b'.Mr.Cullenalsomadeitclearthattheperformanceapproachas ~describedintheenclosedbookletandthe2 0identifiedperformance criteriaare!reliminartandshouldbetreatedassuch.Heindicated thatthebooketwouldeupdatedasresearchcontinuesandasNBS receivesfeedbackfromtheindustry.Mr.CullenandNBSwelcomeyour comments,constructivecriticism,etc. SBASMALLBUSINESSSIZECRITERIA IntheApril-May,1974issueofthe"MidwestRoofer",wereported thattheSmallBusinessAdministrationhadamendeditssmallbusiness sizecriteriaforpurposesofbiddingon"setaside"governmentcontracts toaverageannualreceiptsforthepreceding3fiscalyearsofnotin excessofonemilliondollars.Thepriordefinitionhadbeenaverage annualreceiptsof$71/2millionorlessforthe3precedingfiscalyears. Theconstructionindustryreactedstronglytothesizecriteria changeand,apparently,theadversereactionhashadsomeeffectonthe SBA.Earlythismonth,theSBApublishednoticeofaproposedamendment tothesizestandard.Theproposedamendmentwouldbea"grandfather" clauseunderwhich,foraperiodofoneyearfromtheeffectivedateof thegrandfatherclause,theapplicablesizecriteriaforpurposesof biddingonsetasidecontractswouldbeaverageannualreceiptsforthe preceding3fiscalyearsofnotinexcessof$71/2million.Inother words,foraperiodofoneyear,theSBAwouldrestoretheoriginalsize standard. Unfortunately,thegrandfatherclause(restorationofthe$71/2million standard)wouldbeapplicableonlytoabusinesswhichwasprimarilyengaged inperformingsmallbusinesssetasidecontracts.Undertheproposedamendment,tobeprimarilyengagedinsmallbusinesssetasidecontracts,50%or moreofthecontractor\'sannualreceiptsmustbeattributabletosetaside contracts. Individualcontractors,NRCAandthisAssociationcommunicatedwith theSBAconcerningtheproposedamendment.Generallyspeaking,theposition takenbytheroofingindustryhasbeenthattheSBAshouldrescindtheone milliondollarsizedefinitionandrestorewithoutqualificationthe$71/2 milliondollarsizestandard.Withrespecttotheproposedamendment,the grandfatherclausehasbeenwelcomedbuttheSBAhasbeenurgedtomake theclauseapplicabletoallcontractors,notjusttocontractorsprimarily engagedinsetasidecontracts- inotherwords,the50%limitationon applicabilityoftheclauseshouldbeentirelyeliminated. Ifandwhentheproposedamendmentbecomesfinal,intheformproposed ormodifiedtoeliminatethe11 primarilyengaged"limitation,wewilladvise you. WEDON\'TMEANTOSCAREYOUBUT .Marylandjuryhasrecentlyawarded13.3milliondollarstoa A manwhosewifewasrapedandkilledbyanemployeeofafurnitureleasing ~ompanywhowasworkingintheapartmentbuildingwherethewomanlived.'