§ 632. Definitions

15 U.S.C. § 632 (N/A)

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Unless specifically authorized by statute, no Federal department or agency may prescribe a size standard for categorizing a business concern as a small business concern, unless such proposed size standard—

(1) In general For the purposes of this chapter, a small-business concern, including but not limited to enterprises that are engaged in the business of production of food and fiber, ranching and raising of livestock, aquaculture, and all other farming and agricultural related industries, shall be deemed to be one which is independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operation.

(A) In general In addition to the criteria specified in paragraph (1), the Administrator may specify detailed definitions or standards by which a business concern may be determined to be a small business concern for the purposes of this chapter or any other Act.

(B) Additional criteria The standards described in paragraph (1) may utilize number of employees, dollar volume of business, net worth, net income, a combination thereof, or other appropriate factors.

(C) RequirementsUnless specifically authorized by statute, no Federal department or agency may prescribe a size standard for categorizing a business concern as a small business concern, unless such proposed size standard— (i) is proposed after an opportunity for public notice and comment; (ii) provides for determining— (I) the size of a manufacturing concern as measured by the manufacturing concern’s average employment based upon employment during each of the manufacturing concern’s pay periods for the preceding 12 months; (II) the size of a business concern providing services on the basis of the annual average gross receipts of the business concern over a period of not less than 5 years; (III) the size of other business concerns on the basis of data over a period of not less than 3 years; or (IV) other appropriate factors; and (iii) is approved by the Administrator.

(3) Variation by industry and consideration of other factors When establishing or approving any size standard pursuant to paragraph (2), the Administrator shall ensure that the size standard varies from industry to industry to the extent necessary to reflect the differing characteristics of the various industries and consider other factors deemed to be relevant by the Administrator.

Not later than 60 days after January 6, 2006, the Administrator shall either—

(A) Determination required Not later than 30 days after January 6, 2006, the Administrator shall review the application of size standards established pursuant to paragraph (2) to small business concerns that are performing contracts in qualified areas and determine whether it would be fair and appropriate to exclude from consideration in the average annual gross receipts of such small business concerns any payments made to such small business concerns by Federal agencies to reimburse such small business concerns for the cost of subcontracts entered for the sole purpose of providing security services in a qualified area.

(B) Action requiredNot later than 60 days after January 6, 2006, the Administrator shall either— (i) initiate an adjustment to the size standards, as described in subparagraph (A), if the Administrator determines that such an adjustment would be fair and appropriate; or (ii) provide a report to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives explaining in detail the basis for the determination by the Administrator that such an adjustment would not be fair and appropriate.

(C) Qualified areasIn this paragraph, the term “qualified area” means— (i) Iraq, (ii) Afghanistan, and (iii) any foreign country which included a combat zone, as that term is defined in section 112(c)(2) of title 26, at the time of performance of the relevant Federal contract or subcontract.

Until the date on which the alternative size standard established under subparagraph (A) is in effect, an applicant for a business loan under section 636(a) of this title or an applicant for a development company loan under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 may be eligible for such a loan if—

(A) In general The Administrator shall establish an alternative size standard for applicants for business loans under section 636(a) of this title and applicants for development company loans under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 695 et seq.), that uses maximum tangible net worth and average net income as an alternative to the use of industry standards.

(B) Interim ruleUntil the date on which the alternative size standard established under subparagraph (A) is in effect, an applicant for a business loan under section 636(a) of this title or an applicant for a development company loan under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 may be eligible for such a loan if— (i) the maximum tangible net worth of the applicant is not more than $15,000,000; and (ii) the average net income after Federal income taxes (excluding any carry-over losses) of the applicant for the 2 full fiscal years before the date of the application is not more than $5,000,000.

In conducting rulemaking to revise, modify or establish size standards pursuant to this section, the Administrator shall consider, and address, and make publicly available as part of the notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of final rule each of the following:

(A) a detailed description of the industry for which the new size standard is proposed;

(B) an analysis of the competitive environment for that industry;

(C) the approach the Administrator used to develop the proposed standard including the source of all data used to develop the proposed rule making; and

(D) the anticipated effect of the proposed rulemaking on the industry, including the number of concerns not currently considered small that would be considered small under the proposed rule making and the number of concerns currently considered small that would be deemed other than small under the proposed rulemaking.

(7) Common size standards In carrying out this subsection, the Administrator may establish or approve a single size standard for a grouping of 4-digit North American Industry Classification System codes only if the Administrator makes publicly available, not later than the date on which such size standard is established or approved, a justification demonstrating that such size standard is appropriate for each individual industry classification included in the grouping.

(8) Number of size standards The Administrator shall not limit the number of size standards established pursuant to paragraph (2), and shall assign the appropriate size standard to each North American Industry Classification System Code.

A person may file a petition for reconsideration with the Office of Hearings and Appeals (as established under section 634(i) of this title) of a size standard revised, modified, or established by the Administrator pursuant to this subsection.

(A) In general A person may file a petition for reconsideration with the Office of Hearings and Appeals (as established under section 634(i) of this title) of a size standard revised, modified, or established by the Administrator pursuant to this subsection.

(B) Time limit A person filing a petition for reconsideration described in subparagraph (A) shall file such petition not later than 30 days after the publication in the Federal Register of the notice of final rule to revise, modify, or establish size standards described in paragraph (6).

(C) Process for agency review The Office of Hearings and Appeals shall use the same process it uses to decide challenges to the size of a small business concern to decide a petition for review pursuant to this paragraph.

(D) Judicial review The publication of a final rule in the Federal Register described in subparagraph (B) shall be considered final agency action for purposes of seeking judicial review. Filing a petition for reconsideration under subparagraph (A) shall not be a condition precedent to judicial review of any such size standard.

(E) Rules or guidance The Office of Hearings and Appeals shall begin accepting petitions for reconsideration described in subparagraph (A) after the date on which the Administration issues a rule or other guidance implementing this paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (B), petitions for reconsideration of size standards revised, modified, or established in a Federal Register final rule published between November 25, 2015, and the effective date of such rule or other guidance shall be considered timely if filed within 30 days of such effective date.

For purposes of this chapter, any reference to an agency or department of the United States, and the term “Federal agency”, shall have the meaning given the term “agency” by section 551(1) of title 5, but does not include the United States Postal Service or the Government Accountability Office.

For purposes of this chapter, the term “qualified employee trust” means, with respect to a small business concern, a trust—

(1) For purposes of this chapter, a qualified employee trust shall be eligible for any loan guarantee under section 636(a) of this title with respect to a small business concern on the same basis as if such trust were the same legal entity as such concern.

For purposes of this chapter, the term “qualified employee trust” means, with respect to a small business concern, a trust—

(A) which forms part of an employee stock ownership plan (as defined in section 4975(e)(7) of title 26)— (i) which is maintained by such concern, and (ii) which provides that each participant is entitled to direct the plan trustee as to the manner of how to vote the qualified employer securities (as defined in section 4975(e)(8) of title 26), which are allocated to the account of such participant with respect to a corporate matter which (by law or charter) must be decided by a vote conducted in accordance with section 409(e) of the title 26; and

(B) in the case of any loan guarantee under section 636(a) of this title, the trustee of which enters into an agreement with the Administrator which is binding on the trust and on such small business concern and which provides that— (i) the loan guaranteed under section 636(a) of this title shall be used solely for the purchase of qualifying employer securities of such concern, (ii) all funds acquired by the concern in such purchase shall be used by such concern solely for the purposes for which such loan was guaranteed, (iii) such concern will provide such funds as may be necessary for the timely repayment of such loan, and the property of such concern shall be available as security for repayment of such loan, and (iv) all qualifying employer securities acquired by such trust in such purchase shall be allocated to the accounts of participants in such plan who are entitled to share in such allocation, and each participant has a nonforfeitable right, not later than the date such loan is repaid, to all such qualifying employer securities which are so allocated to the participant’s account.

Under regulations which may be prescribed by the Administrator, a trust may be treated as a qualified employee trust with respect to a small business concern if—

(A) the trust is maintained by an employee organization which represents at least 51 percent of the employees of such concern, and

(B) such concern maintains a plan— (i) which is an employee benefit plan which is designed to invest primarily in qualifying employer securities (as defined in section 4975(e)(8) of title 26), (ii) which provides that each participant in the plan is entitled to direct the plan as to the manner in which voting rights under qualifying employer securities which are allocated to the account of such participant are to be exercised with respect to a corporate matter which (by law or charter) must be decided by a majority vote of the outstanding common shares voted, (iii) which provides that each participant who is entitled to distribution from the plan has a right, in the case of qualifying employer securities which are not readily tradeable on an established market, to require that the concern repurchase such securities under a fair valuation formula, and (iv) which meets such other requirements (similar to requirements applicable to employee stock ownership plans as defined in section 4975(e)(7) of title 26) as the Administrator may prescribe, and

(C) in the case of a loan guarantee under section 636(a) of this title, such organization enters into an agreement with the Administration which is described in paragraph (2)(B).

For purposes of section 636 of this title, the term “qualified Indian tribe” means an Indian tribe as defined in section 5304(a) [1] of title 25, which owns and controls 100 per centum of a small business concern.

For purposes of section 636 of this title, the term “public or private organization for the handicapped” means one—

(1) which is organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, operated in the interest of handicapped individuals, the net income of which does not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of any shareholder or other individuals;

(2) which complies with any applicable occupational health and safety standard prescribed by the Secretary of Labor; and

(3) which, in the production of commodities and in the provision of services during any fiscal year in which it received financial assistance under this subsection, employs handicapped individuals for not less than 75 per centum of the man-hours required for the production or provision of the commodities or services.

For purposes of section 636 of this title, the term “handicapped individual” means an individual—

(1) who has a physical, mental, or emotional impairment, defect, ailment, disease, or disability of a permanent nature which in any way limits the selection of any type of employment for which the person would otherwise be qualified or qualifiable; or

(2) who is a service-disabled veteran.

For purposes of section 636 of this title, the term “energy measures” includes—

(1) solar thermal energy equipment which is either of the active type based upon mechanically forced energy transfer or of the passive type based on convective, conductive, or radiant energy transfer or some combination of these types;

(2) photovoltaic cells and related equipment;

(3) a product or service the primary purpose of which is conservation of energy through devices or techniques which increase the energy efficiency of existing equipment, methods of operation, or systems which use fossil fuels, and which is on the Energy Conservation Measures list of the Secretary of Energy or which the Administrator determines to be consistent with the intent of this subsection;

(4) equipment the primary purpose of which is production of energy from wood, biological waste, grain, or other biomass source of energy;

(5) equipment the primary purpose of which is industrial cogeneration of energy, district heating, or production of energy from industrial waste;

(6) hydroelectric power equipment;

(7) wind energy conversion equipment; and

(8) engineering, architectural, consulting, or other professional services which are necessary or appropriate to aid citizens in using any of the measures described in paragraph (1) through (7).

The term “credit elsewhere” means—

for the purposes of this chapter (except as used in section 636(b) of this title), the availability of credit on reasonable terms and conditions to the individual loan applicant from non-Federal, non-State, or non-local government sources, considering factors associated with conventional lending practices, including—

(A) the business industry in which the loan applicant operates;

(B) whether the loan applicant is an enterprise that has been in operation for a period of not more than 2 years;

(D) the loan term necessary to reasonably assure the ability of the loan applicant to repay the debt from the actual or projected cash flow of the business; and

(E) any other factor relating to the particular credit application, as documented in detail by the lender, that cannot be overcome except through obtaining a Federal loan guarantee under prudent lending standards; and

(2) for the purposes of section 636(b) of this title, the availability of credit on reasonable terms and conditions from non-Federal sources taking into consideration the prevailing rates and terms in the community in or near where the applicant business concern transacts business, or the applicant homeowner resides, for similar purposes and periods of time.

For purposes of section 636 of this title, the term “homeowners” includes owners and lessees of residential property and also includes personal property.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term “small agricultural cooperative” means an association (corporate or otherwise) acting pursuant to the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act (12 U.S.C. 1141j), whose size does not exceed the size standard established by the Administration for other similar agricultural small business concerns. In determining such size, the Administration shall regard the association as a business concern and shall not include the income or employees of any member shareholder of such cooperative.

For purposes of section 636(b)(2) of this title, the term “disaster” includes—

(1) For the purposes of this chapter, the term “disaster” means a sudden event which causes severe damage including, but not limited to, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, explosions, volcanoes, windstorms, landslides or mudslides, tidal waves, commercial fishery failures or fishery resource disasters (as determined by the Secretary of Commerce under section 4107(b) of title 16), ocean conditions resulting in the closure of customary fishing waters, riots, civil disorders or other catastrophes, except it does not include economic dislocations.

For purposes of section 636(b)(2) of this title, the term “disaster” includes—

(A) drought;

(B) below average water levels in the Great Lakes, or on any body of water in the United States that supports commerce by small business concerns; and

For purposes of this chapter—

 [2] the term “computer crime” means—

(A) any crime committed against a small business concern by means of the use of a computer; and

(B) any crime involving the illegal use of, or tampering with, a computer owned or utilized by a small business concern.

In this chapter:

(1) Prime contract The term “prime contract” has the meaning given such term in section 8701(4) of title 41.

(2) Prime contractor The term “prime contractor” has the meaning given such term in section 8701(5) of title 41.

(3) Simplified acquisition threshold The term “simplified acquisition threshold” has the meaning given such term in section 134 of title 41.

