Federal Acquisition Regulation; Contract Bundling

AGENCIES:

Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement Sections 411-417 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. Sections 411-417 amend Title 15 of the United States Code to define “contract bundling,” and to require agencies to avoid unnecessary bundling that precludes small business participation in the performance of Federal contracts.

DATES:

Effective Date: July 26, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The FAR Secretariat, Room 4035, GS Building, Washington, DC, 20405, (202) 501-4755, for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of content, contact Mr. Ralph De Stefano, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-1758. Please cite FAC 97-19, FAR case 1997-306.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

DoD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule in the Federal Register at 64 FR 72441, December 27, 1999. The interim rule is converted to a final rule, with changes, and amends FAR Parts 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 19 to implement Sections 411-417 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-135, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) interim rule published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 57366, October 25, 1999.

We received comments from six respondents in response to the interim rule and considered them in drafting the final rule.

This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., applies to this final rule. The Councils prepared a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA). The FAR Secretariat has submitted a copy of the FRFA to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. The FRFA is summarized as follows:

This rule amends FAR Parts 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 19 to implement Sections 411-417 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-135. Sections 411-417 amend Title 15 of the United States Code to define “contract bundling,” and to require agencies to avoid unnecessary bundling that precludes small business participation in the performance of Federal contracts.

The objective of the rule is to establish agency procedures for processing bundled requirements and to ensure maximum small business participation in bundled acquisitions. Agencies must—

• Perform market research when bundled requirements are anticipated;
• Justify bundling in acquisition strategies;
• Meet specific estimated benefit thresholds before bundling requirements;
• Assess the impact of bundling on small businesses;
• Submit solicitations containing bundled requirements to the Small Business Administration (SBA) procurement center representatives for review; and
• Include, in negotiated competitions for bundled requirements, a source selection factor for the offerors' proposed use of small businesses as subcontractors and their past performance in meeting subcontracting goals.

These objectives are stated in Sections 411-417 of Pub. L. 105-135 and in SBA's implementing regulations, published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 57366, October 25, 1999. We published an interim rule in the Federal Register at 64 FR 72441, December 27, 1999. Six respondents provided public comments. There are no practical alternatives that will accomplish the objective of this rule (i.e., to ensure maximum participation of small businesses in Federal contracting as agencies combine requirements in the face of downsizing and other cost-saving measures). No viable alternatives were proposed during the public comment period.

Interested parties may obtain a copy of the FRFA from the FAR Secretariat.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to the FAR do not impose information collection requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR parts 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 19

• Government procurement

Interim Rule Adopted as Final With Changes

Accordingly, DoD, GSA, and NASA adopt the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 19 which was published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 72441, December 27, 1999, as a final rule with the following changes:

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 19 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 U.S.C. 2473(c).

PART 2—DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS

2. Amend section 2.101 by revising the definition “Bundled contract” to read as follows:

PART 5—PUBLICIZING CONTRACT ACTIONS

3. In section 5.206, revise the introductory text of paragraph (a) to read as follows:

PART 7—ACQUISITION PLANNING

4. Amend section 7.107 by revising the section heading and paragraphs (b)(2) and (h) to read as follows:

PART 10—MARKET RESEARCH

5. In section 10.001, revise paragraph (c) to read as follows:

PART 15—CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION

6. Amend section 15.305 by revising paragraph (a)(5) to read as follows:

PART 19—SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

7. Amend section 19.101 by adding paragraph (g)(5) to read as follows:

8. Amend section 19.202-1 by revising paragraph (e)(1)(iii) to read as follows: