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Regulations and other Administrative Items

VA Acquisition Regulation: Supporting Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 49141, August 20, 2008.
SUMMARY: This proposed rule would implement portions of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 and Executive Order 13360, Providing Opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran Businesses to Increase Their Federal Contracting and Subcontracting. The Public Law and Executive Order authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish special methods for contracting with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs). Under this proposed rule, a VA contracting officer could restrict competition in contracting for SDVOSBs or VOSBs under certain conditions. Likewise, sole source contracts with SDVOSBs or VOSBs would be permitted under certain conditions. The proposed rule would implement these special acquisition methods as a change to the VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR).
Dates: Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted on or before October 20, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of the final rule.

GSAR Case 2008G515; Rewrite of GSAR Part 549, Termination of Contracts, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 47123, August 13, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language that provides requirements for termination of contracts.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before October 14, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

SBA-Notice of methodology for measuring the economic impact of the HUBZone Program, 73 Fed. Reg. 46698, August 11, 2008.
SUMMARY: In June 2008, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued its findings on the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program. One of GAO’s findings is that the SBA does not assess the Program’s economic impact. The GAO noted the importance of this given that the HUBZone Program is primarily defined by economic factors (household income, unemployment rate, and poverty rate).
    On June 6, 2008, the SBA responded to GAO’s findings, and provided several steps to address them. One of these steps is to develop a methodology for assessing the Program’s economic impact.
    This paper outlines the anticipated methodology for this assessment. The paper will provide a brief description of the different methodological options currently available for undertaking an impact assessment. It will then provide a basic description of the HUBZone Program. Finally, it will detail the specific methodology chosen for measuring the Program’s economic impact.
    The complexity of assessing the Program’s economic impact lies in that there are multiple government agencies using three relevant procurement mechanisms, and five classes of HUBZones. In addition, the required data for this assessment will be derived from four different databases. This multiple database feature, as well as other documented data issues of the HUBZone Program, increases the difficulty of correctly identifying the assessment’s relevant data elements. This methodology assumes that these data issues will be addressed.
    This methodology will trace Federal contract dollars as they flow to the various HUBZone areas. It will then estimate the impact of these contract dollars on the HUBZone areas’ employment and household income. To isolate the impact of the HUBZone Program, the methodology differentiates Federal contract dollar-flows in three ways: (1) Via the HUBZone Direct Mechanism, where Federal contract dollar-flows are directly attributable to the HUBZone Program; (2) Via the Non- HUBZone SBA Contract Mechanisms, where Federal contract dollar-flows are directly attributable to SBA programs, but exclude the HUBZone Program; (3) Via the Non-SBA Federal Contract Mechanisms, where Federal contract dollar-flows are not associated with any SBA program.
    This differentiation addresses GAO’s recommendation to develop measures that take into account factors such as (1) the economic characteristics of the HUBZone areas and (2) Federal contracts being counted under multiple socioeconomic subcategories.
Dates: Comments must be received on or before September 10, 2008

Rewrite of GSAR Part 522, Application of Labor Laws to Government Acquisitions, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 46202, August 08, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language pertaining to application of labor laws to Government acquisitions. This rule is a product of the General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM) Rewrite Initiative, undertaken by GSA to revise the regulation to maintain consistency with the FAR and implement streamlined and innovative acquisition procedures for contractors, offerors, and GSA contracting personnel. The GSAM incorporates the GSAR as well as internal agency acquisition policy.
Dates: Effective Date: August 8, 2008.

GSAR Case 2006G517; Rewrite of GSAR Part 528, Bonds and Insurance, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 45378, August 05, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language that provides requirements for bonds and insurance.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before October 6, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSAR Case 2008G514; Rewrite of GSAR Part 546, Quality Assurance, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 45379, August 05, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language that provides requirements for quality assurance.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before October 6, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSAR Case 2008 G502;Improper Personal Conflicts of Interest, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 45194, August 04, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language regarding requirements for improper business practices and personal conflicts of interest.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before October 3, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSAR Case 2007G502; Rewrite of GSAR Part 513, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 44955, August 01, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise and update the agencys implementation of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before September 30, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSAR Case 2008G504; Rewrite of GSAR Part 512, Acquisition of Commercial Items, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 44953, August 01, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise the language pertaining to requirements for the acquisition of commercial items.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before September 30, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSA-GSAR Case 2006G520; Rewrite of GSAR Part 525, Foreign Acquisition, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 44208, July 29, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to update the text addressing foreign acquisition. This rule is a result of the General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM) Rewrite initiative undertaken by GSA to revise the GSAM to maintain consistency with the FAR, and to implement streamlined and innovative acquisition procedures that contractors, offerors and GSA contracting personnel can utilize when entering into and administering contractual relationships. The GSAM incorporates the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) as well as internal agency acquisition policy. GSA will rewrite each part of the GSAR and GSAM, and as each part is rewritten, will publish it in the Federal Register. This part is a continuance in a series of revisions. It covers the rewrite of GSAR Part 525, Foreign Acquisition.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before September 29, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

SBA- Amendments to the Definition of the Nonprocurement Suspension and Debarment Officials, Direct final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 43347, July 25, 2008.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is making two technical changes to the regulations pertaining to grants and agreements. SBA is amending the definitions for the debarring official and the suspending official for nonprocurement debarment and suspension actions for programs other than the financial assistance programs. Currently the debarring official and the suspending official for all programs other than financial assistance is the Director of the Office of Business Operations. This rule will change the debarring official and suspending official to the Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law. SBA is also amending its regulations to change the title of the Agencys Office of Lender Oversight to the Office of Credit Risk Management.
Dates: This rule is effective September 8, 2008, without further action, unless SBA receives a significant adverse comment by August 25, 2008. If SBA receives any significant adverse comments, the Agency will publish a timely withdrawal of this rule in the Federal Register.

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS)/ TRICARE: Inclusion of TRICARE Retail Pharmacy Program in Federal Procurement of Pharmaceuticals, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 43394, July 25, 2008.
SUMMARY: Section 703 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (NDAA08) states with respect to any prescription filled on or after the date of enactment of the NDAA, the TRICARE retail pharmacy program (TRRx) shall be treated as an element of the DoD for purposes of procurement of drugs by Federal agencies under section 8126 of title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.), to the extent necessary to ensure pharmaceuticals paid for by the DoD that are provided by network retail pharmacies under the program to eligible covered beneficiaries are subject to the pricing standards in such section 8126. NDAA08 was enacted on January 28, 2008. The statute requires implementing regulations. This proposed rule is to implement section 703 of the NDAA 2008.
Dates: Written comments received at the address indicated below by September 23, 2008 will be considered and addressed in the final rule.

GSA-GSAR Case 2006G504; Rewrite of GSAR Part 516; Types of Contracts, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 39275, July 09, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language pertaining to requirements for types of contracts.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before September 8, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GAO-Rules of Procedure of the Government Accountability Office Contract Appeals Board, Interim rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 36257, June 26, 2008.
SUMMARY: This document contains the rules of procedures of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Contract Appeals Board (Board), which will govern all proceedings before the Board. The Board was established pursuant to sec. 1501 of title I of division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 to hear appeals from decisions of contracting officers with respect to any contract entered into by a legislative branch agency. The following rules of procedure are promulgated pursuant to sec. 1501(d) of that act and are applicable to all appeals filed with the Board on or after October 1, 2007. The Board invites comments on this interim rule and intends to publish a final rule after considering all comments received on or before the closing date for comments.
Dates: Comments must be submitted on or before August 25, 2008.
Correction-June 30, 2008. The interim rule published on June 26, 2008, at 73 FR 36257 is effective on June 26, 2008, and is applicable to all appeals filed on or after October 1, 2007. Comments must be submitted on or before August 25, 2008.

Office of Government Ethics-Post-Employment Conflict of Interest Restrictions, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 36168, June 25, 2008.
SUMMARY: OGE regulations have provided guidance concerning the postemployment conflict of interest restrictions of 18 U.S.C. 207 for Government employees terminating service between July 1, 1979 and December 31, 1990. As a result of amendments to section 207 that became effective January 1, 1991, and subsequently, employees terminating service in the executive branch or in an independent agency (or terminating service from certain high-level Government positions) since that date are subject to substantially revised postemployment restrictions. The purpose of these new regulations is to provide regulatory guidance explaining the scope and content of the statutory restrictions as they apply to employees terminating service on or after January 1, 1991. This final rule would expand the regulatory guidance OGE has previously published concerning the current version of section 207 and make minor modifications to those earlier rulemakings. It would also remove the old obsolete regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations.
Dates: July 25, 2008.

GSAR Case 2006G512; Rewrite of GSAR Part 509, Contractor Qualifications, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 36013, June 25, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to update language addressing contractor qualifications. This rule is a result of the General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM) Rewrite initiative undertaken by GSA to revise the GSAM to maintain consistency with the FAR, and to implement streamlined and innovative acquisition procedures that contractors, offerors and GSA contracting personnel can utilize when entering into and administering contractual relationships. The GSAM incorporates the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) as well as internal agency acquisition policy.
     GSA will rewrite each part of the GSAR and GSAM, and as each GSAR part is rewritten, will publish it in the Federal Register.
This is one of a series of revisions. It
covers the rewrite of GSAR Part 509, Contractor Qualifications. DATES:
Dates: to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSAR Case 2008 G513;Rewrite of Part 543, Contract Modifications, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 35615, June 24, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise GSAM language pertaining to requirements for contract modifications.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before August 25, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSAR Case 2008G512; Rewrite of GSAR Part 542; Contract Administration and Audit Services, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 35614, June 24, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise language pertaining to requirements for contract administration and audit services.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before August 25, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSA- Regulation; GSAR Case 2006 G502;Rewrite of GSAR Part 501; General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation System, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 34240, June 17, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to update the text addressing the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation System. This rule is a result of the General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM) Rewrite Initiative undertaken by GSA to revise the GSAM to maintain consistency with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and to implement streamlined and innovative acquisition procedures that contractors, offerors and GSA contracting personnel can utilize when entering into and administering contractual relationships. The GSAM incorporates the GSAR as well as internal agency acquisition policy.
GSA will rewrite each part of the GSAR and GSAM, and as each GSAR part is rewritten, will publish it in the Federal Register.
This rule covers the rewrite of GSAR Part 501, General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation System.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before August 18, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

DHS- Designation of the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification System Under Executive Order 12989, as Amended by the Executive Order Entitled “Amending Executive Order 12989, as Amended” of June 6, 2008, Notice, 73 Fed. Reg. 33837, June 13, 2008.
SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated the E-Verify system, operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in partnership with the Social Security Administration, as the electronic employment eligibility verification system to be used by Federal contractors, pursuant to Executive Order 12989, as amended by the Executive Order entitled “Amended Executive Order 12989, as Amended” of June 6, 2008.
Dates: This designation is effective immediately.

