Create Opportunities and Networks for Talented, Ready, and Able Contractors To Succeed Act of 2024
A BILL
To make improvements to Federal contracting practices for disadvantaged small businesses, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
Sec. 3 Database on contract awards to disadvantaged small businesses
Sec. 4 Outreach and recruitment to expand participation of disadvantaged small businesses in Federal contracting
Sec. 5 Determination of the date of commencement of participation in the 8(a) program
“(ii) A small business concern that has commenced participation in the Program established under this paragraph on or after the date of the enactment of this clause, shall be considered to have begun such participation one year before the date on which such concern has attained, in the determination of the Administrator, the full benefits of participation in the Program. Such determination may include consideration of the date on which such concern was first awarded a contract or subcontract because of participation of such concern in the Program.”
Sec. 6 Inclusion of concerns owned by HBCU business entities in definition of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern
“(21) HBCU business entity—In this subsection, the term HBCU business entity means an entity owned and operated by a part B institution (as defined under section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061); commonly referred to as a “historically Black college or university”) for purposes of—
“(A) participation in interstate commerce; or
“(B) participation in the program described under section 8(a).”
“(IV) a HBCU business entity; or”
“(IV) a HBCU business entity.”
“(IV) a HBCU business entity described in subparagraph (A)(i)(IV) or subparagraph (A)(ii)(IV).”
“(G) a small business concern—
“(i) that is wholly owned by one or more HBCU business entities (as defined in section 8(a)(21)), or by a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more HBCU business entities; or
“(ii) that is owned in part by one or more HBCU business entities, or by a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more HBCU business entities, if all other owners are either United States citizens or small business concerns.”
Sec. 7 Agency OSDBU technical assistance
“(A) the training provided by the Director under paragraph (23) in the most recently completed fiscal year;”
“(22) shall provide or contract with an entity (which may include a small business development center) to provide, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development of the Minority Business Development Agency (established under section 100002 of the Minority Business Development Act of 2021), technical assistance to small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (as defined under section 8(d)(3)(C)) or socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns (as defined in section 8(a)(4)(A)) for the development of individualized, specific narratives of discrimination; and
“(23) shall provide or contract with an entity (which may include a small business development center) to provide training to prepare small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals or socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns to become better situated to submit an offer for a contract offered under section 8(a).”
Sec. 8 Federal disadvantaged small business task force
Sec. 9 Requirements relating to prompt payment, progress payments, and performance-based payments
“3906. Disclosures for prompt payments on certain contracts
“(a) In general—Each covered contract shall include a clause that requires the prime contractor to include in each subcontract entered into by the prime contractor and a subcontractor for the purpose of performing such covered contract—
“(1) a payment clause which obligates the prime contractor to pay the subcontractor (at any tier) for satisfactory performance under its subcontract within 14 calendar days of receipt of payment from the agency; and
“(2) an interest penalty clause which obligates the prime contractor to pay to the subcontractor (at any tier) an interest penalty on amounts due in the case of each payment not made in accordance with the payment clause described in paragraph (1)—
“(A) for the period beginning on the day after the required payment date and ending on the date on which payment of the amount due is made; and
“(B) computed at the rate specified by section 3902(a) of this title.
“(b) Covered contract defined—In this section, the term covered contract means a contract awarded by the head of an agency to a prime contractor that is not a disadvantaged small business (as defined in the CONTRACTS Act of 2024) with a proposed value greater than the simplified acquisition threshold.”
Sec. 10 Reports on subcontractor engagement
“(18) Reports on subcontractor engagement
“(A) In general—Each prime contractor that is not a disadvantaged small business that has been awarded a major prime contract shall submit to the head of the Federal agency that awarded such contract an annual report on subcontracts awarded pursuant to such contract, including—
“(i) the total number of subcontracts awarded under the contract;
“(ii) the number of subcontracts and a description of such subcontracts awarded to disadvantaged small businesses, disaggregated by demographic characteristics, including the North American Industry Classification System code for each such business;
“(iii) the total dollar value of payments made to subcontractors; and
“(iv) the total dollar value of payments made to disadvantaged small businesses, disaggregated by demographic characteristics.
“(B) Definitions—In this paragraph:
“(i) CONTRACTS Act of 2024 definitions—The terms demographic characteristics and“disadvantaged small business” have the meanings given, respectively, in the CONTRACTS Act of 2024.
“(ii) Major prime contract—The term major prime contract means—
“(I) the 50 highest dollar value prime contracts of a Federal agency; and
“(II) each contract of a Federal agency that has a total dollar value greater than or equal to $10,000,000.”
Sec. 11 Modifications to subcontracting plans to enhance opportunities for small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals
Sec. 12 Diversity and inclusion reporting requirements for covered contractors
“4715. Diversity and inclusion reporting requirements for covered contractors
“(a) Covered contractor reports
“(1) In general—The head of each executive agency shall require each covered contractor awarded a major contract to submit to such head by the last day of each full fiscal year that occurs during the period of performance of any major contract a report on diversity and inclusion.
“(2) Elements—Each report under paragraph (1) shall include, for the fiscal year covered by the report the following:
“(A) A description of each major contract with a period of performance during the fiscal year covered by the report, including the period of performance, expected total value, and value to date of each major contract.
“(B) The total value of payments received under all major contracts of each covered contractor during such fiscal year.
“(C) The total number of participants in the board of directors of each covered contractor, nominees for the board of directors of the covered contractor, and the senior leaders of the covered contractor, disaggregated by demographic classifications.
“(D) With respect to employees of each covered contractor—
“(i) the total number of such employees; and
“(ii) the number of such employees (expressed as a numeral and as a percentage of the total number), disaggregated by demographic classification and major occupational group.
“(E) The value of first-tier subcontracts under each major contract entered into during such fiscal year.
“(F) With respect to employees of each covered subcontractor—
“(i) the total number of such employees; and
“(ii) the number of such employees (expressed as a numeral and as a percentage of the total number), disaggregated by demographic classification and major occupational group.
“(G) Whether the board of directors of the covered contractor has, as of the date on which the covered contractor submits a report under this section, adopted any policy, plan, or strategy to promote racial, ethnic, and gender diversity among the members of the board of directors of the covered contractor, nominees for the board of directors of the covered contractor, or the senior leaders of the covered contractor.
“(H) A description of participation by the contractor in diversity programs, to include the number of hours spent implementing, funds expended in support of, and the number of unique relationships established by each such diversity program.
“(b) Annual summary report
“(1) Report required—Not later than 60 days after the first day of each fiscal year, the head of each executive agency shall submit to each relevant committee of Congress a report that summarizes the reports submitted pursuant to subsection (a).
“(2) Elements—Each report under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
“(A) An index of the reports submitted pursuant to subsection (a).
“(B) A compilation of the data described in such subsection, disaggregated as described in such subsection.
“(C) An aggregation of the data provided in such reports.
“(D) A narrative that analyzes the information disclosed in such reports and identifies any year-to-year trends in such information.
“(c) Public availability—Each report required under this subsection shall be posted on a single publicly available website of the relevant executive agency and made available in a machine-readable format that is downloadable, searchable, and sortable.
“(d) Executive agency—Notwithstanding section 3101(c)(1) of this title, this section applies to the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
“(e) Definitions—In this section:
“(1) Covered contractor—The term covered contractor means a contractor awarded a major contract.
“(2) Covered subcontractor—The term covered subcontractor means a subcontractor performing a subcontract that is one of the 10 highest aggregate value subcontracts under a major contract and any subcontract that has a total dollar value of $10,000,000 or more.
“(3) Demographic classifications—The term demographic classifications means classifications by race, gender, veteran status, or ethnicity.
“(4) Diversity program—The term diversity program means—
“(A) any contracting program of an executive agency that awards contracts pursuant to section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)); and
“(B) any contracting program for disadvantaged small businesses (as defined in the CONTRACTS Act of 2024) administered by the executive agency.
“(5) Major contract—The term major contract means—
“(A) the largest 50 contracts (by total dollar value) of each agency; and
“(B) each contract that has a total dollar value of $10,000,000 or more.
“(6) Major occupational group—The term major occupational group means a major occupational group as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“(7) Senior leader—The term senior leader means—
“(A) the president of a covered contractor;
“(B) any vice president in charge of a principal business unit, division, or function of a covered contractor;
“(C) any other officer of a covered contractor who performs a policy-making function; or
“(D) an individual responsible for the direct or indirect management of more than 200 individuals.”