Federal Acquisition Regulation; Unique Contract and Order Identifier Numbers

AGENCIES:

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

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to convert the interim rule published at 68 FR 56679, October 1, 2003, to a final rule without change. The final rule requires that Federal agencies assign a unique identifier for every contract, purchase order, BOA, Basic Agreement, and BPA reported to the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS).

DATES:

Effective Date: April 5, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755 for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of content, contact Mr. Gerald Zaffos, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 208-6091. Please cite FAC 2001-22, FAR case 2002-025.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

DoD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule implementing this requirement in the Federal Register at 68 FR 56679, October 1, 2003. The interim rule required agencies to be in compliance by October 1, 2003. The 30-day public comment period for the interim rule ended October 31, 2003. No comments were received in response to the interim rule.

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

The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., does not apply because the rule applies to the internal process of Federal agencies. An Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has, therefore, not been prepared.

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.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 4

• Government procurement

Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without Change

Accordingly, DoD, GSA, and NASA adopt the interim rule amending 48 CFR part 4, which was published in the Federal Register at 68 FR 56679, October 1, 2003, as a final rule without change.

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 U.S.C. 2473(c).