[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44831-44833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22076]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
48 CFR Chapter I
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Small Entity Compliance Guide
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Small Entity Compliance Guide.
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SUMMARY: This document is issued under the joint authority of the
Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services and the
Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as
the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council. 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 consists of a summary of rules appearing in Federal
Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-01 which amend the FAR. The rules marked
with an asterisk (*) are those for which a final regulatory flexibility
analysis has been prepared in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 604. Further
information regarding these rules may be obtained by referring to FAC
97-01 which precedes this notice. This document may be obtained from
the Internet.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly Fayson, FAR Secretariat, (202)
501-4755.
List of Rules in FAC 97-01
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Item Subject FAR case Analyst
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I.......................... Business Process Innovation 97-006 De Stefano.
II......................... FASA and the Walsh-Healey 96-601 O'Neill.
Public Contracts Act.
[[Page 44832]]
III........................ * Irrevocable Letters of 95-301 O'Neill.
Credit and Alternatives to
Miller Act Bonds.
IV......................... Automatic Data Processing 96-010 Olson.
Equipment Leasing Costs.
V.......................... * Environmentally Sound 92-054A De Stefano.
Products.
VI......................... New FAR Certifications..... 96-329 De Stefano.
VII........................ * Service Contracting...... 95-311 O'Neill.
VIII....................... ADP/Telecommunications 96-602 Nelson.
Federal Supply Schedules.
IX......................... Certificate of Competency 96-002 Moss.
(Interim).
X.......................... Economically Disadvantaged 97-008 Moss.
Individuals.
XI......................... Minority Small Business and 95-028 Moss.
Capital Ownership.
XII........................ Executive Order 12933, 94-610 O'Neill.
Nondisplacement of
Qualified Workers Under
Certain Contracts
(Interim).
XIII....................... Designation of Hong Kong... 97-019 Linfield.
XIV........................ Foreign Differential Pay... 96-012 Olson.
XV......................... Local Government Lobbying 96-003 Nelson.
Costs.
XVI........................ Independent Government 97-005 O'Neill.
Estimates--Construction.
XVII....................... Year 2000 Compliance....... 96-607 Nelson.
XVIII...................... * Modification of Existing 96-606 De Stefano.
Contracts under FASA and
FARA.
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Item I--Business Process Innovation (FAR Case 97-006)
This final rule amends FAR 1.102-4(e) to encourage contracting
officers, in their role as members of the Government acquisition team,
to take the lead in encouraging business process innovations and
ensuring that business decisions are sound.
Item II--FASA and the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act (FAR Case 96-
601)
The interim rule published as Item I of Federal Acquisition
Circular 90-43 is converted to a final rule without change. The rule
amends the FAR to eliminate the requirement that covered contractors
under the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act must be either the
manufacturer of or a regular dealer in the materials, supplies,
articles, or equipment to be manufactured or used in the performance of
the contract.
Item III--Irrevocable Letters of Credit and Alternatives to Miller Act
Bonds (FAR Case 95-301)
The interim rule published as Item XVII of FAC 90-39 is revised and
finalized. The rule amends FAR Parts 28 and 52 to provide for use of
Irrevocable Letters of Credit as substitutes for corporate or
individual surety on Miller Act bonds, and to provide alternatives to
Miller Act payment bonds for construction contracts valued at $25,000
to $100,000, which are no longer subject to the Miller Act, in
accordance with Section 4104(b)(1) of the Federal Acquisition
Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355).
Item IV--Automatic Data Processing Equipment Leasing Costs (FAR Case
96-010)
The interim rule published as Item I of FAC 90-44 is converted to a
final rule without change. The rule amends FAR Part 31 to remove the
automatic data processing equipment leasing cost principle.
Item V--Environmentally Sound Products (FAR Case 92-054A)
The interim rule published as Item II of FAC 90-27 is revised and
finalized. The rule amends FAR Parts 1, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 23, 36, 42,
and 52 to incorporate policies for the acquisition of environmentally
preferable and energy-efficient products and services. The final rule
differs from the interim rule in that it clarifies the acceptability of
used, reconditioned, or remanufactured supplies, or former Government
surplus property, proposed for use under a contract; revises the clause
at 52.211-5 regarding acceptability of such material and limits its use
in solicitations and contracts for commercial items; eliminates the
provisions at 52.211-6 and 52.223-8 and the clause at 52.211-7; revises
the clause at 52.223-9 to streamline reporting requirements regarding
the recovered material content of EPA-designated items; and eliminates
references to agency designation of items requiring minimum recovered
material content.
Item VI--New FAR Certifications (FAR Case 96-329)
This final rule adds a new section at FAR 1.107 to reflect the
provisions of Section 4301(b)(2) of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (Pub.
L. 104-106). Section 4301(b)(2) prohibits the inclusion of a new
certification requirement in the FAR for contractors or offerors unless
the certification requirement is specifically imposed by statute, or
unless a written justification for such certification requirement is
provided to the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy by the FAR
Council and the Administrator approves in writing the inclusion of the
certification.
Item VII--Service Contracting (FAR Case 95-311)
This final rule amends FAR Parts 7, 16, 37, 42, 46, and 52 to
implement Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Policy Letter 91-
2, Service Contracting. The OFPP policy letter prescribes policies and
procedures for use of performance-based contracting methods.
Item VIII--ADP/Telecommunications Federal Supply Schedules (FAR Case
96-602)
This final rule amends FAR Subpart 8.4 to clarify procedures for
placing orders and obtaining price reductions under GSA Federal supply
schedule contracts, and to add information regarding the ``GSA
Advantage!'' on-line shopping service. Related amendments are made at
FAR 13.202(a)(4) and 51.103.
Item IX--Certificate of Competency (FAR Case 96-002)
This interim rule amends FAR Parts 9 and 19 to implement revisions
made to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) procurement
assistance programs contained in 13 CFR Part 125. The rule notably (1)
increases the threshold over which contracting officers may appeal the
award of a Certificate of Competency (COC) from $25,000 to $100,000;
(2) updates the names of SBA offices involved in processing COC's; and
(3) implements the requirement that compliance with the limitations on
subcontracting be considered an element of responsibility. In addition,
this interim rule removes language implementing Section 15(c) of the
Small
[[Page 44833]]
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(c)) as amended by Section 305 of Pub. L.
103-403, Small Business Administration Reauthorization and Amendments
Act of 1994. Section 305, which authorized public and private
organizations for the handicapped to participate in acquisitions set
aside for small businesses, has expired.
Item X--Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (FAR Case 97-008)
This final rule amends the definition of ``small disadvantaged
business concern'' at FAR 19.001 to update the categories of
individuals considered to be socially and economically disadvantaged.
In accordance with the Small Business Administration's regulations at
13 CFR 124.105, the Maldives Islands has been added to the category of
``Subcontinent Asian Americans''; and Macao, Hong Kong, Fiji, Tonga,
Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Nauru have been added to the category of ``Asian
Pacific Americans.''
Item XI--Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership (FAR Case 95-
028)
The interim rule published as Item VII of FAC 90-43 is revised and
finalized. The rule amends the FAR to reflect changes to the Small
Business Administration's (SBA) regulations at 13 CFR Parts 121 and
124, which address the Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership
Development Program. The rule clarifies eligibility and procedural
requirements for procurements under the 8(a) program. The final rule
differs from the interim rule in that it amends FAR 19.804-2 to reflect
changes that the SBA is making in its processing of 8(a) requirements.
Item XII--Executive Order 12933, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers
Under Certain Contracts (FAR Case 94-610)
This interim rule adds a new FAR Subpart 22.12 implementing
Executive Order 12933, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under
Certain Contracts, of October 20, 1994. The Executive Order and the
interim rule require that workers on certain building service contracts
be given the right of first refusal for employment with the successor
contractor, if they would otherwise lose their jobs as a result of the
award of the successor contract.
Item XIII--Designation of Hong Kong (FAR Case 97-019)
This final rule amends FAR 25.401 to add Hong Kong as a designated
country under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as directed by the
United States Trade Representative.
Item XIV--Foreign Differential Pay (FAR Case 96-012)
The interim rule published as Item VI of FAC 90-44 is converted to
a final rule without change. The rule amends FAR 31.205-6 to remove the
prohibition on the calculation of foreign differential pay based
directly on an employee's specific increase in income taxes resulting
from assignment overseas.
Item XV--Local Government Lobbying Costs (FAR Case 96-003)
The interim rule published as Item XI of FAC 90-43 is converted to
a final rule without change. The rule amends FAR 31.205-22 to make
allowable the costs of any lobbying activities to influence local
legislation in order to directly reduce contract costs, or to avoid
material impairment of the contractor's authority to perform the
contract.
Item XVI--Independent Government Estimates--Construction (FAR Case 97-
005)
This final rule amends FAR 36.203(a) and 36.605(a) to raise the
threshold for a mandatory independent Government estimate of
construction costs and architect-engineer costs from $25,000 to
$100,000.
Item XVII--Year 2000 Compliance (FAR Case 96-607)
The interim rule published as Item XIV of FAC 90-45 is revised and
finalized. The rule provides guidance regarding the acquisition of
information technology that is Year 2000 compliant. The final rule
differs from the interim rule in that it makes clarifying revisions to
the definition of ``Year 2000 compliant'' at FAR 39.002.
Item XVIII--Modification of Existing Contracts Under FASA and FARA (FAR
Case 96-606)
The interim rule published as Item VIII of FAC 90-44 is converted
to a final rule without change. The rule amends FAR 43.102 to implement
subsection 10002(e) of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994
(Public Law 103-355) and subsections 4402 (d) and (e) of the Clinger-
Cohen Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-106). The rule authorizes, but does not
require, contracting officers, if requested by the contractor, to
modify existing contracts without requiring consideration, to
incorporate changes authorized by the Act.
Dated: August 14, 1997.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 97-22076 Filed 8-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P