(4) Micro-purchase threshold The term “micro-purchase threshold” has the meaning given such term in section 1902 of title 41.

(5) Total purchases and contracts for property and services The term “total purchases and contracts for property and services” shall mean total number and total dollar amount of contracts and orders for property and services.

For the purposes of this chapter, a small business concern is a small business concern owned and controlled by women if—

(1) at least 51 percent of small business concern is owned by one or more women or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women; and

(2) the management and daily business operations of the business are controlled by one or more women.

In this chapter:

(1) Bundled contract The term “bundled contract” means a contract that is entered into to meet requirements that are consolidated in a bundling of contract requirements.

The term “bundling of contract requirements” means consolidating 2 or more procurement requirements for goods or services previously provided or performed under separate smaller contracts into a solicitation of offers for a single contract that is likely to be unsuitable for award to a small-business concern due to—

(A) the diversity, size, or specialized nature of the elements of the performance specified;

(B) the aggregate dollar value of the anticipated award;

(D) any combination of the factors described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).

(3) Separate smaller contract The term “separate smaller contract”, with respect to a bundling of contract requirements, means a contract that has been performed by 1 or more small business concerns or was suitable for award to 1 or more small business concerns.

In this chapter:

The term “historically underutilized business zone” means any area located within 1 or more—

(A) qualified census tracts;

(B) qualified nonmetropolitan counties;

(D) redesignated areas;

(E) base closure areas; or

(F) qualified disaster areas.

(2) HUBZone The term “HUBZone” means a historically underutilized business zone.

The term “HUBZone small business concern” means—

(A) a small business concern that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by United States citizens;

(B) a small business concern that is— (i) an Alaska Native Corporation owned and controlled by Natives (as determined pursuant to section 1626(e)(1) of title 43); or (ii) a direct or indirect subsidiary corporation, joint venture, or partnership of an Alaska Native Corporation qualifying pursuant to section 1626(e)(1) of title 43, if that subsidiary, joint venture, or partnership is owned and controlled by Natives (as determined pursuant to section 1626(e)(2) of title 43);

(C) a small business concern— (i) that is wholly owned by one or more Indian tribal governments, or by a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more Indian tribal governments; or (ii) that is owned in part by one or more Indian tribal governments, or by a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more Indian tribal governments, if all other owners are either United States citizens or small business concerns;

(D) a small business concern— (i) that is wholly owned by one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations (as defined in section 637(a)(15) of this title), or by a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations; or (ii) that is owned in part by one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations, or by a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more Native Hawaiian Organizations, if all other owners are either United States citizens or small business concerns;

(E) a small business concern that is— (i) wholly owned by a community development corporation that has received financial assistance under part 1 of subchapter A of the Community Economic Development Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 9805 et seq.); or (ii) owned in part by one or more community development corporations, if all other owners are either United States citizens or small business concerns; or

(F) a small business concern that is— (i) a small agricultural cooperative organized or incorporated in the United States; (ii) wholly owned by 1 or more small agricultural cooperatives organized or incorporated in the United States; or (iii) owned in part by 1 or more small agricultural cooperatives organized or incorporated in the United States, if all owners are small business concerns or United States citizens.

For any metropolitan statistical area in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the term “qualified census tract” has the meaning given that term in section 42(d)(5)(B)(ii) of title 26 as applied without regard to subclause (II) of such section, except that this clause shall only apply—

(A) Qualified census tract (i) In general The term “qualified census tract” has the meaning given that term in section 42(d)(5)(B)(ii) of title 26. (ii) ExceptionFor any metropolitan statistical area in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the term “qualified census tract” has the meaning given that term in section 42(d)(5)(B)(ii) of title 26 as applied without regard to subclause (II) of such section, except that this clause shall only apply— (I) 10 years after the date that the Administrator implements this clause, or (II) the date on which the Financial Oversight and Management Board for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico created by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act ceases to exist, whichever event occurs first.

(B) Qualified nonmetropolitan countyThe term “qualified nonmetropolitan county” means any county— (i) that was not located in a metropolitan statistical area (as defined in section 143(k)(2)(B) of title 26) at the time of the most recent census taken for purposes of selecting qualified census tracts under section 42(d)(5)(C)(ii) [3] of title 26; and (ii) in which— (I) the median household income is less than 80 percent of the nonmetropolitan State median household income, based on the most recent data available from the Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce; (II) the unemployment rate is not less than 140 percent of the average unemployment rate for the United States or for the State in which such county is located, whichever is less, based on the most recent data available from the Secretary of Labor; or (III) there is located a difficult development area, as designated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in accordance with section 42(d)(5)(C)(iii) 3 of title 26, within Alaska, Hawaii, or any territory or possession of the United States outside the 48 contiguous States.

