Notice2022-11858
Small Business Size Standards: Notification of Two Virtual Public Forums on Size Standards
Primary source
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Published
June 2, 2022
Issuing agencies
Small Business Administration
Abstract
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is holding a series of two virtual public forums on size standards to update the public on the status of the ongoing second 5-year review of size standards as mandated by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and to consider public testimony on proposed changes contained in the proposed rule titled Small Business Size Standards: Manufacturing and Industries With Employee-Based Size Standards in Other Sectors Except Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade. Testimony presented at these forums will become part of the administrative record for SBA's consideration when developing the final rule.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33570-33571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11858]
[[Page 33570]]
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Small Business Size Standards: Notification of Two Virtual Public
Forums on Size Standards
AGENCY: Small Business Administration.
ACTION: Notification of virtual public forums on size standards.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is holding a
series of two virtual public forums on size standards to update the
public on the status of the ongoing second 5-year review of size
standards as mandated by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and to
consider public testimony on proposed changes contained in the proposed
rule titled Small Business Size Standards: Manufacturing and Industries
With Employee-Based Size Standards in Other Sectors Except Wholesale
Trade and Retail Trade. Testimony presented at these forums will become
part of the administrative record for SBA's consideration when
developing the final rule.
DATES: The virtual forum dates are as follows:
<bullet> Tuesday, June 14, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT
<bullet> Thursday, June 16, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT
ADDRESSES: The forums will be held via the Microsoft Teams platform.
Registration is required to attend these virtual events. Visit SBA's
size standards web page at <a href="http://www.sba.gov/size">http://www.sba.gov/size</a> to register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Castilla, Economist, Office of
Size Standards, (202) 619-0389 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d4a7bdaeb1a7a0b5bab0b5a6b0a794a7b6b5fab3bba2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2b5842514e585f4a454f4a594f586b58494a054c445d">[email protected]</span></a>. The phone
number above may also be reached by individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing, or who have speech disabilities, through the Federal
Communications Commission's TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay Service
teletype service at 711.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
SBA is seeking public comments on a proposed rule (Small Business
Size Standards: Manufacturing and Industries With Employee-Based Size
Standards in Other Sectors Except Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade (87
FR 24752, April 26, 2022)) that would revise the employee-based small
business size standards for businesses in nine North American
Industrial Classification System (NAICS) sectors. The comment period
ends on June 27, 2022.
The proposed changes in nine industrial sectors, including
manufacturing, mining and transportation, will enable some mid-sized
businesses to regain small business status and allow some advanced
small businesses to retain small business status for a longer period,
thereby allowing them to benefit from SBA's procurement and loan
programs. These proposed revisions come on the heels of an SBA
announcement (<a href="https://www.sba.gov/article/2022/apr/04/sba-revises-small-business-size-standards-16-industrial-sectors-increase-eligibility-its-federal">https://www.sba.gov/article/2022/apr/04/sba-revises-small-business-size-standards-16-industrial-sectors-increase-eligibility-its-federal</a>) on April 4, 2022 in which the Agency discussed
the issuance of four final rules to modify revenue-based small business
size standards in 16 NAICS sectors to help increase small business
eligibility for SBA's Federal contracting and loan programs.
In the April 26, 2022, proposed rule, SBA proposes to increase 150
employee-based size standards in nine NAICS sectors. SBA also proposes
to retain the current 500-employee size standard for Federal
procurement of supplies set aside for small businesses under the
nonmanufacturer rule, which requires that small businesses qualifying
as nonmanufacturers must have an average of 500 or fewer employees over
the past 12 months, be primarily engaged in the wholesale or retail
trade activities, take ownership or possession of the item with its
personnel, equipment or facilities, consistent with industry practice,
and supply the product of a U.S. small manufacturer.
The changes contained in the proposed rule are part of SBA's second
five-year review of size standards, as required under the Small
Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Sec. 1344, Pub. L. 111-240, 124 Stat. 2545
(September 27, 2010)). The revised size standards reflect SBA's
considerations of the relevant industry and programmatic data and
impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses and the
overall economy and Government response. In response to the pandemic,
SBA is retaining current size standards where data otherwise suggests
that size standards should be lowered.
As part of the review of size standards, SBA considers the
structural characteristics of individual industries, including average
firm size, the degree of competition, and Federal Government
contracting trends. This ensures that small business size standards
reflect current economic conditions in those industries. SBA's proposed
size standards revisions rely on the ``Size Standards Methodology''
issued on April 11, 2019, and available at <a href="http://www.sba.gov/size">http://www.sba.gov/size</a>.
II. Virtual Public Forums on Size Standards
Under this notice, SBA is advising the public that it is hosting a
series of two virtual public forums on size standards to update the
public on the status of the ongoing second five-year comprehensive
review of size standards and consider public testimony on proposed
changes contained in the April 2022 proposed rule. These forums also
conform to the requirements of section 1344 of the Small Business Jobs
Act of 2010 which requires SBA to hold not less than two public forums
during its quinquennial review of size standards.
SBA considers public forums on size standards as a valuable
component of its deliberations and believes that these forums will
allow for constructive dialogue with small businesses and their
representatives, industry trade associations, participants in SBA's
contracting and financial assistance programs, and other stakeholders.
The format of these forums will consist of a panel of SBA
representatives who will preside over the session. The oral and written
testimony as well as any comments SBA receives will become part of the
administrative record for SBA's consideration. Written testimony may be
submitted in lieu of oral testimony on or before June 27, 2022, at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, using the following RIN number: RIN 3245-AH09; by
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5c0f3526392f283d32383d2e382f1c2f3e3d723b332a">[email protected]</a> with subject line ``Comments to RIN
3245-AH09''; or by mail to Khem R. Sharma, Chief, Office of Size
Standards, 409 3rd Street SW, Mail Code 6530, Washington, DC, 20416.
SBA will analyze the testimony, both oral and written, along with any
written comments received and respond to all comments in the final
rule. However, during the public forum, SBA officials will not provide
comment on the testimony of speakers. SBA requests that commenters
focus on SBA's April 26, 2022, proposed rulemaking and the impacted
industries described therein. SBA requests that commenters do not raise
issues pertaining to industries not covered under the proposed rule, or
issues outside the scope of the rule. Presenters are encouraged to
provide a written copy of their testimony. SBA will accept written
material that the presenter wishes to provide that further supplements
his or her testimony. Electronic or digitized copies are encouraged.
The two virtual public forums on size standards will be held on
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 and Thursday, June 16, 2022
[[Page 33571]]
beginning at 1:00 p.m. and ending at 3:00 p.m. (EDT); SBA will adjourn
early if all testimony has been delivered before the end time.
III. Registration
Participants must pre-register to attend either of the two virtual
public forums on size standards by visiting SBA's size standards web
page at <a href="http://www.sba.gov/size">http://www.sba.gov/size</a> and registering at the link provided.
On the registration form, participants may indicate whether they would
like to testify at the forum. After registering, participants will
receive an email with an access to link and call-in information which
can be used to access the forum on the scheduled date and time.
Additional information about the forum is provided on SBA's
announcements about updating size standards web page, available at
<a href="https://www.sba.gov/article?sortBy=Authored%20on%20Date&search=&articleCategory=All&program=Contracting&page=1">https://www.sba.gov/article?sortBy=Authored%20on%20Date&search=&articleCategory=All&program=Contracting&page=1</a>, and in the invitation that participants receive
upon registration. SBA will attempt to accommodate all interested
parties that wish to present testimony. Based on the number of
registrants it may be necessary to impose time limits to ensure that
everyone who wishes to testify can do so.
IV. Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities
For information on services for individuals with disabilities or to
request special assistance contact Samuel Castilla at the telephone
number or email address indicated under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this notice.
Sam Le,
Director, Office of Policy, Planning and Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2022-11858 Filed 6-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8026-09-P
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