83_FR_19230 83 FR 19146 - Federal Acquisition Regulation: Duties of Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

83 FR 19146 - Federal Acquisition Regulation: Duties of Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 84 (May 1, 2018)

Page Range19146-19148
FR Document2018-09166

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to reflect sections of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which amend section 15(k) of the Small Business Act to provide additional duties for agencies' Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), and for DoD's Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19146-19148]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09166]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 19

[FAC 2005-98; FAR Case 2017-008: Item II; Docket No. 2017-0008; 
Sequence No. 1]
RIN 9000-AN36


Federal Acquisition Regulation: Duties of Office of Small and 
Disadvantaged Business Utilization

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to reflect sections of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which amend 
section 15(k) of the Small Business Act to provide additional duties 
for agencies' Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
(OSDBU), and for DoD's Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP).

DATES: Effective: May 31, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Janet Fry, Procurement Analyst, at 
703-605-3167 for clarification of content. For information pertaining 
to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat 
Division at 202-501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-98, FAR Case 2017-008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA are amending the FAR to reflect sections of the 
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 
(Pub. L. 114-328), which amend the Small Business Act to provide 
additional duties for OSDBUs. By operation of 10 U.S.C. 144(b), these 
additional duties also apply to OSBPs. Section 1812, paragraph (a) of 
section 1813, and paragraph (b) of section 1821 of the NDAA for FY 2017 
amend section 15(k) of the Small Business Act to add duties for OSDBUs 
and OSBPs.
    Section 1812 of the NDAA for FY 2017 amends the Small Business Act 
to specifically reference the existing duties of OSDBUs and OSBPs with 
respect to the various small business programs and consolidation of 
contract requirements. Section 1812 also requires that OSDBUs and OSBPs 
review summary purchase card data for acquisitions above the micro-
purchase threshold (e.g., $3,500), but below the simplified acquisition 
threshold (e.g., $150,000), to ensure these acquisitions are compliant 
with the Small Business Act and have been properly recorded in the 
Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). The revision to the FAR 
reflecting section 1812 of the NDAA includes flexibility for each OSDBU 
or OSBP to identify the best purchase card data available to their 
agency when implementing the statutory requirement.
    Paragraph (a) of section 1813 requires OSDBUs and OSBPs to provide 
assistance to a small business prime contractor or subcontractor in 
finding resources for education and training on compliance with the FAR 
after award of their contract or subcontract.
    Paragraph (b) of section 1821 requires OSDBUs and OSBPs to review 
all required small business subcontracting plans to ensure that they 
provide maximum practicable opportunity for small business concerns to 
participate as subcontractors.
    Currently, acquisition-related duties of OSDBUs and OSBPs are found 
in FAR 19.201, General policy. The duties found in FAR 19.201 are based 
on the duties found in section 15(k) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 644(k)). Additional OSDBU and OSBP acquisition-related duties 
enacted before the NDAA for FY 2017 listed at 15 U.S.C. 644(k), which 
were not previously updated in the FAR, are also included in this rule.
    Additionally, this rule revises the OSDBU and OSBP duty at FAR 
19.201(c)(5), which relates to increasing small business participation 
in solicitations that involve bundling. This revision reflects that 
OSDBUs and OSBPs perform much broader functions under those scenarios 
than what is currently listed in the FAR.

II. Publication of This Final Rule for Public Comment Is Not Required 
by Statute

    The statute that applies to the publication of the FAR is the 
Office of Federal Procurement Policy statute (codified at title 41 of 
the United States Code). Specifically, 41 U.S.C. 1707(a)(1) requires 
that a procurement policy,

[[Page 19147]]

regulation, procedure, or form (including an amendment or modification 
thereof) must be published for public comment if it relates to the 
expenditure of appropriated funds, and has either a significant effect 
beyond the internal operating procedures of the agency issuing the 
policy, regulation, procedure, or form, or has a significant cost or 
administrative impact on contractors or offerors. While this final rule 
relates to the expenditure of appropriated funds, it is not required to 
be published for public comment because it does not have a significant 
effect or impose any requirements on contractors or offerors; the rule 
only provides information to contracting officers. This information 
affects only the internal operating procedures of the Government.

III. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition 
Threshold (SAT) and for Commercial Items, Including Commercially 
Available Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Items

    This rule amends FAR 19.201, General policy. The objective of the 
rule is to update the list of duties for OSDBUs and OSBPs in line with 
section 15(k) of the Small Business Act. No clauses or provisions are 
being created or revised by this rule.

IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess 
all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 
13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, 
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. 
This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 
subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning 
and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule 
under 5 U.S.C. 804.

V. Executive Order 13771

    This rule is exempt under E.O. 13771 as it is related to agency 
organization, management, or personnel.

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) does not 
apply to this rule, because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an 
opportunity for public comment are not required to be given for this 
rule under 41 U.S.C. 1707(a)(1) (see section II. of this preamble). 
Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required and none 
has been prepared.

VII. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The rule does not contain any information collection requirements 
that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 19

    Government procurement.

    Dated: April 25, 2018.
William F. Clark,
Director, Office of Government-wide Acquisition Policy, Office of 
Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy.

    Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR part 19 as set forth 
below:

PART 19--SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

0
1. The authority citation for part 19 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 
U.S.C. 20113.


0
2. Amend section 19.201 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows.


19.201   General policy.

* * * * *
    (c) The Small Business Act requires each agency with contracting 
authority to establish an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization (see section 15(k) of the Small Business Act). For the 
Department of Defense, in accordance with section 904 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Pub. L. 109-163) (10 
U.S.C. 144 note), the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization has been redesignated as the Office of Small Business 
Programs. Management of the office is the responsibility of an officer 
or employee of the agency who, in carrying out the purposes of the 
Act--
    (1) Is known as the Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization, or for the Department of Defense, the Director of Small 
Business Programs;
    (2) Is appointed by the agency head;
    (3) Is responsible to and reports directly to the agency head or 
the deputy to the agency head;
    (4) Is responsible for the agency carrying out the functions and 
duties in sections 8, 15, 31, 36, and 44 of the Small Business Act;
    (5) Works with the SBA procurement center representative (or, if a 
procurement center representative is not assigned, see 19.402(a)(2)) to 
identify proposed solicitations that involve bundling and work with the 
agency acquisition officials and SBA to revise the acquisition 
strategies for such proposed solicitations to increase the probability 
of participation by small businesses;
    (6) Assists small business concerns in obtaining payments under 
their contracts, late payment interest penalties, or information on 
contractual payment provisions;
    (7) Has supervisory authority over agency personnel to the extent 
that their functions and duties relate to sections 8, 15, 31, 36, and 
44 of the Small Business Act;
    (8) Assigns a small business technical advisor to each contracting 
activity within the agency to which the SBA has assigned a 
representative (see 19.402)--
    (i) Who is a full-time employee of the contracting activity, well 
qualified, technically trained, and familiar with the supplies or 
services contracted for by the activity; and
    (ii) Whose principal duty is to assist the SBA's assigned 
representative in performing functions and duties relating to sections 
8, 15, 31, 36, and 44 of the Small Business Act;
    (9) Cooperates and consults on a regular basis with the SBA in 
carrying out the agency's functions and duties in sections 8, 15, 31, 
36, and 44 of the Small Business Act;
    (10) Makes recommendations in accordance with agency procedures as 
to whether a particular acquisition should be awarded under subpart 
19.5 as a small business set-aside, under subpart 19.8 as a section 
8(a) award, under subpart 19.13 as a HUBZone set-aside, under subpart 
19.14 as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside, or 
under subpart 19.15 as a set-aside for economically disadvantaged 
women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concerns or women-owned small 
business (WOSB) concerns eligible under the WOSB Program;
    (11) Conducts annual reviews to assess the--
    (i) Extent to which small businesses are receiving a fair share of 
Federal procurements, including contract opportunities under the 
programs administered under the Small Business Act;
    (ii) Adequacy of consolidated or bundled contract documentation and 
justifications; and
    (iii) Actions taken to mitigate the effects of necessary and 
justified consolidation or bundling on small businesses;

[[Page 19148]]

    (12) Provides a copy of the assessment made under paragraph (c)(11) 
of this section to the Agency Head and SBA Administrator;
    (13) Provides to the chief acquisition officer and senior 
procurement executive advice and comments on acquisition strategies, 
market research, and justifications related to consolidation of 
contract requirements;
    (14) When notified by a small business concern prior to the award 
of a contract that the small business concern believes that a 
solicitation, request for proposal, or request for quotation unduly 
restricts the ability of the small business concern to compete for the 
award--
    (i) Submits the notification by the small business concern to the 
contracting officer and, if necessary, recommends ways in which the 
solicitation, request for proposal, or request for quotation may be 
altered to increase the opportunity for competition; and
    (ii) Informs the advocate for competition of such agency (as 
established under 41 U.S.C 1705 or 10 U.S.C. 2318) of such 
notification;
    (15) Ensures agency purchases using the Governmentwide purchase 
card that are greater than the micro-purchase threshold and less than 
the simplified acquisition threshold were made in compliance with the 
Small Business Act and were properly recorded in accordance with 
subpart 4.6 in the Federal Procurement Data System;
    (16) Assists small business contractors and subcontractors in 
finding resources for education and training on compliance with 
contracting regulations;
    (17) Reviews all subcontracting plans required by 19.702(a) to 
ensure the plan provides maximum practicable opportunity for small 
business concerns to participate in the performance of the contract; 
and
    (18) Performs other duties listed at 15 U.S.C. 644(k).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2018-09166 Filed 4-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P



                                            19146                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                            rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C.                   (ii) Protests of orders in excess of the            of the Small Business Act to add duties
                                            804.                                                    thresholds stated in 16.505(a)(10)(i)(B)              for OSDBUs and OSBPs.
                                                                                                    may only be filed with the Government                   Section 1812 of the NDAA for FY
                                            VII. Executive Order 13771                                                                                    2017 amends the Small Business Act to
                                                                                                    Accountability Office, in accordance
                                              Pursuant to E.O. 13771, this rule is a                with the procedures at 33.104.                        specifically reference the existing duties
                                            deregulatory action. Information on the                 *      *    *      *    *                             of OSDBUs and OSBPs with respect to
                                            expected cost savings of this action can                [FR Doc. 2018–09165 Filed 4–30–18; 8:45 am]           the various small business programs and
                                            be found in section III of the preamble.                BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P
                                                                                                                                                          consolidation of contract requirements.
                                                                                                                                                          Section 1812 also requires that OSDBUs
                                            VIII. Regulatory Flexibility Act                                                                              and OSBPs review summary purchase
                                              Because a notice of proposed                          DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                 card data for acquisitions above the
                                            rulemaking and an opportunity for                                                                             micro-purchase threshold (e.g., $3,500),
                                            public comment are not required to be                   GENERAL SERVICES                                      but below the simplified acquisition
                                            given for this rule under 41 U.S.C.                     ADMINISTRATION                                        threshold (e.g., $150,000), to ensure
                                            1707(a)(1) (see section V. of this                                                                            these acquisitions are compliant with
                                            preamble), the analytical requirements                  NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND                              the Small Business Act and have been
                                            of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5                    SPACE ADMINISTRATION                                  properly recorded in the Federal
                                            U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are not applicable.                                                                       Procurement Data System (FPDS). The
                                            Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility                  48 CFR Part 19                                        revision to the FAR reflecting section
                                            analysis is required and none has been                                                                        1812 of the NDAA includes flexibility
                                                                                                    [FAC 2005–98; FAR Case 2017–008: Item
                                            prepared.                                               II; Docket No. 2017–0008; Sequence No. 1]
                                                                                                                                                          for each OSDBU or OSBP to identify the
                                                                                                                                                          best purchase card data available to
                                            IX. Paperwork Reduction Act                             RIN 9000–AN36                                         their agency when implementing the
                                              The rule does not contain any                                                                               statutory requirement.
                                            information collection requirements that                Federal Acquisition Regulation: Duties                  Paragraph (a) of section 1813 requires
                                            require the approval of the Office of                   of Office of Small and Disadvantaged                  OSDBUs and OSBPs to provide
                                            Management and Budget under the                         Business Utilization                                  assistance to a small business prime
                                            Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.                      AGENCY:  Department of Defense (DoD),                 contractor or subcontractor in finding
                                            chapter 35).                                            General Services Administration (GSA),                resources for education and training on
                                                                                                    and National Aeronautics and Space                    compliance with the FAR after award of
                                            List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 16
                                                                                                    Administration (NASA).                                their contract or subcontract.
                                                Government procurement.                                                                                     Paragraph (b) of section 1821 requires
                                                                                                    ACTION: Final rule.
                                              Dated: April 25, 2018.                                                                                      OSDBUs and OSBPs to review all
                                            William F. Clark,                                       SUMMARY:   DoD, GSA, and NASA are                     required small business subcontracting
                                                                                                    issuing a final rule amending the                     plans to ensure that they provide
                                            Director, Office of Government-wide
                                            Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition               Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to               maximum practicable opportunity for
                                            Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy.               reflect sections of the National Defense              small business concerns to participate
                                                                                                    Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017,               as subcontractors.
                                              Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA are                                                                             Currently, acquisition-related duties
                                            amending 48 CFR part 16 as set forth                    which amend section 15(k) of the Small
                                                                                                    Business Act to provide additional                    of OSDBUs and OSBPs are found in
                                            below:                                                                                                        FAR 19.201, General policy. The duties
                                                                                                    duties for agencies’ Office of Small and
                                                                                                    Disadvantaged Business Utilization                    found in FAR 19.201 are based on the
                                            PART 16—TYPES OF CONTRACTS                                                                                    duties found in section 15(k) of the
                                                                                                    (OSDBU), and for DoD’s Office of Small
                                            ■ 1. The authority citation for part 16                 Business Programs (OSBP).                             Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(k)).
                                            continues to read as follows:                                                                                 Additional OSDBU and OSBP
                                                                                                    DATES: Effective: May 31, 2018.
                                                                                                                                                          acquisition-related duties enacted before
                                              Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C.                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.                  the NDAA for FY 2017 listed at 15
                                            chapter 137; and 51 U.S.C. 20113.                       Janet Fry, Procurement Analyst, at 703–               U.S.C. 644(k), which were not
                                            ■ 2. Amend section 16.505 by revising                   605–3167 for clarification of content.                previously updated in the FAR, are also
                                            paragraph (a)(10) to read as follows:                   For information pertaining to status or               included in this rule.
                                                                                                    publication schedules, contact the                      Additionally, this rule revises the
                                            16.505   Ordering.                                      Regulatory Secretariat Division at 202–               OSDBU and OSBP duty at FAR
                                               (a) * * *                                            501–4755. Please cite FAC 2005–98,                    19.201(c)(5), which relates to increasing
                                               (10)(i) No protest under subpart 33.1                FAR Case 2017–008.                                    small business participation in
                                            is authorized in connection with the                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            solicitations that involve bundling. This
                                            issuance or proposed issuance of an                                                                           revision reflects that OSDBUs and
                                            order under a task-order contract or                    I. Background
                                                                                                                                                          OSBPs perform much broader functions
                                            delivery-order contract, except—                          DoD, GSA, and NASA are amending                     under those scenarios than what is
                                               (A) A protest on the grounds that the                the FAR to reflect sections of the                    currently listed in the FAR.
                                            order increases the scope, period, or                   National Defense Authorization Act
                                            maximum value of the contract; or                       (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 (Pub.                II. Publication of This Final Rule for
                                               (B)(1) For agencies other than DoD,                  L. 114–328), which amend the Small                    Public Comment Is Not Required by
                                            NASA, and the Coast Guard, a protest of                 Business Act to provide additional                    Statute
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                                            an order valued in excess of $10 million                duties for OSDBUs. By operation of 10                    The statute that applies to the
                                            (41 U.S.C. 4106(f)); or                                 U.S.C. 144(b), these additional duties                publication of the FAR is the Office of
                                               (2) For DoD, NASA, or the Coast                      also apply to OSBPs. Section 1812,                    Federal Procurement Policy statute
                                            Guard, a protest of an order valued in                  paragraph (a) of section 1813, and                    (codified at title 41 of the United States
                                            excess of $25 million (10 U.S.C.                        paragraph (b) of section 1821 of the                  Code). Specifically, 41 U.S.C. 1707(a)(1)
                                            2304c(e)).                                              NDAA for FY 2017 amend section 15(k)                  requires that a procurement policy,


