National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Science Committee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Committee reports to the NAC. The meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting, from the scientific community and other persons, scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

NASA hereby gives notice of its intent to grant a partially exclusive patent license in the United States to practice the inventions described and claimed in U.S. Issued Patent Number 9,863,148 B2 entitled ``Sheath-Based Rollable Lenticular-Shaped and Low Stiction Composite Boom'' to MMA Design, LLC, having its principal place of business in Louisville, CO. The fields of use may be limited to the production and supply of deployable space structures or structural components for deployable space structures. NASA has not yet made a determination to grant the requested license and may deny the requested license even if no objections are submitted within the comment period.

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has been made because the Presidential Memorandum regarding ``The Mexico City Policy,'' dated January 23, 2017, has been revoked by the Memorandum on Protecting Women's Health at Home and Abroad issued by President Biden on January 28, 2021. Accordingly, this proposed rule is withdrawn, and the FAR case is closed.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 Accordingly, this proposed rule is withdrawn, and the FAR case is closed.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has adopted a final rule making inflation adjustments to civil monetary penalties within its jurisdiction. This final rule represents the annual 2021 inflation adjustments of monetary penalties. These adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015.

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.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Aeronautics Committee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This meeting will be held for soliciting, from the aeronautics community and other persons, research and technical information relevant to program planning.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Astrophysics Advisory Committee. This Committee reports to the Director, Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters. The meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting, from the scientific community and other persons, scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

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 Buy American, trade agreements, and duty-free entry.

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 combating trafficking in persons. 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 September 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 renewal of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding organization and direction of the work.

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 small business size rerepresentation. 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 September 30, 2021. DoD, GSA, and NASA propose that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years beyond the current expiration date.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has submitted for OMB review a request regarding this information collection under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

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.

NASA hereby gives notice of its intent to grant a partially exclusive patent license in the United States to practice the inventions described and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 7,075,295 B2 for an invention titled ``Magnetic Field Response Sensor for Conductive Media,'' NASA Case Number LAR-16571-1; U.S. Patent No. 7,589,525 B2 for an invention titled ``Magnetic Field Response Sensor for Conductive Media,'' NASA Case Number LAR-16571-2; U.S. Patent No. 7,759,932 B2 for an invention titled ``Magnetic Field Response Sensor for Conductive Media,'' NASA Case Number LAR-16571-3; U.S. Patent No. 7,086,593 B2 for an invention titled ``Magnetic Field Response Measurement Acquisition System,'' NASA Case Number LAR-16908-1; U.S. Patent No. 7,047,807 B2 for an invention titled ``Flexible Framework for Capacitive Sensing,'' NASA Case Number LAR-16974-1; U.S. Patent No. 7,159,774 B2 for an invention titled ``Magnetic Field Response Measurement Acquisition System,'' NASA Case Number LAR-17280-1; U.S. Patent No. 8,430,327 B2 for an invention titled ``Wireless Sensing System Using Open-Circuit, Electrically-Conductive Spiral-Trace Sensor,'' NASA Case Number LAR-17294-1; U.S. Patent No. 8,673,649 B2 for an invention titled ``Wireless Chemical Sensor and Sensing Method for Use Therewith,'' NASA Case Number LAR-17579-1; U.S. Patent No. 9,329,149 B2 for an invention titled ``Wireless Chemical Sensor and Sensing Method for Use Therewith,'' NASA Case Number LAR- 17579-2; U.S. Patent No. 9,733,203 B2 for an invention titled ``Wireless Chemical Sensing Method,'' NASA Case Number LAR-17579-3; U.S. Patent No. 10,031,031 B2 for an invention titled ``Wireless Temperature Sensing Method Using No Electrical Connections,'' NASA Case Number LAR-17747-1-CON; U.S. Patent No. 10,605,673 B2 for an invention titled ``Wireless Temperature Sensor Having No Electrical Connections,'' NASA Case Number LAR-17747-2-CON; U.S. Patent No. 10,180,341 B2 for an invention titled ``Multi-Layer Wireless Sensor Construct for Use at Electrically- Conductive Material Surfaces,'' NASA Case Number LAR-18399-1; and U.S. Patent Application No. 10,193,228 B2 for an invention titled ``Antenna for Far Field Transceiving,'' NASA Case Number LAR-18400-1 to Aquatherm LP, having its principal place of business in Lindon, UT. The fields of use may be limited to polypropylene and plastic containers and pipes, and associated fittings and joints, within residential structures, and including but not limited to the non-destructive evaluation of the aforementioned containers and pipes and the detection of conditions and states of the contents therein, and/or similar field(s) of use thereto. NASA has not yet made a determination to grant the requested license and may deny the requested license even if no objections are submitted within the comment period.

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.

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) 2021-03. A companion document, the Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG), follows this FAC.

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.

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 payment by electronic fund transfer (other than System for Award Management).

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 new information collection requirement regarding documents, records, reports, and processes associated with determining compliance with FAR part 25, Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is issuing public notice of its proposal to significantly alter a previously noticed system of records NASA Health Information Management System/NASA 10HIMS. This notice incorporates locations and NASA standard routine uses, as appropriate, that NASA has previously published separately from, and cited by reference in, this and other NASA systems of records notices. This notice further clarifies and crystalizes this system of records; updates records access, notification, and contesting procedures; enhances one and adds one new routine uses, as set forth below under the caption SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces revised dates for the upcoming meeting of the Science Committee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC).