05-4086. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Extension of Authority for Use of Simplified Acquisition Procedures for Certain Commercial Items, Test Program

AGENCIES:

Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to extend the timeframe to use the test program for commercial items.

DATES:

Effective Date: April 8, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The FAR Secretariat at [phone] for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of content, contact Mr. Michael O. Jackson, Procurement Analyst, at [phone]. Please cite FAC 2005-01, FAR case 2004-034.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

This final rule amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement Section 817 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. Section 817 amended section 4202(e) of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-106) by extending until January 1, 2008, the timeframe in which an agency may use simplified procedures to purchase commercial items in amounts greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, but not exceeding $5,000,000 ($10,000,000 for acquisitions as described in 13.500(e)).

This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to this rule. This final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision within the meaning of FAR 1.501 and Public Law 98-577, and publication for public comments is not required. This rule continues current FAR policy. However, the Councils will consider comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR Part 13 in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAR case 2004-034), in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to the FAR do not impose information collection requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 13

• Government procurement

Dated: February 24, 2005

Rodney P. Lantier,

Director,Contract Policy Division.

Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR part 13 as set forth below:

PART 13—SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 13 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 U.S.C. 2473(c).

13.500

[Amended]

2. Amend Section 13.500 in paragraph (d) by removing “January 1, 2006” and by adding “January 1, 2008” in its place.