *
    (d) Protests challenging the socioeconomic status of a HUBZone 
small business concern must be filed in accordance with 13 CFR 126.801.
* * * * *
0
7. Amend section 19.804-3, in paragraph (c) introductory text, by 
adding a sentence to the end of the paragraph to read as follows:


19.804-3  SBA acceptance.

* * * * *
    (c) * * * For a joint venture, SBA will determine eligibility as 
part of its acceptance of a sole source requirement and will approve 
the joint venture agreement prior to award in accordance with 13 CFR 
124.513(e).
* * * * *
0
8. Amend section 19.805-2 by revising paragraph (b) introductory text, 
and adding paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as follows:


19.805-2  Procedures.

* * * * *
    (b) The SBA will determine the eligibility of the apparent 
successful offeror. Eligibility is based on section 8(a) program 
criteria. See paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section regarding 
eligibility of joint ventures.
* * * * *
    (d)(1) SBA does not certify joint ventures, as entities, into the 
8(a) program.
    (2) A contracting officer may consider a joint venture for contract 
award if the SBA district office servicing the joint venture approves 
the joint venture agreement and provides a determination of eligibility 
pursuant to 13 CFR 124.507(b) prior to contract award.
    (e) If SBA does not approve the joint venture agreement within 5 
working days after receipt of the contracting activity's request for an 
eligibility determination, the contracting activity may seek SBA's 
approval through the

[[Page 34566]]

SBA Associate Administrator for Business Development.
0
9. Amend section 19.1303 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


19.1303  Status as a HUBZone small business concern.

* * * * *
    (c) A joint venture may be considered a HUBZone small business 
concern if--
    (1) The joint venture qualifies as small under 19.301-1(a)(2)(i);
    (2) At least one party to the joint venture is a HUBZone small 
business concern; and
    (3) The joint venture complies with 13 CFR 126.616(a) through (c).
* * * * *
0
10. Amend section 19.1403 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


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

* * * * *
    (c) A joint venture may be considered a service-disabled veteran 
owned small business concern if--
    (1) The joint venture qualifies as small under 19.301-1(a)(2)(i);
    (2) At least one party to the joint venture is a service-disabled 
veteran-owned small business concern, and makes the representations in 
paragraph (b) of this section; and
    (3) The joint venture complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 
125.18(b).
* * * * *
0
11. Amend section 19.1503 by revising paragraph (f) to read as follows:


19.1503  Status.

* * * * *
    (f) A joint venture may be considered an EDWOSB concern or WOSB 
concern eligible under the WOSB Program if--
    (1) The joint venture qualifies as small under 19.301-1(a)(2)(i);
    (2) At least one party to the joint venture is an EDWOSB or WOSB, 
and complies with the criteria in paragraph (b) of this section; and
    (3) The joint venture complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 
127.506(a) through (c).

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
12. Amend section 52.212-3 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the provision;
0
b. Removing from the introductory text ``(c) through (v))'' and adding 
``(c) through (v)'' in its place;
0
c. In paragraph (a), revising the definition of ``Small business 
concern'';
0
d. Revising paragraphs (c)(1) and (3);
0
e. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(6)(i) ``and'' and adding 
``or'' in its place;
0
f. Revising paragraph (c)(6)(ii);
0
g. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(7)(i) ``and'' and adding 
``or'' in its place;
0
h. Revising paragraph (c)(7)(ii);
0
i. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(10)(i) ``13 CFR Part 126; 
and'' and adding ``13 CFR 126.200; or'' in its place; and
0
j. Revising paragraph (c)(10)(ii).
    The revisions read as follows:


52.212-3  Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items.

* * * * *

Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items (DATE)

* * * * *
    Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, 
that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of 
operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria in 13 
CFR part 121 and size standards in this solicitation.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Small business concern. The offeror represents as part of its 
offer that--
    (i) It [square] is, [square] is not a small business concern; or
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a small business joint venture 
that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 121.103(h) and 13 CFR 
125.8(a) and (b). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier 
of each party to the joint venture: _____.]
* * * * *
    (3) Service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern. 
[Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a veteran-owned 
small business concern in paragraph (c)(2) of this provision.] The 
offeror represents as part of its offer that--
    (i) It [square] is, [square] is not a service-disabled veteran-
owned small business concern; or
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a joint venture that complies 
with the requirements of 13 CFR 125.18(b)(1) and (2). [The offeror 
shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint 
venture: _____.] Each service-disabled veteran-owned small business 
concern participating in the joint venture shall provide representation 
of its service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern status.
* * * * *
    (6) * * *
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a joint venture that complies 
with the requirements of 13 CFR 127.506(a) through (c). [The offeror 
shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint 
venture: _____.] Each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program 
participating in the joint venture shall provide representation of its 
WOSB status.
    (7) * * *
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a joint venture that complies 
with the requirements of 13 CFR 127.506(a) through (c). [The offeror 
shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint 
venture: _____.] Each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture 
shall provide representation of its EDWOSB status.
    Note to paragraphs (c)(8) and (9): Complete paragraphs (c)(8) and 
(9) only if this solicitation is expected to exceed the simplified 
acquisition threshold.
* * * * *
    (10) * * *
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a HUBZone joint venture that 
complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 126.616(a) through (c). [The 
offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the 
joint venture: _____.] Each HUBZone small business concern 
participating in the HUBZone joint venture shall provide representation 
of its HUBZone status.
* * * * *
0
13. Amend section 52.212-5 by--
0
 a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
 b. Removing from paragraph (b)(11)(i) ``(MAR 2020)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
 c. Removing from paragraph (b)(12)(i) ``(MAR 2020)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
 d. Removing from paragraph (b)(16) ``(OCT 2018)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
 e. Removing from paragraph (b)(17)(i) ``(MAR 2020)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
 f. Removing from paragraph (b)(19) ``(MAR 2020)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
 g. Removing from paragraph (b)(21) ``(MAR 2020)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
 h. Removing from paragraph (b)(22)(i) ``(MAR 2020)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
 i. Removing from paragraph (b)(23) ``(MAR 2020)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
 j. Removing from paragraph (b)(24) ``(MAR 2020)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
k. Removing from paragraph (e)(1)(v) ``(OCT 2018)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place;
0
 l. Revising the date of Alternate II; and
0
 m. Removing from paragraph (e)(1)(ii)(E) of Alternate II ``(OCT 
2018)'' and adding ``(DATE)'' in its place.

[[Page 34567]]

    The revisions 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)

* * * * *
    Alternate II (DATE). * * *
* * * * *
0
 14. Amend section 52.213-4 by--
0
 a. Revising the date of the clause; and
0
 b. Removing from paragraph (a)(2)(viii) ``(AUG 2019)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place.
    The revision reads as follows:


52.213-4   Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than 
Commercial Items).

* * * * *

Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial 
Items) (DATE)

* * * * *
0
15. Amend section 52.219-1 by--
0
 a. Revising the date of the provision;
0
 b. In paragraph (a), revising the definition of ``Small business 
concern'';
0
 c. Revising paragraph (c)(1);
0
 d. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(4)(i) ``and'' and adding 
``or'' in its place, and revising paragraph (c)(4)(ii);
0
 e. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(5)(i) ``and'' and adding 
``or'' in its place; and revising paragraph (c)(5)(ii);
0
 f. Revising paragraph (c)(7); and
0
g. Removing from the end of paragraph (c)(8)(i) ``13 CFR Part 126; 
and'' and adding ``13 CFR 126.200; or'' in its place, and revising 
paragraph (c)(8)(ii);
    The revisions read as follows:


52.219-1   Small Business Program Representations.

* * * * *

Small Business Program Representations (DATE)

* * * * *
    Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, 
that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of 
operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria in 13 
CFR part 121 and the size standard in paragraph (b) of this provision.
* * * * *
    (c) * * * (1) The offeror represents as part of its offer that--
    (i) It [square] is, [square] is not a small business concern; or
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a small business joint venture 
that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 121.103(h) and 13 CFR 
125.8(a) and (b). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier 
of each party to the joint venture: _____.]
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a joint venture that complies 
with the requirements of 13 CFR 127.506(a) through (c). [The offeror 
shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint 
venture: _____.] Each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program 
participating in the joint venture shall provide representation of its 
WOSB status.
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a joint venture that complies 
with the requirements of 13 CFR 127.506(a) through (c). [The offeror 
shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the joint 
venture: _____.] Each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture 
shall provide representation of its EDWOSB status.
* * * * *
    (7) [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a veteran-
owned small business concern in paragraph (c)(6) of this provision.] 
The offeror represents as part of its offer that--
    (i) It [square] is, [square] is not a service-disabled veteran-
owned small business concern; or
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a service-disabled veteran-
owned joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 
125.18(b)(1) and (2). [The offeror shall enter the unique entity 
identifier of each party to the joint venture: _____.] Each service-
disabled veteran-owned small business concern participating in the 
joint venture shall provide representation of its service-disabled 
veteran-owned small business concern status.
    (8) * * *
    (ii) It [square] is, [square] is not a HUBZone joint venture that 
complies with the requirements of 13 CFR 126.616(a) through (c). [The 
offeror shall enter the unique entity identifier of each party to the 
joint venture: _____.] Each HUBZone small business concern 
participating in the HUBZone joint venture shall provide representation 
of its HUBZone status.
* * * * *
0
16. Amend section 52.219-3 by--
0
 a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Redesignating paragraphs (f) and (g) as paragraphs (g) and (h), and 
adding a new paragraph (f); and
0
 c. Revising the newly redesignated paragraph (g).
    The revisions read as follows:


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

* * * * *

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

* * * * *
    (f) Joint venture. A joint venture may be considered a HUBZone 
concern if--
    (1) At least one party to the joint venture is a HUBZone small 
business concern and complies with 13 CFR 126.616(c); and
    (2) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the 
size standard for the solicitation, or the prot[eacute]g[eacute] is 
small under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture 
comprised of a mentor and prot[eacute]g[eacute] with an approved 
mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] agreement under the SBA mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] program.
    (g) A HUBZone joint venture agrees that, in the performance of the 
contract, the applicable percentage specified in paragraph (d) of this 
clause shall be performed by the aggregate of the parties to the joint 
venture. At least 40 percent of the aggregate work performed by the 
joint venture shall be completed by the HUBZone small business parties 
to the joint venture. Work performed by the HUBZone small business 
party or parties to the joint venture must be more than administrative 
functions.
* * * * *
0
17. Amend section 52.219-4 by revising the clause title, date, and 
paragraph (e) to read as follows:


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

* * * * *

Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business 
Concerns (DATE)

* * * * *
    (e) A HUBZone joint venture agrees that, in the performance of the 
contract, the applicable percentage specified in paragraph (d) of this 
clause shall be performed by the aggregate of the parties to the joint 
venture. At least 40 percent of the aggregate work performed by the 
joint venture shall be completed by the HUBZone small business parties 
to the joint venture. Work performed by the HUBZone small business 
parties to the joint venture must be more than administrative 
functions.
* * * * *
0
18. Amend section 52.219-8 by--
0
 a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
 b. In paragraph (a), revising the definition ``Small business 
concern'';

[[Page 34568]]

0
 c. Redesignating paragraphs (c) and (d) as paragraphs (d) and (e), and 
adding a new paragraph (c); and
0
 d. Revising the newly redesignated paragraph (e)(5) introductory text.
    The revisions read as follows:


52.219-8   Utilization of Small Business Concerns.

