[Federal Register: October 6, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 194)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58110]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06oc08-26]                         

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ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

 
Notice of Proposed Small Business Set-Aside Program

AGENCY: Architect of the Capitol.

SUMMARY: The Architect of the Capitol invites comments on the proposed 
small business set-aside program for use with small purchases awarded 
by the Architect of the Capitol.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 5, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Russell (Procurement Division), 
202-226-1407, e-mail: smallbusiness@aoc.gov.

    Authority: 2 U.S.C. 1821 and 41 U.S.C. 5, 41 U.S.C. 6a-1.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AOC is interested in adopting a small 
business set-aside program that includes many of the procedural 
principles contained inthe Small Business Act and as implemented in 13 
CFR Part 121, 13 CFR Part 124, 13 CFR Part 125, 13 CFR Part 126, and 13 
CFR Part 134. This program is proposed for use in conjunction with the 
AOC's existing procurement authority for small purchases.
    The AOC is not subject to the Administrative Procedure Act, 
however, the AOC Procurement Division seeks to solicit public comment 
on the new proposed program.
    The AOC's threshold for small purchases is $100,000. The AOC is 
considering whether to limit each acquisition of supplies or services 
that has an anticipated dollar value greater than $5,000 but not 
exceeding $100,000 to small business concerns. Purchases less than 
$100,000 is one of the exceptions to the AOC's full and open 
competition requirement as noted under its procurement statute 41 
U.S.C. 5 and as revised by 41 U.S.C. 6a-1 and 2 U.S.C. 1821. The AOC's 
policy for purchases of $5,000 and less is to treat them in the same 
manner as micro-purchases in accordance with FAR Part 13.2. We believe 
this contemplated policy to limit each acquisition of supplies or 
services that has an anticipated dollar value greater than $5,000 but 
not exceeding $100,000 to small business concerns is also consistent 
with the policies and procedures of FAR Part 13, and this policy may 
adopt or incorporate those FAR Part 13 policies and procedures as 
appropriate. We also will apply this policy only when there is 
reasonable expectation that offers will be received from a least two 
responsible small business concerns.
    Adoption of any existing procedure should not infer application of 
the Small Business Act, Administrative Procedure Act, nor any of its 
implementing regulations upon the AOC. The draft policies are available 
on http://www.aoc.gov/osdbu.cfm. Comments on the policies should be 
directed to Lisa Russell at facsimile 202-225-3221 or e-mail 
smallbusiness@aoc.gov.

Stephen T. Ayers,
Acting Architect of the Capitol.
 [FR Doc. E8-23496 Filed 10-3-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 1182-00-M