Agencies and Commissions November 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

A recently-enacted federal law directs the Commission to develop rules to implement a new postal ratemaking system. This document responds to that directive by adopting rules addressing market dominant and competitive products, including negotiated service agreements, the regulatory calendar, and product lists. Adoption of the rules allows the Postal Service and mailers to begin to exercise its options under the new law.

The National Science Foundation (NSF), on behalf of the Chief Financial Officers Council's Grants Policy Committee, the Grants.gov Executive Board, and the National Science & Technology Council's Research Business Models Subcommittee, is soliciting public comment on a standardized Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) format. The NSF has agreed to serve as the ``sponsor'' of this Federal-wide format for receipt of comments under this interagency initiative. Development of a standardized RPPR is an initiative of the Research Business Models (RBM) Subcommittee of the Committee on Science (CoS), a Committee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). It is also part of the implementation of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107). Consistent with the purposes of that Act, the objective of this initiative is to establish a uniform format for reporting performance on Federally- funded research projects. Although different Federal agencies utilize a variety of formats for reporting progress on activities supported by research grants, similar information is usually collected. These variations increase administrative effort and costs for recipients of Federal awards and make it difficult to compare research programs across government. Development of standard reporting categories will facilitate the development of a common electronic solution for collecting the information in lieu of collecting it through numerous agency-unique reporting forms currently used. In furtherance of Public Law 106-107, this proposed format will directly benefit award recipients by making it easier for recipients to administer Federal grant programs through standardization of the types of research information required in performance reports. This proposed format is for interim progress reports only, and once implemented, it is intended to replace other formats. The NSTC RBM Subcommittee may consider a similar format for final reports, subsequent to this RPPR initiative. Agencies may use other OMB-approved reporting formats for specialized research grants, such as centers/institutes, clinical trials, or fellowship/training awards. Each category is in the proposed RPPR is a separate reporting component. Award recipients would be required to report on the mandatory category and may be required to report on the mandatory category and may be required to report on any of the optional categories as instructed by an awarding agency. Agencies may develop an agency- or program-specific category, if necessary, to meet programmatic requirements, although agencies would be instructed to minimize the degree to which they supplement the standard categories. Comment is requested on any aspect of the reporting components proposed, such as appropriateness, feasibility, completeness, or mandatory specification. The NSF also invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on estimates of burden as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') has amended Commission Regulations 3.12 and 3.31 to extend the period during which a registered futures commission merchant (``FCM''), introducing broker (``IB''), commodity trading advisor (``CTA''), commodity pool operator (``CPO'') or leverage transaction merchant (``LTM'') must file a notice with the National Futures Association (``NFA'') to report the termination of any associated person (``AP'') or principal of the registered intermediary. The amendments modify existing requirements and specify that such intermediaries must file termination notices within 30 days, rather than 20 days, after the termination of the association with any AP or principal.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) has determined that certain three-thread circular knit fleece fabrics, as specified below, are not available in commercial quantities in a timely manner in the CAFTA-DR region. The product will be added to the list in Annex 3.25 of the CAFTA-DR in unrestricted quantities.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) announces a meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Electronic Records Archives (ACERA). The committee serves as a deliberative body to advise the Archivist of the United States, on technical, mission, and service issues related to the Electronic Records Archives (ERA). This includes, but is not limited to, advising and making recommendations to the Archivist on issues related to the development, implementation and use of the ERA system. Date of Meeting: November 28-29, 2007. Time of Meeting: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Place of Meeting: 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,Washington, DC 20408-0001. This meeting will be open to the public. However, due to space limitations and access procedures, the name and telephone number of individuals planning to attend must be submitted to the Electronic Records Archives Program at era.program@nara.gov.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) has adopted final amendments to its Regulation A to reflect the Board's approval of a decrease in the primary credit rate at each Federal Reserve Bank. The secondary credit rate at each Reserve Bank automatically decreased by formula as a result of the Board's primary credit rate action.

The Office of Personnel Management issued final regulations on March 15, 2007 (72 FR 12032), to amend a number of rules on pay and leave administration, including use of paid leave during uniformed service. This notice corrects an omission in the final regulations and changes the title of this section to accurately reflect the content.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination (``ID'') (Order No. 3) issued by the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') granting complainants' motion to amend the complaint and notice of investigation.

This document is issued under the joint authority of the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services and the Administrator of 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) 2005-21 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 2005-21 which precedes this document. These documents are also available via the Internet at http:/ /www.regulations.gov.

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 revise references to published pricing sources available to the contracting officer. The revision will provide greater flexibilities for contracting officers when selecting sources of pricing data.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the current SCA exemption and to add a SCA exemption for contracts for certain additional services that meet specific criteria.

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 implement 7 U.S.C. 8102, as enacted by section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) (Pub. L. 107-171), and amended by sections 205 and 943 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58). Entitled ``Federal Procurement of Biobased Products,'' 7 U.S.C. 8102 requires that a procurement preference be afforded biobased products within items designated by the Secretary of Agriculture.

This document summarizes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rules agreed to by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council in this Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-21. A companion document, the Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG), follows this FAC. The FAC, including the SECG, is available via the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov.