2015-12344. Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Uniform Procurement Identification (DFARS Case 2015-D011)  

  • Start Preamble

    AGENCY:

    Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense (DoD).

    ACTION:

    Proposed rule.

    SUMMARY:

    DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to comply with the uniform procurement identification procedures implemented in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

    DATES:

    Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to the address shown below on or before July 27, 2015, to be considered in the formation of a final rule.

    ADDRESSES:

    Submit comments identified by DFARS Case 2015-D011, using any of the following methods:

    Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by entering “DFARS Case 2015-D011” under the heading “Enter keyword or ID” and selecting “Search.” Select the link “Submit a Comment” that corresponds with “DFARS Case 2015-D011.” Follow the instructions provided at the “Submit a Comment” screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and “DFARS Case 2015-D011” on your attached document.

    Email: osd.dfars@mail.mil. Include DFARS Case 2015-D011 in the subject line of the message.

    Fax: 571-372-6094.

    Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Jennifer Johnson, OUSD(AT&L)DPAP/DARS, Room 3B941, 3060 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3060.

    Comments received generally will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check www.regulations.gov, approximately two to three days after submission to verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted by mail).

    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Jennifer Johnson, telephone 571-372-6176.

    End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    I. Background

    DoD is proposing to revise the DFARS to comply with the uniform procurement identification procedures implemented in the FAR through final rule 2012-023 (79 FR 61739, effective November 13, 2014). The final FAR rule implemented a uniform award identification system among various procurement transactions across the Federal Government, as recommended by the Government Accountability and Transparency Board. DFARS coverage of uniform procurement identification must be synchronized with the FAR coverage so that the identification numbers of DoD-issued contracts, orders, and other procurement instruments will comply with FAR subpart 4.16 as amended by final FAR rule 2012-023.

    II. Discussion

    This rule proposes to make the following amendments to the DFARS and its Appendix F:

    • Subpart 204.70, Uniform Procurement Instrument Identification Numbers, is amended to relocate all text to subpart 204.16 and to revise the relocated text to comply with FAR subpart 4.16. Subpart 204.70 is reserved.
    • Subpart 232.9, Prompt Payment, is amended to clarify the task and delivery order numbers for use on invoices and receiving reports.
    • Subpart 239.74, Telecommunications Services, is amended to remove text on the type of procurement instrument.
    • Appendix F, Material Inspection and Receiving Report, is amended to clarify the task and delivery order numbers for use on receiving reports.

    III. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not subject to review under section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

    IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    DoD does not expect this proposed rule 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 the rule implements procurement instrument identification procedures that are similar to procedures DoD has used for many years. However, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis has been performed and is summarized as follows:

    DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to comply with the uniform procurement identification procedures implemented in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) through final FAR rule 2012-023.

    Final FAR rule 2012-023 implemented a uniform award identification system among various procurement transactions across the Federal Government, as recommended by the Government Accountability and Transparency Board. DFARS coverage of uniform procurement identification must be synchronized with the FAR coverage so that the identification numbers of DoD-issued contracts, orders, and other procurement instruments will comply with FAR subpart 4.16 as amended by final rule 2012-023.

    DoD does not expect this rule 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. The proposed rule affects all DoD contractors who will receive new task or delivery orders against DoD-issued contracts, purchase orders, calls against DoD-issued blanket purchase agreements, orders against DoD-issued basic ordering agreements, and certain types of contracts beginning in fiscal year 2016. At this time, the exact number of small entities is unknown.

    The projected recordkeeping is limited to that required to properly record contract and other procurement instrument identification numbers and input them in documents (e.g., invoices) as required under Government contracts. Preparation of these records requires clerical and analytical skills to create the documents and input them into the appropriate electronic systems.

    The rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other Federal rules.Start Printed Page 30031

    There are no known significant alternative approaches to the rule that would meet the requirements.

    DoD invites comments from small business concerns and other interested parties on the expected impact of this rule on small entities.

    DoD will also consider comments from small entities concerning the existing regulations in subparts affected by this rule in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (DFARS Case 2015-D011), in correspondence.

    V. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule contains information collection requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35); however, these changes to the DFARS do not impose additional information collection requirements to the paperwork burden previously approved under OMB Control Number 0704-0248, entitled Material Inspection and Receiving Report.

    Start List of Subjects

    List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 204, 232, 239, and Appendix F to Chapter 2

    • Government procurement
    End List of Subjects Start Signature

    Amy G. Williams,

    Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.

    End Signature

    Therefore, 48 CFR parts 204, 232, 239, and Appendix F to Chapter 2 are proposed to be amended as follows:

    Start Amendment Part

    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 204, 232, 239, and Appendix F to chapter 2 continues to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part Start Authority

    Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1303 and 48 CFR chapter 1.

    End Authority Start Part

    PART 204—ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

    End Part Start Amendment Part

    2. Add subpart 204.16 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Subpart 204.16—Uniform Procurement Instrument Identifiers
    204.1601
    Policy.
    204.1603
    Procedures.
    204.1670
    Cross-reference to Federal Procurement Data System.
    204.1671
    Order of application for modifications.

    Subpart 204.16—Uniform Procurement Instrument Identifiers

    Policy.

    (a) Establishment of a Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID). Do not reuse a PIID once it has been assigned. Do not assign the same PIID to more than one task or delivery order, even if they are issued under different base contracts or agreements.

    (b) Transition of PIID numbering. Effective October 1, 2016, all components shall comply with the PIID numbering requirements of FAR subpart 4.16 and this subpart for all new solicitations, contracts, orders, and agreements issued, and any amendments and modifications to those new actions. Components are encouraged to transition to this numbering schema as soon as possible, but not earlier than October 1, 2015.

    (c) Change in the PIID after its assignment. When this occurs, the new PIID is known as a continued contract.

    (i) A continued contract—

    (A) Does not constitute a new procurement;

    (B) Incorporates all prices, terms, and conditions of the predecessor contract effective at the time of issuance of the continued contract;

    (C) Operates as a separate contract independent of the predecessor contract once issued; and

    (D) Shall not evade competition, expand the scope of work, or extend the period of performance beyond that of the predecessor contract.

    (ii) When issuing a continued contract, the contracting officer shall—

    (A) Issue an administrative modification to the predecessor contract to clearly state that—

    (1) Any future awards provided for under the terms of the predecessor contract (e.g., issuance of orders or exercise of options) will be accomplished under the continued contract; and

    (2) Supplies and services already acquired under the predecessor contract shall remain solely under that contract for purposes of Government inspection, acceptance, payment, and closeout; and

    (B) Follow the procedures at PGI 204.1601(b).

    Procedures.

    (a) Elements of a PIID. DoD-issued PIIDs are thirteen characters in length. Use only alpha-numeric characters, as prescribed in FAR 4.1603 and this subpart. Do not use the letter “I” or “O” in any part of the PIID. Follow PIID numbering procedures in FAR 4.1603(a).

    (3) Position 9. Do not use letters identified in FAR 4.1603(a)(3) as “Reserved for future Federal Governmentwide use” or “Reserved for departmental use” in position 9 of the PIID.

    (4) Positions 10 through 17. In accordance with FAR 4.1603(a)(4), DoD-issued PIIDs shall only use positions 10 through 13 to complete the PIID. Enter the serial number of the instrument in these positions. A separate series of serial numbers may be used for any type of instrument listed in FAR 4.1603(a)(3). Components assign such series of PIID numbers sequentially. A component may reserve blocks of numbers or alpha-numeric numbers for use by its various components.

    (b) Elements of a supplementary PIID. Follow supplementary PIID numbering procedures in FAR 4.1603(b) in addition to the requirements contained in paragraphs (2)(ii)(1) through(3) of this section.

    (2)(ii) Positions 2 through 6. In accordance with FAR 4.1603(b)(2)(ii), DoD-issued supplementary PIIDs shall, for positions 2 through 6 of modifications to contracts and agreements, comply with the following:

    (1) Positions 2 through 3. These are the first two digits in a serial number. They may be either alpha or numeric. Use the letters K, L, M, N, P, Q, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, or Z only in position 2 and only in the following circumstances—

    (i) Use K, L, M, N, P, and Q in position 2 only if the modification is issued by the Air Force and is a provisioned item order.

    (ii) Use S, and only S, in position 2 to identify modifications issued to provide initial or amended shipping instructions when—

    (a) The contract has either FOB origin or destination delivery terms; and

    (b) The price changes.

    (iii) Use T, U, V, W, X, or Y, and only those characters, in position 2 to identify modifications issued to provide initial or amended shipping instructions when—

    (a) The contract has FOB origin delivery terms; and

    (b) The price does not change.

    (iv) Only use Z in position 2 to identify a modification which definitizes a letter contract or a previously issued undefinitized modification.

    (2) Positions 4 through 6. These positions are always numeric. Use a separate series of serial numbers for each type of modification listed in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. Examples of proper numbering for positions 2-6 (the first position will be either “A” or “P”) are as follows:Start Printed Page 30032

    Normal modificationProvisioned items order (reserved for exclusive use by the Air Force only)Shipping instructions
    00001-99999K0001-K9999S0001-S9999.
    thenKA001-KZ999SA001-SZ999.
    A0001-A9999L0001-L9999T0001-T9999.
    B0001-B9999LA001-LZ999TA001-TZ999.
    and so on toM0001-M9999U0001-U9999.
    H0001-H9999MA001-MZ999UA001-UZ999.
    thenN0001-N9999V0001-V9999.
    J0001-J9999NA001-NZ999VA001-VZ999.
    thenP0001-P9999W0001-W9999.
    R0001-R9999PA001-PZ999WA001-WZ999.
    thenQ0001-Q9999X0001-X9999.
    AA001-HZ999QA001-QZ999XA001-XZ999.
       then
    JA001-JZ999Y0001-Y9999.
    RA001-RZ999YA001-YZ999.

    (3) If the contract administration office is changing the contract administration or disbursement office for the first time and is using computer generated modifications to notify many offices, it uses the six position supplementary number ARZ999. If either office has to be changed again during the life of the contract, the supplementary number will be ARZ998, and on down as needed.

    Cross-reference to Federal Procurement Data System.

    Detailed guidance on mapping PIID and supplementary PIID numbers stored in the Electronic Document Access system to data elements reported in the Federal Procurement Data System can be found in PGI 204.1604-70.

    Order of application for modifications.

    (a) Circumstances may exist in which the numeric order of the modifications to a contract is not the order in which the changes to the contract actually take effect.

    (b) In order to determine the sequence of modifications to a contract or order, the modifications will be applied in the following order:

    (1) Modifications will be applied in order of the effective date on the modification.

    (2) In the event of two or more modifications with the same effective date, modifications will be applied in signature date order.

    (3) In the event of two or more modifications with the same effective date and the same signature date, procuring contracting office modifications will be applied in numeric order, followed by contract administration office modifications in numeric order.

    Subpart 204.70—[Removed and Reserved]

    Start Amendment Part

    3. Remove subpart 204.70, consisting of sections 204.7000 through 204.7007.

    End Amendment Part Start Part

    PART 232—CONTRACT FINANCING

    End Part Start Amendment Part

    4. Add section 232.905 to subpart 232.9 to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part
    Payment documentation and process.

    (b)(1)(iii) For task and delivery orders numbered in accordance with FAR 4.1603 and DFARS 204.1603, the 13-character order number will serve as the contract number on invoices and receiving reports. Task and delivery orders numbered with a four-position alpha-numeric call/order serial number shall include both the 13-position basic contract Procurement Instrument Identifier and the four-position order number.

    Start Part

    PART 239—ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

    [Removed and Reserved]
    End Part Start Amendment Part

    5. Remove and reserve section 239.7407.

    End Amendment Part Start Amendment Part

    6. Amend Appendix F to Chapter 2, in section F-301, by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:

    End Amendment Part

    Appendix F to Chapter 2-Material Inspection and Receiving Report

    * * * * *

    F-301 Preparation instructions.

    * * * * *

    (b) * * *

    (1) Contract no/delivery order no.

    (i) Enter the 13-position alpha-numeric basic Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID) of the contract. For task and delivery orders numbered in accordance with FAR 4.1603 and DFARS 204.1603, enter the 13-character order number only. If the order has only a four-position alpha numeric call/order serial number; enter both the 13-position basic contract PIID and the four-position order number.

    (ii) Except as indicated in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this appendix, do not enter supplementary numbers used in conjunction with basic PIIDs to identify—

    (A) Modifications of contracts and agreements;

    (B) Modifications to calls or orders; or

    (C) Document numbers representing contracts written between contractors.

    (iii) When shipping instructions are furnished and shipment is made before receipt of the confirming contract modification (SF 30, Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract), enter a comment in the Misc. Info Tab to this effect. This will appear in the Comments section of the printed WAWF RR.

    * * * * *
    End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2015-12344 Filed 5-22-15; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 5001-06-P

Document Information

Published:
05/26/2015
Department:
Defense Acquisition Regulations System
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
2015-12344
Dates:
Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to
Pages:
30030-30032 (3 pages)
RINs:
0750-AI54: Uniform Procurement Identification (DFARS Case 2015-D011)
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0750-AI54/uniform-procurement-identification-dfars-case-2015-d011-
Topics:
Government procurement
PDF File:
2015-12344.Pdf
CFR: (6)
48 CFR 204.1601
48 CFR 204.1603
48 CFR 204.1670
48 CFR 204.1671
48 CFR 232.905
More ...