General Services Administration February 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 rule appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-66, which amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). An asterisk (*) next to a rule indicates that a regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared. Interested parties may obtain further information regarding this rule by referring to FAC 2005-66, which precedes this document. These documents are also available via the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement section 822 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013. Section 822 extends the authority of the Commercial Item Test Program at FAR subpart 13.5 to January 1, 2015.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the definition of ``contingency operation'' to address the statutory change to the definition made by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat 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 cost accounting standards administration. A notice was published in the Federal Register at 77 FR 69441, on November 19, 2012. Two respondents submitted comments.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat 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 schedules for construction contracts. A notice was published in the Federal Register at 77 FR 73659, on December 11, 2012. One respondent submitted comments.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat 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 Central Contractor Registration database. A notice was published in the Federal Register at 77 FR 24713, on April 25, 2012. One respondent submitted comments. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (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 General Services Administration (GSA) proposes to establish a new system of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a.

In accordance with Section 743 of Division C of Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act Public Law 111-117, GSA is publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the FY 2012 Service Contract Inventories.

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council) is issuing this notice to announce a public meeting and request for comment on the implementation of Executive Order (E.O.) 13627, Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking In Persons In Federal Contracts, and Title XVII of the National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law 112-239, the End Trafficking In Government Contracting Act (ETGCA). Feedback will be used to help inform the development of regulations and other guidance to implement the E.O. and new statutory provisions and strengthen existing prohibitions on trafficking in persons (``TIP''). Interested parties may offer oral and/or written comments at a public meeting to be held on March 5, 2013. Parties are also encouraged to provide all written comments directly to www.regulations.gov.

GSA and its Federal agency partners in the EISA 436(h) Ad-Hoc Discussion Group are seeking public input regarding possible approaches GSA may take in fulfilling its requirement from the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 to provide a formal recommendation to the Secretary of Energy that identifies a green building certification system(s) most likely to encourage a comprehensive and environmentally- sound approach to the certification of green Federal buildings. GSA is using the deliberations from the EISA 436(h) Ad-hoc Discussion Group as well as verbal and written public input from previously held listening sessions in June and July 2012 and this Federal Register Notice to inform its final recommendation to the Secretary of Energy. The information being asked for in this notice is not for the purpose of a proposed GSA rulemaking or a GSA regulation; GSA is requesting input from the public to better inform its recommendation to the Secretary of Energy on what green building certification system(s) the Federal government should use.