Federal Acquisition Regulation; Improvement in Design-Build Construction Process, 60833-60834 [2015-25613]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 195 / Thursday, October 8, 2015 / Proposed Rules PART 2—DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS 2. Amend section 2.101 in paragraph (b)(2), by revising the definition ‘‘Simplified acquisition threshold’’ to read as follows: ■ 2.101 Definitions. of the agency determines the supplies or services are to be used to support a humanitarian or peacekeeping operation. (See 2.101.) PART 19—SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS 19.203 * * * * * (b) * * * (2) * * * Simplified acquisition threshold means $150,000, except for— (1) Acquisitions of supplies or services that, as determined by the head of the agency, are to be used to support a contingency operation or to facilitate defense against or recovery from nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack (41 U.S.C. 1903), the term means— (i) $300,000 for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, inside the United States; and (ii) $1 million for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, outside the United States. (2) Acquisitions of supplies or services that, as determined by the head of the agency, are to be used to support a humanitarian or peacekeeping operation (41 U.S.C. 153 and 10 U.S.C. 2302), the term means $300,000 for any contract to be awarded and performed, or purchase to be made, outside the United States. * * * * * [Amended] 6. Amended section 19.203 by removing from paragraph (b) ‘‘described in paragraph (1)’’ and adding ‘‘described in paragraph (1)(i)’’ in its place. ■ 19.502–2 [Amended] 7. Amended section 19.502–2 by removing from paragraph (a) ‘‘described in paragraph (1) of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold’’ and adding ‘‘described in paragraph (1)(i) of the simplified acquisition threshold’’ in its place. ■ [FR Doc. 2015–25614 Filed 10–7–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 48 CFR Part 36 [FAR Case 2015–018; Docket No. 2015– 0018; Sequence No. 1] PART 4—ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS RIN 9000–AN10 4.1102 Federal Acquisition Regulation; Improvement in Design-Build Construction Process [Amended] 3. Amended section 4.1102 by removing from paragraph (a)(3)(i) ‘‘10 U.S.C. 2302(7)’’ and adding ‘‘10 U.S.C. 2302(8)’’ in its place. ■ PART 13—SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES 13.003 [Amended] 4. Amended section 13.003 by removing from paragraph (b)(1) ‘‘described in paragraph (1)’’ and adding ‘‘described in paragraph (1)(i)’’ in its place. ■ PART 18—EMERGENCY ACQUISITIONS 5. Amend subpart 18.2 by redesignating section 18.204 as section 18.205; and adding a new section 18.204 to read as follows: ■ Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCIES: 18.204 Humanitarian or peacekeeping operation. (a) A humanitarian or peacekeeping operation is defined in 2.101. (b) Simplified acquisition threshold. The threshold increases when the head VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:48 Oct 07, 2015 Jkt 238001 DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement section 814 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘Buck’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 that requires the head of the contracting activity to approve any determinations to select more than five offerors to submit phase-two proposals for a two-phase design-build construction acquisition that is valued at greater than $4 million. DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat at one of the addresses shown below on or before December 7, 2015 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 60833 Submit comments in response to FAR Case 2015–018 by any of the following methods: • Regulations.gov: https:// www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for ‘‘FAR Case 2015–018.’’ Select the link ‘‘Comment Now’’ that corresponds with FAR Case 2015–018. Follow the instructions provided at the ‘‘Comment Now’’ screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and ‘‘FAR Case 2015–018’’ on your attached document. • Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20405. Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAR Case 2015–018, in all correspondence related to this case. Comments received generally will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal and/or business confidential information provided. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check www.regulations.gov, approximately two to three days after submission to verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted by mail). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Curtis E. Glover, Sr., Procurement Analyst, at 202–501–1448, for clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat at 202–501–4755. Please cite FAR case 2015–018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: I. Background DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to implement section 814 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘Buck’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. Section 814 is entitled Improvement in Defense Design-Build Construction Process. Section 814 requires the head of the contracting activity, delegable to a level no lower than the senior contracting official, to approve any determinations to select more than five offerors to submit phase-two proposals for a two-phase design build construction acquisition that is valued at greater than $4 million. II. Discussion and Analysis This proposed rule does not change the maximum number of offerors, currently five, that may be selected to submit phase-two proposals without a contracting officer determination. However, for acquisitions valued above E:\FR\FM\08OCP1.SGM 08OCP1 60834 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 195 / Thursday, October 8, 2015 / Proposed Rules $4 million, the determination must now have a higher level of approval for the contracting officer to select more than five offerors. A potential offeror may be more inclined to invest their pre-award efforts on solicitations where they have an increased chance of award. III. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not subject to review under section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804. Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act This change 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. Nevertheless, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) has been prepared, and is summarized as follows: This rule implements section 814 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. ‘Buck’ McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. Section 814 is entitled Improvement in Defense Design-Build Construction Process. Section 814 requires the head of the contracting activity, delegable to a level no lower than the senior contracting official, to approve any determinations to select more than five offerors to submit phase-two proposals for a two-phase design build construction acquisition that is valued at greater than $4 million. The number of design-build construction awards is not currently tracked by the Federal government’s business systems. In Fiscal Year 2014, the Federal government awarded 3,666 construction awards to 2,239 unique small business vendors. It is unknown what percentage of these contracts involved design-build construction services. This rule does not impose new recordkeeping or reporting requirements. The new approval requirement for advancing more than five contractors to phase two of a two-phase design-build selection procedure only affects the internal procedures of the Government. For acquisitions valued over $4M, the head of the contracting activity (HCA) is required to now make a determination that it is in the best interest of the Government to select more than five VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:48 Oct 07, 2015 Jkt 238001 offerors to proceed to phase two. Any burden caused by this rule is expected to be minimal and will not be any greater on small businesses than it is on large businesses. The rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other Federal rules. No alternative approaches were considered. It is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have a significant economic impact on small entities. The Regulatory Secretariat has submitted a copy of the IRFA to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. A copy of the IRFA may be obtained from the Regulatory Secretariat. DoD, GSA, and NASA invite comments from small business concerns and other interested parties on the expected impact of this rule on small entities. DoD, GSA, and NASA will also consider comments from small entities concerning the existing regulations in subparts affected by the rule in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (FAR Case 2015–018), in correspondence. V. Paperwork Reduction Act The rule does not contain any information collection requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). List of Subject in 48 CFR Part 36 Government procurement. William Clark, Director, Office of Government-wide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy. Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA propose amending 48 CFR part 36 as set forth below: PART 36—CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS 1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 36 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 U.S.C. 20113. 2. Amend section 36.303–1 by revising paragraph (a)(4) to read as follows: ■ 36.303–1 Phase One. (a) * * * (4) A statement of the maximum number of offerors that will be selected to submit phase-two proposals. The maximum number specified in the solicitation shall not exceed five unless the contracting officer determines, for that particular solicitation, that a number greater than five is in the PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Government’s interest and is consistent with the purposes and objectives of the two-phase design-build selection procedures. The contracting officer shall document this determination in the contract file. For acquisitions greater than $4 million, the determination shall be approved by the head of the contracting activity, delegable to a level no lower than the senior contracting official within the contracting activity. * * * * * [FR Doc. 2015–25613 Filed 10–7–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. FWS–HQ–ES–2015–0143; 4500030113] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Findings on Petitions To List 19 Species as Endangered or Threatened Species Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of 12-month petition findings. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, FWS, or USFWS), announce 12-month findings on petitions to list 19 species as endangered species or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the American eel, Cumberland arrow darter, the Great Basin distinct population segment (DPS) of the Columbia spotted frog, Goose Creek milkvetch, Nevares spring bug, Page springsnail, Ramshaw meadows sand-verbena, Sequatchie caddisfly, Shawnee darter, Siskiyou mariposa lily, Sleeping ute milkvetch, Southern Idaho ground squirrel, Tahoe yellow cress, and six Tennessee cave beetles (Baker Station, Coleman, Fowler’s, Indian Grave Point, inquirer, and Noblett’s cave beetles) is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the threats to any of the 19 species listed above or their habitat at any time. DATES: The findings announced in this document were made on October 8, 2015. SUMMARY: These findings are available on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov at Docket Number ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\08OCP1.SGM 08OCP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 195 (Thursday, October 8, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60833-60834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25613]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 36