(C) Redesignated areaThe term “redesignated area” means any census tract that ceases to be qualified under subparagraph (A) and any nonmetropolitan county that ceases to be qualified under subparagraph (B), except that a census tract or a nonmetropolitan county may be a “redesignated area” only until the later of— (i) the date on which the Census Bureau publicly releases the first results from the 2010 decennial census; or (ii) 3 years after the date on which the census tract or nonmetropolitan county ceased to be so qualified.

(D) Base closure area (i) In generalSubject to clause (ii), the term “base closure area” means— (I) lands within the external boundaries of a military installation that were closed through a privatization process under the authority of— (aa) the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title XXIX of division B of Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note); (bb) title II of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act (Public Law 100–526; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note); (cc) section 2687 of title 10; or (dd) any other provision of law authorizing or directing the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department to dispose of real property at the military installation for purposes relating to base closures of redevelopment, while retaining the authority to enter into a leaseback of all or a portion of the property for military use; (II) the census tract or nonmetropolitan county in which the lands described in subclause (I) are wholly contained; (III) a census tract or nonmetropolitan county the boundaries of which intersect the area described in subclause (I); and (IV) a census tract or nonmetropolitan county the boundaries of which are contiguous to the area described in subclause (II) or subclause (III). (ii) LimitationA base closure area shall be treated as a HUBZone— (I) with respect to a census tract or nonmetropolitan county described in clause (i), for a period of not less than 8 years, beginning on the date the military installation undergoes final closure and ending on the date the Administrator makes a final determination as to whether or not to implement the applicable designation described in subparagraph (A) or (B) in accordance with the results of the decennial census conducted after the area was initially designated as a base closure area; and (II) if such area was treated as a HUBZone at any time after 2010, until such time as the Administrator makes a final determination as to whether or not to implement the applicable designation described in subparagraph (A) or (B), after the 2020 decennial census. (iii) DefinitionsIn this subparagraph: (I) Census tract The term “census tract” means a census tract delineated by the United States Bureau of the Census in the most recent decennial census that is not located in a nonmetropolitan county and does not otherwise qualify as a qualified census tract. (II) Nonmetropolitan county The term “nonmetropolitan county” means a county that was not located in a metropolitan statistical area (as defined in section 143(k)(2)(B) of title 26) at the time of the most recent census taken for purposes of selecting qualified census tracts and does not otherwise qualify as a qualified nonmetropolitan county.

(E) Qualified disaster area (i) In generalSubject to clause (ii), the term “qualified disaster area” means any census tract or nonmetropolitan county located in an area for which the President has declared a major disaster under section 5170 of title 42 or located in an area in which a catastrophic incident has occurred if such census tract or nonmetropolitan county ceased to be qualified under subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable, during the period beginning 5 years before the date on which the President declared the major disaster or the catastrophic incident occurred and ending 2 years after such date, except that such census tract or nonmetropolitan county may be a “qualified disaster area” only— (I) in the case of a major disaster declared by the President, during the 5-year period beginning on the date on which the President declared the major disaster for the area in which the census tract or nonmetropolitan county, as applicable, is located; and (II) in the case of a catastrophic incident, during the 10-year period beginning on the date on which the catastrophic incident occurred in the area in which the census tract or nonmetropolitan county, as applicable, is located. (ii) Limitation A qualified disaster area described in clause (i) shall be treated as a HUBZone for a period of not less than 8 years, beginning on the date the Administrator makes a final determination as to whether or not to implement the designations described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) in accordance with the results of the decennial census conducted after the area was initially designated as a qualified disaster area.

A HUBZone small business concern is “qualified”, if—

(A) In generalA HUBZone small business concern is “qualified”, if— (i) the small business concern has certified in writing to the Administrator (or the Administrator otherwise determines, based on information submitted to the Administrator by the small business concern, or based on certification procedures, which shall be established by the Administration by regulation) that— (I) it is a HUBZone small business concern— (aa) pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of paragraph (3), and that its principal office is located in a HUBZone and not fewer than 35 percent of its employees reside in a HUBZone; (bb) pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of paragraph (3), that its principal office is located within a base closure area and that not fewer than 35 percent of its employees reside in such base closure area or in another HUBZone; or (cc) pursuant to paragraph (3)(C), and not fewer than 35 percent of its employees engaged in performing a contract awarded to the small business concern on the basis of a preference provided under section 657a(b) of this title reside within any Indian reservation governed by one or more of the tribal government owners, or reside within any HUBZone adjoining any such Indian reservation; (II) the small business concern will attempt to maintain the applicable employment percentage under subclause (I) during the performance of any contract awarded to the small business concern on the basis of a preference provided under section 657a(b) of this title; and (III) with respect to any subcontract entered into by the small business concern pursuant to a contract awarded to the small business concern under section 657a of this title, the small business concern will ensure that the requirements of section 657s of this title are satisfied; and (ii) no certification made or information provided by the small business concern under clause (i) has been, in accordance with the procedures established under section 657a(c)(1) of this title— (I) successfully challenged by an interested party; or (II) otherwise determined by the Administrator to be materially false.

(B) List of qualified small business concernsThe Administrator shall establish and maintain a list of qualified HUBZone small business concerns, which list shall, to the extent practicable— (i) once the Administrator has made the certification required by subparagraph (A)(i) regarding a qualified HUBZone small business concern and has determined that subparagraph (A)(ii) does not apply to that concern, include the name, address, and type of business with respect to each such small business concern; (ii) be updated by the Administrator not less than annually; and (iii) be provided upon request to any Federal agency or other entity.

The term “Indian reservation”—

(A) Alaska Native Corporation The term “Alaska Native Corporation” has the same meaning as the term “Native Corporation” in section 1602 of title 43.

(B) Alaska Native Village The term “Alaska Native Village” has the same meaning as the term “Native village” in section 1602 of title 43.

(C) Indian reservationThe term “Indian reservation”— (i) has the same meaning as the term “Indian country” in section 1151 of title 18, except that such term does not include— (I) any lands that are located within a State in which a tribe did not exercise governmental jurisdiction on December 21, 2000, unless that tribe is recognized after December 21, 2000, by either an Act of Congress or pursuant to regulations of the Secretary of the Interior for the administrative recognition that an Indian group exists as an Indian tribe (part 83 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations); and (II) lands taken into trust or acquired by an Indian tribe after December 21, 2000, if such lands are not located within the external boundaries of an Indian reservation or former reservation or are not contiguous to the lands held in trust or restricted status on December 21, 2000; and (ii) in the State of Oklahoma, means lands that— (I) are within the jurisdictional areas of an Oklahoma Indian tribe (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior); and (II) are recognized by the Secretary of the Interior as eligible for trust land status under part 151 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on December 21, 2000).

(7) Agricultural commodity The term “agricultural commodity” has the same meaning as in section 5602 of title 7.

In this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) Service-disabled veteran The term “service-disabled veteran” means a veteran with a disability that is service-connected (as defined in section 101(16) of title 38).

The term “small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans” means any of the following:

(A) A small business concern— (i) not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock (not including any stock owned by an ESOP) of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans; and (ii) the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans or, in the case of a veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran.

(B) A small business concern— (i) not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans with a disability that is rated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as a permanent and total disability who are unable to manage the daily business operations of such concern; or (ii) in the case of a publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock (not including any stock owned by an ESOP) of which is owned by one or more such veterans.

(C) (i) During the time period described in clause (ii), a small business concern that was a small business concern described in subparagraph (A) or (B) immediately prior to the death of a service-disabled veteran who was the owner of the concern, the death of whom causes the concern to be less than 51 percent owned by one or more service-disabled veterans, if— (I) the surviving spouse of the deceased veteran acquires such veteran’s ownership interest in such concern; (II) such veteran had a service-connected disability (as defined in section 101(16) of title 38) rated as 100 percent disabling under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or such veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability; and (III) immediately prior to the death of such veteran, and during the period described in clause (ii), the small business concern is included in the database described in section 8127(f) of title 38. (ii) The time period described in this clause is the time period beginning on the date of the veteran’s death and ending on the earlier of— (I) the date on which the surviving spouse remarries; (II) the date on which the surviving spouse relinquishes an ownership interest in the small business concern; or (III) the date that is 10 years after the date of the death of the veteran.

The term “small business concern owned and controlled by veterans” means a small business concern—

(A) not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more veterans or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more veterans; and

(B) the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more veterans.

(4) Veteran The term “veteran” has the meaning given the term in section 101(2) of title 38.

Any time limitation on any qualification, certification, or period of participation imposed under this chapter on any program that is available to small business concerns shall be extended for a small business concern that—

(A) In generalAny time limitation on any qualification, certification, or period of participation imposed under this chapter on any program that is available to small business concerns shall be extended for a small business concern that— (i) is owned and controlled by— (I) a veteran who was called or ordered to active duty under a provision of law specified in section 101(a)(13)(B) of title 10 on or after September 11, 2001; or (II) a service-disabled veteran who became such a veteran due to an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the active military, naval, or air service during a period of active duty pursuant to a call or order to active duty under a provision of law referred to in subclause (I) on or after September 11, 2001; and (ii) was subject to the time limitation during such period of active duty.

(B) Duration Upon submission of proper documentation to the Administrator, the extension of a time limitation under subparagraph (A) shall be equal to the period of time that such veteran who owned or controlled such a concern was on active duty as described in that subparagraph.

(C) Exception for programs subject to Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 The provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not apply to any programs subject to the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).

(6) ESOP The term “ESOP” has the meaning given the term “employee stock ownership plan” in section 4975(e)(7) of title 26.

(7) Surviving spouse The term “surviving spouse” has the meaning given such term in section 101(3) of title 38.

As used in section 650 of this title:

(1) Small business lending company The term “small business lending company” means a business concern that is authorized by the Administrator to make loans pursuant to section 636(a) of this title and whose lending activities are not subject to regulation by any Federal or State regulatory agency.

The term “non-Federally regulated lender” means a business concern if—

(A) such concern is authorized by the Administrator to make loans under section 636 of this title;

(B) such concern is subject to regulation by a State; and

In this chapter, the term “major disaster” has the meaning given that term in section 5122 of title 42.

In this chapter, the term “small business development center” means a small business development center described in section 648 of this title.

In this chapter, the term “region of the Administration” means the geographic area served by a regional office of the Administration established under section 633(a) of this title.

In this chapter, the term “multiple award contract” means—

(1) a multiple award task order contract or delivery order contract that is entered into under the authority of sections 4101, 4103, 4105, and 4106 of title 41; and

(2) any other indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract that is entered into by the head of a Federal agency with 2 or more sources pursuant to the same solicitation.

The following actions shall be deemed affirmative, willful, and intentional certifications of small business size and status:

(1) In general In every contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, cooperative research and development agreement, or grant which is set aside, reserved, or otherwise classified as intended for award to small business concerns, there shall be a presumption of loss to the United States based on the total amount expended on the contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, cooperative research and development agreement, or grant whenever it is established that a business concern other than a small business concern willfully sought and received the award by misrepresentation.

The following actions shall be deemed affirmative, willful, and intentional certifications of small business size and status:

(A) Submission of a bid or proposal for a Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, or cooperative research and development agreement reserved, set aside, or otherwise classified as intended for award to small business concerns.

(B) Submission of a bid or proposal for a Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, or cooperative research and development agreement which in any way encourages a Federal agency to classify the bid or proposal, if awarded, as an award to a small business concern.

(C) Registration on any Federal electronic database for the purpose of being considered for award of a Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, or cooperative research agreement, as a small business concern.

Each solicitation, bid, or application for a Federal contract, subcontract, or grant shall contain a certification concerning the small business size and status of a business concern seeking the Federal contract, subcontract, or grant.

(A) In general Each solicitation, bid, or application for a Federal contract, subcontract, or grant shall contain a certification concerning the small business size and status of a business concern seeking the Federal contract, subcontract, or grant.

(B) Content of certifications A certification that a business concern qualifies as a small business concern of the exact size and status claimed by the business concern for purposes of bidding on a Federal contract or subcontract, or applying for a Federal grant, shall contain the signature of an authorized official on the same page on which the certification is contained.

(4) Regulations The Administrator shall promulgate regulations to provide adequate protections to individuals and business concerns from liability under this subsection in cases of unintentional errors, technical malfunctions, and other similar situations.

Not later than 1 year after September 27, 2010, the Administrator, in consultation with the Inspector General and the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Administration, shall promulgate regulations to ensure that—

(1) In general Each business certified as a small business concern under this chapter shall annually certify its small business size and, if appropriate, its small business status, by means of a confirming entry on the Online Representations and Certifications Application database of the Administration, or any successor thereto.

(A) no business concern continues to be certified as a small business concern on the Online Representations and Certifications Application database of the Administration, or any successor thereto, without fulfilling the requirements for annual certification under this subsection; and

(B) the requirements of this subsection are implemented in a manner presenting the least possible regulatory burden on small business concerns.

Not later than 1 year after September 27, 2010, the Administrator, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall issue a Government-wide policy on prosecution of small business size and status fraud, which shall direct Federal agencies to appropriately publicize the policy.

Subject to section 647(a) of this title and notwithstanding section 647(b)(1) of this title, the Administrator may provide disaster assistance under section 636(b)(2) of this title to aquaculture enterprises that are small businesses.

In this chapter, the term “venture capital operating company” means an entity described in clause (i), (v), or (vi) of section 121.103(b)(5) of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor thereto).

In this chapter, the term “hedge fund” has the meaning given that term in section 1851(h)(2) of title 12.

In this chapter, the term “private equity firm” has the meaning given the term “private equity fund” in section 1851(h)(2) of title 12.

In this chapter:

(1) Subcontract The term “subcontract” means a legally binding agreement between a contractor that is already under contract to another party to perform work, and a third party, hereinafter referred to as the subcontractor, for the subcontractor to perform a part, or all, of the work that the contractor has undertaken.

(2) First tier subcontractor The term “first tier subcontractor” means a subcontractor who has a subcontract directly with the prime contractor.

(3) At any tier The term “at any tier” means any subcontractor other than a subcontractor who is a first tier subcontractor.

In this chapter, the term “Puerto Rico business” means a small business concern that has its principal office located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(Pub. L. 85–536, § 2[3], July 18, 1958, 72 Stat. 384; Pub. L. 94–305, title I, § 112(b), June 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 667; Pub. L. 95–507, title II, § 224(b), Oct. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 1772; Pub. L. 96–302, title V, § 504, July 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 851; Pub. L. 96–481, title I, § 108, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2323; Pub. L. 97–35, title XIX, § 1903, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 771; Pub. L. 98–270, title III, § 310, Apr. 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 161; Pub. L. 98–362, § 6, July 16, 1984, 98 Stat. 434; Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 111A(b), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1966; Pub. L. 99–272, title XVIII, § 18016, Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 371; Pub. L. 99–500, § 101(c) [title X, § 921(f)], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–82, 1783–149, and Pub. L. 99–591, § 101(c) [title X, § 921(f)], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–82, 3341–149; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title IX, formerly title IV, § 921(f), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3929, renumbered title IX, Pub. L. 100–26, § 3(5), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 273; Pub. L. 100–26, § 10(b)(2), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 288; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VIII, § 845, Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2027; Pub. L. 100–590, title I, § 119(b), Nov. 3, 1988, 102 Stat. 2999; Pub. L. 100–656, title VII, § 732, Nov. 15, 1988, 102 Stat. 3897; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title VIII, § 806(e)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1592; Pub. L. 102–366, title II, § 222(a), Sept. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 999; Pub. L. 103–355, title IV, § 4404(a), title VII, § 7106(d), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3349, 3376; Pub. L. 103–403, title III, § 301, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4187; Pub. L. 104–208, div. D, title I, § 104(b)(1), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–730; Pub. L. 105–135, title IV, § 412, title VI, § 602(a), Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2617, 2627; Pub. L. 106–50, title I, § 103(a), title IV, § 401(a), Aug. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 234, 243; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(9) [title VI, §§ 602–604, 611, 612(b)–615(a), title VIII, § 806(b)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–697 to 2763A–701, 2763A–706; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 108–447, div. K, title I, §§ 151, 152(a)(1), (3)–(c)(1), 162, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3456, 3457, 3465; Pub. L. 109–59, title X, § 10203, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1933; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VIII, §§ 844, 845(a)(1), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3389, 3390; Pub. L. 110–186, title II, § 205, Feb. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 110–234, title XII, §§ 12063(c)(1), 12071, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1408, 1411; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XII, §§ 12063(c)(1), 12071, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2170, 2173; Pub. L. 111–240, title I, §§ 1116, 1202(b)(1), 1311, 1341, 1342, 1343(b), 1501, Sept. 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2509, 2521, 2536, 2543–2545, 2550; Pub. L. 112–81, div. E, title LI, § 5107(b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1829; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1661, 1696(b)(1), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2083, 2090; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title XVI, § 1614(b), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 949; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, §§ 866(a), 869(b), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 929, 938; Pub. L. 114–187, title IV, § 412(a)(1), June 30, 2016, 130 Stat. 595; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XVIII, §§ 1831(b), 1832(a), 1833(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2658, 2661; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVII, §§ 1701(a)(2), (3), 1702(b), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1795, 1796, 1803; Pub. L. 115–189, §§ 3(e), 4(a)(1), June 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 1496; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §§ 861(a), 862(h), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1896, 1900; Pub. L. 115–324, § 2, Dec. 17, 2018, 132 Stat. 4444.)

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§ 633. Small Business Administration

§ 632. Definitions

15 U.S.C. § 632 (N/A)

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§ 632. Definitions