Federal Acquisition Regulation: Update of “Affiliates” and Section 8(a) Clauses

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to update the definition of “affiliates” in the FAR, including references to that definition, and to delete an obsolete requirement for contractors who are 8(a) Program participants.

DATES:

Effective October 10, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Marilyn E. Chambers, Procurement Analyst, at 202-285-7380 for clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 202-501-4755. Please cite FAC 2019-06, FAR Case 2019-006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

DoD, GSA, and NASA are amending the FAR to revise the definition of “affiliates” at FAR 19.101, as well as references to this definition at FAR 2.101, 19.001, 19.1303, 19.1403, and in the clause at FAR 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside. The clauses at FAR 52.219-12, Special 8(a) Subcontract Conditions, and 52.219-17, Section 8(a) Award, currently require contractors who are 8(a) Program participants to obtain written approval from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the contracting officer before subcontracting the performance of any contract requirements. SBA has removed this requirement from their regulations on the 8(a) Program at 13 CFR part 124. Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA are removing this obsolete requirement from the FAR.

II. Discussion and Analysis

A. Definition of “affiliates” in parts 2 and 9.

Subpart 2.1, Definitions, is amended to revise the definition of “affiliates” to include references to the unique definitions of that term in 9.403 and 19.101.

B. Definition of “concern”. Section 19.001, Definitions, is amended to delete a reference to section 19.101 regarding affiliation and to replace it with a reference to SBA's regulations at 13 CFR 121.105.

C. Definition of “affiliates” in part 19. Subpart 19.1, Size Standards, is amended to revise the definition of “affiliates” by deleting existing language and replacing it with a reference to SBA's regulations on determining affiliation at 13 CFR 121.103. Editorial changes are made in 19.1303(c), 19.1403(c)(3), and paragraph (e)(3) of the clause at 52.219-27 to remove references to the definition of “affiliates” in 19.101 and 52.219-27 and to replace them with references to the applicable SBA regulation.

D. Removal of obsolete requirement for 8(a) contractors. The clauses at FAR 52.219-12 and 52.219-17 are amended to delete from each clause the paragraph requiring 8(a) contractors to obtain approval from SBA and the contracting officer prior to subcontracting the performance of any contract requirements. These paragraphs are obsolete.

III. Publication of This Final Rule for Public Comment Is Not Required by Statute

The statute that applies to the publication of the FAR is the Office of Federal Procurement Policy statute (codified at title 41 of the United States Code). Specifically, 41 U.S.C. 1707(a)(1) requires that a procurement policy, regulation, procedure, or form (including an amendment or modification thereof) must be published for public comment if it relates to the expenditure of appropriated funds, and has either a significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures of the agency issuing the policy, regulation, procedure, or form, or has a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or offerors. While this final rule relates to the expenditure of appropriated funds, it is not required to be published for public comment, because it does not have a significant effect or impose any requirements on contractors or offerors. The rule makes minor revisions to the definition of “affiliates” that have no bearing on the meaning of the term and replaces FAR coverage that is redundant of SBA regulations with references to SBA's rules. Additionally, this rule eliminates a requirement that no longer exists in SBA's regulations on the 8(a) Business Development Program at 13 CFR part 124.

IV. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) and for Commercial Items, Including Commercially Available Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Items

This rule amends the FAR to update the definition of “affiliates,” as well as a reference to this definition in the clause at 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside. Additionally, this rule removes an obsolete requirement from the clauses at FAR 52.219-12, Special 8(a) Subcontract Conditions, and 52.219-17, Section 8(a) Award, for contractors who are 8(a) Program participants to obtain written approval from SBA and the contracting officer before subcontracting the performance of any contract requirements. This rule does not change the applicability of these clauses, which currently apply to solicitations and contracts below the SAT and to the acquisition of commercial items, including COTS items.

V. Expected Cost Savings

This rule impacts only 8(a) Program participants who do business with the Government. Currently, 8(a) Program participants who have Federal contracts must obtain written approval from SBA and the contracting officer before subcontracting the performance of any contract requirements in accordance with FAR clauses 52.219-12 and 52.219-17. Removal of the requirement to obtain this approval is expected to result in savings for contractors who are 8(a) Program participants. The following is a summary of the estimated public and Government cost savings calculated in perpetuity in 2016 dollars at a 7-percent discount rate:

To access the full Regulatory Cost Analysis for this rule, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov,, search for “FAR Case 2019-006”, click “Open Docket,” and view “Supporting Documents”.

VI. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

VII. Executive Order 13771

This final rule is considered to be an E.O. 13771 deregulatory action. The total annualized value of the cost savings is $1,189,185. Details on the estimated cost savings can be found in section V. of this preamble.

VIII. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) does not apply to this rule, because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment are not required to be given for this rule under 41 U.S.C. 1707(a)(1) (see section III. of this preamble). Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required and none has been prepared.

IX. Paperwork Reduction Act

The rule does not contain any information collection requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 2, 19, and 52

• Government procurement

Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 2, 19, and 52 as set forth below:

1. The authority citation for parts 2, 9, 19, and 52 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 U.S.C. 20113.

PART 2—DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS

2. Amend section 2.101, in paragraph (b)(2), by revising the definition of “Affiliates” to read as follows:

PART 19—SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

3. Amend section 19.001, in the defined term “Concern” by removing the last sentence and adding “For more information, see 13 CFR 121.105.” in its place.

4. Amend section 19.101 by revising the section heading and the definition of “Affiliates” to read as follows:

5. Amend section 19.1303, in paragraph (c) by removing “the explanation of affiliates (see 19.101)” and adding “ 13 CFR 121.103(h)” in its place.

6. Amend section 19.1403, in paragraph (c)(3), by removing “of paragraph 7 of the explanation of Affiliates in 19.101” and adding “in 13 CFR 121.103(h)” in its place.

PART 52—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

7. Amend section 52.212-5 by revising the date of the clause and paragraph (b)(21) to read as follows:

8. Amend section 52.219-12 by—

a. Revising the date of the clause;

b. Removing paragraph (b)(3);

c. Redesignating paragraph (b)(4) as (b)(3); and

d. Removing from newly redesignated paragraph (b)(3) “That is” and adding “That it” in its place.

The revision reads as follows:

9. Amend section 52.219-17 by revising the date of the clause and paragraph (a)(2) and removing paragraph (c).

The revisions read as follows:

10. Amend section 52.219-27 by revising the date of the clause and removing from paragraph (e)(3) “paragraph 7 of the explanation of Affiliates in 19.101 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation” and adding “ 13 CFR 121.103(h)” in its place.

The revision reads as follows: