General Services Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

DoD, GSA, and NASA are withdrawing the proposed rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) titled: Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance. The decision not to proceed with a final rule has been made because the Presidential Memorandum regarding ``The Mexico City Policy,'' dated January 23, 2017, has been revoked by the Memorandum on Protecting Women's Health at Home and Abroad issued by President Biden on January 28, 2021. Accordingly, this proposed rule is withdrawn, and the FAR case is closed.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are withdrawing the proposed rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) titled: Small Business Set Asides for Research and Development Contracts. The decision not to proceed with a final rule was made because of the passage of time since the proposed rule was issued, and input from respondents indicating that the proposed changes were, on balance, unnecessary or unhelpful. Accordingly, this proposed rule is withdrawn, and the FAR case is closed.

This GSA Bulletin FTR 21-04 informs agencies that certain provisions of the FTR governing official relocation travel and renewal agreement travel (RAT) may continue to be temporarily waived for the period of time stated in the bulletin. This bulletin also rescinds prior GSA Bulletins pertaining to relocation allowances during the pandemic.

This document summarizes technical amendments to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in this Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2021-05. A companion document, the Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG), follows this FAC.

This notice announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which examines the potential impacts of a proposal by the General Services Administration (GSA) to address long-term housing for the tenants of the Chet Holifield Federal Building (CHFB) either through lease relocation or a combination of new construction and lease relocation; as well as the disposal of the CHFB out of federal ownership. The CHFB is owned and managed by GSA and is home to various federal agency tenants, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) serving as the largest tenant. The FEIS describes the reason for the project; alternatives considered; potential environmental impacts; avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures; includes responses to comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement; and identifies the Preferred Alternative. GSA is serving as the lead agency in this undertaking, and acting on behalf of its tenants at this facility.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, DoD, GSA, and NASA invite the public to comment on a revision and renewal concerning past performance information. DoD, GSA, and NASA invite comments on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of Federal Government acquisitions, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. OMB has approved this information collection for use through April 30, 2021. DoD, GSA, and NASA propose that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years beyond the current expiration date.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a revision and extension of a previously approved information collection requirements regarding improper business practices and personal conflicts of interest.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, DoD, GSA, and NASA invite the public to comment on a revision and an extension concerning alternatives to Government- unique standards. DoD, GSA, and NASA invite comments on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of Federal Government acquisitions, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. OMB has approved this information collection for use through October 31, 2021. DoD, GSA, and NASA propose that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years beyond the current expiration date.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a revision and renewal of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding the Standard Form 28, Affidavit of Individual Surety.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement an Executive order (E.O.) addressing domestic preferences in Government procurement.

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) 2021-03, which amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Interested parties may obtain further information regarding these rules by referring to FAC 2021-03, which precedes this document.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 to change the kinds of assets that individual sureties must pledge as security for their bonds.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are adopting as final, with changes, an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 that addresses measures against persons involved in activities that violate arms control treaties or agreements with the United States.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a revision and extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning alternatives to Government-unique standards.

GSA is updating the mileage reimbursement rate for privately owned automobiles (POA), airplanes, and motorcycles as required by statute. This information will be available in FTR Bulletin 21-03, which can be found on GSA's website at https://gsa.gov/ftrbulletins.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a revision and renewal of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding presolicitation notice and response.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division 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 specific to a contract or contracting action that is not required by regulation.

This Federal Management Regulation (FMR) bulletin recommends Federal agencies establish policies addressing Government-issued fleet charge card compliance with Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) and security risks associated with fleet charge card transactions.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a revision and extension of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding representations and reporting associated with implementation of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rule 2019-009, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities Using Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

GSA is updating guidance on the Non-Federal Recipients Report and Exchange/Sale Report. This bulletin supersedes and cancels GSA Bulletin FMR B-27, ``Annual Executive Agency Reports on Excess and Exchange/Sale Personal Property,'' issued on July 22, 2010, as this bulletin provides updated information on the same topic. See the Supplementary Information section below for additional information.

On October 1, 2020, GSA published in the Federal Register a direct final rule entitled Remove Office of General Counsel Review for Final Payments. The rule revised internal agency approval procedures for processing a final payment for construction and building service contracts where, after 60 days, a contracting officer is unable to obtain a release of claims from a contractor. This action withdraws the rule because GSA received an adverse comment.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, DoD, GSA, and NASA invite the public to comment on a revision and renewal concerning organization and direction of the work. DoD, GSA, and NASA invite comments on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of Federal Government acquisitions, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. OMB has approved this information collection for use through February 28, 2021. DoD, GSA, and NASA propose that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years beyond the current expiration date.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a correction to FAC 2021-02; FAR Case 2020-003; Removal of FAR Appendix; Item I; which published in the Federal Register on October 23, 2020. This correction makes an editorial change to correct the amendatory language in the affected FAR section of part 30.