GSAR Case 2006G501; GSA Mentor-Protégé Program, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 32669, June 10, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to establish a GSA Mentor-Protégé Program. The GSA Mentor-Protégé Program is designed to encourage GSA prime contractors to assist small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, womenowned small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and HUBZone small businesses in enhancing their capabilities to perform GSA contracts and subcontracts, foster the establishment of long-term business relationships between these small business entities and GSA prime contractors, and increase the overall number of small business entities that receive GSA contract and subcontract awards.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before August 11, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GAO-Bid Protest Regulations, Government Contracts, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 32427, June 09, 2008.
SUMMARY: This document amends Government Accountability Office (GAO) Bid Protest Regulations, which have been promulgated in accordance with the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984. These amendments are being made to implement changes to the definition of an “interested party” for the GAO Bid Protest forum set forth in sec. 326 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, and to make certain administrative changes.
Dates: Effective Date: June 9, 2008.

GSAR Case 2007 G501;Protests, Disputes, and Appeals, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 32514, June 09, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to update language pertaining to protests, disputes, and appeals. This project is part of the GSAM Rewrite Project, in which all parts of the regulation are being reviewed and updated to include new statutes, legislation, and policies.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before August 8, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSA-GSAR Case 2006-G518; Rewrite of GSAR Part 547, Transportation, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 32277, June 06, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise GSAR language that provides requirements for transportation. This rule is a result of the General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM) Rewrite initiative undertaken by GSA to revise the GSAM to maintain consistency with the FAR, and to implement streamlined and innovative acquisition procedures that contractors, offerors and GSA contracting personnel can use when entering into and administering contractual relationships. The GSAM incorporates the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) as well as internal agency acquisition policy. GSA will rewrite each part of the GSAR and GSAM, and as each GSAR part is rewritten, will publish it in the Federal Register.
   This is one of the series of revisions to 48 CFR Chapter 5. It covers the rewrite of GSAR Part 547, Transportation.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before August 5, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSA-GSAR Case 2008-G510; Rewrite of GSAR Part 537, Service Contracting, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 32276, June 06, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise sections of the GSAR that pertains to requirements for service contracting.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before August 5, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

GSA-GSAR Case 2007-G500; Rewrite of GSAR Part 517, Special Contracting Method, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 32274, June 06, 2008.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to amend the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise sections that provide requirements for special contracting methods.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before August 5, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

Office of the Chief Procurement Officer; Revision of Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation; Technical Amendments, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 30317, May 27, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation to make the Transportation Security Administration subject to that regulation and to the Federal Acquisition Regulation system for acquisitions initiated after June 22, 2008. This rule also removes provisions related to DHS special streamlined acquisition authority, changes the name of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the name of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation, and makes other technical amendments.
Dates: Effective date: This rule is effective May 27, 2008. Although this rule goes into effect on May 27, 2008, the Transportation Security Administration exemption from the Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation and the Federal Acquisition Regulation system remains in effect up to and including June 22, 2008

DOL-Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, Annual Report From Federal Contractors, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 28710, May 19, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Veterans Employment and Training Service is publishing a new set of regulations, and adopting a new Federal Contractor Veterans Employment Report VETS100A (“VETS100A Report”) form, to implement the requirement under the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (“VEVRAA”) that Government contractors track and annually report the number of employees in their workforces who are veterans covered under the law. The final regulations published today implement amendments to the reporting requirements under VEVRAA that were made by the Jobs for Veterans Act (“JVA”) in 2002. The JVA amendments: Raised the dollar amount of the Government contracts that trigger a contractors obligation to report on veterans employment; and changed the categories of veterans that contractors are to track and report. The final regulations published today apply only to covered Government contracts entered into or modified on or after December 1, 2003. The existing regulations in 41 CFR part 61250, which require contractors to use the Federal Contractor Veterans Employment Report VETS100 (“VETS 100 Report”) form to provide the information on the covered veterans in their workforces, will continue to apply to Government contracts entered into before December 1, 2003.
Dates: Effective Date: These regulations are effective June 18, 2008.

GSA-Board of Contract Appeals; BCA Case 2006611; Rules of Procedure of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 26947, May 12, 2008.
SUMMARY: This document contains final revisions to the interim rules of procedure of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (Board), which was published in the Federal Register at 72 FR 36794, July 5, 2007. These rules will govern all proceedings before the Board, and will be contained in 48 CFR parts 6101 through 6105. These rules of procedure supersede the current interim rules of the Board.
Dates: Effective Date: May 12, 2008.

OFPP-Cost Accounting Standards Board; Accounting for the Costs of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) Sponsored by Government Contractors, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 23961, May 01. 2008.
SUMMARY: The Cost Accounting Standards Board (the Board), Office of Federal Procurement Policy, has adopted a final rule to amend Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) 412, “Cost Accounting Standard for composition and measurement of pension cost,” and CAS 415, “Accounting for the cost of deferred compensation.” These amendments address issues concerning the recognition of the costs of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) under Government cost-based contracts and subcontracts. These amendments provide criteria for measuring the costs of ESOPs and their assignment to cost contractors assigned ESOP costs to contracts and subcontracts is addressed in other Standards. The 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. This rulemaking is authorized pursuant to Section 26 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Act.
Dates: Effective Date: June 2, 2008.

