National Aeronautics and Space Administration September 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Regulatory and Policy Committee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Committee reports to the NAC.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and NASA's procedures for implementing NEPA, NASA intends to prepare a supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Mars 2020 Mission (Supplemental EIS). The Supplemental EIS will provide updated information related to the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed Mars 2020 mission. The updated information is pertinent to the consequence and risk analyses of potential accidents which could occur during the launch phases of the mission. Although the probability of such accidents occurring is highly unlikely, it is possible that under certain conditions an accident could result in a release of plutonium dioxide from the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG). The MMRTG is a critical component of the Mars 2020 rover; it would enable the Mars 2020 rover mission to undertake a much broader scope of scientific discovery by providing a continuous supply of electrical power and temperature control to the Mars 2020 rover while on the surface of Mars. The Mars 2020 spacecraft would launch onboard an Atlas V launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Brevard County, Florida, during the summer of 2020. Additional information about the mission may be found on the internet at: https:// mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/.

Phase 2 of the CO2 Conversion Challenge is open, and teams that wish to compete may now register. Centennial Challenges is a program of prize competitions to stimulate innovation in technologies of interest and value to NASA and the nation. This competition has two phases with a total prize purse of up to $1 million. Phase 1 (completed in April 2019) was the Concept Phase with a prize purse of $250,000 awarded equality among the top five scoring teams. Teams were asked to demonstrate capabilities to develop technologies to manufacture ``food'' for microbial bioreactors from CO2 and hydrogen molecules, with the ultimate goal of producing glucose. Phase 2 is a Demonstration Challenge with a prize purse of up to $750,000. NASA is providing the prize purse, and NASA Centennial Challenges will be managing the Challenge with support from The Common Pool.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to add two new clauses that notify contractors of requirements relating to Afghanistan taxes or similar charges when contracts are being performed in Afghanistan.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, DoD, GSA, and NASA invite the public to comment on a revision and renewal concerning commercial item. DoD, GSA, and NASA invite comments on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of Federal Government acquisitions, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. OMB has approved this information collection for use through November 30, 2019. DoD, GSA, and NASA propose that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years beyond the current expiration date.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Heliophysics Advisory Committee (HPAC). This Committee functions in an advisory capacity to the Director, Heliophysics Division, in the NASA Science Mission Directorate. The meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting, from the science community and other persons, scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Planetary Science Advisory Committee. The meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting, from the scientific community and other persons, scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to add Australia as a World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA) country.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to update the definition of ``affiliates'' in the FAR, including references to that definition, and to delete an obsolete requirement for contractors who are 8(a) Program participants.

This document summarizes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rules agreed to by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) in this Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2019-06. 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.regulations.gov.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the FAR Council invites the public to comment upon a request to review and approve a revision and renewal of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning quality assurance requirements.