Document ID: EPA-HQ-OARM-2018-0165-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Acquisition Regulations: Removal of EPA Mentor Protege Program
Posted Date: 2018-06-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28772-28774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13349]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

48 CFR Parts 1519 and 1552

[EPA-HQ-OARM-2018-0165; FRL-9979-24-OARM]

Acquisition Regulation: Removal of EPA Mentor 
Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is taking 
direct final action to amend the EPA Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) by 
removing Mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] clause requirement and the 
corresponding provision and clause, ``Mentor Prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
Program'' and ``Procedures for Participation in the EPA Mentor 
Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program''.

DATES: This final rule is effective on September 19, 2018 without 
further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by July 23, 2018. 
If EPA receives adverse comment, we will publish a timely withdrawal in 
the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take 
effect.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OARM-2018-0165, at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any 
comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA 
will generally not consider comments or comment contents located 
outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other 
file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA 
public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, 
and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shakethia Allen, Policy, Training, and 
Oversight Division, Acquisition Policy and Training Service Center 
(3802R), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-5157; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Executive Summary

    This direct final rule makes the following changes to 48 CFR parts 
1519 and 1552: (1) Remove 1519.203, Mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute], (2) 
clause 1552.219-70, Mentor Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program, and (3) 
provision 1552.219-71, Procedures for Participation in the EPA Mentor 
Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program.

II. General Information

A. Why is EPA using a direct final rule?

    EPA is publishing this rule without a prior proposed rule because 
we view this as a noncontroversial action and anticipate no adverse 
comment. If EPA receives adverse comment, we will publish a timely 
withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that the rule 
will not take effect. Any parties interested in commenting must do so 
at this time.

B. Does this action apply to me?

    EPAAR 1519.203 and corresponding clause and provision, 
respectively, 1552.219-70 and 1552.219-71 apply to all contractors who 
hold a current contract with EPA which includes these clauses.

C. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?

    1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through 
www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the 
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or 
CD ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD ROM as 
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD ROM the 
specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one 
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as 
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information 
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. 
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with 
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
    2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
     Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other 
identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and 
page number).
     Follow directions--The agency may ask you to respond to 
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
     Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives 
and substitute language for your requested changes.
     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how 
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and 
suggest alternatives.
     Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the 
use of profanity or personal threats.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.

III. Background

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mentor-
Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program was established to stimulate small 
disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) and women-owned small businesses 
(WOSBs) participation in Agency contracts. Prime contractors (mentors) 
provide technical and managerial support to SDBs or WOSBs 
subcontractors (prot[eacute]g[eacute]s).
    The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 provided authority for the Small 
Business Administration (SBA) to establish mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
programs for all small businesses. Rather than creating separate 
programs for each constituency--Service Disabled Veteran Owned 
Businesses, Women Owned Small Businesses, Historically Underutilized 
Business Zones--the SBA chose to create a single, all-inclusive mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] program modeled on the successful mentor-
prot[eacute]g[eacute] program available to participants in its 8(a) 
program. SBA's mentor prot[eacute]g[eacute] program is federal wide, so 
EPA can use it instead of managing its own program.

[[Page 28773]]

EPA will use SBA's program to reduce redundancy and increase 
efficiencies.

IV. Statutory and Executive Orders Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 
Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

    This action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the 
terms of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) 
and therefore, not subject to review under the E.O..

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This action does not impose an information collection burden under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. 
No information is collected under this action.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as Amended by the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act generally requires an agency to 
prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice 
and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure 
Act or any other statute; unless the agency certifies that the rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. Small entities include small businesses, small 
organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions. For purposes of 
assessing the impact of this rule on small entities,''small entity''is 
defined as: (1) A small business that meets the definition of a small 
business found in the Small Business Act and codified at 13 CFR 
121.201; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of 
a city, county, town, school district or special district with a 
population of less than 50,000; and (3) a small organization that is 
any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated 
and is not dominant in its field. After considering the economic 
impacts of this rule on small entities, I certify that this action will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. This action removes a current EPAAR provision and does not 
impose requirements involving capital investment, implementing 
procedures, or record keeping. This rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on small entities.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, Local, and Tribal 
governments and the private sector. This rule contains no Federal 
mandates (under the regulatory provisions of the Title II of the UMRA) 
for State, Local, and Tribal governments or the private sector. The 
rule imposes no enforceable duty on any State, Local or Tribal 
governments or the private sector. Thus, the rule is not subject to the 
requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the UMRA.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August 
10, 1999), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure 
``meaningful and timely input by State and Local officials in the 
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.'' 
``Policies that have federalism implications'' is defined in the 
Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.'' This rule 
does not have federalism implications. It will not have substantial 
direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government as specified in 
Executive Order 13132.

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination 
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful 
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory 
policies that have tribal implications.'' This rule does not have 
tribal implications as specified in Executive Order 13175.

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health and Safety Risks

    Executive Order 13045, entitled ``Protection of Children from 
Environmental Health and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), 
applies to any rule that: (1) Is determined to be economically 
significant as defined under Executive Order 12886, and (2) concerns an 
environmental health or safety risk that may have a proportionate 
effect on children.
    This rule is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it is not 
an economically significant rule as defined by Executive Order 12866, 
and because it does not involve decisions on environmental health or 
safety risks.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This final rule is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions 
Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution or Use'' (66 FR 28335, May 22, 2001), because it is not a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA)

    Section 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) of NTTAA, Public Law 104-113, 
directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory 
activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling 
procedures and business practices) that are developed or adopted by 
voluntary consensus standards bodies. The NTTAA directs EPA to provide 
Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use 
available and applicable voluntary consensus standards. This final 
rulemaking does not involve technical standards. Therefore, EPA is not 
considering the use of any voluntary consensus standards.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    Executive Order 12898 Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (59 FR 7629, 
February 16, 1994) establishes federal executive policy on 
environmental justice. Its main provision directs federal agencies, to 
the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law, to make 
environmental justice part of their mission by identifying and 
addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human 
health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and 
activities on minority populations and low-income populations in the 
United States. EPA has determined that this final rulemaking will not 
have disproportionately high and adverse

[[Page 28774]]

human health or environmental effects on minority or low-income 
populations because it does not affect the level of protection provided 
to human health or the environment. This rulemaking does not involve 
human health or environmental effects.

K. Congressional Review

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. Section 804 exempts from section 801 the following types 
of rules (1) rules of particular applicability; (2) rules relating to 
agency management or personnel; and (3) rules of agency organization, 
procedure, or practice that do not substantially affect the rights or 
obligations of non-agency parties. 5 U.S.C. 804(3). EPA is not required 
to submit a rule report regarding this action under section 801 because 
this is a rule of agency organization, procedure, or practice that does 
not substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-agency 
parties. EPA will use SBA's federal wide mentor prot[eacute]g[eacute] 
program instead of managing its own program.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1519 and 1552

    Environmental protection, Government procurement, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Small businesses.

    Dated: May 16, 2018.
Kimberly Patrick,
Director, Office of Acquisition Management.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, 48 CFR parts 1519 and 1552 
are amended as set forth below:

PART 1519--SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

0
1. The authority citation for part 1519 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sec. 205(c), 63 Stat. 390, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 
486(c).

1519.203  [Removed and reserved]

0
2. Section 1519.203 is removed and reserved.

PART 1552--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
3. The authority citation for part 1552 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301 and 41 U.S.C. 418b.

1552.219-70  [Removed and reserved]

0
4. Section 1552.219-70 is removed and reserved.

1552.219-71  [Removed and reserved]

0
5. Section 1552.219-71 is removed and reserved.

[FR Doc. 2018-13349 Filed 6-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P