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.

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. This Small Entity Compliance Guide has been prepared in accordance with Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. It consists of a summary of rules appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2001-26 which amend the FAR. An asterisk (*) next to a rule indicates that a regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared. Interested parties may obtain further information regarding these rules by referring to FAC 2001-26, which precedes this document. These documents are also available via the Internet at http://www.acqnet.gov/far .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Laurie Duarte, FAR Secretariat, (202) 501-4225. For clarification of content, contact the analyst whose name appears in the table below.

Item I—Electronic Representations and Certifications (FAR Case 2002-024)

This final rule requires offerors to provide representations and certifications electronically via the BPN website; to update the representations and certifications as necessary, but at least annually, to keep them current, accurate and complete; and to make changes that affect only one solicitation by completing the appropriate sections of either paragraph (j) of FAR provision 52.212-3 or FAR provision 52.204-8, whichever is included in the solicitation. This change represents a conversion of a paper-based process to a more efficient electronic process to obtain offerors' representations and certifications. It will also significantly reduce the paperwork burden for both offerors and contracting officers.

Item II—Excluded Parties List System Enhancement (FAR Case 2002-023)

This final rule amends the FAR to incorporate the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), GSA's new searchable on-line electronic list of parties excluded from doing business with the Federal Government. The EPLS enables agencies to directly input data into this system and obviates the need for the hard copy List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs. The EPLS will provide more up-to-date and readily accessible information to the contracting officer on parties excluded from doing business with the Federal Government.

Item III—Special Emergency Procurement Authority (FAR Case 2003-022)

This rule finalizes the interim rule 2003-022 by including under FAR subpart 13.5 the acquisition of supplies and services that meet the definition of a commercial item in FAR 2.101, and which, as determined by the head of the agency, are to be used to support a contingency operation. This final rule implements Section 1443 of the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (41 U.S.C. 428a) and also incorporates the higher thresholds authorized by Section 822 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. This rule allows the contracting officer expanded use of Simplified Acquisition and Commercial Items procedures when acquiring supplies or services that, as determined by the head of the agency, are to be used in support of a contingency operation or to facilitate the defense against or the recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological attack.

Item IV—Notification of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues or Fees (FAR Case 2004-010)

This interim rule amends FAR Parts 2, 22, and 52 to implement Executive Order (E.O.) 13201, Notification of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues or Fees, and Department of Labor regulations at 29 CFR part 470. The rule requires Government contractors and subcontractors to post notices informing their employees that under Federal law they cannot be required to join a union or maintain membership in a union to retain their jobs. The required notice also advises employees who are not union members that they can object to the use of their union dues for certain purposes. This rule applies to Federal contractors and subcontractors with contracts or subcontracts that exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, unless covered by an exemption granted by the Secretary of Labor.

Item V—Mentor Protégé Program—Delegation of Approval Authority for Mentor Protégé Agreements (FAR Case 2003-010)

This final rule amends FAR 19.702, Statutory Requirements, to change the approval authority of the Mentor Protégé Agreements to the DoD Military Departments or Defense Agencies and to make some minor changes for clarification. This change is being made in order for DoD to streamline and transform itself to more effectively achieve its mission.

Item VI—Applicability of the Cost Principles and Penalties for Unallowable Costs (FAR Case 2001-018)

This final rule increases the threshold at FAR 42.709(b) and FAR 42.709-6 from $500,000 to $550,000 for contracts subject to penalties if a contractor includes expressly unallowable costs in a claim for reimbursement. The threshold was increased to reflect inflation and is authorized by 10 U.S.C. 2324(l) and 41 U.S.C. 256(l).

The rule is of importance to contracting officers and contractors who negotiate contracts and modifications, and determine costs in accordance with FAR Part 31 contract cost principles.

Item VII—Technical Amendments

Editorial changes are made at FAR 11.201(d)(2)(i), 41.301(a), 44.203(b)(1), 51.102(c)(1), and in the introductory text of FAR provision 52.219-1 in order to update references.