The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is increasing 37 small business size standards for 34 industries and three sub-industries in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 54, Professional, Technical, and Scientific Services. SBA is also increasing the one size standard in NAICS Sector 81, Other Services, which it did not review in 2010.  The final rule is effective March 12, 2012.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the Small Business Administration’s regulations establishing the Women-Owned Small Business Program.  Effective Date of Interim Rule:  April 1, 2011;  Comments due on or before May 31, 2011.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposes to increase small business size standards for 35 industries and  one sub-industry in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 54, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services and one industry in NAICS Sector 81, Other Services. Aspart of its ongoing comprehensive review of all size standards, SBA has evaluated 45 industries and three subindustries in NAICS Sector 54 and one industry in NAICS Sector 81 to determine whether the existing size standards should be retained or revised. Comments due on or before May 16, 2011.

SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA have adopted as final, with changes, the interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement section 826, Market Research, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. Section 826 requires the head of an agency to take appropriate steps to ensure that any prime contractor of a contract (or task order or delivery order)
in an amount in excess of $5 million for the procurement of items other than commercial items engages in market research as necessary before making purchases.  Effective date: April 15, 2011

SBA proposes changes to the regulations governing the section 8(a) Business Development (8(a) BD) program, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA or Agency) size regulations, and the regulations affecting Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs). It is the first comprehensive revision to the 8(a) BD program in more than ten years. Some of the changes involve technical issues
such as changing the term ‘‘SIC code’’ to ‘‘NAICS code’’ to reflect the national conversion to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).  Effective date: March 14, 2011