Bill Details
S.592 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-13 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Introduced Date
2025-02-13
Policy Area
Commerce
Committees
View committees (1)
Sponsors
Cosponsors
8
0
0
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would require certain federal contractors to use plain, easy-to-understand language when asking small businesses to bid on subcontracting work. The goal is to make subcontracting opportunities clearer so more small businesses can understand them and compete for them. It also requires contractors to pass this same plain-language rule along to the subcontracts they offer. If a contractor does not follow the rule, the Small Business Administration can require them to send out a new plain-language solicitation within 30 days. The agency would also have to issue rules to carry out the new requirements within 90 days after the bill becomes law.
- Prime contractors would have to state that all subcontract solicitations will be written in plain language that is easy for small businesses to understand.
- Contractors would also have to include the same plain-language requirement in any subcontract that offers a subcontracting opportunity.
- If the Small Business Administration decides a contractor did not use plain language, the contractor must reissue the solicitation in plain language within 30 days.
- The Small Business Administration would need to write and publish rules for carrying out these changes within 90 days of enactment.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 592 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 592
To amend the Small Business Act to require that plain writing
statements regarding the solicitation of subcontractors be included in
certain subcontracting plans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 13, 2025
Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Kennedy, and
Mr. Young) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act to require that plain writing
statements regarding the solicitation of subcontractors be included in
certain subcontracting plans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Simplifying Subcontracting Act''.
SEC. 2. PLAIN WRITING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SOLICITATION OF
SUBCONTRACTORS.
(a) In General.--Section 8(d) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
637(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6)--
(A) in subparagraph (H)(ii), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(B) in subparagraph (I)(ii), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(J) a representation that--
``(i) the offeror or bidder will communicate all
solicitations of subcontracts in plain writing (as
defined in section 3 of the Plain Writing Act of 2010
(Public Law 111-274; 124 Stat. 2861)) so that the
solicitation is easily understood by small business
concerns seeking to obtain a subcontracting opportunity
from the offeror or bidder; and
``(ii) the offeror or bidder will include the plain
writing requirement described in clause (i) in all
subcontracts that offer subcontracting
opportunities.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(18) Compliance with plain writing requirement.--If the
Administrator determines that a prime contractor failed to
communicate any solicitation of a subcontract in plain writing
in accordance with paragraph (6)(J), the prime contractor shall
communicate a new solicitation of the subcontract in plain
writing not later than 30 days after the date on which the
Administrator made that determination.''.
(b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration
shall promulgate regulations to carry out paragraphs (6)(J) and (18) of
section 8(d) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(d)), as added by
subsection (a).
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