A proposed rule published 20 August 2026 collapses roughly 1,000 size standards down to 338, defaults to employee-based measurement, adds a productivity adjustment to monetary standards, and reduces nothing. SBA has extended the comment period from 21 September to 20 November 2026.

Published the same day as the size standards proposal, the 2026 Revised Methodology replaces SBA's seven-factor analysis with a single average market size measure and removes the explicit maximum size standard. Comments, originally due 21 September, now close 20 November 2026.

The provisions deferred until January 2026 are live. A disqualifying recertification can now cost a firm its eligibility for set-aside orders and option exercises under a multiple-award contract.