General Services Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel (MAS Panel), a Federal Advisory Committee, will hold public meetings on the following dates: Friday, September 19, 2008; Monday, September 22, 2008; Monday, October 6, 2008; and Monday, October 27, 2008. GSA utilizes the MAS program to establish long-term Governmentwide contracts with responsible firms to provide Federal, State, and local government customers with access to a wide variety of commercial supplies (products) and services. The MAS Panel was established to develop advice and recommendations on MAS program pricing policies, provisions, and procedures in the context of current commercial pricing practices. For the next 3 to 4 meetings, the Panel plans to focus on developing recommendations for MAS program pricing provisions for the acquisition of (1) professional services; (2) products; (3) total solutions which consist of professional services and products; and (4) non professional services. In developing the recommendations, the Panel will, at a minimum, address these 5 questions for each of the 4 types of acquisitions envisioned above: (1) Where does competition take place?; (2) If competition takes place primarily at the task/delivery order level, does a fair and reasonable price determination at the MAS contract level really matter?; (3) If the Panel consensus is that competition is at the task order level, are the methods that GSA uses to determine fair and reasonable prices and maintain the price/discount relationship with the basis of award customer(s) adequate?; (4) If the current policy is not adequate, what are the recommendations to improve the policy/guidance; and (5) If fair and reasonable price determination at the MAS contract level is not beneficial and the fair and reasonable price determination is to be determined only at the task/delivery order level, then what is the GSA role? To that end, the Panel would like to hear from the many stakeholders of the MAS program. The MAS program stakeholders include, but not limited to, ordering agency contracting officers, GSA contracting officers, schedule contract holders, Congress, program managers, General Accountability Office, and federal agency Inspector General Offices. The panel is particularly interested in stakeholder views as to how the issues discussed above may relate differently to the purchase of goods, services, or goods and services that are configured to propose an integrated solution to an agency's needs. September 19, 2008, is the last date that the Panel will entertain oral comments. Written comments may be submitted at any time in accordance with the guidance below. I. Acquisition of Services and Solutions Discussion and Recommendations Discussions will take place on Friday, September 19, 2008, and Monday, September 22, 2008. The meetings will be held at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Building, 2nd Floor, 1725 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The building is located at the corner of 18th Street and New York Avenue, NW. Entrance to the building is on either 18th Street, or New York Avenue. The AIA is within walking distance of the Farragut North and Farragut West metro stops. The meeting start time for each day is 8:00 a.m., and it will adjourn no later than 5:00 p.m. II. Acquisition of Products Discussion and Recommendations Discussions will take place on Monday, October 6, 2008, and Monday, October 20, 2008. Monday, October 6, 2008, Location & Address: The meeting will be held at the Jury's Washington Hotel, 1500 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The hotel is within walking distance from the Dupont Circle metro stop. The meeting start time is 9:00 a.m., and it will adjourn no later than 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 27, 2008, Location and Address: The meeting will be held at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Building, 2nd Floor, 1725 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The building is located at the corner of 18th Street and New York Avenue, NW. Entrance to the building is on either 18th Street or New York Avenue. The AIA is within walking distance of the Farragut North and Farragut West metro stops. The meeting start time is 9:00 a.m., and it will adjourn no later than 5:00 p.m. For presentations before the Panel, the following guidance is provided: Oral comments: September 19, 2008 is the last meeting date for oral comments. Requests to present oral comments at this meeting must be in writing (e-mail or fax) and received by the Designated Federal Official, Pat Brooks, at the below address ten (10) business days prior to the meeting date. Each individual or group requesting an oral presentation will be limited to a total time of five minutes. Speakers should bring at least 50 copies of their comments for distribution to the reviewers and public at the meeting. Written Comments: Written comments must be received ten (10) business days prior to the meeting date so that the comments may be provided to the Panel for their consideration prior to the meeting. Comments should be supplied to Ms. Brooks at the address/contact information noted below in the following format: one hard copy with original signature and one electronic copy via email in Microsoft Word. Subsequent meeting dates, locations, and times will be published at least 15 days prior to the meeting date.

