General Services Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat Division will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a renewal of the currently approved information collection requirement regarding the pre-award registration requirements for Prime Grant Recipients. The title of the approved information collection is Central Contractor Registration Requirements for Prime Grant Recipients (OMB Control Number 3090-0290). The updated information collection title, based on the migration of the Central Contractor Registration system to the System for Award Management in late July 2012, is System for Award Management Registration Requirements for Prime Grant Recipients.

GSA is announcing the availability of the Draft FY 2014-2018 GSA Strategic Plan for public review and comment, as part of the periodic update required by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Modernization Act of 2010. The agency anticipates the final Strategic Plan will be submitted to Congress with the submission of the FY 2015 President's Budget. The Strategic Plan provides the Agency's long-term direction and strategies for providing real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the Federal government. For this notice, the GSA is seeking comment from individual citizens, states, local government, industry, non-governmental organizations, and all other interested parties. The draft GSA FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan can be accessed at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/183023.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) reviewed its Privacy Act systems to ensure that they are relevant, necessary, accurate, up-to-date, and covered by the appropriate legal or regulatory authority.

The Government Accountability and Transparency (GAT) Board will host a meeting for the public to make presentations to the Board, as indicated below. This notice is intended to notify the general public, representatives of state and local governments, civic and professional organizations, and other interested parties, of the opportunity to present material to the Board and attend the meeting.

The General Services Administration's annual privately owned vehicle (POV) mileage reimbursement rate reviews have resulted in new CY 2014 rates for the use of privately owned automobiles (POA), POAs when Government owned automobiles (GOA) are authorized, privately owned motorcycles, and privately owned airplanes for official purposes. FTR Bulletin 14-03 establishes the new CY 2014 mileage reimbursement rates ($0.56 for POAs, $0.235 for POAs when a GOA is authorized, $0.53 for privately owned motorcycles, and $1.31 for privately owned airplanes) pursuant to the process discussed below. This notice of subject bulletin is the only notification of revisions to the POV rates to agencies other than the changes posted on the GSA Web site. GSA determines these rates by reviewing the annual standard automobile study contracted for by the Internal Revenue Service, as well as conducting independent automobile, motorcycle, and aircraft studies that evaluate various factors, such as the cost of fuel, the depreciation of the original vehicles costs, maintenance and insurance, and or by applying consumer price index data.

The GSA, OGP, is providing a workable commuted rate to be used by agencies in determining a benchmark for payment on the transportation of household goods and temporary storage under a ``do it yourself'' move cost scenario. This final rule will meet the requirements set forth in the U.S. Code for Relocation Expenses.

In accordance with the Federal Activities Inventory Reform (FAIR) Act of 1998, Public Law 105-270, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76, General Services Administration (GSA) is publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the FY 2013 FAIR Act Inventory.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to clarify when to use higher-level quality standards in solicitations and contracts, and to update the examples of higher-level quality standards by revising obsolete standards and adding two new industry standards that pertain to quality assurance for avoidance of counterfeit items. These standards will be used to help minimize and mitigate counterfeit items or suspect counterfeit items in Government contracting.

GSA is amending the Federal Management Regulation (FMR) to update the name and contact information of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) from the previously named General Services Board of Contract Appeals (GSBCA).

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 rules appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-71, 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 these rules by referring to FAC 2005-71, 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 add Croatia as a new designated country under the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA). On July 1, 2013, Croatia joined the European Union, which is a party to the WTO GPA.

This document summarizes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rules agreed to by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) in this Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-71. 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.

The Presidential Commission on Election Administration (PCEA), a Federal Advisory Committee established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App., and Executive Order 13639, as amended by EO 13644, will hold a meeting open to the public on Tuesday, December 3, 2013.

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 patents.

The Presidential Commission on Election Administration (PCEA), a Federal Advisory Committee established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App., and Executive Order 13639, as amended by EO 13644, will hold a meeting open to the public via teleconference on Thursday, November 14, 2013.

Notice of this meeting is being provided according to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 10(a)(2). This notice provides the schedule and agenda for the November 15, 2013, meeting of the World War One Centennial Commission (the Commission). The meeting is open to the public and the site is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

The President's Management Advisory Board (PMAB), a Federal Advisory Committee established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C., App., and Executive Order 13538, will hold a public teleconference meeting on Monday, October 21, 2013.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a statutory pilot program enhancing whistleblower protections for contractor employees.

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 rules appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-70, 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 these rules by referring to FAC 2005-70, which precedes this document. These documents are also available via the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to strengthen protections against trafficking in persons in Federal contracts. These changes are intended to implement E.O. 13627 and Title XVII of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013.

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 information collection requirement regarding the Modifications (Federal Supply Schedule) clause.

Notice of this meeting and these conference calls is being provided according to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 10(a)(2). This notice provides the agenda and schedule for the November 12, 2013, meeting of the Green Building Advisory Committee Meeting (the Committee) and the schedule for a series of conference calls, supplemented by Web meetings, for two task groups of the Committee. The meeting is open to the public and the site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. The conference calls are open for the public to listen in. Interested individuals must register to attend as instructed below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a new information collection requirement regarding the DigitalGov Web site Customer Satisfaction Survey.

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 regarding Information Regarding Responsibility Matters. A notice was published in the Federal Register at 78 FR 18593, on March 27, 2013. One comment was received.

The General Services Administration's (GSA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 per diem review has resulted in lodging and meal allowance changes for certain locations within the Continental United States (CONUS) to provide for reimbursement of Federal employees' expenses covered by per diem. The standard lodging per diem rate will increase to $83. The meals and incidental expense tiers remain unchanged for FY 2014 and range from $46-$71. GSA identified two new non-standard areas (NSAs): Big Spring, TX (Howard County); and Pearsall, TX (Frio, La Salle, and Medina Counties). The City of Hershey, PA, is now a separate NSA from Harrisburg, PA. In addition, Pasco, WA (Franklin County) and Richland, WA (Benton County) have been merged into a single NSA. Finally, Hendry County, FL is now included with the Palm Beach County, FL NSA. The CONUS per diem rates prescribed in Bulletin 14-01 may be found at www.gsa.gov/perdiem. GSA bases the lodging rates on the average daily rate that the lodging industry reports to an independent organization. If a lodging rate or 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 (www.gsa.gov/perdiemfaqs) for more information on the special review process. In addition, the Federal Travel Regulation allows for actual expense reimbursement as provided in Sec. Sec. 301-11.300 through 301- 11.306.