General Services Administration 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB) will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement for the Architect-Engineer Qualifications form (SF 330). Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The attached bulletin announces the designation and redesignation of two Federal buildings. Expiration Date: This bulletin announcement expires January 31, 2012. The building designation and redesignation remains in effect until canceled or superseded by another bulletin.

The General Services Administration's (GSA) annual per diem review has resulted in lodging and meal allowance changes for locations within CONUS to provide for the reimbursement of Federal employees' per diem expenses. This Per Diem Bulletin updates the maximum per diem amounts in existing per diem localities. The CONUS per diem rates prescribed in Bulletin 12-01 may be found at https://www.gsa.gov/ perdiem. GSA bases the lodging per diem rates on the average daily rate that the lodging industry reports to an independent organization. The use of such data in the per diem rate setting process enhances the Government's ability to obtain policy-compliant lodging where it is needed. In conjunction with the annual lodging study, GSA identified one new non-standard area (NSA): Alexandria/Leesville/Natchitoches, Louisiana (Allen, Jefferson Davis, Natchitoches, Rapides, and Vernon Parishes). In addition, GSA reviewed all of the locations that changed from a NSA to the standard CONUS designation in FY 2011. Of those locations, the following areas will once again become NSAs in FY 2012: Montgomery, Alabama (Montgomery and Autauga Counties); Ocala, Florida (Marion County); Michigan City, Indiana (LaPorte County); Benton Harbor, Michigan (Berrien County); Mackinac Island, Michigan (Mackinac County); Mount Pleasant, Michigan (Isabella County); Jefferson City, Missouri (Cole County); and Sheboygan, Wisconsin (Sheboygan County). If a per diem rate is insufficient to meet necessary expenses in any given location, Federal executive agencies can request that GSA review that location. Please review numbers five and six of GSA's per diem Frequently Asked Questions at (https://www.gsa.gov/perdiemfaqs) for more information on the special review process. In addition, the Federal Travel Regulation allows for actual expense reimbursement as directed in Sec. 301-11.300 through 301- 11.306.

This document corrects the comment date published in the Federal Register of August 9, 2011, regarding the proposed rule for Documenting Contractor Performance.

GSA proposes to establish a new system of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a.

This document corrects the proposed changes published in the Federal Register of June 28, 2011, regarding the proposed rule for Documenting Contractor Performance and extends the comment closing date by 30 days.

The General Services Administration (GSA) published a notice in the Federal Register on July 20, 2011 (76 FR 43236), announcing a public meeting to industry and the general public in an effort to streamline travel policies, incorporated travel efficiency and effectiveness, and incorporated industry best practices. The document contains incorrect dates.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to make necessary revisions to accommodate the authorization to use time-and-materials and labor-hour contract payment requirements.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is revising the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) in an effort to streamline travel policies, increase travel efficiency and effectiveness, and incorporate industry best practices. Additional goals of the FTR revision effort is to allow for open transparency, an exchange of ideas, and provide agency flexibility. GSA is leading three working groups comprised of representatives from Federal agencies to revise those areas of the FTR which pertain to Temporary Duty (TDY) Travel Allowances that include special conveyances, per diem and air transportation. The purpose of this notice is to announce that the working groups will hold a public meeting to receive information from industry and the public on best practices in the aforementioned areas.

This notice announces the availability, and opportunity for public review and comment, of a draft environmental assessment (EA), that examines the impacts of a proposal by the GSA. The EA considers proposed renovation and demolition actions at the Page Federal Complex in Overland, Missouri. The EA identifies, evaluates, and documents the effects of the GSA renovating the Charles F. Prevedel Building, including the replacement of mechanical systems to meet high performance green building standards, and making needed improvements in parking, security setbacks, and the like; and demolishing Buildings 100,101, and 102 at the Page Federal Complex, which are no longer needed.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB) will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning the Buy American ActConstruction (Grimberg Decision). Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This agenda provides summary descriptions of regulations being

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB) will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning OMB Circular A-119. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the FAR clauses on price reduction for defective pricing to require compound interest calculations be applied to Government overpayments as a result of defective cost or pricing data.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement section 825 of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. The statute extends the sunset date for protests against the award of task or delivery orders by DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard from May 27, 2011, to September 30, 2016.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to standardize use of unique Procurement Instrument Identifiers (PIID) throughout the Government. The lack of consistent agency policies and procedures for PIIDs subjected users of contract data, including the Federal Government, contractors, and the public, to potential duplicate, overlapping, or conflicting information from the different Federal agencies.

This document summarizes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rules agreed to by DoD, GSA, and NASA in this Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-53. 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.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB) will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a renewal of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding the qualifications of offerors. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to provide revised regulatory coverage on organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs), provide additional coverage regarding contractor access to nonpublic information, and add related provisions and clauses. Section 841 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 required a review of the FAR coverage on OCIs. This proposed rule was developed as a result of a review conducted in accordance with Section 841 by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (the Councils) and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), in consultation with the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). This proposed rule was preceded by an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), under FAR Case 2007-018 (73 FR 15962), to gather comments from the public with regard to whether and how to improve the FAR coverage on OCIs. The comment period is being reopened for an additional 30 days to provide additional time for interested parties to review the proposed FAR changes.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB) will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning contractor business ethics compliance program and disclosure requirements. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

GSA is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) by increasing the set lump-sum rate amount to be paid for the miscellaneous expenses allowance (MEA), when the employee chooses not to provide documentation of miscellaneous expenses.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB) will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning payment by electronic fund transfer. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to limit the section of the FAR addressing the priorities for use of Government supply sources to a discussion of the mandatory Government sources of supplies and services. Also, a new section is added to encourage agencies to give priority consideration to using certain sources, despite the fact that the use of the listed sources is not mandatory.

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council has developed a preliminary plan for the retrospective analysis of provisions in the FAR, in accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.'' The E.O. sets forth principles and requirements designed to strengthen regulations and regulatory review by promoting public participation, improving integration and innovation, increasing flexibility, and increasing retrospective analysis of existing rules. The E.O. requires every agency to develop ``a preliminary plan, consistent with law and its resources and regulatory priorities, under which the agency will periodically review its existing significant regulations to determine whether such regulations should be modified, streamlined, expanded or repealed to make the agency's regulatory program more effective and or less burdensome in achieving its regulatory objectives.'' To comply with E.O. 13563, the FAR Council invites interested members of the public to submit comments on its preliminary plan available at https:// www.whitehouse.gov/21stcenturygov/actions/21st-century-regula tory- system.