[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 27952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11707]
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
13 CFR Part 121
RIN 3245-AG07
Small Business Size Standards: Professional, Scientific and
Technical Services.
AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: On March 16, 2011, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA
or Agency) proposed to increase small business size standards for 35
industries and one sub-industry in North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) Sector 54, Professional, Scientific and
Technical Services and one industry in NAICS Sector 81, Other Services.
SBA provided a 60-day comment period ending on May 16, 2011. In this
notice, SBA is extending the comment period an additional 30 days to
June 15, 2011.
DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on March 16,
2011, at 76 FR 14323, is extended through June 15, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 3245-AG07 by one
of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments; or
(2) Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Khem R. Sharma, PhD, Chief, Size
Standards Division, 409 Third Street, SW., Mail Code 6530, Washington,
DC 20416.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The SBA's Office of Size Standards at
(202) 205-6618 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In the proposed rule (76 FR 14323), SBA sought public comment on
whether the proposed increases to size standards are appropriate given
the economic characteristics of industries. Based on its analysis of
industry and Federal procurement data and the use of a common size
standard, for some industries SBA proposed to increase the size
standards by more than three times their current levels (e.g.,
Engineering, Architectural and Related Services), while for some other
industries proposed increases are more modest (e.g., Computer System
Designs and Related Services). SBA also sought public feedback on a
number of policy issues regarding its size standards methodology, such
as whether SBA's proposal to apply eight fixed size standards levels is
appropriate to simplify size standards and whether SBA should adopt a
common size standards for related industries although the analysis
might support a different size standard for each industry.
As of May 9, 2011, SBA has received over 210 comments to the
proposed rule which are posted on http://www.regulations.gov. Some
comments support SBA's proposed increases, some feel that proposed
increases are too large, and others believe that proposed increases are
too small. Given the impact the proposed changes might have on affected
businesses and the lack of consensus in the comments received to date,
SBA believes that the Agency and the affected industries will benefit
from more public input before it finalizes any changes. Therefore, SBA
is extending the comment period to June 15, 2011. This will also give
more time to affected businesses and interested parties to review the
proposed changes and prepare accurate, constructive and convincing
comments to the proposed rule.
Dated: May 9, 2011.
Joseph Jordan,
Associate Administrator for Government Contracting and Business
Development.
[FR Doc. 2011-11707 Filed 5-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P