96-18411. Federal Information Resources Management Regulation Abolishment

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 38450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18411]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Federal Information Resources Management Regulation Abolishment

AGENCY: Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, GSA.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given that the Federal Information Resources 
Management Regulation (FIRMR) will be abolished pursuant to the 
Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 (ITMRA) effective 
August 8, 1996 at 12:00 a.m. (midnight). The abolishment of the FIRMR 
will give effect to the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 
1996 by eliminating GSA's Governmentwide information technology (IT) 
regulations at the time ITMRA becomes effective. Of particular concern 
to agencies involved in an IT acquisition is that portion of the FIRMR 
setting forth the delegation of procurement authority process. The 
timing of the FIRMR's abolishment is to ensure that those agencies 
operating under a Brooks Act delegation of procurement authority are 
not deprived of acquisition authority before the agencies' independent 
procurement authority under section 5124 of ITMRA becomes effective on 
August 8, 1996.
    All contracts established under Brooks Act delegations of 
procurement authority will remain in effect until modified or 
terminated by an authorized party under ITMRA. All Brooks Act 
delegations of procurement authority are superseded by agencies' 
independent procurement authority under ITMRA. Any procurements for 
Governmentwide Agency Contracts authorized under a specific Brooks Act 
delegations of procurement authority may proceed to award. All 
reporting requirements, established in specific Brooks Act delegations 
of procurement authority are canceled effective August 8, 1996 at 12:00 
a.m. (midnight). All conditions and limitations established in specific 
Brooks Act delegations of procurement authority may be modified or 
terminated by agencies effective August 8, 1996 at 12:00 a.m. 
(midnight).
    Agencies should note that although the FIRMR will be abolished, 
agencies are still required to use the FTS2000 program since its use is 
predicated on a statutory mandate. Public Law 104-52, at section 629, 
prohibits the expenditures of funds outside the FTS2000 unless there is 
an exception granted by the Administrator of General Services. Agencies 
should contact GSA's FTS Service at [phone] with any questions 
concerning the use of FTS2000.
    Agencies also are advised that certain portions of the FIRMR may be 
reissued as part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Federal 
Property Management Regulation. Additional information on this issue 
will be forthcoming.

    Dated: July 16, 1996.
Fred L. Sims,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 96-18411 Filed 7-23-96; 8:45 am]
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