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                           19147

                                            regulation, procedure, or form                          1707(a)(1) (see section II. of this                    proposed solicitations that involve
                                            (including an amendment or                              preamble). Accordingly, no regulatory                  bundling and work with the agency
                                            modification thereof) must be published                 flexibility analysis is required and none              acquisition officials and SBA to revise
                                            for public comment if it relates to the                 has been prepared.                                     the acquisition strategies for such
                                            expenditure of appropriated funds, and                                                                         proposed solicitations to increase the
                                                                                                    VII. Paperwork Reduction Act
                                            has either a significant effect beyond the                                                                     probability of participation by small
                                            internal operating procedures of the                      The rule does not contain any                        businesses;
                                            agency issuing the policy, regulation,                  information collection requirements that                  (6) Assists small business concerns in
                                            procedure, or form, or has a significant                require the approval of the Office of                  obtaining payments under their
                                            cost or administrative impact on                        Management and Budget under the                        contracts, late payment interest
                                            contractors or offerors. While this final               Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.                     penalties, or information on contractual
                                            rule relates to the expenditure of                      chapter 35).                                           payment provisions;
                                            appropriated funds, it is not required to               List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 19                        (7) Has supervisory authority over
                                            be published for public comment                                                                                agency personnel to the extent that their
                                            because it does not have a significant                        Government procurement.                          functions and duties relate to sections 8,
                                            effect or impose any requirements on                      Dated: April 25, 2018.                               15, 31, 36, and 44 of the Small Business
                                            contractors or offerors; the rule only                  William F. Clark,                                      Act;
                                            provides information to contracting                     Director, Office of Government-wide                       (8) Assigns a small business technical
                                            officers. This information affects only                 Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition              advisor to each contracting activity
                                            the internal operating procedures of the                Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy.              within the agency to which the SBA has
                                            Government.                                                                                                    assigned a representative (see 19.402)—
                                                                                                      Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA
                                            III. Applicability to Contracts at or                   amend 48 CFR part 19 as set forth                         (i) Who is a full-time employee of the
                                            Below the Simplified Acquisition                        below:                                                 contracting activity, well qualified,
                                            Threshold (SAT) and for Commercial                                                                             technically trained, and familiar with
                                            Items, Including Commercially                           PART 19—SMALL BUSINESS                                 the supplies or services contracted for
                                            Available Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Items                    PROGRAMS                                               by the activity; and
                                                                                                                                                              (ii) Whose principal duty is to assist
                                               This rule amends FAR 19.201,                         ■ 1. The authority citation for part 19                the SBA’s assigned representative in
                                            General policy. The objective of the rule               continues to read as follows:                          performing functions and duties relating
                                            is to update the list of duties for                                                                            to sections 8, 15, 31, 36, and 44 of the
                                                                                                      Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C.
                                            OSDBUs and OSBPs in line with section                                                                          Small Business Act;
                                                                                                    chapter 137; and 51 U.S.C. 20113.
                                            15(k) of the Small Business Act. No                                                                               (9) Cooperates and consults on a
                                            clauses or provisions are being created                 ■ 2. Amend section 19.201 by revising
                                                                                                    paragraph (c) to read as follows.                      regular basis with the SBA in carrying
                                            or revised by this rule.                                                                                       out the agency’s functions and duties in
                                            IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563                    19.201     General policy.                             sections 8, 15, 31, 36, and 44 of the
                                                                                                    *     *     *     *     *                              Small Business Act;
                                               Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and
                                                                                                      (c) The Small Business Act requires                     (10) Makes recommendations in
                                            13563 direct agencies to assess all costs
                                                                                                    each agency with contracting authority                 accordance with agency procedures as
                                            and benefits of available regulatory
                                                                                                    to establish an Office of Small and                    to whether a particular acquisition
                                            alternatives and, if regulation is
                                                                                                    Disadvantaged Business Utilization (see                should be awarded under subpart 19.5
                                            necessary, to select regulatory
                                                                                                    section 15(k) of the Small Business Act).              as a small business set-aside, under
                                            approaches that maximize net benefits
                                                                                                    For the Department of Defense, in                      subpart 19.8 as a section 8(a) award,
                                            (including potential economic,
                                                                                                    accordance with section 904 of the                     under subpart 19.13 as a HUBZone set-
                                            environmental, public health and safety
                                                                                                    National Defense Authorization Act for                 aside, under subpart 19.14 as a service-
                                            effects, distributive impacts, and
                                                                                                    Fiscal Year 2006 (Pub. L. 109–163) (10                 disabled veteran-owned small business
                                            equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the
                                                                                                    U.S.C. 144 note), the Office of Small and              set-aside, or under subpart 19.15 as a
                                            importance of quantifying both costs
                                                                                                    Disadvantaged Business Utilization has                 set-aside for economically
                                            and benefits, of reducing costs, of
                                                                                                    been redesignated as the Office of Small               disadvantaged women-owned small
                                            harmonizing rules, and of promoting
                                                                                                    Business Programs. Management of the                   business (EDWOSB) concerns or
                                            flexibility. This is not a significant
                                                                                                    office is the responsibility of an officer             women-owned small business (WOSB)
                                            regulatory action and, therefore, was not
                                                                                                    or employee of the agency who, in                      concerns eligible under the WOSB
                                            subject to review under Section 6(b) of
                                                                                                    carrying out the purposes of the Act—                  Program;
                                            E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and
                                            Review, dated September 30, 1993. This                    (1) Is known as the Director of Small                   (11) Conducts annual reviews to
                                            rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C.                 and Disadvantaged Business Utilization,                assess the—
                                            804.                                                    or for the Department of Defense, the                     (i) Extent to which small businesses
                                                                                                    Director of Small Business Programs;                   are receiving a fair share of Federal
                                            V. Executive Order 13771                                  (2) Is appointed by the agency head;                 procurements, including contract
                                              This rule is exempt under E.O. 13771                    (3) Is responsible to and reports                    opportunities under the programs
                                            as it is related to agency organization,                directly to the agency head or the                     administered under the Small Business
                                            management, or personnel.                               deputy to the agency head;                             Act;
                                                                                                      (4) Is responsible for the agency                       (ii) Adequacy of consolidated or
                                            VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act                          carrying out the functions and duties in               bundled contract documentation and
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                                              The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5                     sections 8, 15, 31, 36, and 44 of the                  justifications; and
                                            U.S.C. 601 et seq.) does not apply to this              Small Business Act;                                       (iii) Actions taken to mitigate the
                                            rule, because a notice of proposed                        (5) Works with the SBA procurement                   effects of necessary and justified
                                            rulemaking and an opportunity for                       center representative (or, if a                        consolidation or bundling on small
                                            public comment are not required to be                   procurement center representative is not               businesses;
                                            given for this rule under 41 U.S.C.                     assigned, see 19.402(a)(2)) to identify


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                                            19148                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                              (12) Provides a copy of the assessment                DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                 under a contract or subcontract subject
                                            made under paragraph (c)(11) of this                                                                          to the overtime provisions of the
                                            section to the Agency Head and SBA                      GENERAL SERVICES                                      Contract Work Hours and Safety
                                            Administrator;                                          ADMINISTRATION                                        Standards Act was required or
                                                                                                                                                          permitted to work in excess of the
                                              (13) Provides to the chief acquisition
                                                                                                    NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND                              standard workweek of 40 hours without
                                            officer and senior procurement                          SPACE ADMINISTRATION                                  payment of the required overtime
                                            executive advice and comments on                                                                              wages. Since this rate will continue to
                                            acquisition strategies, market research,                48 CFR Parts 22 and 52                                change annually for inflation, FAR
                                            and justifications related to                                                                                 22.302, Liquidated Damages and
                                            consolidation of contract requirements;                 [FAC 2005–98; FAR Case 2017–004; Item
                                                                                                    III; Docket No. 2017–0004, Sequence                   Overtime Pay, and paragraph (b) of FAR
                                              (14) When notified by a small                         No. 1]                                                clause 52.222–4, Contract Work Hours
                                            business concern prior to the award of                                                                        and Safety Standards—Overtime
                                                                                                    RIN 9000–AN37                                         Compensation, are revised to reference
                                            a contract that the small business
                                            concern believes that a solicitation,                                                                         the current liquidated damages rate, as
                                                                                                    Federal Acquisition Regulation:
                                            request for proposal, or request for                                                                          specified in the DOL regulations at 29
                                                                                                    Liquidated Damages Rate Adjustment
                                            quotation unduly restricts the ability of                                                                     CFR 5.5(b)(2). With this reference being
                                            the small business concern to compete                   AGENCY:  Department of Defense (DoD),                 incorporated in lieu of the dollar
                                            for the award—                                          General Services Administration (GSA),                amount, an annual FAR change will not
                                                                                                    and National Aeronautics and Space                    be necessary.
                                              (i) Submits the notification by the                   Administration (NASA).
                                            small business concern to the                                                                                 III. Applicability to Contracts at or
                                                                                                    ACTION: Final rule.                                   Below the Simplified Acquisition
                                            contracting officer and, if necessary,
                                            recommends ways in which the                                                                                  Threshold and for Commercial Items,
                                                                                                    SUMMARY:    DoD, GSA, and NASA are                    Including Commercially Available Off-
                                            solicitation, request for proposal, or                  issuing a final rule to amend the Federal             the-Shelf Items
                                            request for quotation may be altered to                 Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to adjust
                                            increase the opportunity for                            for inflation the rate of liquidated                     This rule amends the FAR to refer to
                                            competition; and                                        damages assessed for violations of the                the rate of liquidated damages for
                                                                                                    overtime provisions of the Contract                   violations of the overtime provisions of
                                              (ii) Informs the advocate for                                                                               the Contract Work Hours and Safety
                                            competition of such agency (as                          Work Hours and Safety Standards Act.
                                                                                                                                                          Standards Act, in accordance with DOL
                                            established under 41 U.S.C 1705 or 10                   DATES: Effective: May 31, 2018.
                                                                                                                                                          regulations, rather than provide a
                                            U.S.C. 2318) of such notification;                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.                  specific dollar rate, because this rate is
                                              (15) Ensures agency purchases using                   Zenaida Delgado, Procurement Analyst,                 adjusted annually. The revisions do not
                                            the Governmentwide purchase card that                   at 202–969–7207 for clarification of                  add any new burdens or impact
                                                                                                    content. For information pertaining to                applicability of clauses and provisions
                                            are greater than the micro-purchase
                                                                                                    status or publication schedules, contact              at or below the simplified acquisition
                                            threshold and less than the simplified
                                                                                                    the Regulatory Secretariat Division at                threshold, or to commercial items.
                                            acquisition threshold were made in
                                                                                                    202–501–4755. Please cite FAC 2005–
                                            compliance with the Small Business Act                  98, FAR Case 2017–004.                                IV. Publication of This Final Rule for
                                            and were properly recorded in                                                                                 Public Comment Is Not Required by
                                                                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                            accordance with subpart 4.6 in the                                                                            Statute
                                            Federal Procurement Data System;                        I. Background                                            The statute that applies to the
                                              (16) Assists small business contractors                  DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a                   publication of the Federal Acquisition
                                            and subcontractors in finding resources                 final rule amending the Federal                       Regulation (FAR) is the Office of Federal
                                            for education and training on                           Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to                       Procurement Policy statute (codified at
                                            compliance with contracting                             implement the Department of Labor                     title 41 of the United States Code).
                                            regulations;                                            (DOL) interim final rule published in                 Specifically, 41 U.S.C. 1707(a)(1)
                                                                                                    the Federal Register at 81 FR 43430 on                requires that a procurement policy,
                                              (17) Reviews all subcontracting plans
                                                                                                    July 1, 2016, the final rule published in             regulation, procedure, or form
                                            required by 19.702(a) to ensure the plan                                                                      (including an amendment or
                                                                                                    the Federal Register at 82 FR 5373 on
                                            provides maximum practicable                                                                                  modification thereof) must be published
                                                                                                    January 18, 2017, and subsequent
                                            opportunity for small business concerns                                                                       for public comment if it relates to the
                                                                                                    adjustments for inflation pursuant to the
                                            to participate in the performance of the                Federal Civil Penalties Inflation                     expenditure of appropriated funds, and
                                            contract; and                                           Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by                 has either a significant effect beyond the
                                              (18) Performs other duties listed at 15               the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation                 internal operating procedures of the
                                            U.S.C. 644(k).                                          Adjustment Act Improvements Act of                    agency issuing the policy, regulation,
                                            *      *    *     *     *                               2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act) (section              procedure, or form, or has a significant
                                            [FR Doc. 2018–09166 Filed 4–30–18; 8:45 am]             701 of Pub. L. 114–74) (28 U.S.C. 2461                cost or administrative impact on
                                            BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P
                                                                                                    Note). The Inflation Adjustment Act                   contractors or offerors. This final rule is
                                                                                                    requires agencies to adjust the levels of             not required to be published for public
                                                                                                    civil monetary penalties for inflation no             comment, because this final FAR rule
                                                                                                                                                          merely implements the requirements of
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with RULES2




                                                                                                    later than January 15 of each year.
                                                                                                                                                          the DOL rule that was published for
                                                                                                    II. Discussion and Analysis                           comment—interim final rule published
                                                                                                       The DOL rule set the new rate of                   in the Federal Register at 81 FR 43430
                                                                                                    liquidated damages at $25 per                         on July 1, 2016, and the final rule
                                                                                                    individual for each calendar day on                   published in the Federal Register at 82
                                                                                                    which a laborer or mechanic employed                  FR 5373 on January 18, 2017. The new


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Document Created: 2018-05-01 00:24:30
Document Modified: 2018-05-01 00:24:30
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesEffective: May 31, 2018.
ContactMs. Janet Fry, Procurement Analyst, at 703-605-3167 for clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 202-501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-98, FAR Case 2017-008.
FR Citation83 FR 19146 
RIN Number9000-AN36

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