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###### Small Business Administration

          - [Docket No.: SBA-2022-001]

# AGENCY:

Small Business Administration.

# ACTION:

Notice of intent to waive the nonmanufacturer rule for dental equipment and supplies.

# SUMMARY:

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is considering granting a request for a class waiver of the Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR) for dental equipment and supplies.

# DATES:

Comments and source information must be submitted by April 11, 2022.

# ADDRESSES:

                        You may submit comments and source information via the Federal Rulemaking Portal at                         *https://www.regulations.gov.*                         If you wish to submit confidential business information (CBI) as defined in the User Notice at                         *https://www.regulations.gov,*                         please submit the information to Carol Hulme, Attorney Advisor, Office of Government Contracting, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20416. Highlight the information that you consider to be CBI and explain why you believe this information should be held confidential. SBA will review the information and make a final determination as to whether the information will be published.                    

      ( print page 14085)    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Carol Hulme, Attorney Advisor, by telephone at 202-205-6347; or by email at                         *Carol-Ann.Hulme@sba.gov.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Sections 8(a)(17) and 46 of the Small Business Act (Act), 15 U.S.C. 637(a)(17) and 657s, and SBA's implementing regulations, found at 13 CFR 121.406(b), require that recipients of Federal supply contracts provide the product of a small business manufacturer or processor if the recipient of the set-aside contract is not the actual manufacturer or processor of the product. This requirement is commonly referred to as the Nonmanufacturer Rule (NMR). 13 CFR 121.406(b). The NMR applies to a contract issued as a small business set-aside (except as stated below); a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) set-aside or sole-source contract; a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) set-aside or sole source contract; a women-owned small business (WOSB) or economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) set-aside or sole source contract; or 8(a) set-aside or sole source contract; a partial set-aside; or a set-aside of an order against a multiple award contract. The NMR does not apply to small business set-aside acquisitions with an estimated value between the micro-purchase threshold and the simplified acquisition threshold.

                    Sections 8(a)(17)(B)(iv)(II) and 46(a)(4)(B) of the Act authorize SBA to waive the NMR for a “class of products” for which there are no small business manufacturers or processors available to participate in the Federal market. The SBA identifies a “class of products” based on a combination of the six-digit NAICS code and a description of the class of products. A waiver would not have any effect on the requirements in 13 CFR 121.406(b) or on requirements external to the Act that involve domestic sources of supply, such as the Buy American Act, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8305, or the Trade Agreements Act, 19 U.S.C. 2501*et. seq.*

As implemented in SBA's regulations at 13 CFR 121.1202(c), in order to be considered available to participate in the Federal market for a class of products, a small business manufacturer must have submitted a proposal for a contract solicitation or been awarded a contract to supply the class of products within the last 24 months.

SBA has received a request for a class waiver for dental supplies and equipment. Specifically, the waiver would apply to dental chairs, dental delivery systems, dental lights, dental cabinets, dental stools, dental handpieces, dental infection control apparatus, dental air management systems, and mechanical room equipment under North American Industry Classification (NAICS) code 339114. If granted, the class waiver would allow otherwise qualified regular dealers to supply the waived item on certain small business contracts, regardless of the business size of the manufacturer. The applicable NAICS Code is 339114 because there are no small businesses that manufacturer this product. A search of the Federal marketplace revealed there are no small business manufacturers that can manufacture and supply this product to the Federal government.

                    SBA invites the public to comment on this pending request to waive the NMR for dental equipment and supplies. The public may comment or provide source information on any small business manufacturers of this class of products that are available to participate in the Federal market. The public comment period will run for 30 days after the date of publication in the                     **Federal Register**                    .                

                    More information on the NMR and class waivers can be found at Nonmanufacturer rule (                    *sba.gov*).                

Wallace D. Sermons, II,

Acting Director, Office of Government Contracting.

[FR Doc. 2022-05240 Filed 3-10-22; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8026-03-P