Federal Acquisition Regulation; Elimination of Certain Subcontract Notification Requirements

AGENCIES:

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

ACTION:

Interim rule with request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (the Councils) have agreed to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation language regarding advance notification requirements. This change is required to implement Section 842 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, Public Law 108-136, which resulted in revisions to 10 U.S.C. 2306(e).

DATES:

Effective Date: March 9, 2005.

Comment Date: Interested parties should submit comments to the FAR Secretariat at the address shown below on or before May 9, 2005 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments identified by FAC 2005-01, FAR case 2003-024 by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Agency Web Site: http://www.acqnet.gov/far/ProposedRules/proposed.htm . Click on the FAR case number to submit comments.
• E-mail: farcase.2003-024@gsa.gov. Include FAC 2005-01, FAR case 2003-024 in the subject line of the message.
• Fax: 202-501-4067.
• Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (VIR), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, ATTN: Laurieann Duarte, Washington, DC 20405.

Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAC 2005-01, FAR case 2003-024, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.acqnet.gov/far/ProposedRules/proposed.htm , including any personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

The FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755, for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of content, contact Ms. Rhonda Cundiff, at (202) 501-0044. Please cite FAC 2005-01, FAR case 2003-024.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

This rule revises FAR 44.201-2, Advance notification requirements, and amends Alternate I of FAR clause 52.244-2, Subcontracts. This change is required in order to implement Section 842 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, Public Law 108-136. Section 842 removes the requirement for contractors under cost-reimbursement contracts with the Department of Defense (DoD), Coast Guard, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to notify the agency before the award of any cost-plus-fixed-fee subcontract or any fixed-price subcontract that exceeds the greater of the simplified acquisition threshold or 5 percent of the total estimated cost of the contract if the contractor maintains a purchasing system approved by the contracting officer for the contract.

In addition, the rule makes a technical amendment to Alternate II of FAR clause 52.244-2, Subcontracts. The rule deletes the reference to paragraph (c) from paragraph (f)(2) of Alternate II because paragraph (c) applies to fixed price type contracts, whereas Alternate II applies to cost-reimbursement contracts.

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

This interim 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 it will have a small positive effect. Also, small businesses do not usually hold prime contracts which are cost-reimbursement contracts, so this section would not apply to them, and any changes would not apply. Therefore, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has not been performed. We invite comments from small business concerns and other interested parties. The Councils will consider comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR Parts 44 and 52 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. (FAC 2005-01, FAR case 2003-024), 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.

D. Determination to Issue an Interim Rule

A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary of Defense (DoD), the Administrator of General Services (GSA), and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. This action is necessary to implement Section 842 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, Public Law 108-136, which went into effect November 24, 2003, and which resulted in revisions to 10 U.S.C. 2306 (e). However, pursuant to Public Law 98-577 and FAR 1.501, the Councils will consider public comments received in response to this interim rule in the formation of the final rule.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 44 and 52

• Government procurement

Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 44 and 52 as set forth below:

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 44 and 52 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).

PART 44—SUBCONTRACTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

2. Revise section 44.201-2 to read as follows:

PART 52—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

3. Amend section 52.244-2—

a. In Alternate I, by removing “( Aug 1998)” and adding “(MAR 2005)” in its place, and revising the first sentence of paragraph (f)(2); and

b. In Alternate II, by removing “( Aug 1998)” and adding “(MAR 2005)” in its place, and in paragraph (f)(2) by removing “(c), (d),” and adding “(d)” in its place. The revised text reads as follows: