FAR Councils plan 14 Final Rules, 22 NPRMs

      The FAR Councils released their semiannual regulatory agenda showing plans for release of approximately 22 new proposed rules and 14 final rules during the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years. Some already have been published.

      The FAR rules generally originate in measures passed by Congress through the annual defense authorization bill.

      For the first quarter of fiscal 2023 ending on Dec. 31, the FAR Council listed 7 upcoming Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs), including:

• Explanations to unsuccessful offerers;
• Alignment of suspension and debarment procedures for contracts with those for grants, loans and other transactions; and
• Bans on criminal history inquiries.

      There also are 7 final rules pending before Dec. 31, 2022, including:

• Updates to whistleblower protections;
• Bans on Chinese telecom devices;
• Accelerated payments to small firms;
• Buy American Act amendments; and
• Increases to the minimum wage.

Read more:
FedRegister Semiannual Regulatory Agenda: https://bit.ly/3QFN9kT

DOJ must step up to debar bad vendors: Warren

      The Justice Dept. must apply its debarment authorities more broadly to keep corporate criminals away from government contracting, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, and Ben Ray Lujan, D-NM, wrote in a recent letter to the department.

      While the DOJ has the power to debar, it issued only three suspensions and eight debarment actions in fiscal 2020. “Even companies that engage in massive, years-long schemes to defraud the public are allowed to continue,” they wrote.

      The DOJ historically has viewed suspensions and debarments as an agency responsibility, but that “lax” approach must change, the senators wrote.

Read more at:
Senator's letter: https://bit.ly/3CoJ1Bw

LGBTQI contractors

      The GSA has signed an agreement with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce to increase access to GSA contracting opportunities and to enhance supplier diversity. The two organizations say they will work together to increase awareness of GSA programs, services and opportunities for LGBTQI-owned small business owners.

Read more at:
GSA news release: https://bit.ly/3QYX9Fs

Inside this edition:

September set-aside percentage likely to be highest rate of year

DOD M-P gets board support

New per diems start on Oct. 1

Final rule on new paths for past performance credit now in effect

Government saw surge of small biz fraud - Pt. 2

Polaris SB bids due Sept. 9

DOL prevailing wage live seminars

CIO-SP4 awards by Nov

Column: Overcoming Confusion Regarding FAR Cost Principles

Washington Insider:

Coronavirus Update