General Services Administration September 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 will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning the reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. 11001-11050) and the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 13101-13109). The clearance currently expires onJanuary 31, 2009. 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 General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to implement Pub.L. 110-248, The Local Preparedness Acquisition Act. The Act authorizes the Administrator of General Services to provide for the use by State or local governments of Federal Supply Schedules of the General Services Administration (GSA) for alarm and signal systems, facility management systems, firefighting and rescue equipment, law enforcement and security equipment, marine craft and related equipment, special purpose clothing, and related services (as contained in Federal supply classification code group 84 or any amended or subsequent version of that Federal supply classification group).

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require that annual reviews by executive agency competition advocates be provided in writing to both the agency senior procurement executive and the agency chief acquisition officer, if designated, and that the reports specifically address the quality of planning, executing, and managing of task and delivery orders over $1 million.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to increase the blanket waiver threshold for small dollar-value purchases from Federal Prison Industries (FPI) by Federal agencies and to change the name of the JWOD Program to the AbilityOne Program.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to correct references to sections of the Higher Education Act of 1965 at FAR 2.101 and 52.2. These sections of the Act contain the definitions of minority institution and Hispanic-serving institution. The citations for these sections changed when the Higher Education Act of 1965 was amended by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. This final rule updates the FAR accordingly.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the policies and procedures for contract debts.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement Section 822 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Pub. L. 110-181).

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to adopt as final, without change, an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the prescription for use of clauses for the use of Environmental Protection Agency-designated products and toxic chemical release reporting.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to adopt as final, with change, the interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement Section 104 of the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. Section 104 requires that entities that operate any business on any premises owned or controlled by the United States be capable of accepting and dispensing $1 coins on January 1, 2008. Subsequent to this, Pub. L. 110-147 amended 31 U.S.C. 5112(p)(1)(A), to allow an exception from the $1 coin dispensing capability requirement for vending machines that do not receive currency denominations greater than $1.

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 revise the contract clauses related to the administration of the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) to maintain consistency between the FAR and CAS.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language that provides requirements for publicizing contract actions.

This bulletin provides a deviation for executive agencies to purchase premium fuel for Government owned and leased vehicles when lower grade fuels are not available due to market shortages in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas due to the flooding and damage from Hurricane Gustav. GSA Bulletin FMR B-20 may be found at www.gsa.gov/bulletin.