SBA Increase Size Standards

The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has published in the Federal Register two final rules revising size definitions for small businesses in two broad industry categories and has proposed for comment another rule affecting businesses in a third category. The industry sectors affected by the two final rules are Sector 51 Information and Sector 56 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services. The industries covered by the proposed rule are Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction. SBA increased the revenue-based size standards for 15 industries and retained the current revenue-based size standards for five industries in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 51: Information. SBA will review the employee-based size standards within this sector at a later date. Up to 500 additional firms will become eligible for SBA’s loan and federal procurement programs as a result of these revisions. This final rule can be accessed at: www.regulations.gov.   Final Rule: Small Business Size Standards; Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services (RIN 3245-AG27). SBA also proposed increasing three revenue-based size standards and retaining one current revenue-based size standard in NAICS Sector 21: Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction. SBA evaluated four industries in this sector to determine whether their size standards should be revised or retained. SBA will review the employee-based size standards within this sector at a later date. Up to 475 more firms in this sector would become eligible for SBA’s loan and federal procurement programs under the proposed revenue-based size standards, if adopted. Comments can be submitted on this proposed rule on or before February 4, 2013, at www.regulations.gov, identified by the following RIN number: Proposed Rule: Small Business Size Standards; Support Activities for Mining (RIN 3245-AG44). You may also mail comments to Khem R. Sharma, Chief, Office of Size Standards, 409 3rd St., SW, Mail Code 6530, Washington, DC 20416. Increases to size standards will enable some growing small businesses in these sectors to retain their small business status; will give federal agencies a larger pool of small businesses to choose from for small business procurement opportunities, and will help eligible small businesses benefit from SBA’s loan programs. As part of an ongoing review of all size standards, SBA takes into account the structural characteristics of individual industries, including average firm size, startup cost and entry barriers, the degree of competition, and small business share of federal government contracting dollars. This ensures that small business size definitions reflect current economic conditions and federal marketplace in those industries. Under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, SBA will continue its comprehensive review of all size standards for the next several years.