Uniform Use of Line Items – DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to establish uniform use of line items in Federal procurement.
General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR); Fair Opportunity Complaints on GSA Contracts – The GSA is issuing a final rule amending the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation Part 552, Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses at 552.216-74 Task and Delivery Orders. The final rule clarifies (1) that the jurisdiction and responsibility to review and resolve fair opportunity complaints placed against GSA multiple-award contracts lies with the ordering-agency task and delivery order Ombudsman; (2) requires the ordering agency to include contact information for their task and delivery order Ombudsman when placing task or delivery orders against GSA multiple-award contracts; and (3) requires the contractor to provide a copy of its complaint to the GSA Procurement Ombudsman for informational purposes, at the same time the contractor files its complaint to the ordering agency for action. This final rule took effect on January 9, 2017.
National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 makes changes to SDVOSB Program – The NDAA of 2016 is trying to provide consistency to the Veterans Administration and the Small Business Administration programs for veteran-owned small businesses.
- Defines “small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans” in the small business act and makes the definition universal for both the SBA and VA SDVOSB Program.
- Requires VA to use the SBA regulations to verify the status of a concern as a small business and the ownership and control of such a concern, for purposes of the VA’s SDVOSB program
- States that the VA may not issue regulations related to the status of a concern as a small business or the ownership/control of such a business
- Both SBA and VA now allow a company owned by a spouse of a veteran who was 100% disabled at the time of his death or died as a result of a service-connected disability, and who acquires the ownership interest of the veteran after his death, to qualify as an SDVOSB (previously VA allowed this, but SBA did not)
Proposed Rule to Revise and Streamline VA Acquisition Regulation To Adhere to Federal Acquisition Regulation Principles – The Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) has a proposed rule to amend and update its VA Acquisition Regulation (“VAAR”), to revise or remove any policy that has been superseded by changes in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”), to remove any procedural guidance that is internal to the VA, and to incorporate any new regulations or policies. This proposed rule will correct inconsistencies, remove redundant and duplicate material already covered by the FAR, delete outdated material or information, and appropriately renumber VAAR text, clauses, and provisions where required to comport with FAR format, numbering, and arrangement. Comments are due on, or before, July 17, 2017.