[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9648-9650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00460]



[[Page 9647]]

Vol. 89

Friday,

No. 28

February 9, 2024

Part XVIII





 Small Business Administration





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Federal Register / Vol. 89 , No. 28 / Friday, February 9, 2024 / UA: 
Reg Flex Agenda

[[Page 9648]]


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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 or Agency). This summary information 
enables 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 Lindsey K. McCready, 
U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW, Washington, DC 
20416; (202) 401-2996; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#375b5e595344524e195a5454455256534e7744555619505841"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e18d888f85928498cf8c82829384808598a1928380cf868e97">[email protected]</span></a>; or Kevin P. Ross, U.S. 
Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW, Washington, DC 
20416; (202) 772-2065; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#650e00130c0b4b170a1616251607044b020a13"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="630806150a0d4d110c1010231001024d040c15">[email protected]</span></a>.

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 www.reginfo.gov 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
459.......................  Affiliation in Small               3245-AH97
                             Business Procurement
                             Programs.
460.......................  Regulatory Reform                  3245-AI06
                             Initiative: Streamlining
                             and Modernizing the
                             Surety Bond Guarantee
                             Program.
461.......................  Export Working Capital             3245-AI07
                             Program.
462.......................  Disaster Assistance Loan           3245-AI08
                             Program Changes to
                             Unsecured Loan Amounts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


             Small Business Administration--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
463.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AG16
                             Standards: Adjustment of
                             Alternative Size Standard
                             for SBA's 7(a) and CDC/
                             504 Loan Programs for
                             Inflation; and Surety
                             Bond Limits: Adjustments
                             for Inflation.
464.......................  Small Business Timber Set-         3245-AG69
                             Aside Program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


            Small Business Administration--Completed Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
       Sequence No.                    Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
465.......................  Small Business Development         3245-AE05
                             Center Program Revisions.
466.......................  National Defense                   3245-AH28
                             Authorization Act of
                             2020, Credit for Lower
                             Tier Subcontracting and
                             Other Amendments.
467.......................  Small Business Size                3245-AH93
                             Standards: Adjustment of
                             Monetary Based Size
                             Standards, Disadvantage
                             Thresholds, and 8(a)
                             Eligibility Thresholds
                             for Inflation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Proposed Rule Stage

459. Affiliation in Small Business Procurement Programs [3245-AH97]

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
    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. These 
revisions will ensure consistent requirements for ownership and control 
across SBA's procurement programs.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   10/00/24  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Sam Le, Director of Policy, Planning, and Liaison, 
Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Washington, DC 20416, 
Phone: 202 619-1789, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7300121e5d1f16330011125d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d1e0c004301082d1e0f0c430a021b">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 3245-AH97

460. <bullet> Regulatory Reform Initiative: Streamlining and 
Modernizing the Surety Bond Guarantee Program [3245-AI06]

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 694(b)
    Abstract: The Office of Surety Guarantees (OSG) will publish a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to receive comments from the 
public and surety industry regarding streamlining and modernizing the 
Surety Bond Guarantee Program. This proposed rule will reduce the file 
retainage and form submission burden of participating surety companies, 
correct conflicting provisions, as well as revise the obsolete 
preferred surety admissions

[[Page 9649]]

requirements and the Quarterly Contract Completion Report.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Jermaine Perry, Director, Office of Surety 
Guarantees, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 401-8275, Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7a101f08171b13141f540a1f0808033a09181b541d150c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="177d72657a767e797239677265656e5764757639707861">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 3245-AI06

461. <bullet> Export Working Capital Program [3245-AI07]

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636(a)
    Abstract: SBA will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to 
enhance the Export Working Capital Program (EWCP). The revisions 
concern (1) increasing the maximum maturity on an EWCP loan from 3-
years to 5-years; (2) changing the regulations to allow EWCP loan 
proceeds to be used to finance export transactions or support companies 
who engage in export transactions by providing working capital against 
their accounts receivable and inventory; (3) allowing use of proceeds 
for asset-based working capital secured by inventory and accounts 
receivable; (4) including a de minimis amount of domestic accounts 
receivable (not to exceed 30%) for EWCP loans used as an asset based 
line of credit; (5) allow Applicants to submit projections to support 
the need for facilities supporting pre-shipment working capital; (6) 
revise the unique requirements for the EWCP to align with industry 
standards for asset based lending.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   01/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Daniel Pische, National Director of Trade Finance, 
Office of International Trade, Small Business Administration, 409 Third 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20416, Phone: 202 321-5666, Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4125202f28242d6f312832222924013223206f262e37"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3357525d5a565f1d435a40505b56734051521d545c45">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 3245-AI07

462. <bullet> Disaster Assistance Loan Program Changes to Unsecured 
Loan Amounts [3245-AI08]

    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636(b)
    Abstract: SBA will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in order 
to receive comments from the public regarding the proposal to increase 
the unsecured loan amounts for disaster survivors.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   02/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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#204449414e4e410e534541424f524e605342410e474f56"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f3979a929d9d92dd809692919c819db3809192dd949c85">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 3245-AI08

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Final Rule Stage

463. Small Business Size Standards: Adjustment of Alternative Size 
Standard for SBA's 7(a) and CDC/504 Loan Programs for Inflation; and 
Surety Bond Limits: Adjustments for Inflation [3245-AG16]

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 111-240, sec. 1116
    Abstract: SBA proposes amending 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................................   07/28/23  88 FR 48739
NPRM Comment Period End.............   09/26/23
Final Rule..........................   01/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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#8ee5e6ebe3a0fde6effce3efcefdecefa0e9e1f8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9b2b1bcb4f7aab1b8abb4b899aabbb8f7beb6af">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 3245-AG16

464. 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..........................   03/00/24
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Sam Le, Director of Policy, Planning, and Liaison, 
Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Washington, DC 20416, 
Phone: 202 619-1789, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bfccded291d3daffccddde91d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c4b7a5a9eaa8a184b7a6a5eaa3abb2">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 3245-AG69


[[Page 9650]]



SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

Completed Actions

465. 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: (1) 
streamline and make the application process less onerous for recipient 
organizations; (2) codify current practices required under the NOFO and 
Cooperative Agreement; (3) clarify and define the role of the District 
Office regarding grant oversight; (4) add and clarify definitions; and 
(5) clarify SBDC client confidentiality.
    Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Reason                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Meeting......................   07/18/23  88 FR 41459
Final Rule..........................   11/07/23  88 FR 76625
Final Rule Effective................   12/07/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Rachel Newman-Karton, Phone: 202 619-1816, Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#93e1f2f0fbf6ffbdfdf6e4fef2fdbef8f2e1e7fcfdd3e0f1f2bdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="473526242f222b692922302a26296a2c26353328290734252669202831">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 3245-AE05

466. 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.
    Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Reason                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule..........................   10/11/23  88 FR 11303
Final Rule Effective................   11/13/23
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Brenda J. Fernandez, Phone: 202 205-7337, Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#442636212a20256a2221362a252a20213e043726256a232b32"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b39293e353f3a753d3e29353a353f3e211b28393a753c342d">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 3245-AH28

467. 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, fbo.gov, 
press releases, publication of this rule in the Federal Register, 
emails to interested parties, and the size standards website at 
www.sba.gov/size.
    Completed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Reason                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule..........................   07/19/23  88 FR 46048
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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#e58e8d8088cb968d84978884a5968784cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d3b8bbb6befda0bbb2a1beb293a0b1b2fdb4bca5">[email protected]</span></a>.
    RIN: 3245-AH93

[FR Doc. 2024-00460 Filed 2-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8026-03-P


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