Department of Defense 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 use of data universal numbering system (DUNS) as primary contractor identification. The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is the nine-digit identification number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information Services to an establishment. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 75453 on December 20, 2005. 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District (Corps) is issuing this notice to advise the public that a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been completed and is available for review in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The overall purpose of the EIS is to evaluate the environmental consequences for issuing of Section 10 and 404 permits for Commercial Sand and Gravel Dredging in the Allegheny River (River Miles 0-69.5) and the Ohio River (River Miles 0-40).

This notice announces a meeting of the Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel. The panel will review and comment on recommendations made to the Director, TRICARE Management Activity, by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee regarding the Uniform Formulary. The meeting will be open to the public. Seating is limited and will be provided only to the first 220 people signing in. All persons must sign in legibly. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

This notice informs the public that the Global Positioning System (GPS) Joint Program Office (JPO) proposes to define and implement new L1C signal as specified in IS-GPS-800, Navstar GPS Space Segment/Navigation User L1C Interfaces. This new Interface Specification (IS), IS-GPS-800, provides detailed and necessary information for the new proposed L1C signal which is planned to be broadcast from the next generation of GPS satellites identified as Block III. The draft IS-GPS-800 was first available to the public for review and comments on 20 April 2006. The review and comment period will be limited to 45 days from the day it is first made available to the public. The draft document will be available for view and for download at the following Web site: https://gps.losangeles.af.mil. Click on ``System Engineering'', then ``Public Interface Control Working Group (ICWG)''. Reviewers should save the document to a local memory location prior to opening and performing the review. It is requested that any review comments be submitted using the comment matrix form provided at the web site.

The Corps is amending the regulations for lockage operations at Bonneville Lock and Dam and amending the regulations which establish the restricted areas at Little Goose Lock and Dam. The Corps is making corrections and adjustments to the lockage control, signals, and permissible dimensions of vessels for Bonneville Lock and Dam. These changes correct language for the new replacement lock. For the Little Goose Lock and Dam the Corps is making adjustments in the upstream channel restricted area boundary to provide a recreational craft corridor along the north shoreline. This will provide better boat ramp access in support of the small craft portage route and reduce interference between fishermen and the boat ramp.

The inventions listed below are assigned to the United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Navy and are available for licensing by the Department of the Navy. Patent application 60/762,561: ANTI-BALLISTIC COMPOSITE STRUCTURE FOR ORDNANCE, a thin and lightweight anti-ballistic composite structure capable of stopping a 0.50 caliber armor-piercing bullet. Patent application 11/326,674: IMPROVED EXOTHERMIC ROD IGNITER, a waterproof, non-battery operated rod igniter with marked reliability and longer shelf life. Patent application 11/229,443: DRIFT TUBE AMPLIFIER, amplifies extremely low current signals generated by extremely high input impedance sources. Patent application 11/314,884: MULTI- FUNCTIONAL TACTICAL CABLE REEL, a reel that allows for storage and deployment of fragile fiber optic cable with minimal man-power while protecting it from scraping and kinking. Patent application 11/254,123: TWIN MACHINE GUN MOUNT, a mount that allows for dual M240 machine guns in a single firing position. Patent application 11/392,895: QUICK RELEASE SIGHT ADAPTER, used to attach a commercial red dot sight and adjustable iron sight to a scope ring style mount and allows for quick release and exchange using a spring loaded ramped blade.

This Notice is provided pursuant to section 2905(b)(7)(B)(ii) of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990. It provides a partial list of military installations closing or realigning pursuant to the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Report. It also provides a corresponding listing of the Local Redevelopment Authorities (LRAs) recognized by the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), as well as the points of contact, addresses, and telephone numbers for the LRAs for those installations. Representatives of state and local governments, homeless providers, and other parties interested in the redevelopment of an installation should contact the person or organization listed. The following information will also be published simultaneously in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of each installation. There will be additional Notices providing this same information about LRAs for other closing or realigning installations where surplus government property is available as those LRAs are recognized by the OEA.

The Department of the Navy (Navy) is requesting ``Program Comments'' for alternative procedures to implement the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 regulations. This programmatic approach substitutes all of 36 CFR part 800 subpart B, covers a category of undertakings in lieu of individual reviews and demonstrates the Navy's compliance with its responsibilities under Section 106 of NHPA regarding the disposal of U.S. Naval vessels which have been stricken from the Naval Vessel Register (NVR) and are owned and under the physical custody of the Navy. This document will remain in effect indefinitely. In accordance with 36 CFR 800.14(e)(6), if the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation (ACHP) determines that the consideration of NRHP eligible vessels are not being carried out in a manner consistent with this document, the ACHP may withdraw the comment and the Navy would be required to comply with the requirements of 36 CFR 800.3 through 88.7 for each adverse action.

The Naval Research Advisory Committee (NRAC) will meet on May 5, 2006. The meeting will be an Executive Session and will discuss a study undertaken by NRAC.

The Department of the Army proposes to alter a system of records notice in its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes to add a system of records to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense is altering a system of records to its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

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 novation/change of name requirements. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 71 FR 7546, on February 13, 2006. No comments were received. This OMB clearance expires on June 30, 2006. 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.

DoD is extending the comment period for the proposed amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) that were published in the Federal Register of Tuesday, March 21, 2006 (71 FR 14151). The proposed amendments addressed requirements for reporting of Government property in the possession of contractors.

Pursuant to Section 9355, Title 10, United States Code, the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors will meet at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 28 & 29 April 2006. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the morale and discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the Academy. A portion of the meeting will be open to the public while other portions will be closed to the public to discuss matters listed in Paragraphs (2), (6), and Subparagraph (9)(B) of Subsection (c) of Section 552b, Title 5, United States Code. The determination to close certain sessions is based on the consideration that portions of the briefings and discussion will relate solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of the Board of Visitors or the Academy; involve information of a personal nature, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; or involve discussions of information the premature disclosure of which would be inconsistent with protection of the predecisional process by frustrating frank and open discussion. Meeting sessions will be held in the Superintendent's conference room, Fairchild Hall, USAFA, CO.

This document is issued under the joint authority of the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services and the Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 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 rules appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-09 which amend the 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 2005-09 which precedes this document. These documents are also available via the Internet at https://www.acqnet.gov/far.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) by revising fast payment procedures. The revision permits, but does not require, fast payment when invoices and/or outer shipping containers are not marked ``Fast Pay'' provided the contract includes the ``Fast Payment Procedure'' clause. As highlighted in the clause, if the clause is in the contract, the invoices will no longer be rejected, as is the current practice. Instead, they will be paid using either fast payment or normal payment procedures. In addition, the revision deletes the requirement for marking invoices ``No Receiving Report Prepared.''

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to remove the sanctions against certain European Union (EU) countries.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to adopt as final without change, the interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to clarify that prime contractors must confirm that a subcontractor representing itself as a Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small business concern is certified, consistent with the requirements of 15 U.S.C. 632 et. seq., as amended.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to convert to a final rule without change, an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the definition of ``Information technology'' to reflect the changes to the definition resulting from the enactment of Public Law 108-199, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004. Section 535(b) of Division F of Public Law 108-199 permanently revises the term ``Information technology'', which is defined at 40 U.S.C. 11101, to add ``analysis and evaluation'' and to clarify the term ``ancillary equipment.''

This document summarizes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rules agreed to by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council in this Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-09. 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.acqnet.gov/far.