02-5950. Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; DoD Pilot Mentor-Protege Program

AGENCY:

Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

DoD has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement Section 807 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001. Section 807 adds women-owned small businesses to the types of concerns that may participate as protege firms in the DoD Pilot Mentor-Protege Program.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

March 14, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Angelena Moy, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, OUSD(AT&L)DP(DAR), IMD 3C132, 3062 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3062. Telephone [phone]; facsimile [phone]. Please cite DFARS Case 2001-D006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

This rule implements Section 807 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-398). Section 807 adds women-owned small businesses to the types of concerns that may participate as protege firms in the DoD Pilot Mentor-Protege Program. This rule also clarifies that business concerns owned and controlled by an Indian tribe or a Native Hawaiian organization are eligible to participate as protege firms in the Program.

DoD published an interim rule at 66 FR 47108 on September 11, 2001. DoD received one comment on the interim rule. The comment did not recommend any change to the rule. Therefore, DoD is converting the interim rule to a final rule without change.

This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

DoD has prepared a final regulatory flexibility analysis. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the analysis from the point of contact specified herein. The analysis is summarized as follows: This rule permits women-owned small businesses to participate as protege firms in the DoD Pilot Mentor-Protege Program. The objective of the rule is to provide an opportunity for women-owned small businesses to enhance their capabilities and increase their participation in Government and commercial contracts. Presently, there are 3,471 women-owned small business concerns that do business with DoD. Since the inception of the Mentor-Protege Program, 160 mentor firms and 509 protege firms have participated in the Program. Each protege firm must provide annual data to its mentor firm, for submission to the Government, regarding the progress of the protege firm in employment, revenues, and participation in DoD contracts. DoD received no comments in response to the initial regulatory flexibility analysis.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The information collection requirements of the DoD Pilot Mentor-Protege Program have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control Number 0704-0332, for use through March 31, 2004.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 219 and 252

• Government procurement

Michele P. Peterson,

Executive Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council.

Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without Change

Accordingly, the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 219 and 252 and Appendix I to Chapter 2, which was published at 66 FR 47108 on September 11, 2001, is adopted as a final rule without change.