Small Business Program

Regulatory News & General Information on Proposed Legislation: FAR and SBA updates

Size Standard Change Proposed for Testing Laboratories

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Small Business Administration is proposing an increase to the revenue-based size standard for the testing laboratories industry from $6 million to $10 million in average annual receipts.

The increase in the size limit to $10 million will allow larger firms to qualify for SBA assistance under the agency's size standards, which limit the size of businesses that qualify as small under SBA program eligibility rules.

The revision was prompted by requests from the industry to revise the size standards in light of government requirements on laboratories that specialize in environmental and radiochemical testing. As a result, meeting those requirements has made the process cost-prohibitive for some small companies.

The new size standard was published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2002 as a proposed rule with a 60-day comment period expiring on June 10. Comments can be submitted to Gary Jackson, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Size Standards, 409 3rd St. SW, Mail Code 6530, Washington, DC 20416; or via e-mail to sizestandards@sba.gov. The SBA will make all public comments available upon request.

For additional information on the new size standard, call Robert N. Ray, Office of Size Standards, (202) 205-6618, or visit the SBA's Office of Size Standards Web page at www.sba.gov/size, and click on "What's New?"

For more information on any of SBA's programs for small businesses, call the SBA Answer Desk at 1-800 U ASK SBA or TDD 704-344-6640. Also, visit the SBA's extensive Web site at www.sba.gov.

You can receive all of the SBA's News Releases via e-mail. To subscribe, visit http://www.sba.gov/news/indexheadline.html and click on "Subscribe to SBA News."

The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program

The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program is designed to stimulate economic development by providing federal contracting opportunities to small businesses located in eligible areas. The SBA administers the HUBZone program and certifies companies for eligibility.

Congress has set a goal of 3% of the total value of all federal agency contract dollars for HUBZone contracting opportunities. For FY 2000 the goal is 1.5%, or approximately $2 billion. The goal increases 0.5% each year through FY 2003, at which time the 3% maximum will be reached and the estimated available dollars will exceed $6 billion.

To review the program's requirements and to determine if your firm meets the eligibility criteria for the program, visit SBA's HUBZone home page at www.sba.gov/hubzone/section05b.htm or contact your local SBA office.

If your firm meets the eligibility criteria, WESTON encourages you to apply for certification. Any firm not certified by the SBA cannot participate in the program or be claimed as a HUBZone firm by prime contractors.

Information Announcement SBA SDB Certification Program

The SBA has implemented a program requiring all SDB firms to apply for certification by October 1, 1999. Any firm that has not been certified and listed in the SBA's certification database, or that has not applied for certification by October 1, 1999, cannot be claimed as an SDB by prime contractors and cannot be classified as a certified SDB under other programs. 8 (a) firms are being automatically certified. If your firm is not classified as an 8 (a) firm, you should contact your local SBA office to obtain the necessary information and application forms for attaining certification. The process can take several weeks if the paperwork is properly prepared; improperly prepared paperwork will be returned for correction, thereby extending the process.

To receive an application for SDB certification, call the SBA at 1-800-558-0884.

You may also visit the SBA Web site: www.sba.gov/sdb.