GSA-Financial Systems Integration Office (FSIO); Federal Acquisition System Requirements, Notice with request for comments, 73 Fed. Reg. 22948, April 28, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Office of Governmentwide Policy invites comments on the proposed “Federal Acquisition System Requirements.” This document gives functional, process technical and data standards requirements for software developers of Government acquisition and contract writing systems, and is regarded as a draft document that will be revised to consider input from comments solicited from industry and other government agencies during this open comment period. This document will be a baseline (as-is) document with the understanding that it will be revised as processes and data standards are harmonized within the acquisition domain and later as it harmonized with other domainsprimarily the Financial Management Line of Business (FMLoB). This document does not supersede or obsolete documents, standards or requirements issued by the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP), Financial Systems Integration Office (FSIO) or the Financial Management Line of Business (FMLoB). Over time, efforts will be made to harmonize across these domains.
Dates: Interested parties should submit written comments to the FAR Secretariat on or before June 27, 2008.[The document is available here.]

OFCCP- Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Obligations of Contractors and Subcontractors Regarding Protected Veterans, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 18712, April 07, 2008.
SUMMARY: This final rule revises the regulations in 41 CFR part 60250 implementing the nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended ("Section 4212" or "VEVRAA"). The regulations in part 60250 implement the nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions of VEVRAA prior to their amendment in 2002 by the Jobs for Veterans Act ("JVA"), and apply to contracts entered into before December 1, 2003. Today’s final rule revises the mandatory job listing provision in the part 60250 regulations to provide that listing employment openings with the state workforce agency job bank or with the local employment service delivery system where the opening occurs will satisfy the mandatory job listing requirements under the part 60250 regulations. The effect of this final rule is to conform the mandatory job listing provision in the part 60250 regulations to the parallel provision in the regulations of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs ("OFCCP") implementing the JVA amendments to VEVRAA in 41 CFR part 60300. Today’s final rule also clarifies that the regulations in part 60250 apply to any contract or subcontract of at least $25,000 entered into before December 1, 2003, and that the regulations in part 60300, not the part 60250 regulations, apply to such a contract or subcontract if it is modified on or after December 1, 2003 and the contract or subcontract as modified is for $100,000 or more.
Dates: Effective Date: These regulations are effective April 7, 2008.

OFPP-Cost Accounting Standards Board; Contract Clauses, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 15939, March 26, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board has adopted, without change, a final rule to add a clause for inclusion in CAS-covered contracts and subcontracts awarded to foreign concerns. The Board is taking this action to provide a standard clause for use by Government and contractor personnel in applying the CAS requirements to contracts and subcontracts awarded to foreign concerns.
Dates: Effective Date: April 25, 2008.

GAO-Administrative Practice and Procedure, Bid Protest Regulations, Government Contracts, Proposed rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 15908, March 21, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is proposing to amend its Bid Protest Regulations, promulgated in accordance with the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 (CICA), to implement the requirements in sec. 326 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, enacted on January 28, 2008, and to make certain administrative changes. Regarding sec. 326 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, the proposed amendments to GAO’s Bid Protest Regulations implement the legislation’s provisions related to the bid protest process concerning Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A76, as revised on May 29, 2003. In this regard, the legislation expands the protest rights of Federal employees in an A76 competition to grant “any one individual” who represents the majority of affected employees the status of an “interested party” to file a protest at GAO or the status of an intervenor to participate in a protest filed at GAO, to remove the current restriction limiting protests of A76 competitions to those competitions affecting 65 or more fulltime equivalent employees of a Federal agency, and to allow a protest of a decision to convert a function performed by Federal employees to private sector performance without a competition. At this time, GAO believes that these proposed revisions are the only regulatory changes necessary to implement the statutory requirements expanding the protest rights of Federal employees in an A76 competition. Regarding administrative changes, the proposed amendments to GAO’s Bid Protest Regulations are to reflect current practice and to streamline the bid protest process. GAO welcomes comments on these proposed revisions.
Dates: Comments must be submitted on or before April 21, 2008.

Small Business Size Standards; Adoption of Size Standards by 2007 North American Industry Classification System for Size Standards, Direct final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 12869, March 11, 2008.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is correcting the direct final rule it published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2007, that amended its Small Business Size Regulations by incorporating the Office of Management and Budgets (OMB) 2007 modifications of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) into its table of small business size standards. The direct final rule published on August 29, 2007 established an incorrect small business size standard for NAICS 517919, All Other Telecommunications. The correct small business size standard is $23.0 million in average annual receipts. Also, the descriptive titles for 19 NAICS codes are also being amended by this action. SBA is changing the industry descriptions in its table of size standards so they will match the descriptions published by OMB in NAICS 2007.
Dates: Effective Date: March 11, 2008.

