Department of Defense December 29, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Defense (DoD) is publishing this proposed rule to establish TRICARE coverage under the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB) will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a new information collection requirement regarding biobased procurements. 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 part establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for operational contract support (OCS), including OCS program management, contract support integration, and integration of defense contractor personnel into contingency operations outside the United States. An interim final rule is required to procedurally close gaps and ensure the correct planning, oversight and management of DoD contractors supporting contingency operations, by updating the existing outdated policy. The existing policies are causing significant confusion, as they do not reflect current practices and legislative mandates. The inconsistencies between local Geographic Command guidance and the DoD-wide policies and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement are confusing for those in the fieldin particular, with regard to policy on accountability and visibility requirements. Given the sustained employment of a large number of contractors in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility; the importance of contractor oversight in support of the counter-insurgency operation in Afghanistan; and, the requirement to effectively manage contractors during the transition in Iraq, this issue has become so significant that DoD needs to revise the DoD-wide policies as a matter of urgency.