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Senate Bill 3282
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2020
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Feb 12, 2020
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S. 3282 (Introduced-in-Senate)


116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3282


To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the oversight of contracts awarded by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 12, 2020

Mr. Cassidy (for himself and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the oversight of contracts awarded by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, 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 “Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2020”.

SEC. 2. Limitations on subcontracts under contracts with small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans.

(a) In general.—Section 8127 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l); and

(2) by inserting after subsection (j) the following new subsection (k):

“(k) Limitations on subcontracting.— (1) (A) The requirements applicable to a covered small business concern under section 46 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657s) shall apply with respect to a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans that is awarded a contract under this section.

“(B) For purposes of applying the requirements of section 46 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657s) pursuant to subparagraph (A), the term ‘similarly situated entity’ used in such section 46 includes a subcontractor for a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans described in such subparagraph (A).

“(2) (A) The Secretary may award a contract under this section only after the Secretary obtains from the offeror a certification that the offeror will comply with the requirements described in paragraph (1)(A) if awarded the contract.

“(B) A certification described in subparagraph (A) shall—

“(i) specify the exact performance requirements applicable under such paragraph; and

“(ii) explicitly acknowledge that the certification is subject to section 1001 of title 18.

“(3) (A) The Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for the Department, established pursuant to section 15(k) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(k)), and the Chief Acquisition Officer of the Department, established pursuant to section 1702 of title 41, shall jointly implement a process using the systems described in section 16(g)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 645(g)(2)), and any other relevant systems available, to monitor compliance with this subsection.

“(B) The Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and the Chief Acquisition Officer shall jointly refer any violations or suspected violations of this subsection to the Inspector General of the Department.

“(C) If the Secretary determines, in consultation with the Inspector General of the Department, that a small business concern that is awarded a contract under this section did not act in good faith with respect to the requirements described in paragraph (1)(A), the small business concern shall be subject to any or all of the following consequences—

“(i) referral to the Debarment and Suspension Committee of the Department;

“(ii) a fine under section 16(g)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 645(g)(1)); and

“(iii) prosecution for violating section 1001 of title 18.

“(D) (i) Not later than November 30 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, the Inspector General shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on violations and suspected violations described in subparagraph (B) for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year during which the report is submitted.

“(ii) Each report submitted under clause (i) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:

“(I) The number of referred violations and suspected violations received under subparagraph (B).

“(II) The disposition of such referred violations, including the number of small business concerns suspended or debarred from Federal contracting or referred to the Attorney General for prosecution.”.

(b) Application.—Subsection (k) of section 8127 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to a contract entered into after the date of the enactment of this Act.