[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6498-6501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3163]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
7 CFR Part 1755
Telecommunications Program Standard Contract Forms
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Direct final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is amending its regulations
to change the manner in which it publishes the standard forms of
contracts that borrowers are required to use when contracting for
construction, procurement, engineering services, or architectural
services financed through loans made or guaranteed by RUS. The required
contract forms are currently published in the text format in the Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR). This direct final rule will eliminate
this unnecessary and burdensome publication in the CFR.
DATES: This rule will become effective March 29, 1999 unless we receive
written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit adverse
comments on or before March 12, 1999. If we receive such comments or
notice, we will publish a timely notice in the Federal Register stating
that the rule will not become effective. A second public comment period
will not be held. Parties interested in commenting on this action
should do so at this time.
ADDRESSES: Submit adverse comments or notice of intent to submit
adverse comments to Orren E. Cameron, III,
[[Page 6499]]
Director, Telecommunications Standards Division, Rural Utilities
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1598, Washington, DC
20250-1598. RUS requires a signed original and three copies of all
comments (7 CFR 1700.4). Comments will be available for public
inspection during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norberto Esteves, Chairman, Technical
Standards Committee A (Telecommunications), Telecommunications
Standards Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Stop 1598, Washington, DC 20250-1598, telephone number
202-720-0699, fax number 202-720-4099, E-mail nesteves@rus.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Order 12866
This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of
Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Executive Order 12988
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil
Justice Reform. RUS has determined that this rule meets the applicable
standards provided in section 3 of that Executive Order. In addition,
all state and local laws and regulations that are in conflict with this
rule will be preempted. No retroactive effect will be given to the,
rule, and in accordance with Sec. 212(e) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 USC Sec. 6912(e))
administrative appeal procedures, if any, must be exhausted before an
action against the Department or its agencies may be initiated.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
RUS has determined that this final rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, as defined
by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The RUS
telecommunications program provides loans to borrowers at interest
rates and terms that are more favorable than those generally available
from the private sector. RUS borrowers, as a result of obtaining
federal financing, receive economic benefits that exceed any direct
economic costs associated with complying with RUS regulations and
requirements.
Information Collection and Recordkeeping Requirements
This final rule contains no new information collection or
recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The program described by this rule is listed in the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance programs under No. 10.851, Rural Telephone
Loans and Loan Guarantees; and No. 10.852, Rural Telephone Bank Loans.
This catalog is available on a subscription basis from the
Superintendent of Documents, the United States Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC 20402.
Executive Order 12372
This rule is excluded from the scope of Executive Order 12372,
Intergovernmental Consultation, which may require consultation with
State and local officials. A final rule related notice entitled
``Department Programs and Activities Excluded from Executive Order
12372,'' (50 FR 47034) exempted RUS loans and loan guarantees from
coverage under this order determined that RUS loans and loan
guarantees, and RTB bank loans, were not covered by Executive Order
12372.
Unfunded Mandates
This rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory
provision of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995) for
State, local, and tribal governments or the private sector. Thus, this
rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
National Environmental Policy Act Certification
The Administrator of RUS has determined that this rule will not
significantly affect the quality of the human environment as defined by
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Therefore, this action does not require an environmental impact
statement or assessment.
Background
RUS is changing the manner in which it publishes the standard
contract forms borrowers are required to use when contracting for
construction, procurement, architectural, or engineering services
financed through loans made or guaranteed by RUS or RTB.
The standard loan agreement between RUS and its borrowers provides
that, in accordance with applicable RUS regulations, the borrower shall
use standard contract forms promulgated by RUS for construction,
procurement, engineering services, and architectural services financed
by a loan made or guaranteed by RUS. Currently, RUS implements these
provisions of its loan agreement through parts 1753 and 1755. Part 1753
generally prescribes when and how borrowers are required to use RUS
standard contract forms and part 1755 lists RUS standard contract
forms. All of the contract forms are available, in a format suitable
for use as a contract, from RUS or the Government Printing Office
(GPO). An RUS borrower required by part 1753 to use a contract form
must use the contract form in that format available from RUS or GPO.
RUS believes that the current system of publishing the complete text of
the contract forms in the CFR is unnecessary and that, consistent with
the agency's objective to streamline regulatory text and to provide
borrowers with a user-friendly regulatory system, the complete text of
the required contract forms should no longer be published in the CFR.
Rather than published the complete text in the CFR, RUS will
identify in Sec. 1755.30(c) all required contract forms. To the extent
the RUS may be required to publish its contract forms pursuant to
section 552(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C.
552(a)) or otherwise, such requirement is met by identification of the
standard contract forms in part 1755. Moreover, RUS provides all
borrowers actual notice of the contract forms they are required to use
in contracting. As this rule states in part 1755, upon initially
entering a loan agreement with RUS, borrowers are provided with copies
of contract forms. Thereafter, should RUS promulgate new or revised
standard contract form(s), following the procedures discussed below,
RUS will revise the list of standard forms as set forth in part 1755
and send the new or revised standard forms to all affected borrowers by
regular or electronic mail. Borrowers, as well as the public, can
obtain copies of all standard contract forms from RUS or GPO.
In addition to identifying standard forms and eliminating full text
publication of each standard contract form in the CFR, RUS is
clarifying the procedures that will be followed when RUS promulgates a
new or revised standard contract form. To the extent that RUS is
required by section 553 of the APA (5 U.S.C. Sec. 553) or otherwise to
provide notice in the Federal Register (FR) and an opportunity for
public comment in promulgating standard contract forms, RUS will
publish a FR notice of rulemaking announcing, as appropriate, a
revision in, or a proposal to revise the list of standard contract
[[Page 6500]]
forms set forth in Sec. 1755.30(c). The revision may change the
existing list by, for example, identifying a new required contract form
or changing the issuance date of the form listed. The supplementary
information section of the FR notice will describe the substantive
change in the identified standard contract form and may append the
standard contract form or relevant portions thereof. As appropriate,
the notice will provide an opportunity for interested persons to
provide comments. RUS will send a copy of such FR notice by regular or
electronic mail to all borrowers.
Finally, the final rule clarifies certain aspects of the
requirement that borrowers use RUS standard contract forms. Absent an
RUS waiver, borrowers are required to use those standard forms in
effect as of the date the borrower issues the bid package to the
bidders. Borrowers can determine the appropriate standard form based on
the issuance date of the form as identified by the most recent
published list set forth in Sec. 1755.30(c). RUS may waive for good
cause, on a case-by-case basis, the requirement to use RUS standard
contract forms pursuant to procedures set forth in the regulation. A
failure on the part of the borrower to use standard contract forms as
prescribed in part 1753 or 1755 is a violation of the terms of its loan
agreement with RUS and RUS may exercise any and all remedies available
under the terms of the loan agreement or otherwise. Consistent with the
changes discussed above, RUS is amending those sections of existing
regulations that currently set forth the full text of contracts for the
purpose of deleting such text. Deletion of the full text from the CFR
will not affect the requirement that borrowers use the prescribed
contract forms.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1755
Loan programs--communications, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Rural areas, Telephone.
For reasons set out in the preamble, part 1755 of chapter XVII of
title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:
PART 1755--TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES
1. The authority citation for part 1755 continues to read:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.; 1921 et seq.; 7 U.S.C. 6941 et
seq.
2. Sections 1755.26 through 1755.30 are added to read as follows:
Sec. 1755.26 RUS standard contract forms.
(a) The standard loan agreement between RUS and its borrowers
provides that, in accordance with applicable RUS regulations, borrowers
shall use standard contract forms promulgated by RUS for construction,
procurement, engineering services, and architectural services financed
by a loan or guaranteed by RUS. This part implements these provisions
of the RUS loan agreement and prescribes the procedures that RUS
follows in promulgating standard contract forms that borrowers are
required to use. Part 1753 prescribes when and how borrowers are
required to use these standard forms of contracts.
(b) Contract forms. RUS promulgates standard contract forms,
identified in Sec. 1755.30(c), List of Standard Contract Forms, that
borrowers are required to use.
Sec. 1755.27 Borrower contractual obligations.
(a) Loan agreement. As a condition of a loan or loan guaranteed
under the RE Act, borrowers are normally required to enter into RUS
loan agreements pursuant to which the borrowers agree to use RUS
standard contract forms for construction, procurement, engineering
services, and architectural services financed in whole or in part by
the RUS loan. To comply with the provisions of the loan agreements as
implemented by this part, borrowers must use those contract forms
identified in the list of telecommunications standard contract forms,
set forth in Sec. 1755.30(c) of this part.
(b) Compliance. (1) If a borrower is required by part 1753 to use a
listed contract form, the borrower shall use the listed contract form
in the format available from RUS. The forms shall not be retyped,
changed, modified, or altered in any manner not specifically authorized
in this part or approved by RUS in writing. Any modifications approved
by RUS must be clearly shown so as to indicate the difference from the
listed contract form.
(2) The borrower may use electronic reproductions of a contract
form if the contract documents submitted for RUS approval are exact
reproductions of the RUS form and include the following certification
by the borrower: I (Insert name of the person.), certify that the
attached (Insert name of the contract form.), between (Insert name of
the parties.), dated (Insert contract date.) is an exact reproduction
of RUS Form (Insert form number), dated (Insert date of RUS form).
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(Signature)
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(Title)
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(Employer's Address)
(c) Amendment. Where a borrower has entered into a contract in the
form required by 7 CFR part 1753, no change may be made in the terms of
the contract, by amendment, waiver or otherwise, without the prior
written approval of RUS.
(d) Waiver. RUS may waive for good cause, on a case-by-case basis,
the requirements imposed on a borrower pursuant to this part. Borrowers
seeking an RUS waiver must provide RUS with a written request
explaining the need for the waiver.
(e) Violations. A failure on the part of the borrower to use listed
contracts as prescribed in 7 CFR part 1753 is a violation of the terms
of the loan agreement with RUS and RUS may exercise any and all
remedies available under the terms of the agreement or otherwise.
Sec. 1755.28 Notice and publication of listed contract forms.
(a) Notice. Upon initially entering a loan agreement with RUS,
borrowers will be provided with all listed contract forms. Thereafter,
new or revised listed contract forms promulgated by RUS, including RUS
approved exceptions and alternatives, will be sent by regular or
electronic mail to the borrower's address as identified in its loan
agreement with RUS.
(b) Availability. Listed contract forms are published by RUS.
Interested parties may obtain the forms from the Rural Utilities
Service, Program Development and Regulatory Analysis, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Stop 1522, Washington DC 20250-1522, telephone number
(202) 720-8674. The list of contract forms can be found in
Sec. 1755.30(c).
Sec. 1755.29 Promulgation of new or revised contract forms.
RUS may, from time to time, promulgate new contract forms or revise
or eliminate existing contract forms. In so doing, RUS shall publish a
notice of rulemaking in the Federal Register announcing, as
appropriate, a revision in, or a proposal to amend Sec. 1755.30(c),
List of telecommunications standard contract forms. The amendment may
change the existing identification of a listed contract form by, for
example, changing the issuance date of the listed contract form or
identifying a new required contract form. The notice of rulemaking will
describe the new standard contract form or substantive change in the
listed contract form, as the
[[Page 6501]]
case may be, and the issues involved. The standard contract form or
relevant portions thereof may be appended to the supplementary
information section of the notice of rulemaking. As appropriate, the
notice of rulemaking shall provide an opportunity for interested
persons to provide comments. RUS shall send, by regular or electronic
mail, a copy of each such Federal Register document to all borrowers.
Sec. 1755.30 List of telecommunications standard contract forms.
(a) General. The following is a list of RUS telecommunications
program standard contract forms for procurement, construction,
engineering services, and architectural services. Borrowers are
required to use these contract forms by the terms of their RUS loan
agreements implemented by part 1753 and this part.
(b) Issuance Date. Where part 1753 requires the use of a standard
contract form in connection with RUS financing, the borrower shall use
the appropriate form identified in Sec. 1755.30(c), List of
Telecommunications Standard Contract Forms, published as of the date
the borrower releases the plans and specifications to solicit bids or
price quotes.
(c) List of telecommunications standard contract forms.
(1) RUS Form 157, issued 10-77, Construction Work Plan and cost
Distribution--Telephone.
(2) RUS Form 158, issued 10-77, Certification of Contract or Force
Account Approval.
(3) RUS Form 159, issued 10-77, Summary of Completed Construction.
(4) RUS Form 168b, issued 3-62, Contractor's Bond.
(5) RUS Form 168c, issued 4-79, Contractor's Bond.
(6) RUS Form 181, issued 4-72, Certificate of Completion, Contract
Construction Buildings.
(7) RUS Form 181a, issued 3-66, Certificate of Completion (Force
Account Construction).
(8) RUS Form 213, issued 8-52, Certificate (Buy American).
(9) RUS Form 216, issued 7-67, Construction Change Order.
(10) RUS Form 217, issued 3-97, Postloan Engineering Services
Contract--Telecommunications Systems.
(11) RUS Form 220, issued 6-98, Architectural Services Contract.
(12) RUS Form 224, issued 3-55, Waiver and Release of Lien.
(13) RUS Form 231, issued 4-72, Certificate of Contractor.
(14) RUS Form 238, issued 4-72, Construction or Equipment Contract
Amendment.
(15) RUS Form 242, issued 11-58, Assignment of Engineering Service
Contract.
(16) RUS Form 245, issued 11-75, Engineering Services Contract,
Special Services--Telephone.
(17) RUS Form 257, issued 3-73, Contract to Construct Buildings.
(18) RUS Form 257a, issued 10-69, Contractor's Bond.
(19) RUS Form 274, issued 6-81, Bidder's Qualifications.
(20) RUS Form 276, issued 5-59, Bidder's Qualifications for Buried
Plant Construction.
(21) RUS Form 281 issued 5-61, Tabulation of Materials Furnished by
Borrower.
(22) RUS Form 282, issued 11-53, Subcontract (Under Construction or
Equipment Contracts).
(23) RUS Form 284, issued 4-72, Final Statement of Cost for
Architectural Service and Certificate of Architect.
(24) RUS Form 307, issued 4-60, Bid Bond.
(25) RUS Form 396, issued 3-64, Certificate of Completion--Special
Equipment Contract (Including Installation).
(26) RUS Form 396a, issued 3-64, Certificate of Completion--Special
Equipment Contract (Not Including Installation).
(27) RUS Form 397, issued 12-67, Special Equipment Contract
(Including Installation).
(28) RUS Form 397f, issued 2-63, Contractor's Bond (Special
Telephone Equipment).
(29) Addendum No. 1 to RUS Form 397, issued 7-78, Special Equipment
Contract (Including Installation).
(30) RUS Form 398, issued 11-62, Special Equipment Contract (Not
Including Installation).
(31) RUS Form 399, issued 8-82, Supplemental Agreement to Equipment
Contract for Field Trial.
(32) RUS Form 399a, issued 8-82, Supplemental Agreement to
Equipment Contract for Field Trial (Secondary-Delivery, Installation,
Operation).
(33) RUS Form 506, issued 3-97, Statement of Engineering Fee--
Telecommunications.
(34) RUS Form 515, issued 1-90, Telephone System Construction
Contract (Labor and Materials).
(35) RUS Form 517, issued 9-64, Results of Acceptance Tests
(36) RUS Form 525, issued 7-94, Central Office Equipment Contract
(Including Installation).
(37) Addendum to RUS Form 525, issued 7-94, Central Office
Equipment Contract (Including Installation) and RUS Form 545 Central
Office Equipment Contract (Not Including Installation).
(38) RUS Form 525a, issued 10-62, Contractor's Bond (Central Office
Equipment).
(39) RUS Form 526, issued 8-66, Construction Contract Amendment.
(40) RUS Form 527, issued 3-71, Statement of Construction,
Telephone System `` Outside Plant.
(41) RUS Form 545, issued 9-66, Central Office Equipment Contract
(Not including Installation).
(42) RUS Form 553, issued 5-67, Check List for Review of Plans and
Specifications.
(43) RUS Form 724 issued 10-63, Final Inventory, Telephone
Construction Contract.
(44) RUS Form 724a issued 4-61, Final Inventory, Telephone
Construction--Telephone Construction Contract (Labor and Materials),
columns 1-8.
(45) RUS Form 724b issued 3-61, Final Inventory, Telephone
Construction Contract (Labor and Materials), columns 9-14.
(46) RUS Form 744, issued 2-62, Certificate of Contractor and
Indemnity Agreement.
(47) RUS Form 752a, issued 5-66, Certificate of Completion Central
Office Equipment-Not Including Installation.
(48) RUS Form 754, issued 6-66, Certificate of Completion and
Certificate of Contractor and Indemnity Agreement.
(49) RUS Form 771, Issued 10-75, Summary of Work Orders (Inspected
by RUS Field Engineer).
(50) RUS Form 771a, issued 10-75, Summary of Work Orders (Inspected
by Licensed Engineer or Borrower's Staff Engineer).
(51) RUS Form 773, issued 12-90, Miscellaneous Construction Work
and Maintenance Services Contract.
(52) RUS Form 787, issued 8-63, Supplement A to Construction
Contract.
(53) RUS Form 817, issued 6-60, Final Inventory, Telephone Force
Account Construction.
(54) RUS Form 817a, issued 6-60, Final Inventory, Telephone Force
Account Construction, columns 1-8.
(55) RUS Form 817b, issued 6-60, Final Inventory, Telephone Force
Account Construction, Columns 9-14.
(56) RUS Form 835, issued 3-66, Preloan Engineering Service
Contract, Telephone System Design.
Secs. 1755.93, 1755.217, and 1755.525 [Removed and Reserved]
3. Sections 1755.93, 1755.217, and 1755.525 are removed and
reserved.
Dated: January 24, 1999.
Jill Long Thompson,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 99-3163 Filed 2-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
