[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 3380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1315]
[[Page 3379]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part IV
Department of Defense
General Services Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
48 CFR Part 31
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Business Class Airfare; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 13 / Thursday, January 21, 1999 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 3380]]
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
48 CFR Part 31
[FAR Case 97-040]
RIN 9000-AH98
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Business Class Airfare
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense
Acquisition Regulations Council have decided to withdraw FAR Case 97-
040, Business Class Airfare, published in the Federal Register at 63 FR
43239, August 12, 1998. The rule proposed to amend the Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the ``travel costs'' cost
principle to allow, in certain situations, business class airfare costs
for flights lasting more than 14 hours.
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 FAR case 97-040, withdrawal.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The proposed rule revised paragraph (d) of FAR 31.205-46, Travel
costs, to allow, under certain conditions, contractor costs for
business class airfare on flights lasting more than 14 hours. The rule
designated the current coverage at (d) as (d)(1) and added a new
subparagraph (d)(2) to deal specifically with business class airfare.
Some of the respondents to the Federal Register notice expressed
concern that the rule would result in inconsistent treatment of the
costs for business class and first class airfares (e.g., the
allowability requirements for business class airfare are more
restrictive than those for first class airfare); confusion (e.g.,
differing interpretations of the words ``stopovers,'' ``rest stop in
route,'' and ``rest period upon arrival''); and an administrative
burden (e.g., documentation showing no rest period for business class
airfare). After review of the public comments, DoD, GSA, and NASA have
decided to withdraw the proposed rule, and retain the current cost
principle which adequately addresses the allowability of first class
and business class airfare costs.
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 31
Government procurement.
Dated: January 14, 1999.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 99-1315 Filed 1-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P
