Management and Budget Office 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Acquisition Advisory Panel; Cancellation of an Upcoming Meeting of the Acquisition Advisory Panel
The Office of Management and Budget is issuing this notice to cancel the January 5, 2006, public meeting of the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or ``Panel'') established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.
Proposed Bulletin for Good Guidance Practices
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is extending the comment period regarding its draft Bulletin for Good Guidance Practices from December 23, 2005, to January 9, 2006. This Bulletin is intended to increase the quality and transparency of agency guidance practices and the guidance documents produced through them.
Cost Accounting Standards Board (CAS) Changes to Acquisition Thresholds
The Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board is proposing to adjust the CAS application and full coverage thresholds for inflation in accordance with section 807 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Pub. L. 108-375).
Proposed Bulletin for Good Guidance Practices
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing policies and procedures for agencies to develop, issue, and use guidance documents. This Bulletin is intended to increase the quality and transparency of agency guidance practices and the guidance documents produced through them.
Executive Office of the President; Acquisition Advisory Panel; Notification of Upcoming Meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel
The Office of Management and Budget announces four meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or ``Panel'') established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.
Cost-Based and Interagency Billing Rates for Medical Care or Services Provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs
This document provides cost-based and interagency billing rates for medical care or services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): (a) In error or on tentative eligibility; (b) In a medical emergency; (c) To pensioners of allied nations; (d) For research purposes in circumstances under which VA medical care appropriation is to be reimbursed by VA research appropriation; and (e) To beneficiaries of the Department of Defense or other Federal agencies, when the care or service provided is not covered by an applicable sharing agreement. The rates contained in this notice do not apply to sharing agreements between VA and Department of Defense unless otherwise stated. In addition, until such time as charges for outpatient dental care and prescription drugs are implemented under the provisions of 38 CFR 17.101, the applicable cost-based billing rates provided in this notice will be used for collection or recovery by VA for outpatient dental care and prescription drugs provided under circumstances covered by that section. This notice is issued jointly by the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Executive Office of the President; Acquisition Advisory Panel; Notification of Upcoming Meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel
The Office of Management and Budget announces two meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or ``Panel'') established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.
Office of Federal Procurement Policy; Cost Accounting Standards Board; CAS Exemption for Contracts Executed and Performed Entirely Outside the United States, Its Territories, and Possessions
The Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, invites public comments on the staff discussion paper regarding a provision that provides an exemption from CAS for contracts that are executed and performed entirely outside the United States, its territories, and possessions.
Acquisition Advisory Panel; Notification of Upcoming Meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel
The Office of Management and Budget announces a meeting of the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or ``Panel'') established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.
Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations (OMB Circular A-122)
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is relocating Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations,'' to Title 2 in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), subtitle A, chapter II, part 230. This relocation is part of our broader initiative to create 2 CFR as a single location where the public can find both OMB guidance for grants and agreements and the associated Federal agency implementing regulations. The broader initiative provides a good foundation for streamlining and simplifying the policy framework for grants and agreements, one objective of OMB and Federal agency efforts to implement the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107).
Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments (OMB Circular A-87)
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is relocating Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments,'' to Title 2 in the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), Subtitle A, Chapter II, part 225 as part of an initiative to provide the public with a central location for Federal government policies on grants and other financial assistance and nonprocurement agreements. Consolidating the OMB guidance and co-locating the agency regulations provides a good foundation for streamlining and simplifying the policy framework for grants and agreements as part of the efforts to implement the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107).
Cost Principles for Educational Institutions (OMB Circular A-21)
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is relocating OMB Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for Educational Institutions,'' to Title 2 in the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), subtitle A, chapter II, part 220. This relocation is part of our broader initiative to create 2 CFR as a single location where the public can find both OMB guidance for grants and agreements and the associated Federal agency implementing regulations. The broader initiative provides a good foundation for streamlining and simplifying the policy framework for grants and agreements, one objective of OMB and Federal agency efforts to implement the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107). Furthermore, this document makes changes to 2 CFR part 215, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations (OMB Circular A-110). The changes will add to part 215 new references to 2 CFR parts 220, 225, and 230 for the cost principles in OMB Circulars A- 21, A-87, and A-122, respectively; will update part 215 to include a citation for the Social Security Administration's grant regulation; and will correct part 215 to add the amendatory language of A-110 published on October 8, 1999, and to correct a typographic error.
Guidance for Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is updating its guidance on nonprocurement debarment and suspension to conform to the common rule that 33 Federal agencies published on November 26, 2003. The agencies issued that common rule after resolving public comments received in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. In updating the guidance, the OMB is making two improvements to streamline the policy framework in this area. First, we are issuing the guidance in a format that is suitable for Federal agency adoption. Agency adoption of the guidance will reduce the volume of Federal regulations on nonprocurement debarment and suspension, making it easier for the affected public to use, and easier and less expensive for the Federal Government to maintain. Second, we are publishing the guidance in the recently established Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR). Locating it in 2 CFR will make it easier to find. Also, the OMB guidance will be co- located in the same title of the CFR as Federal agencies' implementing regulations that adopt the guidance. That is, consistent with the framework put in place when OMB established Title 2, each Federal agency will issue its implementing regulation in its chapter in Subtitle B of 2 CFR. This notice also makes minor changes to the previously issued 2 CFR part 215, to conform that part with the guidance published today.
Grants Policy Streamlining Overview on Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension and Cost Principles Guidance
This document and the four Federal Register documents following it in this issue of the Federal Register are related to a broad initiative that established Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) as the single location where the public can find both OMB guidance for grants and agreements and the associated Federal agency implementing regulations. The Federal Register document that established Title 2 CFR (see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section) describes this broad initiative. The initiative provides a good foundation for streamlining and simplifying the policy framework for grants and agreements, which is one objective of OMB and the Federal agencies in implementing the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107). The Federal Register documents following this one publish four additional parts in subtitle A, 2 CFR. These four parts contain guidance to Federal agencies that presently is in three separate OMB circulars and one other OMB policy document. The four documents following this one are discussed further in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. This first document provides an overview for the sequence of the five Federal Register documents published by OMB in this issue of the Federal Register. It also makes changes to 2 CFR part 1, the part in 2 CFR that provides general information about the title. The changes conform part 1 with the four parts of OMB guidance added by the documents following this one.
Executive Office of the President; Performance of Commercial Activities
OMB is updating the annual federal pay raise assumptions and inflation cost factors used for computing the government's personnel and non-pay costs in public-private competitions conducted pursuant to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76. These annual pay raise assumptions and inflation factors are based on the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2006. OMB is also providing notice of an update to ``COMPARE,'' the costing software agencies use when conducting public-private competitions.
Cost Accounting Standards Board; Accounting for the Costs of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) Sponsored by Government Contractors
The Cost Accounting Standards Board (CASB), Office of Federal Procurement Policy, invites public comments on proposed amendments to the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) 412, ``Cost accounting standard for composition and measurement of pension cost,'' and CAS 415, ``Accounting for the cost of deferred compensation.'' These proposed amendments address issues concerning the recognition of the costs of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) under Government cost-based contracts and subcontracts. These proposed amendments provide criteria for measuring the costs of ESOPs and their assignment to cost accounting periods. The allocation of a contractor's assigned ESOP costs to contracts and subcontracts is addressed in other Standards. The proposed amendments also specify that accounting for the costs of ESOPs will be covered by the provisions of CAS 415, ``Accounting for the cost of deferred compensation'' and not by any other Standard.
Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations; Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement
This notice announces the availability of the Compliance Supplement (Supplement) for 2005. The Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and OMB Circular A-133 provide for the Office of Management and Budget to issue a compliance supplement to assist auditors in performing the required audits under Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. Annually, OMB works with the Federal agencies to update the program objectives, procedures and key compliance requirements which the Federal Government expects to be considered in single audits of federal programs. For 2005, the updates include new or significantly changed programs in Parts 4, those parts of the Supplement that relate to the Part 4 changes and updated appendices. The 2005 Supplement updates amend the 2004 Supplement and should be used in conjunction with the 2004 Supplement to perform audits for fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2004. In summary, the 2005 Supplement updates include the following: Updated Table of Contents. Updated Parts 1 and 2. Six new programs. A re-write of 10 programs with significant changes. Two deleted programs. Updated appendices III, IV and V. A listing of minor changes for 28 programs (Appendix V). A complete list of changes from the 2004 Supplement can be found at Appendix V of the 2005 Supplement. Due to its length, the 2005 Supplement updates are not included in this notice but are available on the OMB Web site at (https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a133- compliance/05/05toc.html) or in hard copy from the Government Printing Office (see ADDRESSES for information about how to obtain a copy). This notice also offers interested parties an opportunity to comment on the 2005 Supplement updates.
Request for Information Relating to Research Awards
Many areas of today's research require multi-disciplinary teams in which the intellectual leadership of the project is shared among two or more individuals. To facilitate this team approach through recognition of the contributions of the team leadership members, OSTP issued a memorandum to all Federal research agencies on January 4, 2005, requiring them to formally allow more than one PI on individual research awards. The Federal agencies are now seeking input from the research communityscientists, research administrators, and organizations that represent components of the scientific research communityon how best to implement this policy. The current Request for Information (RFI) poses a series of questions around core elements that may comprise each agency's implementation plan. These elements include: (1) Statement of what constitutes a PI; (2) designation of contact PI; (3) application instructions for listing more than one PI; (4) PIs at different institutions; (5) access to award and review information, and (6) access to public data systems.
Proposed Revisions to OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 1, Standards for Statistical Surveys, and OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 2, Publication of Statistics
As part of an ongoing effort to improve the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information collected and disseminated by the Federal Government, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests comments on the recommendations that it has received from the Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM) Subcommittee on Standards for Statistical Surveys to update and revise OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 1, Standards for Statistical Surveys, and OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 2, Publication of Statistics. The guidance, which applies to all Federal agencies subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, is intended to ensure that the results of statistical surveys sponsored by the Federal Government are as reliable and useful as possible. The FCSM Subcommittee's recommendations, which are available in their entirety on the OMB Web site at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/statpolicy.html, are the result of a two-year comprehensive review of the current standards.
Acquisition Advisory Panel; Notification of Upcoming Meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel
The Office of Management and Budget announces two meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or ``Panel'') established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.
Capitalization of Tangible Assets; Correction
This document contains technical corrections to the Illustrations in CAS 9904.404, ``Capitalization of Tangible Assets.'' An amendment to this Standard was published on February 13, 1996 (61 FR 5520). However, while the contractor's minimum cost criteria for capitalization was increased from $1,500 to $5,000 in the body of the Standard, this change was not reflected in the Illustrations part of the Standard. This technical correction brings the figures in the relevant Illustrations into line with the $5,000 minimum cost criteria for capitalization currently incorporated in the body of the Standard.
Acquisition Advisory Panel; Notification of Upcoming Meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel
The Office of Management and Budget announces a meeting of the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or ``Panel'') established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.
Acquisition Advisory Panel; Notification of Upcoming Meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel
The Office of Management and Budget announces a meeting of the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or ``Panel'') established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.
Cost Accounting Standards Board; Applicability of Cost Accounting Standards Coverage
The Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board is revising the criteria applicable to United Kingdom (UK) contractors for filing a Disclosure Statement, Form No. CASB DS-1. This rulemaking is authorized pursuant to section 26 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act. The Board is promulgating this interim rule in order to comply with a specific request by the UK Ministry of Defence to simplify the compliance process with CAS Board disclosure requirements for UK contractors.
Determination of Executive Compensation Benchmark Amount Pursuant to Section 39 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Act (41 U.S.C. 435), as Amended
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is hereby publishing the attached memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies concerning the determination of the maximum ``benchmark'' compensation amount that will be allowable under government contracts during contractors' FY 2005$473,318. This determination is required under Section 39 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Act (41 U.S.C. 435), as amended. The benchmark compensation amount applies equally to both defense and civilian procurement agencies.
Public Availability of Fiscal Year 2004 Agency Inventories Under the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-270) (“FAIR Act”)
In accordance with the FAIR Act, agency inventories of activities that are not inherently governmental are now available to the public from the agencies listed below. The FAIR Act requires that OMB publish an announcement of public availability of agency inventories of activities that are not inherently governmental upon completion of OMB's review and consultation process concerning the content of the agencies' inventory submissions. After review and consultation with OMB, agencies make their inventories available to the public, and these inventories also include activities that are inherently governmental. This is the fourth and final release of the FAIR Act inventories for FY 2004. Interested parties who disagree with the agency's initial judgment can challenge the inclusion or the omission of an activity on the list of activities that are not inherently governmental within 30 working days and, if not satisfied with this review, may demand a higher agency review/appeal. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has made available a FAIR Act User's Guide through its Internet site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ omb/procurement/fair-index.html. This User's Guide will help interested parties review FY 2004 FAIR Act inventories, and gain access to agency inventories through agency Web site addresses.
Acquisition Advisory Panel; Notification of Upcoming Meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel
The Office of Management and Budget announces two meetings of the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or ``Panel'') established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.
Publication of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Policy Letter 05-01, Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce
In accordance with section 37(b)(3) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. 433(b)(3)), the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy is authorized to issue policies to promote uniform implementation of a program to develop the federal acquisition workforce. OFPP is publishing Policy Letter 05-01, Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce, which more broadly defines the acquisition workforce and more closely aligns civilian and defense acquisition workforce requirements. This Policy Letter applies to all executive agencies, except those subject to the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) (10 U.S.C. 1741-46). OFPP Policy Letter 05-01 supersedes and rescinds OFPP Policy Letter 92-3, Procurement Professionalism Program PolicyTraining for Contracting Personnel, and Policy Letter 97-01, Procurement System Education, Training and Experience Requirements for Acquisition Personnel.
Office of E-Government and Information Technology: Notice of Draft Agency Implementation Guidance for Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12
The Office of Management and Budget requests comments on the draft department and agency implementation guidance on Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12(HSPD-12). The guidance is posted at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/infopoltech.html.
Compliance Assistance Resources and Points of Contact Available to Small Businesses
In accordance with the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is publishing a ``list of the compliance assistance resources available to small businesses'' and a list of the points of contacts in agencies ``to act as a liaison between the agency and small business concerns'' with respect to the collection of information and the control of paperwork. This information is posted on the OMB Web site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ omb/inforeg/infocoll.html.
Draft 2005 Report to Congress on the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulations
OMB requests comments on 2005 Draft Report to Congress on the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulation. The full Draft Report is available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/regpolreports congress.html, and is divided into three chapters. Chapter I presents estimates of the costs and benefits of Federal regulation and paperwork, with an emphasis on the major regulations issued between October 1, 2003 and September 31, 2004. Chapter II reports the latest results of our ongoing historical examination of the trends in Federal regulatory activity and explores what we know about the validation of ex ante estimates of costs and benefits of Federal regulation by ex post studies. Chapter III includes a discussion of the implementation of the Information Quality Act.
North American Industry Classification System-Update for 2007
Under Title 44 U.S.C. 3504(e), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) seeks public comment on the advisability of adopting the proposed North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) updates for 2007. NAICS is a system for classifying establishments (individual business locations) by type of economic activity. Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Estad[iacute]stica, Geograf[iacute]a e Inform[aacute]tica (INEGI), Statistics Canada, and the United States Office of Management and Budget, through its Economic Classification Policy Committee (ECPC), collaborated on NAICS to make the industry statistics produced by the three countries comparable. OMB's Economic Classification Policy Committee recommends an update of the industry classification system to clarify existing industry definitions and content, recognize new and emerging industries, and correct errors and omissions. This notice: (1) Summarizes the background for the proposed revisions to NAICS 2002 in Part I, (2) contains a summary of public comments in Part II, (3) details multiple requests and major changes in the proposed structure agreed to by the three countries in Part III, and (4) provides a comprehensive listing of proposed changes for national industries and their links to NAICS 2002 industries in Part IV. OMB published a notification of intention to revise portions of NAICS in a December 27, 2002, Federal Register notice (67 FR 79500- 79506). That notice solicited comments on the advisability of revising maximum possible public input, OMB seeks comment on the advisability of revising the NAICS 2002 structure for 2007 to account for new and emerging industries and solicited comments on the advisability of making changes to improve international comparability, and other changes identified as necessary during the initial implementation of NAICS 2002. The deadline for submitting comments was March 28, 2003. After considering all proposals from the public, consulting with U.S. data users and industry groups, and undertaking extensive discussions with Statistics Canada and Mexico's INEGI, the ECPC in collaboration with INEGI and Statistics Canada developed recommendations for revisions to NAICS that would apply to all three North American countries. These revisions focus on improving the description of current industries, identifying new and emerging industries, and recommending changes to industry content based on research and implementation experience. There are no changes specifically recommended to increase international comparability. The ECPC recommends that NAICS United States 2007 incorporate changes as shown in Parts III and IV of this notice. Following an extensive process of development and discussions by the ECPC, with maximum possible public input, OMB seeks comment on the advisability of revising NAICS to incorporate the changes published in this notice. The modified NAICS would be employed in relevant data collections by all U.S. statistical agencies beginning with the reference year 2007. Statistics Canada and INEGI are recommending acceptance of the proposed revisions of the NAICS system for industry classification in the statistical programs of their national systems and are seeking comments in their respective countries. Representatives of the three countries will hold further discussions to consider public comments that they receive.
Public Availability of Fiscal Year 2004 Agency Inventories Under the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-270) (“FAIR Act”)
In accordance with the FAIR Act, agency inventories of activities that are not inherently governmental are now available to the public from the agencies listed below. The FAIR Act requires that OMB publish an announcement of public availability of agency inventories of activities that are not inherently governmental upon completion of OMB's review and consultation process concerning the content of the agencies' inventory submissions. After review and consultation with OMB, agencies make their inventories available to the public, and these inventories also include activities that are inherently governmental. This is the third release of the FAIR Act inventories for FY 2004. Interested parties who disagree with the agency's initial judgment can challenge the inclusion or the omission of an activity on the list of activities that are not inherently governmental within 30 working days and, if not satisfied with this review, may demand a higher agency review/appeal. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has made available a FAIR Act User's Guide through its Internet site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ omb/procurement/fair-index.html. This User's Guide will help interested parties review FY 2004 FAIR Act inventories, and gain access to agency inventories through agency Web site addresses.
Public Availability of Fiscal Year 2004 Agency Inventories Under the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-270) (“FAIR Act”)
In accordance with the FAIR Act, agency inventories of activities that are not inherently governmental are now available to the public from the agencies listed below. The FAIR Act requires that OMB publish an announcement of public availability of agency inventories of activities that are not inherently governmental upon completion of OMB's review and consultation process concerning the content of the agencies' inventory submissions. After review and consultation with OMB, agencies make their inventories available to the public, and these inventories also include activities that are inherently governmental. This is the third release of the FAIR Act inventories for FY 2004. Interested parties who disagree with the agency's initial judgment can challenge the inclusion or the omission of an activity on the list of activities that are not inherently governmental within 30 working days and, if not satisfied with this review, may demand a higher agency review/appeal. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has made available a FAIR Act User's Guide through its Internet site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ omb/procurement/fair-index.html. This User's Guide will help interested parties review FY 2004 FAIR Act inventories, and gain access to agency inventories through agency Web-site addresses.
Acquisition Advisory Panel
Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, as amended), notice is hereby given that the Acquisition Advisory Panel established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 will meet on March 30, 2005 and again on April 19, 2005 at 9 a.m., eastern time. Location for the March 30, 2005 meeting will be the General Services Administration (GSA) Auditorium at 1800 F. Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405. While the meeting is open to the public, building security requires you to provide your name to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) (contact information listed below) by March 28, 2005. You will need photo identification to enter the building. Location for the April 19, 2005 meeting is expected to be the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) basement auditorium, 801 17th Street NW., Washington DC 20434. While this meeting is open to the public, building security requires that you provide your name to the DFO by April 14, 2005. Confirm the location of the April 19th meeting by visiting the Panel's Web site at https://www.acqnet.gov/ aap. Confirmation is expected to be posted by March 21, 2005. The Panel's statutory charter is to review Federal contracting laws, regulations, and governmentwide policies, including the use of commercial practices, performance-based contracting, performance of acquisition functions across agency lines of responsibility, and governmentwide contracts. The Panel established the following five working groups during its February 28, 2005 meeting: Commercial Practices/Commercial Items; Performance-based Contracting; Governmentwide Contracts and Interagency Contract Vehicles; Cross- cutting IssuesSmall Business, and; Cross-cutting IssuesFederal Workforce. The working groups will report on their initial progress during the March 30th, 2005 meeting, which may also include any follow- up recommendations for additional working groups or other issues to be examined. The April 19th meeting will cover any significant updates as well as discussions related to the topics of each of the working groups. The public may obtain copies of Initial Working Group Issues for the Commercial Practices, Governmentwide Contracts and Interagency Contract Vehicles, Performance-based Contracting, and Cross-cutting IssuesFederal Workforce working groups at the Panel's Web site under Working Groups at https://www.acqnet.gov/aap. In addition to discussions related to these working groups, the Panel has also invited presentations from specific individuals in the private sector on commercial practices during the March 30th meeting and individuals from both the public and private sectors during the April 19th meeting. These presentations will focus on a number of issues including, but not limited to commercial practices/techniques for the use of time and materials or labor hour contracts, share-in- savings contracts, best value procurements, use of firm-fixed price contracts or task orders for services, competition for services contracts and task orders, including information technology and business process services, and the development of requirements for services procurements. A draft agenda will be posted at the Panel's Web site at https://www.acqnet.gov/aap prior to each meeting. While these two meetings will include presentations by invitation only, the general public will be given the opportunity to provide oral statements to the Panel at a subsequent meeting to be announced in the Federal Register. The Panel also seeks written public statements of any length specifically related to the working group topics. Although the Panel accepts written comments until the date of the meeting (unless otherwise stated), written comments should be received by the DFO at least five business days prior to the meeting date so that the written comments may be made available to the Panel for their consideration. Written comments should be supplied, electronically if possible, to the DFO at the e-mail address (or for hardcopies, mailing address) noted below. Acceptable electronic formats include Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, Rich Text files in IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format. Those providing written comments and who attend the meeting are also asked to bring 35 copies of their comments for public distribution.
Improving Government Charge Card Management
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests comments on a draft guidance document entitled Improving Government Charge Card Management. The draft guidance, located at https://www.whitehouse.gov/ omb/financial/fiatravel.html, consolidates and updates current government charge card program guidance previously issued by OMB, the General Services Administration, the Department of the Treasury, and other Federal agencies. The draft guidance applies to all Executive Branch departments and agencies, establishing standard minimum requirements and suggested best practices in areas of charge card management such as planning, training, risk management, data collection, credit worthiness, and strategic buying. When this guidance is finalized, it will be issued as either a new OMB Circular or as an addendum to an existing OMB Circular.
Acquisition Advisory Panel
Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, as amended), notice is hereby given that the Acquisition Advisory Panel established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 will meet on February 28, 2005 at 9 a.m., eastern time. Location for the meeting will be the Rachel Carson Room in the basement of the Department of Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240. While the meeting is open to the public, building security and limited seating require you to provide your name to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) (contact information listed below) by Thursday, February 24, 2005. You will need a photo identification to enter the building. The public entrance to the building is the C Street entrance. However, the E Street entrance is reserved for individuals with disabilities requiring an accessible entrance to the building. Please let the DFO know in advance if you will require the accessible entrance. The panel's statutory charter is to review Federal contracting laws, regulations, and government-wide policies, including the use of commercial practices, performance-based contracting, performance of acquisition functions across agency lines of responsibility, and government-wide contracts. Since this meeting will be the first time the panel members discuss substantive procurement- related issues, it is anticipated that a broad range of topics falling under their statutory charter will be discussed. Subgroups or working groups, as referenced in the Panel's Bylaws and operating procedures, may be established to research specific procurement-related areas in order to eventually make a recommendation to the panel. A draft agenda will be available from the DFO, upon request, in advance of the meeting.
Discount Rates for Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Federal Programs
The Office of Management and Budget revised Circular A-94 in 1992. The revised Circular specified certain discount rates to be updated annually when the interest rate and inflation assumptions used to prepare the budget of the United States Government were changed. These discount rates are found in Appendix C of the revised Circular. The updated discount rates are shown below. The discount rates in Appendix C are to be used for cost-effectiveness analysis, including lease-purchase analysis, as specified in the revised Circular. They do not apply to regulatory analysis.
Grants Related Information Collection Under OMB Review
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that an information collection extension request was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for processing under 5 CFR 1320.10. The first notice of this information collection extension was published in the Federal Register as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, on October 29, 2004 [69 FR 63186] and invitee the general public and Federal agencies to comment on the extension without change of standard form, SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. This form is currently required by OMB Circular A-102, ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments,'' and Title 2 Code of Federal Regulations Part 215 (OMB Circular A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations.'' The form will continue to be used while the E-GOV Grants.gov interagency team completes their analysis of public comments received in response to an April 8, 2003, Federal Register notice [68 FR 17090] and finalizes the government-wide data standard.
Grants Related Information Collections Under OMB Review
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that eight information collection renewal requests were submitted to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for processing under 5 CFR 1320.10. The first notice of these information collection renewals was published in the Federal Register, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, on October 29, 2004 [69 FR 63186], and invited the general public and Federal agencies to comment on the renewal without change of eight (8) standard forms: the SF-269, Financial Status Report (long form); SF-269A, Financial Status Report (short form); SF-272, Federal Cash Transactions Report; SF-272A, Federal Cash Transactions Report (continuation); SF-424A, Budget InformationNonconstruction Programs; SF-424B, AssurancesNon- construction Programs; SF-424C, Budget InformationConstruction Programs; and SF-424D, AssurancesConstruction Programs. These forms are currently required by OMB Circular A-102, ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments,'' and Title 2 Code of Federal Regulations Part 215 (OMB Circular A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations.'' These eight forms will continue to be used while interagency teams working under two streamlining initiatives (the Grants.gov E-Gov effort and the P.L.106-107 implementation work groups) complete the final consolidated data standards.
Office of Federal Financial Management; Proposed Policy on Research and Research-Related Grant Terms and Conditions
The Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP), a streamlining initiative of ten Federal awarding offices and 92 academic and nonprofit research institutions, developed a core set of FDP terms and conditions that it has been using for several years for the implementation of OMB Circular A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations,'' (2 CFR part 215). The OSTP and OFFM request comment on making the FDP terms and conditions a government-wide standard, and broadening their use to all academic and nonprofit grantees, under Federal research and research- related programs. The proposed policy directive also instructs Federal agencies to minimize the degree to which they supplement the core set with agency- specific, program-specific, or award-specific terms and conditions. The directive should therefore result in the near term in the use of more uniform terms and conditions for Federal research and research-related grants. In parallel with the establishment of this standard for research and research-related grants, an interagency group helping to implement the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-107) will continue working toward the longer- term objective of standard award format and content for all Federal grants and cooperative agreements, including government-wide standard terms and conditions.
2004 List of Designated Federal Entities and Federal Entities
As required by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (IG Act), this notice provides a list of Designated Federal Entities and Federal Entities.
Acquisition Advisory Panel
Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, as amended), notice is hereby given that the Acquisition Advisory Panel established in accordance with the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 will meet on February 9, 2005 at 9 a.m., eastern time. Location for the meeting will be the Truman Room of the White House Conference Center, 726 Jackson Place, NW., Washington, DC 20503. The meeting is open to the public and written statements may be filed with the panel. Due to limited availability of seating, members of the public will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. This is the first meeting of the panel, and will be organizational in nature. Discussion of substantive procurement-related topics is not anticipated.
Public Availability of Fiscal Year 2004 Agency Inventories Under the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-270) (“FAIR Act”)
In accordance with the FAIR Act, agency inventories of activities that are not inherently governmental are now available to the public from the agencies listed below. The FAIR Act requires that OMB publish an announcement of public availability of agency inventories of activities that are not inherently governmental upon completion of OMB's review and consultation process concerning the content of the agencies' inventory submissions. After review and consultation with OMB, agencies make their inventories available to the public, and these inventories also include activities that are inherently governmental. This is the second release of the FAIR Act inventories for FY 2004. Interested parties who disagree with the agency's initial judgment can challenge the inclusion or the omission of an activity on the list of activities that are not inherently governmental within 30 working days and, if not satisfied with this review, may demand a higher agency review/appeal. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy has made available a FAIR Act User's Guide through its Internet site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ omb/procurement/fair-index.html. This User's Guide will help interested parties review FY 2004 FAIR Act inventories, and gain access to agency inventories through agency Web site addresses.
Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review
On December 16, 2004, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), issued its Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review to the heads of departments and agencies (available at https:// www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy2005/m05-03.html). This new guidance is designed to realize the benefits of meaningful peer review of the most important science disseminated by the Federal Government. It is part of an ongoing effort to improve the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information disseminated by the Federal Government to the public. This final bulletin has benefited from an extensive stakeholder process. OMB originally requested comment on its ``Proposed Bulletin on Peer Review and Information Quality,'' published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2003. OMB received 187 public comments during the comment period (available at https:// www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/2003iq/iqlist.html). In addition, to improve the draft Bulletin, OMB encouraged federal agencies to sponsor a public workshop at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The NAS workshop (November 18, 2003, at the National Academies in Washington, DC) attracted several hundred participants, including leaders in the scientific community (available at https://www7.nationalacademies.org/ stl/STLPeerReviewAgenda.html). OMB also participated in outreach activities with major scientific organizations and societies that had expressed specific interest in the draft Bulletin. A formal interagency review of the draft Bulletin, resulting in detailed comments from numerous Federal departments and agencies, was undertaken in collaboration with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In light of the substantial interest in the Bulletin, including a wide range of constructive criticisms of the initial draft, OMB decided to issue a revised draft for further comment. This revised draft was published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2004, and solicited a second round of public comment. The revised draft stimulated a much smaller number of comments (57) (available at: http:/ /www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/peer2004/listpeer2004.html). OMB's response to the additional criticisms, suggestions, and refinements offered for consideration is available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ omb/inforeg/peer2004/peerresponse.pdf. The final Bulletin includes refinements that strike a balance among the diverse perspectives expressed during the comment period. Part I of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below provides background. Part II provides the text of the final Bulletin.
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