[FAR Case 2015-018; Docket No. 2015-0018; Sequence No. 1]
RIN 9000-AN10


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Improvement in Design-Build 
Construction Process

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

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement section 814 of the Carl Levin 
and Howard P. `Buck' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2015 that requires the head of the contracting activity to 
approve any determinations to select more than five offerors to submit 
phase-two proposals for a two-phase design-build construction 
acquisition that is valued at greater than $4 million.

DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments to the 
Regulatory Secretariat at one of the addresses shown below on or before 
December 7, 2015 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in response to FAR Case 2015-018 by any of 
the following methods:
     Regulations.gov: https://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for ``FAR Case 
2015-018.'' Select the link ``Comment Now'' that corresponds with FAR 
Case 2015-018. Follow the instructions provided at the ``Comment Now'' 
screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and ``FAR Case 
2015-018'' on your attached document.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., 2nd Floor, 
Washington, DC 20405.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAR Case 2015-
018, in all correspondence related to this case. Comments received 
generally will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal and/or business confidential information 
provided. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check 
www.regulations.gov, approximately two to three days after submission 
to verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments 
submitted by mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Curtis E. Glover, Sr., Procurement 
Analyst, at 202-501-1448, for clarification of content. For information 
pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory 
Secretariat at 202-501-4755. Please cite FAR case 2015-018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the FAR to implement 
section 814 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. `Buck' McKeon National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. Section 814 is entitled 
Improvement in Defense Design-Build Construction Process. Section 814 
requires the head of the contracting activity, delegable to a level no 
lower than the senior contracting official, to approve any 
determinations to select more than five offerors to submit phase-two 
proposals for a two-phase design build construction acquisition that is 
valued at greater than $4 million.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    This proposed rule does not change the maximum number of offerors, 
currently five, that may be selected to submit phase-two proposals 
without a contracting officer determination. However, for acquisitions 
valued above

[[Page 60834]]

$4 million, the determination must now have a higher level of approval 
for the contracting officer to select more than five offerors. A 
potential offeror may be more inclined to invest their pre-award 
efforts on solicitations where they have an increased chance of award.

III. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess 
all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 
13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, 
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. 
This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 
subject to review under section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning 
and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule 
under 5 U.S.C. 804.

IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This change 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. Nevertheless, an 
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) has been prepared, and 
is summarized as follows:

    This rule implements section 814 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. 
`Buck' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2015. Section 814 is entitled Improvement in Defense Design-Build 
Construction Process. Section 814 requires the head of the 
contracting activity, delegable to a level no lower than the senior 
contracting official, to approve any determinations to select more 
than five offerors to submit phase-two proposals for a two-phase 
design build construction acquisition that is valued at greater than 
$4 million.
    The number of design-build construction awards is not currently 
tracked by the Federal government's business systems. In Fiscal Year 
2014, the Federal government awarded 3,666 construction awards to 
2,239 unique small business vendors. It is unknown what percentage 
of these contracts involved design-build construction services.
    This rule does not impose new recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements. The new approval requirement for advancing more than 
five contractors to phase two of a two-phase design-build selection 
procedure only affects the internal procedures of the Government. 
For acquisitions valued over $4M, the head of the contracting 
activity (HCA) is required to now make a determination that it is in 
the best interest of the Government to select more than five 
offerors to proceed to phase two. Any burden caused by this rule is 
expected to be minimal and will not be any greater on small 
businesses than it is on large businesses.
    The rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other 
Federal rules. No alternative approaches were considered. It is not 
anticipated that the proposed rule will have a significant economic 
impact on small entities.

    The Regulatory Secretariat has submitted a copy of the IRFA to the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. A copy 
of the IRFA may be obtained from the Regulatory Secretariat. DoD, GSA, 
and NASA invite comments from small business concerns and other 
interested parties on the expected impact of this rule on small 
entities.
    DoD, GSA, and NASA will also consider comments from small entities 
concerning the existing regulations in subparts affected by the rule in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such 
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (FAR Case 2015-018), 
in correspondence.

V. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The rule does not contain any information collection requirements 
that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

List of Subject in 48 CFR Part 36

    Government procurement.

William Clark,
Director, Office of Government-wide Acquisition Policy, Office of 
Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy.

    Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA propose amending 48 CFR part 36 as 
set forth below:

PART 36--CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECT-ENGINEER CONTRACTS

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 36 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 
U.S.C. 20113.

0
2. Amend section 36.303-1 by revising paragraph (a)(4) to read as 
follows:


36.303-1  Phase One.

    (a) * * *
    (4) A statement of the maximum number of offerors that will be 
selected to submit phase-two proposals. The maximum number specified in 
the solicitation shall not exceed five unless the contracting officer 
determines, for that particular solicitation, that a number greater 
than five is in the Government's interest and is consistent with the 
purposes and objectives of the two-phase design-build selection 
procedures. The contracting officer shall document this determination 
in the contract file. For acquisitions greater than $4 million, the 
determination shall be approved by the head of the contracting 
activity, delegable to a level no lower than the senior contracting 
official within the contracting activity.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-25613 Filed 10-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P
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