94-6894. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Disposal of Hazardous Government Property  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page ]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-6894]
    
    
    [Federal Register: March 28, 1994]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
    48 CFR Parts 45 and 52
    
    [FAR Case 91-57]
    
    
    Federal Acquisition Regulation; Disposal of Hazardous Government 
    Property
    
    AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration 
    (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
    Acquisition Regulations Council are considering amending Federal 
    Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart, Reporting, Redistribution, and 
    Disposal of Contractor Inventory, by adding a paragraph which will 
    reference subpart, Hazardous Material Identification and Material 
    Safety Data, and agency regulations, in order to provide assistance to 
    the contracting officer in identifying hazardous Government property; 
    specifying that unless the contract states otherwise, the Government 
    may abandon any nonhazardous contractor inventory in place, and the 
    Government shall not abandon contractor inventory that is hazardous on 
    the contractor's premises without the contractor's written consent; and 
    including in designated standard property clauses the requirement that 
    the contractor promptly identify to the contracting officer any 
    Government property considered hazardous upon notice that the 
    Government intends to abandon the property. This regulatory action was 
    not subject to Office of Management and Budget review pursuant to 
    Executive Order No. 12866 dated September 30, 1993.
    
    DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before May 27, 1994 to be 
    considered in the formulation of a final rule.
    
    ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments to: 
    General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (VRS), 18th & F 
    Streets, NW., room 4037, Washington, DC 20405.
        Please cite FAR case 91-57 in all correspondence related to this 
    case.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda Klein at (202) 501-3775 in 
    reference to this FAR case. For general information, contact the FAR 
    Secretariat, room 4037, GS Building, Washington, DC 20405, (202) 501-
    4755. Please cite FAR case 91-57.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    A. Background
    
        The changes are a result of industry concern that the language in 
    the standard property clauses does not preclude the contracting officer 
    from simply abandoning hazardous Government property in place. Sections 
    45.603, 45.611, and the standard property clauses at 52.245-2, -4, -5, 
    -7, and -11 are affected by this change.
    
    B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The proposed 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 the 
    revision will not have a significant cost or administrative impact on 
    contractors or offerors. An Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
    has, therefore, not been performed. Comments from small entities 
    concerning the affected FAR parts will also be considered in accordance 
    with section 610 of the Act. Such comments must be submitted separately 
    and cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., (FAR case 91-57) in correspondence.
    
    C. Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the proposed 
    changes to the FAR do not impose recordkeeping information collection 
    requirements or collection of information from offerors, contractors, 
    or members of the public which require the approval of OMB under 44 
    U.S.C. 3501, et seq.
    
    List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 45 and 52
    
        Government procurement.
    
        Dated: March 18, 1994.
    Albert A. Vicchiolla,
    Director, Office of Federal Acquisition Policy.
    
        Therefore, it is proposed that 48 CFR parts 45 and 52 be amended as 
    set forth below:
        1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 45 and 52 continues to 
    read as follows:
    
        Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
    U.S.C. 2473(c).
    
    PART 45--GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
    
        2. Section 45.603 is amended by designating the introductory 
    paragraph as paragarph (a); redesignating paragraphs (a) through (g) as 
    paragraphs (1) through (7); and adding new paragraph (b) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    45.603  Disposal methods.
    
        (a) * * *
        (b) For assistance in determining if Government property under a 
    contract is hazardous, the contracting officer should refer to subpart 
    23.3, Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data, and 
    the contracting agency's regulations as sources for guidance.
        3. Section 45.611 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    45.611  Destruction or abandonment.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) Unless precluded by the contract, the Government may abandon 
    any non-hazardous contractor inventory in place. The Government shall 
    not abandon contractor inventory that is hazardous on the contractor's 
    premises without the contractor's written consent.
    * * * * *
    
    PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
    
        4. Section 52.245-2 is amended by revising the date of the clause 
    heading to read ``(XXX 1994)''; removing the introductory text of 
    paragraph (j); and revising paragraph (j)(1) and the first sentence of 
    paragraph (j)(2) to read as follows:
    
    
    52.245-2  Government Property (Fixed-Price Contracts).
    
    * * * * *
        (j) Abandonment and restoration of Contractor's premises. (1) 
    Unless otherwise provided herein, the Government may abandon any 
    non-hazardous Government property in place. The Government will not 
    abandon hazardous Government property without the Contractor's 
    written consent. The Contractor shall promptly identify to the 
    Contracting Officer any Government property considered hazardous 
    upon notice that the Government intends to abandon the property. 
    When Government property is abandoned, all obligations of the 
    Government regarding such abandoned property shall cease.
        (2) Unless otherwise provided herein, the Government has no 
    obligation to restore or rehabilitate the Contractor's premises 
    under any circumstances (e.g., abandonment, disposition upon 
    completion of need, or upon contract competition).* * *
    * * * * *
        5. Section 52.245-4 is amended by revising the date in the clause 
    heading to read ``(XXX 1994)''; redesignating paragraph (e) as 
    paragraph (f); adding a new paragraph (e); and removing the citation 
    ``(R7-104.24(f) 1964 NOV)'' following ``(End of clause)'' to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    52.245-4  Government-Furnished Property (Short Form).
    
    * * * * *
        (e) Unless otherwise provided herein, the Government may abandon 
    any non-hazardous Government property in place. The Government shall 
    not abandon hazardous Government property without the Contractor's 
    written consent. The Contractor shall promptly identify to the 
    Contracting Officer any Government property considered hazardous 
    upon notice that the Government intends to abandon the property. 
    When Government property is abandoned, all obligations of the 
    Government regarding such abandoned property shall cease.
    * * * * *
        6. Section 52.245-5 is amended by revising the date in the clause 
    heading to read ``(XXX 1994''; removing the introductory text of 
    paragraph (j); and revising paragraph (j)(1) and the first sentence of 
    paragraph (j)(2) to read as follows:
    
    
    52.245-5  Government Property (Cost Reimbursement, Time-and-Material, 
    or Labor-Hour (Contracts).
    
    * * * * *
        (j) Abandonment and restoration of Contractor's premises. (1) 
    Unless otherwise provided herein, the Government may abandon any 
    non-hazardous Government property in place. The Government will not 
    abandon hazardous Government property without the Contractor's 
    written consent. The Contractor shall promptly identify to the 
    Contracting Officer any Government property considered hazardous 
    upon notice that the Government intends to abandon the property. 
    When Government property is abandoned, all obligations of the 
    Government regarding such abandoned property shall cease.
        (2) Unless otherwise provided herein, the Government has no 
    obligation to restore or rehabilitate the Contractor's premises 
    under any circumstances (e.g., abandonment, disposition upon 
    completion of need, or upon contract competition.* * *
    * * * * *
        7. (a) Section 52.245-7 is amended by revising the introductory 
    text, the date in the clause heading to read ``(XXX 1994)'', the 
    introductory text of paragraph (n)(4), paragraphs (n)(4)(i) and 
    (n)(4)(ii) introductory text, and removing after ``(End of clause)'' 
    the parentheticals to read as follows:
    
    
    52.245-7  Government Property (Consolidated Facilities).
    
        As prescribed in 45.302-6(a), insert the following clause:
    * * * * *
        (n) * * *
        (4) Within 120 days after the Contractor accounts for any 
    facilities under subparagraph (n)(3) of this clause, the Contracting 
    Officer shall give written notice to the Contractor as to the 
    disposition of the facilities, except as otherwise provided in 
    subparagraph (n)(6) of this clause.
        (i) The Government may abandon the facilities in place, in which 
    case all obligations of the Government regarding such abandoned 
    facilities and the restoration or rehabilitation of the premises in 
    and on which they are located shall immediately cease. The 
    Government will not abandon hazardous facilities without the 
    Contractor's written consent. The Contractor shall promptly identify 
    to the Contracting Officer any facilities considered hazardous upon 
    notice that the Government intends to abandon the facilities.
        (ii) If the Government does not abandon the facilities, the 
    Government will require the Contractor to comply, at Government 
    expense, with such directions as the Contracting Officer may give 
    with respect to--
    * * * * *
    
