EXTENSION OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AUTHORITY.

SEC. 2352. EXTENSION OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AUTHORITY. (a) Extension of Authority.— Section 6(e) of the Contracts Disputes Act of 1978 (41 U.S.C. 605(e)) is amended by striking out “October 1, 1995” and inserting in lieu thereof “October 1, 1999”. (b) Availability of Procedures to Small Business Government Contractors.— Section 6(e) of such Act is amended by inserting after the first sentence the following: “In any case in which the contracting officer rejects a contractor’s request for alternative dispute resolution proceedings, the contracting officer shall provide the contractor with a written explanation, citing one or more of the conditions in section 572(b) of title 5, United States Code, or such other specific reasons that alternative dispute resolution procedures are inappropriate for the resolution of the dispute. In any case in which a contractor rejects a request of an agency 108 STAT. 3323for alternative dispute resolution proceedings, the contractor shall inform the agency in writing of the contractor’s specific reasons for rejecting the request.”.