The General Services Administration is amending the Federal Management Regulation (FMR) by revising the current mail management policy. This final rule incorporates changes made to the current interim rule.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language that provides requirements for termination of contracts.

This bulletin cancels GSA Bulletin FMR Bulletin 2006-B5, Real Property Asset Management Principles, published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2006, that introduced new Guiding Principles case studies to help Federal agencies manage and improve real property performance effectively in support of Executive Order 13327, ``Federal Real Property Asset Management.'' This bulletin updates the case studies to provide current asset management examples and best practices.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services Administration has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement regarding Standard Form 151, Deposit Bond, Annual Sale of Government Personal Property. A request for public comments was published at 72 FR 20052, April 14, 2008. No comments were received. This OMB clearance expires on September 30, 2008. 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.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services Administration will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement regarding the GSAR Price Reductions Clause. The clearance currently expires on October 31, 2008. 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; and ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language that provides requirements for quality assurance.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language regarding requirements for improper business practices and personal conflicts of interest.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise the language pertaining to requirements for the acquisition of commercial items.

This notice announces GSA Federal Management Regulation (FMR) Bulletin B-18 which provides guidance to Federal agencies on the use of voluntary consensus standards in managing the personal property assets under their control. This bulletin is discretionary to executive agencies. GSA Bulletin FMR B-18 may be found at www.gsa.gov/ fmrbulletin.

On December 11, 2007, the General Services Administration (GSA) published FTR Amendment 2007-06 in the Federal Register (72 FR 70234) specifying that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Standard Mileage Rate for moving purposes would be the rate at which agencies will reimburse an employee for using a privately-owned vehicle for relocation on a worldwide basis. The amendment indicated that the change to the IRS Standard Mileage Rate for moving purposes applied to relocations on and after September 25, 2007, and that GSA would publish a bulletin announcing any changes to that rate made by the IRS thereafter. On June 23, 2008, the IRS announced that as of July 1, 2008, the relocation mileage rate would increase to $0.27 per mile for the 6 month period ending on December 31, 2008. FTR Bulletin 08-06, is attached. FTR Bulletin 08-06 and all other FTR Bulletins may be found at www.gsa.gov/federaltravelregulation.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is announcing an extended nominations entry date for the 2008 Travel and Relocation Innovation Award. This award will recognize masters of travel and/or relocation management.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning commerce patent regulations. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 73 FR 10006, February 25, 2008. No comments were received. 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 General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language pertaining to requirements for types of contracts.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services Administration has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement regarding the qualifications of offerors. A request for public comments was published at 73 FR 4233, January 24, 2008. No comments were received. This OMB clearance expires on July 30, 2008. 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.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning material and workmanship. The clearance currently expires on August 31, 2008. 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 General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to update language addressing contractor qualifications. This rule is a result of the General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM) Rewrite initiative undertaken by GSA to revise the GSAM to maintain consistency with the FAR, and to implement streamlined and innovative acquisition procedures that contractors, offerors and GSA contracting personnel can utilize when entering into and administering contractual relationships. The GSAM incorporates the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) as well as internal agency acquisition policy. GSA will rewrite each part of the GSAR and GSAM, and as each GSAR part is rewritten, will publish it in the Federal Register. This is one of a series of revisions. It covers the rewrite of GSAR Part 509, Contractor Qualifications.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise GSAM language pertaining to requirements for contract modifications.

GSA reviewed its Privacy Act systems to ensure that they are relevant, necessary, accurate, up-to-date, covered by the appropriate legal or regulatory authority, and compliant with OMB M-07-16. This notice is an updated Privacy Act system of records notice.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (the Councils) are interested in determining if, when, and how service contractor employees' personal conflicts of interest (PCI) need to be addressed and whether greater disclosure of contractor practices, specific prohibitions, or reliance on specified principles would be most effective and efficient in promoting ethical behavior. The comment period is reopened for anadditional 30 days to provide additional time for interested parties to review and comment on the Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require certain contractors and subcontractors to use the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) E-Verify system as the means of verifying that certain of their employees are eligible to work in the United States.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning overtime. The clearance currently expires on August 31, 2008. 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 document summarizes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rule agreed to by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council in this Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-26. 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/.