    
    52.245-7  [Amended]
    
        7. (b) Section 52.245-7 is also amended by adding the words ``of 
    this clause'' in the following places:
        (1) Paragraph (c), first sentence, after the words ``paragraph 
    (m)'';
        (2) Paragraph (n)(1) after the words ``subparagraph (n)(2)'';
        (3) Paragraph (n)(3) after the words ``paragraph (m)'';
        (4) Twice in paragraph (n)(5) after the words ``subparagraph 
    (n)(4)'' each time they appear;
        (5) Paragraph (n)(7) after the words ``subparagraph (n)(6)'';
        (6) Paragraph (n)(8) after the words ``subparagraph (n)(4)''; and
        (7) Paragraph (n)(9) after the words ``subdivision (n)(4)(ii)''.
        8. Section 52.245-11 is amended by--
        (a) Revising the date in the clause heading to read ``(XXX 1994)'';
        (b) Removing from paragraph (l)(1) the word ``whose'' and inserting 
    in its place ``for which'';
        (c) Revising paragraph (l)(3);
        (d) Removing the second sentence from the introductory text of 
    paragraph (l)(4);
        (e) Revising paragraphs (l)(4)(i) and (l)(4)(ii) introductory text; 
    and
        (f) Removing the parentheticals following ``(End of clause)'' to 
    read as follows:
    
    
    52.245-11  Government Property (Facilities Use).
    
    * * * * *
        (l) * * *
        (3) Within 60 days after the effective date of any notice of 
    termination given under paragraph (k) of this clause, or within such 
    longer period as the Contracting Officer may approve, in writing, 
    the Contractor shall submit to the Contracting Officer, in a form 
    satisfactory to the Contracting Officer, an accounting for all the 
    facilities covered by the notice.
        (4) * * *
        (i) The Government may abandon the facilities in place, in which 
    case all ogligations of the Government regarding such abandoned 
    facilities and the restoration or rehabilitation of the premises in 
    and on which they are located shall immediately cease. The 
    Government will not abandon hazardous facilities without the 
    Contractor's written consent. The Contractor shall promptly identify 
    to the Contracting Officer any facilities considered hazardous upon 
    notice that the Government intends to abandon the facilities.
        (ii) If the Government does not abandon the facilities, the 
    Government will require the Contractor to comply, at Government 
    expense, with such directions as the Contracting Officer may give 
    with respect to--
    * * * * *
    
    
    52.245-11  [Amended]
    
        9. Section 52.245-11 is also amended by adding the words ``of this 
    clause'' in the following places:
        (a) Paragraph (l) introductory text after the words ``paragraph 
    (k)'' and ``subparagraph (l)(2)'';
        (b) Paragraph (l)(4) introductory text after the words 
    ``subparagraph (l)(3)'' and ``subparagraph (l)(6)'';
        (c) In the last sentence of paragraph (l)(5) after the words 
    ``subparagraph (l)(4)'';
        (d) Paragraph (l)(7) after the words ``subparagraph (l)(6)''
        (e) Paragraph (l) (8) after the words ``subparagraph (l)(4)''; and
        (f) Paragraph (l)(9), first sentence, after the words ``subdivision 
    (l)(4)(ii)''.
    * * * * *
    [FR Doc. 94-6894 Filed 3-25-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6820-34-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
03/28/1994
Department:
Defense Department
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
94-6894
Dates:
Comments should be submitted on or before May 27, 1994 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.
Pages:
0-0 (None pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: March 28, 1994, FAR Case 91-57
CFR: (2)
48 CFR 45
48 CFR 52