Department of Defense January 24, 2008 – 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 presolicitation notice. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 72 FR 62444, on November 5, 2007. No comments were received. The clearance currently expires on April 30, 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 Department of the Navy announces its decision to accept alternative arrangements approved by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.11 for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., for the Navy's Southern California (SOCAL) Operating Area Composite Training Unit Exercises (COMPTUEXs) and Joint Task Force Exercises (JTFEXs) scheduled to occur between today and January 2009.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to address requirements for DoD contracting officers to ensure that an item meets the definition of ``commercial item'' specified in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), when using commercial item procedures for acquisitions exceeding $1 million in value.

DoD has issued an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to incorporate increased dollar thresholds for application of the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and the Free Trade Agreements, as determined by the United States Trade Representative.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to remove text addressing DoD procedures for closeout of contract files. Text on this subject has been relocated to the DFARS companion resource, Procedures, Guidance, and Information.

DoD has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to remove text addressing withholding of payments under time-and-materials and labor-hour contracts. The DFARS text is no longer necessary, since similar policy has been added to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated 21 July 1996.