[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5903]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
48 CFR Chapter 5
General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; Small
Entity Compliance Guide
AGENCY: Office of Acquisition Policy, GSA.
ACTION: Small Entity Compliance Guide.
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SUMMARY: This Small Entity Compliance Guide has been prepared in
accordance with Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121). It summarizes
Change 77 which amended the General Services Administration Acquisition
Regulation (GSAR) to authorize payment of invoices in 10 days for
Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Stock, Special Order, and Schedules
contracts when the contractor agrees to full cycle electronic commerce.
Further information regarding this change may be obtained by referring
to Change 77 which precedes this notice.
DATES: The interim rule is effective March 16, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gloria Sochon, GSA Acquisition Policy
Division, (202) 208-6726.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The interim rule provides the opportunity
for public comments. Interested parties may submit comments on or
before May 15, 1998. Submit comments in writing to: General Services
Administration, Office of Acquisition Policy, GSA Acquisition Policy
Division (MVP), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4012, Washington, DC 20405.
The interim rule affects both GSA contracting personnel and
commercial entities submitting offers under the FSS Stock, Special
Order, and Schedule programs. The following is a summary of the most
significant provisions of the interim rule as it applies to these
programs:
To encourage contractor participation in electronic
commerce, GSA will pay invoices in 10 days for contractors who agree to
process orders and invoices electronically using implementation
conventions provided by GSA.
Because not all contractors are EDI capable, full cycle EC
is not mandatory. Contractors who do not agree to the terms will be
paid under standard Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3903) procedures and
suffer no adverse consequences.
``Full cycle electronic commerce'' means the use of
electronic data interchange (EDI) and electronic funds transfer (EFT):
(a) By the Government, to place purchase or delivery orders,
receive invoices, and pay invoices.
(b) By the Contractor, to accept and fill orders, submit invoices,
and receive payment.
Full cycle electronic commerce includes all the following
elements:
(a) The Contractor must receive and fulfill electronic data
interchange (EDI) purchase orders (transaction set 850).
(b) The Contractor must generate and submit to the Government valid
EDI invoices (transaction set 810).
(c) The Contractor's financial institution must receive and
process, on behalf of the Contractor, EFT payments through the
Automated Clearing House (ACH) system.
(d) The EDI transaction sets in (i) through (iii) above must adhere
to implementation conventions provided by GSA.
Dated: February 27, 1998.
Ida M. Ustad,
Deputy Associate Administrator,
Office of Acquisition Policy.
[FR Doc. 98-5903 Filed 3-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-61-P