* * * * *

Utilization of Small Business Concerns (DATE)

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, 
that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of 
operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size 
standards in 13 CFR part 121, including the size standard that 
corresponds to the NAICS code assigned to the contract or subcontract.
* * * * *
    (c)(1) A joint venture qualifies as a small business concern if--
    (i) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the 
size standard for the solicitation; or
    (ii) The prot[eacute]g[eacute] is small under the size standard for 
the solicitation in a joint venture comprised of a mentor and 
prot[eacute]g[eacute] with an approved mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
agreement under a SBA mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] program.
    (2) A joint venture qualifies as--
    (i) A service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern if it 
complies with the requirements in 13 CFR part 125; or
    (ii) A HUBZone small business concern if it complies with the 
requirements in 13 CFR 126.616(a) through (c).
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (5) The Contractor shall confirm that a subcontractor representing 
itself as a HUBZone small business concern is certified by SBA as a 
HUBZone small business concern. If the subcontractor is a joint 
venture, the Contractor shall confirm that at least one party to the 
joint venture is certified by SBA as a HUBZone small business concern. 
The Contractor may confirm the representation by accessing the System 
for Award Management or contacting SBA. Options for contacting the SBA 
include--
* * * * *
0
19. Amend section 52.219-9 by--
0
 a. Revising the date of the clause; and
0
 b. Removing from paragraph (e)(4) ``52.219-8(d)(2)'' and adding 
``52.219-8(e)(2)'' in its place.
    The revision reads as follows:


52.219-9  Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

* * * * *

Small Business Subcontracting Plan (DATE)

* * * * *
0
20. Amend section 52.219-14 by revising the date of the clause and 
adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


52.219-14   Limitations on Subcontracting.

* * * * *

Limitations on Subcontracting (DATE)

* * * * *
    (e) Joint ventures. (1) In a joint venture comprised of a small 
business prot[eacute]g[eacute] and its mentor approved by the Small 
Business Administration, the small business prot[eacute]g[eacute] shall 
perform at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. 
Work performed by the small business prot[eacute]g[eacute] in the joint 
venture must be more than administrative functions.
    (2) In an 8(a) joint venture, the 8(a) participant(s) shall perform 
at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work 
performed by the 8(a) participants in the joint venture must be more 
than administrative functions.
* * * * *
0
21. Amend section 52.219-18 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause and paragraph (a);
0
 b. Removing from paragraph (b) ``all of the'' and adding ``the 
applicable'' in its place; and
0
 c. Adding paragraph (e);
0
 d. Revising Alternate I.
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


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

* * * * *

Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants 
(DATE)

    (a) Offers are solicited only from--
    (1) Small business concerns expressly certified by the Small 
Business Administration (SBA) for participation in the SBA's 8(a) 
program and which meet the following criteria at the time of submission 
of offer--
    (i) The Offeror is in conformance with the 8(a) support limitation 
set forth in its approved business plan; and
    (ii) The Offeror is in conformance with the Business Activity 
Targets set forth in its approved business plan or any remedial action 
directed by the SBA; or
    (2) A joint venture, in which at least one of the 8(a) program 
participants that is a party to the joint venture complies with the 
criteria set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this clause, that complies 
with 13 CFR 124.513(c); or
    (3) A joint venture--
    (i) That is comprised of a mentor and an 8(a) prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
with an approved mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] agreement under the 8(a) 
program;
    (ii) In which at least one of the 8(a) program participants that is 
a party to the joint venture complies with the criteria set forth in 
paragraph (a)(1) of this clause; and
    (iii) That complies with 13 CFR 124.513(c).
* * * * *
    (e) 8(a) joint ventures. The Contracting Officer may consider a 
joint venture for contract award if SBA approves the joint venture 
agreement and provides a determination of eligibility pursuant to 13 
CFR 124.507(b) prior to contract award.
* * * * *
    Alternate I (DATE). If the competition is to be limited to 8(a) 
participants within one or more specific SBA regions or districts, add 
the following paragraph (a)(1)(iii) to paragraph (a) of the clause:
    (iii) The offeror's approved business plan is on the file and 
serviced by _____ [Contracting Officer completes by inserting the 
appropriate SBA District and/or Regional Office(s) as identified by the 
SBA].
0
22. Amend section 52.219-27 by--
0
 a. Revising the date of the clause, and paragraph (f); and
0
 b. Adding paragraph (g).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


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

* * * * *

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

* * * * *
    (f) A joint venture may be considered a service-disabled veteran 
owned small business concern if--
    (1) At least one party to the joint venture complies with the 
criteria defined in paragraph (a) of this clause and 13 CFR 
125.18(b)(2); and
    (2) Each party to the joint venture is small under the size 
standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the procurement, 
or the prot[eacute]g[eacute] is small under the size standard 
corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the procurement in a joint 
venture comprised of a mentor and prot[eacute]g[eacute] with an 
approved mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] agreement under an SBA mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] program.

[[Page 34569]]

    (g) In a joint venture that complies with paragraph (f) of this 
clause, the service-disabled veteran-owned small business party or 
parties to the joint venture shall perform at least 40 percent of the 
work performed by the joint venture. Work performed by the service-
disabled veteran-owned small business party or parties to the joint 
venture must be more than administrative functions.
* * * * *
0
 23. Amend section 52.219-28 by revising the date of the clause, and in 
paragraph (a) revising the definition of ``Small business concern'' to 
read as follows:


52.219-28   Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation.

* * * * *

Post-Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (DATE)

    (a) * * *
    Small business concern means a concern, including its affiliates, 
that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of 
operation and qualified as a small business under the criteria in 13 
CFR part 121 and the size standard in paragraph (d) of this clause.
* * * * *
0
24. Amend section 52.219-29 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
 b. In paragraph (a), in the definition ``Economically disadvantaged 
women-owned small business (EDWOSB)'' removing ``It automatically'' and 
adding ``An EDWOSB concern automatically'' in its place;
0
 c. Revising paragraph (f); and
0
d. Adding a new paragraph (g).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


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

* * * * *

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

* * * * *
    (f) Joint Venture. A joint venture may be considered an EDWOSB 
concern if--
    (1) At least one party to the joint venture complies with the 
criteria defined in paragraph (a) and paragraph (c)(3) of this clause, 
and 13 CFR 127.506(c); and
    (2) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the 
size standard for the solicitation, or the prot[eacute]g[eacute] is 
small under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture 
comprised of a mentor and prot[eacute]g[eacute] with an approved 
mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] agreement under the SBA mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] program.
    (g) In a joint venture that complies with paragraph (f) of this 
clause, the EDWOSB party or parties to the joint venture shall perform 
at least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work 
performed by the EDWOSB party or parties to the joint venture must be 
more than administrative functions.
* * * * *
0
25. Amend section 52.219-30 by--
0
 a. Revising the date of the clause and paragraph (f); and
0
b. Adding paragraph (g).
    The revisions and addition 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.

* * * * *

Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small 
Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program 
(DATE)

* * * * *
    (f) Joint Venture. A joint venture may be considered a WOSB concern 
eligible under the WOSB Program if--
    (1) At least one party to the joint venture complies with the 
criteria defined in paragraph (a) and (c)(3) of this clause, and 13 CFR 
127.506(c); and
    (2) Each party to the joint venture qualifies as small under the 
size standard for the solicitation, or the prot[eacute]g[eacute] is 
small under the size standard for the solicitation in a joint venture 
comprised of a mentor and prot[eacute]g[eacute] with an approved 
mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] agreement under the SBA mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] program.
    (g) In a joint venture that complies with paragraph (f) of this 
clause, the WOSB party or parties to the joint venture shall perform at 
least 40 percent of the work performed by the joint venture. Work 
performed by the WOSB party or parties to the joint venture must be 
more than administrative functions.
* * * * *
0
26. Amend section 52.244-6 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause; and
0
 b. Removing from paragraph (c)(1)(vii) ``(OCT 2018)'' and adding 
``(DATE)'' in its place.
    The revision reads as follows:


52.244-6  Subcontracts for Commercial Items.

* * * * *

Subcontracts for Commercial Items (DATE)

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2020-11159 Filed 6-4-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P

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