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Proposed Rule2023-02035

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

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Published

February 22, 2023

Issuing agencies

Small Business Administration

Abstract

This semiannual Regulatory Agenda (Agenda) is a summary of current and projected rulemakings and completed actions of the Small Business Administration (SBA). This summary information is intended to enable the public to be more aware of, and effectively participate in, SBA's regulatory activities. Accordingly, SBA invites the public to submit comments on any aspect of this Agenda.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11302-11305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02035]

[[Page 11301]]

Vol. 88

Wednesday,

No. 35

February 22, 2023

Part XVIII

Small Business Administration

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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 35 / Wednesday, February 22, 2023 /
UA: Reg Flex Agenda

[[Page 11302]]

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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

13 CFR Ch. I

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

ACTION: Semiannual Regulatory Agenda.

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

SUMMARY: This semiannual Regulatory Agenda (Agenda) is a summary of
current and projected rulemakings and completed actions of the Small
Business Administration (SBA). This summary information is intended to
enable the public to be more aware of, and effectively participate in,
SBA's regulatory activities. Accordingly, SBA invites the public to
submit comments on any aspect of this Agenda.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

General

Please direct general comments or inquiries to Daniel Kane, U.S.
Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW, Washington, DC
20416; (202) 744-2509; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5317323d3a363f7d18323d36132031327d343c25">[email&#160;protected]</a>. This phone number can 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.

Specific

Please direct specific comments and inquiries on individual
regulatory activities identified in this Agenda to the individual
listed in the summary of the regulation as the point of contact for
that regulation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)
requires SBA to publish in the Federal Register a semiannual regulatory
flexibility agenda describing those Agency rules that are likely to
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities (5 U.S.C. 602). The summary information published in the
Federal Register is limited to those rules. Additional information
regarding all of the rulemakings SBA expects to consider in the next 12
months is included in the Federal Government's unified Regulatory
Agenda, which will be available online at <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov">www.reginfo.gov</a> in a format
that offers users enhanced ability to obtain information about SBA's
rules.

Isabella Casillas Guzman,
Administrator.

Small Business Administration--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
446....................... Small Business Development 3245-AE05
Center Program Revisions.
447....................... Small Business Size 3245-AG16
Standards; Alternative
Size Standard for 7(a),
504, and Disaster Loan
Programs.
448....................... National Defense 3245-AH28
Authorization Act of
2020, Credit for Lower
Tier Subcontracting and
Other Amendments.
449....................... Small Business Lending 3245-AH92
Company (SBLC) Moratorium
Rescission and Removal of
the Requirement for a
Loan Authorization.
450....................... Affiliation in Small 3245-AH97
Business Procurement
Programs; Women-Owned
Small Business Program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Small Business Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
451....................... Small Business Timber Set- 3245-AG69
Aside Program.
452....................... Small Business Size 3245-AH09
Standards: Manufacturing
and Industries With
Employee Based Size
Standards in Other
Sectors Except Wholesale
Trade and Retail Trade.
453....................... Small Business Size 3245-AH17
Standards: Adjustment of
Monetary Based Size
Standards for Inflation.
454....................... Small Business Size 3245-AH93
Standards: Adjustment of
Monetary Based Size
Standards, Disadvantage
Thresholds, and 8(a)
Eligibility Thresholds
for Inflation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Small Business Administration--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulation
Sequence No. Title Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
455....................... Small Business Size 3245-AH10
Standards: Wholesale
Trade and Retail Trade.
456....................... Small Business Size 3245-AH89
Standards: Adoption of
2022 North American
Industry Classification
System for Size Standards.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Proposed Rule Stage

446. Small Business Development Center Program Revisions [3245-AE05]

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM............................... 04/02/15 80 FR 17708
ANPRM Comment Period End............ 06/01/15 .......................
NPRM................................ 01/00/23 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Rachel Newman-Karton, Program Manager, Small
Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW, Washington, DC 20416,

[[Page 11303]]

Phone: 202- 619-1816, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e89a898b808d84c6868d9f858986c583899a9c8786a89b8a89c68f879e">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3245-AE05

