SBA To Seek Comment on New Size Standards SBA tentatively plans to ask for public comment in February on its proposed changes in size standards for NAICS sector 54, covering professional, scientific and technical services. The advance notice of proposed rulemaking will mark the first public step in a long road toward final adoption of the new standards, which is not likely for at least another year. According to SBA’s semiannual regulatory agenda, it will also issue a notice of proposed changes in size standards for NAICS sectors 48-49, transportation and warehousing services. Industry groups have long pushed for increases in the standards for sector 54. TechAmerica, an IT industry association, has called for setting the standard for IT services at $50 million, up from the current $25 million in most categories. Many categories of professional, scientific and technical services operate under a $7 million standard. In its regulatory agenda, SBA also said it expects to publish its final rule governing the 8(a) program in February. The proposed rule, issued in October 2009, includes broad changes in joint-venture regulations as well as increases in the compensation and wealth limits for 8(a) business owners. Target dates in the regulatory agenda are subject to change. SBA said it plans to issue notices of proposed rules in January for several provisions of the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act. The Act requires new controls on contract bundling and on prime contractors’ use of small subcontractors. It creates mentor-protégé programs for service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone and woman-owned businesses. In addition, it imposes tough new penalties on contractors that falsely claim to be small. (SAA, 10/8/10)