of commercial items any provision of law that is not included on such list. (2) A provision of law described in subsection (c) shall be included on the list of inapplicable provisions of law required by paragraph (1) unless the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council makes a written determination that it would not be in the best interest of the Federal Government to exempt subcontracts under a contract for the procurement of commercial items from the applicability of the provision. (3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the waiver of the applicability of any provision of law with respect to any subcontract under a contract with a prime contractor reselling or distributing commercial items of another contractor without adding value. adding (4) In this subsection, the term "subcontract" includes a transfer of commercial items between divisions, subsidiaries, or affiliates of a contractor or subcontractor. (c) COVERED LAW.-A provision of law referred to in subsections (a)(2) and (b) is any provision of law that, as determined by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, sets forth policies, procedures, requirements, or restrictions for the procurement of property or services by the Federal Government, except for a provision of law that— (1) provides for criminal or civil penalties; or (2) specifically refers to this section and provides that, notwithstanding this section, it shall be applicable to contracts for the procurement of commercial items. (d) PETITION.-In the event that a provision of law described in subsection (c) is not included on the list of inapplicable provisions of law as required by subsection (a) or (b), and no written determination has been made by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council pursuant to subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2), a person may petition the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy to take appropriate action. The Administrator shall revise the Federal Acquisition Regulation to include the provision on the list of inapplicable provisions of law unless the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council makes a determination pursuant to subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) within 60 days after the date on which the petition is received. SELECTED PROVISIONS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ACT SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Small Business Act". SEC. 3. [15 U.S.C. 632] (a)(1) For the purposes of this Act, a small-business concern, including but not limited to enterprises that are engaged in the business of production of food and fiber, ranching and raising of livestock, aquaculture, and all other farming and agricultural related industries, shall be deemed to be one which is independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operation: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, an agricultural enterprise shall be deemed to be a small business concern if it (including its affiliates) has annual receipts not in excess of $500,000. (2)1 ESTABLISHMENT OF SIZE STANDARDS.— (A) IN GENERAL.-In addition to the criteria specified in paragraph (1), the Administrator may specify detailed definitions or standards by which a business concern may be determined to be a small business concern for the purposes of this Act or any other Act. (B) ADDITIONAL CRITERIA.-The standards described in paragraph (1) may utilize number of employees, dollar volume of business, net worth, net income, a combination thereof, or other appropriate factors. (C) REQUIREMENTS.-Unless specifically authorized by statute, no Federal department or agency may prescribe a size standard for categorizing a business concern as a small business concern, unless such proposed size standard (i) is proposed after an opportunity for public notice and comment; 1Margin so in law. 89-263 95-20 (ii) provides for determining (I) the size of a manufacturing concern as measured by the manufacturing concern's average employment based upon employment during each of the manufacturing concern's pay periods for the preceding 12 months; (II) the size of a business concern providing services on the basis of the annual average gross receipts of the business concern over a period of not less than 3 years; (III) the size of other business concerns on the basis of data over a period of not less than 3 years; or (IV) other appropriate factors; and (iii) is approved by the Administrator. (3) When establishing or approving any size standard pursuant to paragraph (2), the Administrator shall ensure that the size standard varies from industry to industry to the extent necessary to reflect the differing characteristics of the various industries and consider other factors deemed to be relevant by the Administrator. (b) For purposes of this Act, any reference to an agency or department of the United States, and the term "Federal agency," shall have the meaning given the term "agency" by section 551(1) of title 5, United States Code, but does not include the United States Postal Service or the General Accounting Office. [(c) (1) omitted.] (m) For purposes of this Act, the term "simplified acquisition threshold" has the meaning given such term in section 4(11) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403(11)). (n) For the purposes of this Act, a small business concern is a small business concern owned and controlled by women if— (1) at least 51 percent of small business concern is owned by one or more women or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women; and (2) the management and daily business operations of the business are controlled by one or more women. SEC. 8.2 [15 U.S.C. 637] (a)(1) It shall be the duty of the Administration and it is hereby empowered, whenever it determines such action is necessary or appropriate 2 Section 303(f) of Public Law 100-656 (102 Stat. 3871; 15 U.S.C. 637 note) provides: (f) OPTIONS. (1) The Small Business Administration shall make substantial and sustained efforts to achieve a maximum ten-day period as the average processing time for approving options and modifications to contracts awarded pursuant to section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) and submitted to such Administration for approval. (2) Within sixty days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Small Business Administration, and the appropriate Federal agency, shall make substantial and sustained efforts to negotiate contract modifications for fair market price for any and all unpriced options contained in active contracts previously awarded pursuant to section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) with the contractor that was initially awarded such contract. (3) During the period of time described in paragraph (2), such agencies shall refrain from procuring such requirements from alternative sources except that, no delay may be incurred pursuant to this paragraph that would cause substantial harm to a public interest. (4) The Small Business Administration shall take appropriate actions, including publication in the Federal Register, to advise small business concerns and Federal agencies of the requirements of this subsection. (5) The Administration shall, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize delay, eliminate excess regulation, and require only such paperwork as may be necessary to effect the orderly and efficient management of the Program established by section 7(jX10) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636jX10)) and the award of contracts pursuant to section 8(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)). Section 602 of Public Law 100-656 (102 Stat. 3887; 15 U.S.C. 637 note), as amended, provides: SEC. 602. INDIAN TRIBE EXEMPTIONS. (a) COMPETITIVE THRESHOLDS.-Section 8(a)(1)(D) of the Small Business Act, as added by section 303 of this Act, shall not apply to Program Participants that are owned and controlled by economically disadvantaged Indian tribes, as defined pursuant to paragraphs (4) and (13) of section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a) (4) and (13)).' (b) JOINT VENTURES.-The Administration is authorized to award a contract pursuant to section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) to a joint venture notwithstanding the size status of such joint venture if (1) a party to the joint venture is a Program Participant that is owned and controlled by an economically disadvantaged Indian tribe (as defined pursuant to paragraphs (4) and (13) of section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a) (4) and (13)); and (2) such Program Participant: (A) owns 51 per centum or more of such joint venture; |