Definitions
Small business concerns
In general
Establishment of size standards
In general
Additional criteria
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—
is proposed after an opportunity for public notice and comment;
provides for determining—
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;
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 5 years;
the size of other business concerns on the basis of data over a period of not less than 3 years; or
other appropriate factors; and
is approved by the Administrator.
Variation by industry and consideration of other factors
Exclusion of certain security expenses from consideration for purpose of small business size standards
Determination required
Action required
Not later than 60 days after
initiate an adjustment to the size standards, as described in subparagraph (A), if the Administrator determines that such an adjustment would be fair and appropriate; or
provide a report to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives explaining in detail the basis for the determination by the Administrator that such an adjustment would not be fair and appropriate.
Qualified areas
In this paragraph, the term “qualified area” means—
Iraq,
Afghanistan, and
any foreign country which included a combat zone, as that term is defined in section 112(c)(2) of title 26, at the time of performance of the relevant Federal contract or subcontract.
Alternative size standard
In general
Interim rule
Until the date on which the alternative size standard established under subparagraph (A) is in effect, an applicant for a business loan under section 636(a) of this title or an applicant for a development company loan under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 may be eligible for such a loan if—
the maximum tangible net worth of the applicant is not more than $15,000,000; and
the average net income after Federal income taxes (excluding any carry-over losses) of the applicant for the 2 full fiscal years before the date of the application is not more than $5,000,000.
Proposed rulemaking
In conducting rulemaking to revise, modify or establish size standards pursuant to this section, the Administrator shall consider, and address, and make publicly available as part of the notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of final rule each of the following:
a detailed description of the industry for which the new size standard is proposed;
an analysis of the competitive environment for that industry;
the approach the Administrator used to develop the proposed standard including the source of all data used to develop the proposed rule making; and
the anticipated effect of the proposed rulemaking on the industry, including the number of concerns not currently considered small that would be considered small under the proposed rule making and the number of concerns currently considered small that would be deemed other than small under the proposed rulemaking.
Common size standards
Number of size standards
Petitions for reconsideration of size standards
In general
Time limit
Process for agency review
Judicial review
Rules or guidance
“Agency” defined
Qualified employee trust; eligibility for loan guarantee; “qualified employee trust” defined; regulations for treatment of trust as qualified employee trust
For purposes of this chapter, a qualified employee trust shall be eligible for any loan guarantee under section 636(a) of this title with respect to a small business concern on the same basis as if such trust were the same legal entity as such concern.
For purposes of this chapter, the term “qualified employee trust” means, with respect to a small business concern, a trust—
which forms part of an employee stock ownership plan (as defined in section 4975(e)(7) of title 26)—
which is maintained by such concern, and
which provides that each participant is entitled to direct the plan trustee as to the manner of how to vote the qualified employer securities (as defined in section 4975(e)(8) of title 26), which are allocated to the account of such participant with respect to a corporate matter which (by law or charter) must be decided by a vote conducted in accordance with section 409(e) of the title 26; and
in the case of any loan guarantee under section 636(a) of this title, the trustee of which enters into an agreement with the Administrator which is binding on the trust and on such small business concern and which provides that—
the loan guaranteed under section 636(a) of this title shall be used solely for the purchase of qualifying employer securities of such concern,
all funds acquired by the concern in such purchase shall be used by such concern solely for the purposes for which such loan was guaranteed,
such concern will provide such funds as may be necessary for the timely repayment of such loan, and the property of such concern shall be available as security for repayment of such loan, and
all qualifying employer securities acquired by such trust in such purchase shall be allocated to the accounts of participants in such plan who are entitled to share in such allocation, and each participant has a nonforfeitable right, not later than the date such loan is repaid, to all such qualifying employer securities which are so allocated to the participant’s account.
Under regulations which may be prescribed by the Administrator, a trust may be treated as a qualified employee trust with respect to a small business concern if—
the trust is maintained by an employee organization which represents at least 51 percent of the employees of such concern, and
such concern maintains a plan—
which is an employee benefit plan which is designed to invest primarily in qualifying employer securities (as defined in section 4975(e)(8) of title 26),
which provides that each participant in the plan is entitled to direct the plan as to the manner in which voting rights under qualifying employer securities which are allocated to the account of such participant are to be exercised with respect to a corporate matter which (by law or charter) must be decided by a majority vote of the outstanding common shares voted,
which provides that each participant who is entitled to distribution from the plan has a right, in the case of qualifying employer securities which are not readily tradeable on an established market, to require that the concern repurchase such securities under a fair valuation formula, and
which meets such other requirements (similar to requirements applicable to employee stock ownership plans as defined in section 4975(e)(7) of title 26) as the Administrator may prescribe, and
in the case of a loan guarantee under section 636(a) of this title, such organization enters into an agreement with the Administration which is described in paragraph (2)(B).
“Qualified Indian tribe” defined
“Public or private organization for the handicapped” defined
For purposes of section 636 of this title, the term “public or private organization for the handicapped” means one—
which is organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, operated in the interest of handicapped individuals, the net income of which does not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of any shareholder or other individuals;
which complies with any applicable occupational health and safety standard prescribed by the Secretary of Labor; and
which, in the production of commodities and in the provision of services during any fiscal year in which it received financial assistance under this subsection, employs handicapped individuals for not less than 75 per centum of the man-hours required for the production or provision of the commodities or services.
“Handicapped individual” defined
For purposes of section 636 of this title, the term “handicapped individual” means an individual—
who has a physical, mental, or emotional impairment, defect, ailment, disease, or disability of a permanent nature which in any way limits the selection of any type of employment for which the person would otherwise be qualified or qualifiable; or
who is a service-disabled veteran.
“Energy measures” defined
For purposes of section 636 of this title, the term “energy measures” includes—
solar thermal energy equipment which is either of the active type based upon mechanically forced energy transfer or of the passive type based on convective, conductive, or radiant energy transfer or some combination of these types;
photovoltaic cells and related equipment;
a product or service the primary purpose of which is conservation of energy through devices or techniques which increase the energy efficiency of existing equipment, methods of operation, or systems which use fossil fuels, and which is on the Energy Conservation Measures list of the Secretary of Energy or which the Administrator determines to be consistent with the intent of this subsection;
equipment the primary purpose of which is production of energy from wood, biological waste, grain, or other biomass source of energy;
equipment the primary purpose of which is industrial cogeneration of energy, district heating, or production of energy from industrial waste;
hydroelectric power equipment;
wind energy conversion equipment; and
engineering, architectural, consulting, or other professional services which are necessary or appropriate to aid citizens in using any of the measures described in paragraph (1) through (7).
“Credit elsewhere” defined
The term “credit elsewhere” means—
for the purposes of this chapter (except as used in section 636(b) of this title), the availability of credit on reasonable terms and conditions to the individual loan applicant from non-Federal, non-State, or non-local government sources, considering factors associated with conventional lending practices, including—
the business industry in which the loan applicant operates;
whether the loan applicant is an enterprise that has been in operation for a period of not more than 2 years;
the adequacy of the collateral available to secure the requested loan;
the loan term necessary to reasonably assure the ability of the loan applicant to repay the debt from the actual or projected cash flow of the business; and
any other factor relating to the particular credit application, as documented in detail by the lender, that cannot be overcome except through obtaining a Federal loan guarantee under prudent lending standards; and
for the purposes of section 636(b) of this title, the availability of credit on reasonable terms and conditions from non-Federal sources taking into consideration the prevailing rates and terms in the community in or near where the applicant business concern transacts business, or the applicant homeowner resides, for similar purposes and periods of time.
“Homeowners” defined
“Small agricultural cooperative” defined
“Disaster” defined
For the purposes of this chapter, the term “disaster” means a sudden event which causes severe damage including, but not limited to, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, explosions, volcanoes, windstorms, landslides or mudslides, tidal waves, commercial fishery failures or fishery resource disasters (as determined by the Secretary of Commerce under section 4107(b) of title 16), ocean conditions resulting in the closure of customary fishing waters, riots, civil disorders or other catastrophes, except it does not include economic dislocations.
For purposes of section 636(b)(2) of this title, the term “disaster” includes—
drought;
below average water levels in the Great Lakes, or on any body of water in the United States that supports commerce by small business concerns; and
ice storms and blizzards.
“Computer crime” defined
For purposes of this chapter—
2
any crime committed against a small business concern by means of the use of a computer; and
any crime involving the illegal use of, or tampering with, a computer owned or utilized by a small business concern.
Definitions relating to contracting
In this chapter:
Prime contract
Prime contractor
Simplified acquisition threshold
Micro-purchase threshold
Total purchases and contracts for property and services
“Small business concern owned and controlled by women” defined
For the purposes of this chapter, a small business concern is a small business concern owned and controlled by women if—
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
the management and daily business operations of the business are controlled by one or more women.
Definitions of bundling of contract requirements and related terms
In this chapter:
Bundled contract
Bundling of contract requirements
The term “bundling of contract requirements” means consolidating 2 or more procurement requirements for goods or services previously provided or performed under separate smaller contracts into a solicitation of offers for a single contract that is likely to be unsuitable for award to a small-business concern due to—
the diversity, size, or specialized nature of the elements of the performance specified;
the aggregate dollar value of the anticipated award;
the geographical dispersion of the contract performance sites; or
any combination of the factors described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
Separate smaller contract
Qualified HUBZone small business concern
Definitions relating to veterans
In this chapter, the following definitions apply:
Service-disabled veteran
Small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans
The term “small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans” means any of the following:
A small business concern—
not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock (not including any stock owned by an ESOP) of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans; and
the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans or, in the case of a veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran.
A small business concern—
not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans with a disability that is rated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as a permanent and total disability who are unable to manage the daily business operations of such concern; or
in the case of a publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock (not including any stock owned by an ESOP) of which is owned by one or more such veterans.
During the time period described in clause (ii), a small business concern that was a small business concern described in subparagraph (A) or (B) immediately prior to the death of a service-disabled veteran who was the owner of the concern, the death of whom causes the concern to be less than 51 percent owned by one or more service-disabled veterans, if—
the surviving spouse of the deceased veteran acquires such veteran’s ownership interest in such concern;
such veteran had a service-connected disability (as defined in section 101(16) of title 38); and
immediately prior to the death of such veteran, and during the period described in clause (ii), the small business concern is included in the database described in section 8127(f) of title 38.
The time period described in this clause is the time period beginning on the date of the veteran’s death and ending on the earlier of—
the date on which the surviving spouse remarries;
the date on which the surviving spouse relinquishes an ownership interest in the small business concern; or
the date that—
in the case of a surviving spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling or who dies as a result of a service-connected disability, is 10 years after the date of the death of the veteran; or
in the case of a surviving spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability rated as less than 100 percent disabling who does not die as a result of a service-connected disability, is 3 years after the date of the death of the veteran.
Small business concern owned and controlled by veterans
The term “small business concern owned and controlled by veterans” means a small business concern—
not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more veterans or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more veterans; and
the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more veterans.
Relief from time limitations
In general
Any time limitation on any qualification, certification, or period of participation imposed under this chapter on any program that is available to small business concerns shall be extended for a small business concern that—
is owned and controlled by—
a veteran who was called or ordered to active duty under a provision of law specified in section 101(a)(13)(B) of title 10 on or after
a service-disabled veteran who became such a veteran due to an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the active military, naval, or air service during a period of active duty pursuant to a call or order to active duty under a provision of law referred to in subclause (I) on or after
was subject to the time limitation during such period of active duty.
Duration
Exception for programs subject to Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990
ESOP
Surviving spouse
Definitions relating to small business lending companies
As used in section 650 of this title:
Small business lending company
Non-Federally regulated lender
The term “non-Federally regulated lender” means a business concern if—
such concern is authorized by the Administrator to make loans under section 636 of this title;
such concern is subject to regulation by a State; and
the lending activities of such concern are not regulated by any Federal banking authority.
Major disaster
Small business development center
Region of the Administration
Multiple award contract
In this chapter, the term “multiple award contract” means—
a multiple award task order contract or delivery order contract that is entered into under the authority of sections 4101, 4103, 4105, and 4106 of title 41; and
any other indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract that is entered into by the head of a Federal agency with 2 or more sources pursuant to the same solicitation.
Presumption
In general
Deemed certifications
The following actions shall be deemed affirmative, willful, and intentional certifications of small business size and status:
Submission of a bid or proposal for a Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, or cooperative research and development agreement reserved, set aside, or otherwise classified as intended for award to small business concerns.
Submission of a bid or proposal for a Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, or cooperative research and development agreement which in any way encourages a Federal agency to classify the bid or proposal, if awarded, as an award to a small business concern.
Registration on any Federal electronic database for the purpose of being considered for award of a Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, or cooperative research agreement, as a small business concern.
Certification by signature of responsible official
In general
Content of certifications
Regulations
Annual certification
In general
Regulations
Not later than 1 year after
no business concern continues to be certified as a small business concern on the Online Representations and Certifications Application database of the Administration, or any successor thereto, without fulfilling the requirements for annual certification under this subsection; and
the requirements of this subsection are implemented in a manner presenting the least possible regulatory burden on small business concerns.
Policy on prosecutions of small business size and status fraud
Aquaculture business disaster assistance
Venture capital operating company
Hedge fund
Private equity firm
Definitions pertaining to subcontracting
In this chapter:
Subcontract
First tier subcontractor
At any tier
Puerto Rico business
Source
(Pub. L. 85–536, § 2[3],Notes
References in Text
Codification
Prior Provisions
Amendments
Effective Date of 2019 Amendment
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Effective Date of 2016 Amendment
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Effective Date of 1987 Amendment
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment; Initial Review of Standards
Effective Dates.—
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (h), the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 637 and 644 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes below] shall take effect on
Initial Review of Size Standards.—
Paragraph (2) of section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (as added by subsection (f)) [15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [
The first review conducted by the Administrator under such paragraph shall review the periods beginning on
If the Administrator of the Small Business Administration determines, on the basis of the review referred to in paragraph (2), that contracts awarded under the set-aside programs under sections 8(a) and 15(a) of the Small Business Act [15 U.S.C. 637(a), 644(a)] in any industry category subject to that review exceed 30 percent of the dollar value of the total contract awards for that industry category, as determined in accordance with the last sentence of section 15(a)(3) of such Act, the Administrator shall propose adjustments to the size standards for such industry category establishing eligibility for a set-aside program to a size that will likely reduce the number of contracts which may be set aside to approximately 30 percent of the dollar value of the contracts to be awarded in that industry category. The Administrator shall publish proposed regulations, including any revised size standards, in the Federal Register by
Effective Date of 1984 Amendments
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Regulations
In General.—
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [
Federal Acquisition Regulation.—
Not later than 180 days after the date on which final regulations are published under subsection (a), the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council shall amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation in order to ensure consistency between the Federal Acquisition Regulation, this title and the amendments made by this title, and the final regulations published under subsection (a).”
In general.—
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [
Listing of additional size standards.—
The regulations required by paragraph (1) shall include a listing of all small business size standards prescribed by statute or by individual Federal departments and agencies, identifying the programs or purposes to which such size standards apply.”
Implementation
Requirement for plan.—
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Completion of plan actions.—
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the Administrator of General Services shall complete the actions required by the plan.
Regulations.—
No later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall promulgate any regulations necessary, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation shall be revised, to implement this section and the amendments made by this section.
Applicability.—
Any regulations promulgated pursuant to paragraph (3) shall apply to contracts entered into after the last day of the fiscal year in which the regulations are promulgated.”
Small Business Compliance Guide
Prohibition on Using TARP Funds or Tax Increases
In General.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), nothing in section 1111 [amending section 636 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 636 of this title], 1112 [amending section 696 of this title], 1113 [amending section 636 of this title], 1114 [124 Stat. 2508], 1115 [amending section 689d of this title], 1116 [amending this section], 1117 [amending section 634 of this title], 1118 [124 Stat. 2509], 1122 [amending section 696 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 696 of this title], or 1131 [amending section 636 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 636 of this title], or an amendment made by such sections, shall be construed to limit the ability of Congress to appropriate funds.
TARP Funds and Tax Increases.—
In general.—
Any covered amounts may not be used to carry out section 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, 1122, or 1131, or an amendment made by such sections.
Definition.—
In this subsection, the term ‘covered amounts’ means—
the amounts made available to the Secretary of the Treasury under title I of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 S.C. [sic] 5201 et seq.) [12 U.S.C. 5211 et seq.] to purchase (under section 101 [12 U.S.C. 5211]) or guarantee (under section 102 [12 U.S.C. 5212]) assets under that Act [12 U.S.C. 5201 et seq.]; and
any revenue increase attributable to any amendment to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. 1 et seq.] made during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [
Updated Size Standards
Rolling Review.—
In general.—
The Administrator shall—
during the 18-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [
after completing each review under subparagraph (A) make appropriate adjustments to the size standards established under section 3(a)(2) of the Small Business Act to reflect market conditions;
make publicly available—
information regarding the factors evaluated as part of each review conducted under subparagraph (A); and
information regarding the criteria used for any revised size standards promulgated under subparagraph (B); and
not later than 30 days after the date on which the Administrator completes each review under subparagraph (A), submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and make publicly available a report regarding the review, including why the Administrator—
used the factors and criteria described in subparagraph (C); and
adjusted or did not adjust each size standard that was reviewed under the review.
Complete review of size standards.—
The Administrator shall ensure that each size standard for small business concerns established under section 3(a)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)) is reviewed under paragraph (1) not less frequently than once every 5 years.
Rules.—
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [
HUBZone Status Time Line and Commencement
Definition.—
In this section, the term ‘covered base closure area’ means a base closure area that, on or before the date of enactment of this Act [
Treatment as HUBZone.—
In general.—
Subject to paragraph (2), a covered base closure area shall be treated as a HUBZone for purposes of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) during the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.
Limitation.—
The total period of time that a covered base closure area is treated as a HUBZone for purposes of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) pursuant to this section and section 152(a)(2) of the Small Business Reauthorization and Manufacturing Assistance Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 632 note) may not exceed 5 years.”
Continued Effectiveness of Numerical Size Standards in Effect on September 30, 1988
Report on Effect of 1986 Amendments
Definitions
the terms ‘Administration’ and ‘Administrator’ mean the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof, respectively; and
the term ‘small business concern’ has the meaning given that term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).”