General Services Administration January 15, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

GSA is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to decrease the mileage reimbursement rates for privately owned automobiles (POA), motorcycles, and airplanes when used for official travel. The new rates reflect the current vehicle operating costs as determined by investigations conducted by GSA. The governing regulation sets the mileage reimbursement allowance for a POA at $0.55, motorcycles at $0.52, and airplanes at $1.24, when used for official purposes.

GSA is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) provisions pertaining to the use of United States Flag air carriers under the provisions of the ``Fly America Act.'' This final rule incorporates language that informs readers where to find additional information regarding bilateral or multilateral air transportation agreements to which the United States Government and the government of a foreign country are parties, and which the Department of Transportation has determined meets the requirements of the Fly America Act. As these agreements qualify as exceptions to the use of U.S. flag air service pursuant to FTR section 41 CFR 301-10.135(b), this final rule advises of an Internet based source of information regarding the use of foreign air carriers under the terms of these bilateral or multilateral agreements.

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 implement Section 844 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 ``Public Disclosure of Justification and Approval Documents for Noncompetitive Contracts'' (FY08 NDAA). Section 844 of the FY08 NDAA stipulates the requirements regarding the public availability of justification and approval documents after the award of Federal contracts, except for information exempt from public disclosure.

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 Section 4203 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (41 U.S.C. 431) (the Act) with respect to the inapplicability of certain laws to contracts and subcontracts for the acquisition of commercially available off-the- shelf (COTS) items.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to adopt as final, with changes, the second interim rule published in the Federal Register at 72 FR 46335, August 17, 2007, amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement 22 U.S.C. 7104(g). This statute requires that contracts include a provision that authorizes the department or agency to terminate the contract, if the contractor or any subcontractor engages in trafficking in persons.

This document makes an amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation in order to make an editorial change.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have adopted as final, with changes, the interim rule which amended the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the current SCA exemption and to add an SCA exemption for contracts for certain additional services that meet specific criteria.