03-14782. Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; DoD Activity Address Codes in Contract Numbers

AGENCY:

Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION:

Proposed rule with request for comments.

SUMMARY:

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to prescribe the use of DoD activity address codes in the first six positions of solicitation and contract numbers, instead of the current practice of using DoD activity address numbers in the first six positions. This change will provide consistency in the method of identifying DoD activities and will eliminate the need for maintenance of the list of DoD activity address numbers in DFARS Appendix G.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to the address shown below on or before August 11, 2003, to be considered in the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES:

Respondents may submit comments directly on the World Wide Web at http://emissary.acq.osd.mil/​dar/​dfars.nsf/​pubcomm. As an alternative, respondents may e-mail comments to: [e-mail]. Please cite DFARS Case 2003-D005 in the subject line of e-mailed comments.

Respondents that cannot submit comments using either of the above methods may submit comments to: Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, Attn: Ms. Susan Schneider, OUSD(AT&L)DPAP(DAR), IMD 3C132, 3062 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3062; facsimile [phone]. Please cite DFARS Case 2003-D005.

At the end of the comment period, interested parties may view public comments on the World Wide Web at http://emissary.acq.osd.mil/​dar/​dfars.nsf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Susan Schneider, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

This rule proposes amendments to DFARS Subpart 204.70 to prescribe the use of a contracting office's DoD activity address code in the first six positions of a solicitation or contract number, instead of the DoD activity address number found in DFARS Appendix G. DoD is planning to use activity address codes in numbering solicitations and contracts, beginning October 1, 2003. DoD activity address codes are maintained by the Defense Logistics Agency and are available at https://day2k1.daas.dla.mil/​dodaac/​dodaac.asp.

The proposed change will eliminate the need for maintenance of the list of activity address numbers in DFARS Appendix G. However, there will still be a need to maintain the two-position codes, presently found in Appendix G, that contracting offices use when placing an order against another activity's contract or agreement. These codes will be relocated to the Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy Web site (http://www.acq.osd.mil/​dpap), and Appendix G will be removed from the DFARS. The administrative information included in section 204.7005 of this proposed rule is also being considered for a location outside of the DFARS.

This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

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., because assignment of solicitation and contract numbers is an administrative function performed by the Government. Since the rule makes no change to the number of characters in a solicitation or contract number, it should not have a significant effect on the operation of automated systems. Therefore, DoD has not performed an initial regulatory flexibility analysis. DoD invites comments from small businesses and other interested parties. DoD also will consider comments from small entities concerning the affected DFARS subparts in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Such comments should be submitted separately and should cite DFARS Case 2003-D005.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the rule does not impose any 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 204

• Government procurement

Michele P. Peterson,

Executive Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council.

Therefore, DoD proposes to amend 48 CFR Part 204 and Appendix G to Chapter 2 as follows:

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Part 204 and Appendix G to subchapter I continues to read as follows:

Authority: 41 U.S.C. 421 and 48 CFR Chapter 1.

PART 204—ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

2. Section 204.7000 is revised to read as follows:

204.7000

Scope.

This subpart—

(a) Prescribes policies and procedures for assigning numbers to all solicitations, contracts, and related instruments; and

(b) Does not apply to communication service authorizations issued by the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization of the Defense Information Systems Agency in accordance with 239.7407-2.

3. Section 204.7003 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:

204.7003

Basic PII number.

(a) * * *

(1) Positions 1 through 6. The first six positions identify the department/agency and office issuing the instrument. Use the DoD Activity Address Code (DoDAAC) assigned to the issuing office. DoDAACs can be found at https://day2k1.daas.dla.mil/​dodaac/​dodaac.asp.

* * * * *

4. Section 204.7004 is amended in paragraph (d)(2)(i) by revising the second sentence to read as follows:

204.7004

Supplementary PII numbers.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(2) * * *

(i) * * * The first and second positions contain the call/order code assigned to the ordering office in accordance with 204.7005. * * *

* * * * *

5. Section 204.7005 is added to read as follows:

204.7005

Assignment of order codes.

(a) The Defense Logistics Agency, Acquisition Operations Team, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6221, is the executive agent for maintenance of code assignments for use in the first two positions of an order number when an activity places an order against another activity's contract or agreement (see 204.7004(d)(2)). The executive agent distributes blocks of two-character order codes to department/agency monitors for further assignment.

(b) Contracting activities submit requests for assignment of or changes in two-character order codes to their respective monitors in accordance with department/agency procedures. Order code monitors—

(1) Approve requests for additions, deletions, or changes; and

(2) Provide notification of additions, deletions, or changes to—

(i) The executive agent; and

(ii) The executive editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations System, OUSD(AT&L)DPAP(DAR), 3062 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3062.

(c) Order code monitors are—

ARMY

Army Contracting Agency, Attn: SFCA-IT, 5109 Leesburg Pike, Suite 302, Falls Church, VA 22041-3201

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (RD&A), 2211 South Clark Place, Crystal Plaza 5, Room 506, Arlington, VA 22202-3738

AIR FORCE

SAF/AQCX, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-1060

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Defense Logistics Agency, Acquisition Operations Team, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 2533, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6221

OTHER DEFENSE AGENCIES

Army Contracting Agency, Attn: SFCA-IT, 5109 Leesburg Pike, Suite 302, Falls Church, VA 22041-3201

(d) Order code assignments can be found at http://www.acq.osd.mil/​dpap.

Appendix G to Chapter 2—[Removed and Reserved]

6. Appendix G to Chapter 2 is removed and reserved.