National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and after consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, the NASA Administrator has determined that renewal of the charter of NASA Advisory Council is in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on NASA by law. The renewed charter is for a two-year period ending September 30, 2025.

This document makes an amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in order to make needed editorial changes.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement an act to enhance whistleblower protection for contractor employees. The rule makes permanent the protection for disclosure of certain information. It also clarifies that the prohibition on reimbursement for legal fees accrued in defense against reprisal claims applies to subcontractors, as well as contractors.

This document summarizes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rules agreed to by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) in this Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-06. A companion document, the Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG), follows this FAC.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and after consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, the NASA Administrator has determined that renewal of the charter of International Space Station Advisory Committee is in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on NASA by law. The renewed charter is for a two-year period ending September 27, 2025.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to partially implement an Executive Order to standardize cybersecurity contractual requirements across Federal agencies for unclassified Federal information systems, and a statute on improving the Nation's cybersecurity.

NASA is proposing to amend the NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NFS) as well as corresponding sections of the CFR at 48 CFR part 1831 and 1852 to remove NFS 1831.205-671, Solicitation provision, and NFS Clause 1852.231-71, Determination of Compensation Reasonableness.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement regulatory changes made by the Small Business Administration to order-level size and socioeconomic status rerepresentation requirements.

NASA hereby gives notice of its intent to grant an exclusive, co-exclusive or partially exclusive patent license to practice the inventions described and claimed in the patents and/or patent applications listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, DoD, GSA, and NASA invite the public to comment on a revision concerning certain Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 28 requirements. DoD, GSA, and NASA invite comments on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of Federal Government acquisitions, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. OMB has approved this information collection for use through March 31, 2024. DoD, GSA, and NASA propose that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years beyond the current expiration date.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Astrophysics Advisory Committee. This Committee reports to the Director, Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters. The meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting, from the scientific community and other persons, scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, DoD, GSA, and NASA invite the public to comment on a revision concerning certain Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 11 requirements. DoD, GSA, and NASA invite comments on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of Federal Government acquisitions, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. OMB has approved this information collection for use through March 31, 2024. DoD, GSA, and NASA propose that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years beyond the current expiration date.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, is announcing an opportunity for public comment on a new proposed collection of information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, and to allow 30 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on new collection proposed by the Agency.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is publishing, in final form, a new policy and term and condition regarding conflict of interest disclosures. The final policy can be found in Grant Information Circular (GIC) 23-07. NASA's intention to develop and implement this new policy and term and condition was specified in the Federal Register of January 30, 2023.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding prospective subcontractor requests for bonds.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a preapproved information collection requirement regarding the Acquisition 360 Voluntary Survey.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections.

This document is issued under the joint authority of DoD, GSA, and NASA. 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 the rules appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-05, which amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Interested parties may obtain further information regarding these rules by referring to FAC 2023-05, which precedes this document.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to update contact information, web addresses, and office titles associated with the DoD Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System and clarify the authoritative source for a form.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to encourage use of voluntary feedback mechanisms, where appropriate, to support continual improvement of the acquisition process.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is issuing public notice of its proposal to make minor modifications to the previously noticed system of records, Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Records/NASA 10RAR. Further details are set forth below under the caption SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is issuing public notice of its proposal to modify an existing system of records Security Records System/NASA 10SECR. Modifications are described below under the caption SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a section of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2018, which requires that domestic carriers who contract with the Federal Government to provide air transportation must submit an annual report with certain information related to prevention of human trafficking.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Science Committee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Committee reports to the NAC. The meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting, from the scientific community and other persons, scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.