447. Small Business Size Standards; Alternative Size Standard for 7(a),
504, and Disaster Loan Programs [3245-AG16]

Legal Authority: Pub. L. 111-240, sec. 1116
Abstract: SBA will propose amendments its size eligibility criteria
for Business Loans, certified development company (CDC) loans under
title V of the Small Business Investment Act (504) and economic injury
disaster loans (EIDL). For the SBA 7(a) Business Loan Program and the
504 program, the amendments will provide an alternative size standard
for loan applicants that do not meet the small business size standards
for their industries. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act)
established alternative size standards that apply to both of these
programs until SBA's Administrator establishes other alternative size
standards. For the disaster loan program, the amendments will provide
an alternative size standard for loan applicants that do not meet the
Small Business Size Standard for their industries. SBA loan program
alternative size standards do not affect other Federal Government
programs, including Federal procurement.
Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM............................... 03/22/18 83 FR 12506
ANPRM Comment Period End............ 05/21/18 .......................
NPRM................................ 05/00/23 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Dr. Khem Raj Sharma, Chief, Office of Size
Standards, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW,
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202-205-7189, Fax: 202-205-6390, Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6803000d05461b00091a0509281b0a09460f071e">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3245-AG16

448. National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, Credit for Lower Tier
Subcontracting and Other Amendments [3245-AH28]

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 02/00/23 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Brenda J. Fernandez, Analyst, Office of Policy,
Planning and Liaison, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street
SW, Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202-205-7337, Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#254757404b41440b4340574b444b41405f655647440b424a53">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3245-AH28

449. Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) Moratorium Rescission and
Removal of the Requirement for a Loan Authorization [3245-AH92]

Legal Authority: Sec. 3(r) and 7(a) of the Small Business Act
Abstract: SBA intends to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in
order to receive comments from the public and the lending industry
regarding the proposal to lift the moratorium on permitting new Small
Business Lending Companies (SBLC). SBA intends to also propose removal
of duplicative forms and other collections of information for the
Agency's business loan programs.
Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 11/07/22 87 FR 66936
NPRM Comment Period End............. 01/06/23 .......................
Final Rule.......................... 04/00/23 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Dianna L. Seaborn, Director, Office of Financial
Assistance, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW,
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202-205-3645, Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#086c6169666669267b6d696a677a66487b6a69266f677e">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3245-AH92

450. <bullet> Affiliation in Small Business Procurement Programs;
Women-Owned Small Business Program [3245-AH97]

Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a); 15 U.S.C. 637(m)
Abstract: Following revisions to the requirements in SBA's 8(a)
Business Development and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
programs, SBA is issuing conforming revisions to its affiliation rules
that govern all of the small-business procurement programs and to the
Women-Owned Small Business program. These revisions will ensure
consistent requirements for ownership and control across SBA's
procurement programs.
Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 09/00/23 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Sam Le, Director, Office of Policy Planning and
Liaison, Office of Government Contracting and Business Devel, Small
Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Washington, DC 20416,
Phone: 202-619-1789.
RIN: 3245-AH97

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Final Rule Stage

451. Small Business Timber Set-Aside Program [3245-AG69]

Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 631; 15 U.S.C. 644(a)
Abstract: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is
amending its Small Business Timber Set-Aside Program (the Program)
regulations. The Small Business Timber Set-Aside Program is rooted in
the Small Business Act, which tasked SBA with ensuring that small
businesses receive a fair proportion of the total sales of government
property. Accordingly, the Program requires Timber sales to be set
aside for small business when small business participation falls below
a certain amount. SBA considered comments received during the Advance
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
processes, including on issues such as, but not limited to, whether the
saw timber volume purchased through stewardship timber contracts should
be included in calculations, and whether the appraisal point used in
set-aside sales should be the nearest small business mill. In addition,
SBA is considering data from the timber industry to help evaluate the
current program and economic impact of potential changes.
Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANPRM............................... 03/25/15 80 FR 15697
ANPRM Comment Period End............ 05/26/15 .......................
NPRM................................ 09/27/16 81 FR 66199
NPRM Comment Period End............. 11/28/16 .......................
Final Rule.......................... 11/00/23 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 11304]]

452. Small Business Size Standards: Manufacturing and Industries With
Employee Based Size Standards in Other Sectors Except Wholesale Trade
and Retail Trade [3245-AH09]

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 04/26/22 87 FR 24752
NPRM Comment Period End............. 06/27/22 .......................
Final Rule.......................... 03/00/23 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Dr. Khem Raj Sharma, Chief, Office of Size
Standards, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW,
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-6390, Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85eeede0e8abf6ede4f7e8e4c5f6e7e4abe2eaf3">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3245-AH09

453. Small Business Size Standards: Adjustment of Monetary Based Size
Standards for Inflation [3245-AH17]

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interim Final Rule.................. 07/18/19 84 FR 34261
Interim Final Rule Effective........ 08/19/19 .......................
Interim Final Rule Comment Period 09/16/19 .......................
End.
Final Action........................ 12/00/22 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Dr. Khem Raj Sharma, Chief, Office of Size
Standards, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW,
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-6390, Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5932313c34772a31382b3438192a3b38773e362f">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3245-AH17

454. Small Business Size Standards: Adjustment of Monetary Based Size
Standards, Disadvantage Thresholds, and 8(a) Eligibility Thresholds for
Inflation [3245-AH93]

Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a); 15 U.S.C. 637(a)(6)(A)
Abstract: SBA intends to issue this rulemaking to adjust its
monetary small business size standards (i.e., receipts, net income, net
worth, and financial assets) for the effects of inflation that have
occurred since the last inflation adjustment, which was effective on
August 19, 2019. SBA is required by its regulations in 13 CFR
121.102(c) to review the effects of inflation on its monetary standards
at least once every five years. As in previous adjustments, SBA will
apply the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) price index as a measure of
inflation. This action will restore small business eligibility to
businesses that have lost that status due to inflation.
In addition, SBA intends to adjust other monetary thresholds in its
regulations that are otherwise not adjusted for inflation under FAR
1.109. These thresholds primarily are those used in the 8(a) Business
Development and the Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small
Business (EDWOSB) programs to determine economic disadvantage. Others
are used to maintain eligibility for the 8(a) program. In some cases,
these thresholds have not been adjusted for 25 years. This action will
permit small businesses to retain eligibility as economically
disadvantaged and eligible for the 8(a) program, despite an increase in
inflation.
SBA will publicize the rule via the Small Business Procurement
Advisory Council, the Integrated Acquisition Environment, <a href="http://fbo.gov">fbo.gov</a>,
press releases, publication of this rule in the Federal Register,
emails to interested parties, and the size standards website at
<a href="http://www.sba.gov/size">www.sba.gov/size</a>.
Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interim Final Rule.................. 11/17/22 87 FR 69118
Interim Final Rule Effective........ 12/19/22 .......................
Interim Final Rule Comment Period 01/17/23 .......................
End.
Final Rule.......................... 03/00/23 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Dr. Khem Raj Sharma, Chief, Office of Size
Standards, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW,
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-6390, Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f34373a32712c373e2d323e1f2c3d3e71383029">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3245-AH93

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Completed Actions

455. Small Business Size Standards: Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade
[3245-AH10]

Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
Abstract: The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Jobs Act) requires
SBA to conduct every five years a detailed review of all size standards
and to make appropriate adjustments to reflect market conditions. As
part of the second 5-year review of size standards under the Jobs Act,
in this proposed rule, SBA will evaluate all industries in North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 42 (Wholesale
Trade) and Sector 44-45 (Retail Trade) and make necessary adjustments
to their size standards. This is one of a series of proposed rules that
will examine groups of NAICS sectors. SBA will apply its revised Size
Standards Methodology, which is available on its website at <a href="http://www.sba.gov/size">http://www.sba.gov/size</a>, to this proposed rule.

[[Page 11305]]

Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule.......................... 06/14/22 87 FR 35869
Final Rule Effective................ 07/14/22 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Khem Raj Sharma, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-
6390, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d4bfbcb1b9faa7bcb5a6b9b594a7b6b5fab3bba2">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3245-AH10

456. Small Business Size Standards: Adoption of 2022 North American
Industry Classification System for Size Standards [3245-AH89]

Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
Abstract: This will amend SBA's Small Business Size Regulations by
incorporating the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 2022 revision
of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) into its
table of small business size standards. NAICS 2022 created 111 new
industries involving 147 NAICS 2017 industries in 11 Sectors, mostly in
Sector 44-45 (Retail Trade), followed by Sector 31-33 (Manufacturing),
and Sector 51 (Information). Of the 111 new industries, 79 were formed
by merging two or more of 124 industries or their parts. In addition,
the NAICS 2022 revised titles, 6-digit codes, or definitions of the 32
other NAICS 2017 industries or their parts. As a result, the size
standards for some existing industries or parts will change. Similar to
the adoptions of prior OMB revisions to NAICS in 2002, 2007, 2012, and
2017, SBA will adopt the NAICS 2022 revision to its table of size
standards, effective the beginning of the Federal government's new
fiscal year (October 1, 2022).
Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason Date FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................ 07/05/22 87 FR 40034
Final Rule.......................... 09/29/22 87 FR 59240
Final Rule Effective................ 10/01/22 .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: Khem Raj Sharma, Phone: 202 205-7189, Fax: 202 205-
6390, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#563d3e333b78253e37243b371625343778313920">[email&#160;protected]</a>.
RIN: 3245-AH89

[FR Doc. 2023-02035 Filed 2-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8026-03-P

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