S.Amdt. 2281

1. Adds SEC. 1082. PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FEDERAL PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS TO EARLY-STAGE SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS at the end of subtitle H of title X

   Adds a section

   In S. 1197 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (e) Date for Submittal of Comptroller General of the United States Report.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended by striking "December 30, 2013" and inserting "December 31, 2014".

   Inserted: SEC. 1082. PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FEDERAL PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS TO EARLY-STAGE SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "SEC. 48. PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FEDERAL PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS TO EARLY-STAGE SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

   Inserted: "(a) Definitions.--In this section--

   Inserted: "(1) the term 'early-stage small business concern' means a small business concern--

   Inserted: "(A) that has not more than 15 employees;

   Inserted: "(B) that--

   Inserted: "(i) has average annual receipts that total not more than $1,000,000; or

   Inserted: "(ii) is in an industry with a size standard of less than $1,000,000 in average annual receipts; and

   Inserted: "(C) that is certified as an early-stage small business concern--

   Inserted: "(i) by the Administrator; or

   Inserted: "(ii) by a Federal agency, State government, or national certifying entity approved by the Administrator to certify that the small business concern is an early-stage small business concern;

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   Inserted: "(2) the term 'Federal procurement contract' means a contract with a Federal agency for the procurement of goods or services; and

   Inserted: "(3) the term 'program' means the program established under subsection (b).

   Inserted: "(b) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish and carry out a program to provide improved access to Federal procurement contract opportunities for early-stage small business concerns in accordance with this section.

   Inserted: "(c) Procurement Contracts.--

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--In carrying out the program, the Administrator shall, in consultation with other Federal agencies, identify Federal procurement contracts of not less than $3,000 and not more than $50,000 to be awarded to early-stage small business concerns under the program.

   Inserted: "(2) Contract awards.--A Federal agency may award a contract identified under paragraph (1) to an early-stage small business concern selected, and determined to be responsible, by the Federal agency.

   Inserted: "(3) Competition.--

   Inserted: "(A) Sole source.--A contracting officer may award a sole source contract to an early-stage small business concern under the program if--

   Inserted: "(i) the contracting officer determines that the early-stage small business concern is a responsible contractor with respect to performance of the contract;

   Inserted: "(ii) the contracting officer does not have a reasonable expectation that 2 or more early-stage small business concerns will submit offers for the contract; and

   Inserted: "(iii) in the estimation of the contracting officer, the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price.

   Inserted: "(B) Restricted competition.--A contracting officer may award a contract under the program on the basis of competition restricted to early-stage small business concerns if the contracting officer has a reasonable expectation that--

   Inserted: "(i) 2 or more early-stage small business concerns will submit offers for the contract; and

   Inserted: "(ii) the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price.

   Inserted: "(4) Contract value.--A contract awarded under the program shall have a value greater than $3,000 and less than $50,000.

   Inserted: "(d) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator shall provide early-stage small business concerns with technical assistance and counseling regarding--

   Inserted: "(1) applying and competing for Federal procurement contracts; and

   Inserted: "(2) fulfilling administrative responsibilities associated with the performance of a Federal procurement contract.

   Inserted: "(e) Attainment of Contract Goals.--Contract awards made under the program shall count toward the attainment of the goals established under section 15(g).

   Inserted: "(f) Regulations.--The Administrator shall--

   Inserted: "(1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, propose regulations to carry out this section; and

   Inserted: "(2) not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this section, issue final regulations to carry out this section.

   Inserted: "(g) Report to Congress.--Not later than April 30, 2015, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the performance of the program.".

   Inserted: (b) Repeal of Similar Program.--Section 304 of the Small Business Administration Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 1994 (15 U.S.C. 644 note) is repealed.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:

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As printed