[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64932-64933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31822]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
48 CFR Part 31
[FAC 97-03; FAR Case 97-007; Item IX]
RIN 9000-AH76
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Travel Reimbursement
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense
Acquisition Regulations Council have agreed on an interim rule amending
the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to increase from $25 to $75
the maximum travel expense amount that contractor personnel may claim
without providing a supporting receipt. This regulatory action was not
subject to Office of Management and Budget review under Executive Order
12866, dated September 30, 1993, and is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C.
804.
DATES: Effective: December 9, 1997.
Comments: Comments should be submitted to the FAR Secretariat at
the address shown below on or before February 9, 1998 to be considered
in the formulation of a final rule.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments to:
General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVR), 1800 F Street,
NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405
E-Mail comments submitted over the Internet should be addressed to:
farcase.97-007@gsa.gov
Please cite FAC 97-03, FAR case 97-007, in all correspondence
related to this case.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The FAR Secretariat, Room 4035, GS
Building, Washington, DC 20405, (202) 501-4755, for information
pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of
content, contact Ms. Linda Nelson, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-
1900. Please cite FAC 97-03, FAR case 97-007.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
On October 28, 1996, GSA published Federal Travel Regulation (FTR)
Amendment 50, in the Federal Register (61 FR 55577), to streamline the
process of travel reimbursement claims. One of the FTR changes was to
raise, from $25.00 to $75.00, the maximum travel expense amount which
may be claimed without the requirement for a supporting receipt.
In concert with the FTR change, this rule amends the cost principle
at FAR 31.205-46 to increase, from $25.00 to $75.00, the threshold at
which contractor personnel must provide a receipt to support travel
expenditures.
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The interim rule is not expected to have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., because most
contracts awarded to small entities use simplified acquisition
procedures or are awarded on a competitive, fixed-price basis, and do
not require application of the cost principle contained in this rule.
An Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has, therefore, not been
performed. Comments are invited from small businesses and other
interested parties. Comments from small entities concerning the
affected FAR subpart also will be considered in accordance with 5
U.S.C. 610. Such comments must be submitted separately and should cite
5 U.S.C 601, et seq. (FAC 97-03, FAR case 97-007), in correspondence.
C. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub. L. 96-511) is deemed to apply
because the interim rule contains information collection requirements.
The collection of this information is currently cleared under Office of
Management and Budget number 9000-0088. The increase in the receipt
threshold is expected to reduce the existing burden hours. Copies of
the form and supporting documents reducing the burden hours may be
obtained from the FAR Secretariat. Estimated number of respondents:
5,800; responses per respondent: 10; total burden hours: 14,500;
frequency of report: on occasion.
D. Determination to Issue an Interim Rule
A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary
of Defense (DOD), the Administrator of General Services (GSA), and the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this
interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. This action
is necessary to make the cost principle consistent with the newly
revised Federal Travel Regulations and to remove the unnecessarily
burdensome recordkeeping requirement for travel expenses between $25.00
and $75.00, as quickly as possible. However, pursuant to Public Law 98-
577 and FAR 1.501, public comments received in response to this interim
rule will be considered in the formation of the final rule.
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 31
Government procurement.
Dated: December 1, 1997.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.
Therefore, 48 CFR Part 31 is amended as set forth below:
PART 31--CONTRACT COST PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Part 31 continues to read as
follows:
[[Page 64933]]
Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42
U.S.C. 2473(c).
2. Section 31.205-46 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(3)(iv) to
read as follows:
31.205-46 Travel costs.
(a) * * *
(3) * * *
(iv) Documentation to support actual costs incurred shall be in
accordance with the contractor's established practices, subject to
paragraph (a)(7) of this subsection, and provided that a receipt is
required for each expenditure of $75.00 or more. The approved
justification required by paragraph (a)(3)(ii) and, if applicable,
paragraph (a)(3)(iii) of this subsection must be retained.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 97-31822 Filed 12-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P
