99 -- SBA issues final rule to amend parts 121 (Small Business Size Standards) and 134 (Appeals of Size Determinations) of 13 CFR

The U.S. Small Business Administration has issued a final rule that revises key aspects of its small business size regulations, specifically amending parts 121 and 134 of Title 13 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This rule updates the definitions related to affiliation and employees, which are critical in determining small business size standards. In addition to these substantive changes, the rule incorporates procedural and technical modifications to ensure the regulations effectively cover programs such as the HUBZone Program and the government-wide Small Disadvantaged Business Program. The amendments also serve to formalize several established precedents from the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals, providing clearer guidance on the jurisdiction and processes of that office in appeals of size determination decisions. These regulatory changes aim to modernize the framework through which the SBA evaluates and oversees small business classifications, ensuring consistency and clarity in how size determinations are made and appealed. The revised rules are intended to streamline the SBA’s review process while supporting small businesses in qualifying for federal programs that assist economically disadvantaged and historically underutilized communities. For further details or inquiries, the Office of Size Standards provides contact through a designated program analyst, Carl G Jordan. The final rule was published on May 24, 2004, under the solicitation number Reference-Number-part121-fr-20040521 and falls under NAICS code 926110.