99 -- Petroleum Refiners - New Small Business Size Standard - Final Rule

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued a final rule modifying the small business size standard for petroleum refiners in the context of Federal Government procurement. The primary change involves increasing the capacity component threshold from 75,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 125,000 barrels per calendar day (bpcd), with capacity now explicitly defined in barrels per calendar day. Additionally, the measurement of a refiner's size is based on the total Operable Atmospheric Crude Oil Distillation Capacity. This updated definition aims to more accurately determine what qualifies as a small refiner for Federal contracting purposes. However, the existing employee size standard of 1,500 employees remains unchanged. The rule became effective on April 28, 2003, and was published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2003. It provides clearer guidelines for assessing the size of petroleum refineries when bidding on government contracts for refined petroleum products, reflecting industry realities more effectively. Those interested in further details or the official rule text can access it through the SBA website or the federal regulations portal. This adjustment ensures that procurement policies remain relevant and fair while fostering opportunities for qualified small refiners.