Department of Energy, Defense Priorities and Allocations System, Notice of proposed rulemaking, 73 Fed. Reg. 11066, February 29, 2008.
SUMMARY: This notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) amends Department of Energy (DOE) regulations at 10 CFR part 216 which implement DOEs delegated authority under section 101(c) of the Defense Production Actof 1950 (DPA). Section 101(c) of the DPA provides authority to the President of the United States (President) to require the allocation of, or priority performance under contracts or orders relating to, materials and equipment, services, or facilities, in order to maximize domestic energy supplies, if the President makes certain findings. The Presidents authority under section 101(c) was delegated to the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy. The rulemaking would make a number of changes to part 216 to reflect a 1991 amendment of the DPA which broadens the scope of authority in section 101(c). Because DOE does not expect to receive any significant adverse comments, this regulatory action is also being issued as a direct final rule in todays issue of the Federal Register.
Dates: Public comments on the amendment proposed herein will be accepted until March 31, 2008.

Department of Energy, Defense Priorities and Allocations System, Direct final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 10980, February 29, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) today is issuing a direct final rule to update the DOE regulations which implement DOEs delegated authority under section 101(c) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA). Section 101(c) provides authority to the President of the United States (President) to require the allocation of, or priority performance under contracts or orders relating to, materials and equipment, services, or facilities, in order to maximize domestic energy supplies, if the President makes certain findings. The Presidents authority under section 101(c) was delegated to the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy. This final rule makes a number of changes to conform to a 1991 amendment to the DPA which broadens the scope of authority in section 101(c). This final rule also makes conforming changes to Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR).
Dates: This direct final rule is effective April 29, 2008, unless adverse or critical comments are received by March 31, 2008. If the effective date is delayed, timely notice will be published in the Federal Register.

SBA-Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Procedures, Proposed rule, reopening comment period, 73 Fed. Reg. 10697, February 28, 2008.
SUMMARY: SBA is reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days and making two technical corrections.
Dates: Comments on the proposed rule on Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Procedures (72 FR 73285), must be received on or before March 31, 2008.

Federal Transit Administration-Contractor Performance Incentives for the Capital Investment Program, Notice of Proposed rulkemaking, 73 Fed. Reg. 9075, February 19, 2008.
SUMMARY: This notice of proposed rulemaking provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) proposal to establish a new part 612 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations to establish procedures for 49 U.S.C. 5309 capital investment (New Starts) project sponsors to apply for incentive awards if their projects meet eligibility criteria for both cost and ridership estimates. This proposed rule would carry out certain provisions of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users (SAFETEALU) (Pub. L. 10959, August 10, 2005). Interested parties are invited to send comments on all facets of this proposal.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by April 21, 2008. Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.

DOE-Acquisition Regulation: Security Clause, Notice of proposed rulemaking, 73 Fed. Reg. 98071, February 19, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to amend the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) to revise the security clause used in all contracts and subcontracts involving access authorizations to specifically require background checks and tests for the absence of any illegal drug, as defined in DOE regulations of uncleared personnel (employment applicants and current employees) who will require access authorizations. Background checks would not be required for applicants for DOE access authorization who possess a current access authorization from another Federal agency.
DATES: Written comments on the proposed rulemaking must be received on or before close of business March 20, 2008.

OFPP-Cost Accounting Standards Board; Allocation of Home Office Expenses to Segments, Staff Discussion Paper (SDP)., 73 Fed. Reg. 8260, February 13, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Cost Accounting Standards Board (the Board), Office of Federal Procurement Policy, invites public comments on a staff discussion paper (SDP) addressing potential revisions to Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) 403, Allocation of Home Office Expenses to Segments. This SDP addresses whether the current thresholds that require use of the three factor formula for allocating residual home office expenses require revision.
Dates: Comments must be in writing and must be received by April 14, 2008

OFPP-Cost Accounting Standards Board (CAS) Exemption for Contracts Executed and Performed Outside the United States, Its Territories, and Possessions, Notice of Discontinuation of Case., 73 Fed. Reg. 8259, February 13, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board, is providing public notification of the decision to discontinue its review of the exemption for contracts that are executed and performed outside the United States, its territories, and possessions.

VA Acquisition Regulation: Plain Language Rewrite, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 2712, January 15, 2008.
SUMMARY: This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Acquisition Regulation (VAAR). This document revises the VAAR to conform to plain language principles, updates delegations of authority, and removes non-regulatory material. The document also makes changes in format, arrangement, and numbering to make the VAAR parallel to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) as required by the FAR. In addition, provisions that simply restate FAR provisions that are already applicable have been removed, and procedures for providing notice and a hearing to resolve issues regarding possible violations of the Gratuities clause, for establishing qualified products lists, for suspending or debarring a contractor, for expediting payments to small businesses, and for reducing or suspending payments upon a finding of contract fraud have been added. The VAAR clause on Organizational Conflicts of Interest has been expanded to cover a broader range of services that may be subject to organizational conflicts of interest. Additional VAAR clauses have been added to the list of clauses for use in commercial item solicitations and contracts. Items that have been deleted include requirements for setting aside construction and architect-engineer solicitations for small businesses that are in conflict with current statute, a requirement to conduct an audit of section 8(a) price proposals that is contrary to current FAR requirements, and a VAAR provision that requested data from offerors on veteran-owned small businesses that has been replaced by a FAR provision. Guidance to contracting officers on the types of data that should be requested from a contractor when evaluating the contractors financial condition has been added. Other additions include a requirement to use the clause on Assignment of Claims in purchase orders and guidance to contracting officers on the criteria for revising the payment due dates for invoices. This final rule also makes nonsubstantive clarifying changes and corrections to the proposed rule. The Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109461) was issued subsequent to the proposed rule. It will be addressed in a future rulemaking.
DATES: Effective Date: February 14, 2008.

EPA-Acquisition Regulation: Guidance on Use of Award Term Incentives; Administrative Amendments, Final rule, 73 Fed. Reg. 1978, January 11, 2008.
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amends the EPA Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) to add policy, procedures, and contract clauses for the use of award term incentives. This rule makes two administrative changes to the EPAAR. One change is to reflect the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals as EPAs new forum for appeals under the Contract Disputes Act of 1978. The other change corrects a numbering error in Subpart 1516.4.
Dates: This final rule is effective on February 11, 2008.

FDIC-Minority and Women Outreach Program Contracting, Notice of proposed rulemaking, 73 Fed. Reg. 4520, January 03, 2007.
SUMMARY: This proposal would amend existing FDIC regulations regarding the FDICs contracting activities under its Minority and Women Outreach Program (MWOP). These are relatively minor amendments designed to eliminate several provisions rendered obsolete by significant reductions in FDIC contracting activities and decreases in FDIC staff to monitor the contracting activities of Minority and Women- Owned Businesses (MWOBs).
Dates: Comments must be received on or before March 3, 2008.

SBA-Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Procedures, Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 73285, December 27, 2007.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposes to amend its regulations governing small business contracting procedures. This proposed rule would add a new part that would implement procedures to increase procurement opportunities for Women-Owned Small Business Concerns, as authorized under the Small Business Act. It would also make the relevant conforming amendments to SBA’s current procurement regulations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 25, 2008.

Delegations of Lease Acquisition AuthorityNotification, Usage, and Reporting Requirements for General Purpose, Categorical, and Special Purpose Space Delegations, Notice of Bulletin, 72 Fed. Reg. 65026, November 19, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Government Accountability Office and the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General have reported that some Federal agencies using the delegated leasing authority issued to Federal agencies on September 25, 1996, are not following properly the instructions specified as a condition for use of the leasing delegation. The attached bulletin re-emphasizes and updates the conditions, restrictions and reporting requirements specified in the delegation of authority and its supporting information. This bulletin is in keeping with the spirit of Executive Order 13327, “Federal Real Property Asset Management,” to maximize the increased governmentwide emphasis on real property inventory management. The Federal Management Regulation and any associated documents may be accessed at GSAs Web site at http:// www.gsa.gov/fmr. Click on FMR Bulletins.

Department of State Acquisition Regulation, Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 64980, November 19, 2007.
SUMMARY: This proposed rule will add a contract clause to implement the requirements of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD12), Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors; Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) Number 201, Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of Federal Employees and Contractors; and associated OMB guidance M0524 (August 5, 2005).
Dates: The Department will accept comments from the public up to January 18, 2008.

Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Waiver of 10 U.S.C. 2534 for Certain Defense Items Produced in the United Kingdom, 72 Fed. Reg. 61327, October 30, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) is waiving the limitation of 10 U.S.C. 2534 for certain defense items produced in the United Kingdom (UK). 10 U.S.C. 2534 limits DoD procurement of certain items to sources in the national technology and industrial base. The waiver will permit procurement of enumerated items from sources in the UK, unless otherwise restricted by statute.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This waiver is effective for one year, beginning November 14, 2007.

HUD Acquisition Regulation (HUDAR) Debarment and Suspension Procedures, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 61270, October 29, 2007.
SUMMARY: This rule amends HUD’s Acquisition Regulation (HUDAR) to codify the suspension and debarment procedures applicable to HUD’s procurement contracts. Such an amendment affirms that the suspension and debarment procedures in 24 CFR part 24 apply to both procurement and nonprocurement contracts. The contracting community is familiar with the suspension and debarment procedures in part 24, and this rule is limited to amending the HUDAR regulations to reflect the applicability of these requirements to procurement contracts. This final rule follows a July 17, 2007, proposed rule. HUD received no public comments on the proposed rule. This final rule adopts the proposed rule without change.
Dates: Effective Date: November 28, 2007.

Forest Service-Sale and Disposal of National Forest System Timber; Modification of Timber Sale Contracts in Extraordinary Conditions; Noncompetitive Sale of Timber, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 59187, October 19,2007.
SUMMARY: This final rule revises regulations at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, part 223, on noncompetitive disposal of timber and other forest products based on the Secretary of Agricultures determination that extraordinary conditions exist. A notice with request for comment on an interim final rule was published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2006. The Forest Service made appropriate changes to the rule in response to the public comments.
Dates: This rule is effective November 19, 2007.

Bureau of Industry and Security-Mandatory Electronic Filing of Export and Reexport License Applications, Classification Requests, Encryption Review Requests, and License Exception AGR Notifications. Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. , October 19, 2007.
SUMMARY: This proposed rule would require that export and reexport license applications, classification requests, encryption review requests, License Exception AGR notifications and related documents be submitted to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) via its Simplified Network Application Process (SNAPR) system. This requirement would not apply to applications for Special Comprehensive Licenses or in certain situations in which BIS would authorize paper submissions.
Dates: Comments must be received by December 18, 2007.

EPA-Acquisition Regulation: Guidance on Use of Award Term Incentives; Administrative Amendments, Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 56708, October 04, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to amend the EPA Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) to add policy, procedures, and contract clauses for the use of award term incentives. This rule makes two administrative changes to the EPAAR. One change is to reflect the General Services Board of Contract Appeals as EPA’s new forum for appeals under the Contract Disputes Act of 1978. The other change corrects a numbering error in Subpart 1516.4.
Dates: Comments must be received on or before December 3, 2007.

USAID Acquisition Regulations, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 53161, September 18, 2007.
SUMMARY: This final rule amends the USAID acquisition regulation to add two new parts and four new sections in existing parts of the regulation, as more fully discussed in the Supplementary Information. USAID proposed these amendments in the proposed rule published on November 4, 1998, as AIDAR Notice 982.
Dates: Effective Date: October 18, 2007.

Department of State, Acquisition Regulation, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 51568, September 10, 2007.
SUMMARY: This final rule adds a solicitation provision and contract clause to the Department of State Acquisition Regulation (DOSAR) to implement Department of State requirements regarding security issues for information technology systems, as required by the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA).
Dates: Effective Date: This rule is effective September 10, 2007.

SBA-Small Business Size Standards; Adoption of 2007 North American Industry Classification System for Size Standards, Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 49669, August 29, 2007.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposes to amend its Small Business Size Regulations by incorporating the Office of Management and Budgets (OMB) 2007 modifications to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) in its table of small business size standards. These modifications are few in number and result in revisions to size standards for three industries and four activities within other industries.
     SBA believes that this proposal is routine and non-controversial, and the Agency anticipates no significant adverse comment. Therefore, SBA is publishing concurrently in this issue of the Federal Register a direct final rule to expedite modifying its Small Business Size Regulations as described in this proposed rule. If SBA receives any significant adverse comment to the direct final rule, it will withdraw it, and consider those comments in connection with this proposed rule.
Dates: SBA must receive comments to this proposed rule on or before September 28, 2007.

SBA-Adoption of 2007 North American Industry Classification System for Size Standards, Direct final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 49639, August 29, 2007.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is amending its Small Business Size Regulations by incorporating the Office of Management and Budgets (OMB) 2007 modifications of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) in its table of small business size standards. These modifications are few in number and result in revisions to size standards for three industries and four activities within other industries.
     SBA believes that this rule is routine and non-controversial, and the Agency anticipates no significant adverse comment. If SBA receives a significant adverse comment, it will withdraw the rule. SBA is publishing concurrently in this issue of the Federal Register a proposed rule to achieve the same result, that is, to modify its Small Business Size Regulations as contemplated in this direct final rule.
Dates: This rule is effective October 1, 2007, without further action, unless SBA receives a significant adverse comment by September 28, 2007. If SBA receives any significant adverse comments, the Agency will publish a timely withdrawal of this rule in the Federal Register.

Department of State Acquisition Regulation; Technical Amendments, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 45694, August 15, 2007.
SUMMARY: This final rule makes editorial corrections and minor changes to the Department of State Acquisition Regulation (DOSAR). No proposed rule was issued as these corrections and changes do not affect the general public; therefore, prior public comment is not required per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 1.301(b).
Dates: Effective Date: This rule is effective August 15, 2007.

Federal Highway Administration, Design-Build Contracting, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 45329, August 14, 2007.
SUMMARY: The FHWA is amending its regulations for design-build contracting as mandated by section 1503 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEALU). This rule will allow State transportation departments or local transportation agencies to issue request-for-proposal documents, award contracts, and issue notices-to-proceed for preliminary design work prior to the conclusion of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 13, 2007.

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Contractors and Subcontractors Regarding Disabled Veterans, Recently Separated Veterans, Other Protected Veterans, and Armed Forces Service Medal Veterans, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 44393,n August 08, 2007,
SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is publishing a new set of regulations to implement the amendments to the affirmative action provisions of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (“VEVRAA”) that were made by the Jobs for Veterans Act (“JVA”) enacted in 2002. The JVA amendments raised the threshold dollar amount of the Government contracts that are subject to the affirmative action provisions of VEVRAA, changed the categories of veterans protected by the law, and changed the manner in which the mandatory job listing requirement is to be implemented. The final regulations published today apply only to covered Government contracts entered into or modified on or after December 1, 2003. The existing VEVRAA implementing regulations found in 41 CFR part 60250 will continue to apply to Government contracts entered into before December 1, 2003.
Dates: Effective Date: These regulations are effective September 7, 2007.

SBA-Small Business Size Standards; Calculation of the Number of Employees, Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 41239, July 27, 2007.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposes to change the way it calculates a concern’s number of employees in determining its small business size status. SBA proposes to alter the period used for calculating average number of employees from the current method, which uses a rolling average over the preceding 12 months, to an average over the last 3 completed calendar years. This proposal simplifies the calculation of the average number of employees, reduces the burden on small businesses, and better defines the size of a small business where number of employees is the measure for the size standard.
DATES: Comments must be received by SBA on or before September 25, 2007.

SBA-Implementation of OMB Guidance on Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension, Direct final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 39727, July 20, 2007.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is moving its regulations on nonprocurement debarment and suspension from their current location in title 13 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to title 2 of the CFR, and is adopting the format established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This rule establishes a new 2 CFR part 2700 that adopts OMBs final government-wide guidance on nonprocurement debarment and suspension and contains supplemental SBA nonprocurement debarment and suspension provisions. In addition, this rule removes the existing SBA nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations and makes a conforming change and minor procedural clarifications. These changes constitute an administrative simplification that makes no substantive change in SBA policy or procedures for nonprocurement debarment and suspension. SBA is also amending a provision in its Rules of Procedure Governing Cases Before the Office of Hearings and Appeals (13 CFR 134.102(p)) to update the reference to SBAs nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations.
Dates: Effective Date: This rule is effective September 18, 2007 without further action.

HUD Acquisition Regulation (HUDAR) Debarment and Suspension Procedures, Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 39286, July 17, 2007
SUMMARY: This rule proposes to amend HUDs Acquisition Regulation (HUDAR) to codify the suspension and debarment procedures applicable to HUDs procurement contracts. Such an amendment would affirm that the suspension and debarment procedures in 24 CFR part 24 apply to procurement as well as nonprocurement contracts. The contracting community is familiar with the suspension and debarment procedures in part 24 and this rule is limited to amending the HUDAR regulations to reflect the applicability of these requirements to procurement contracts.
Dates: Comment Due Date: September 17, 2007.

Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation; One-Step Turnkey Design-Build Contracts for United States Coast Guard (HSAR Case 2007002), Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 38548, July 13, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to amend the Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR) to incorporate the delegation of turnkey design-build authority from the Secretary of Homeland Security to the United States Coast Guard. The rule is necessary to implement changes resulting from section 205 of Public Law 109241.
Dates: Submit comments by August 13, 2007.

Board of Contract Appeals; BCA Case 2006-61-1; Rules of Procedure of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, Interim rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 36794, July 05, 2007.
SUMMARY: This document contains the rules of procedure of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (Board), which will govern all proceedings before the Board. The Board was established within GSA by section 847 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 to hear and decide contract disputes between Government contractors and Executive agencies (other than the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Postal Service, the Postal Rate Commission, and the Tennessee Valley Authority) under the provisions of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 and regulations and rules issued thereunder. Effective January 6, 2007, boards of contract appeals that existed at the General Services Administration and the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs were terminated, and their cases were transferred to the new Civilian Board of Contract Appeals. The Board has jurisdiction as provided by section 8(d) of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978, 41 U.S.C. 607(d). In addition, the Board will conduct proceedings as required or permitted under other statutes or regulations. The Board intends to issue final, revised rules after considering all comments on the interim rule.
DATES: Effective Date: This interim rule is effective July 5, 2007.
Comment Date: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Board of Contract Appeals on or before September 28, 2007, to be considered in the formulation of a final rule

OFPP-Cost Accounting Standards Board; Time and Material and Labor Hour (T&M/LH) Contracts for Commercial Items , Final rule.72 Fed. Reg. 36367, July 03, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board, has adopted, without change, a final rule to provide an exemption for T&M/LH contracts for commercial items. This rulemaking is authorized pursuant to Section 26 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act.
Dates: Effective Date: July 3, 2007.

Postal Service-Rules of Practice Before the Board of Contract Appeals, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 35662, June 29, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending its rules regarding small claims (expedited) and accelerated proceedings before the Board of Contract Appeals.
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 29, 2007.

NASA-Award Fee Administrative Changes, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 35666. June 29, 2007.
SUMMARY: This final rule makes administrative changes to the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) to clarify the requirements for award fee evaluation factors and to add a requirement for a documented cost/benefit analysis when an award fee contract is used.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective June 29, 2007.

SEC-Amendments to Rules Regarding Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting; Final Rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 35310, June 27, 2007.
SUMMARY: We are adopting an amendment to our rules to clarify that an evaluation which complies with the Commission’s interpretive guidance published in this issue of the Federal Register in Release No. 3455929 is one way to satisfy the requirement for management to evaluate the effectiveness of the issuer’s internal control over financial reporting. We are also amending our rules to define the term material weakness and to revise the requirements regarding the auditor’s attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The amendments are intended to facilitate more effective and efficient evaluations of internal control over financial reporting by management and auditors.
DATES: Effective Date: August 27, 2007, except the amendment to § 210.202T is effective from August 27, 2007 until June 30, 2009.

SEC-Commission Guidance Regarding Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; Final Rule, Interpretation, 72 Fed. Reg. 35324, June 27, 2007.
SUMMARY: The SEC is publishing this interpretive release to provide guidance for management regarding its evaluation and assessment of internal control over financial reporting. The guidance sets forth an approach by which management can conduct a top-down, risk-based evaluation of internal control over financial reporting. An evaluation that complies with this interpretive guidance is one way to satisfy the evaluation requirements of Rules 13a-15(c) and 15d-15(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
DATES: Effective Date: June 27, 2007.

Department of State Acquisition Regulation, Proposed rule 72 Fed. Reg. 35023, June 26, 2007.
SUMMARY: This proposed rule will add a new solicitation provision and contract clause to implement Department of State requirements regarding security issues for information technology systems, as required by the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA).
DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 60 days from June 26, 2007.

OFPP-Cost Accounting Standards Board (CAS) Changes to Acquisition Thresholds, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 32809, June 14, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board, is revising the threshold for the application of CAS to negotiated Government contracts. This rulemaking is authorized pursuant to Section 26 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act. The Board is taking final action on this topic in order to adjust the CAS applicability threshold in accordance with Section 822 of the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act (Pub. L. 109163). Section 822 amended 41 U.S.C. 422(f)(2)(A) to require that the threshold for CAS applicability be the same as the threshold for compliance with the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA).
DATES: This final rule is effective June 14, 2007.

OFPP-Cost Accounting Standards Board; Contract Clauses, Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 32829, June 14, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board is proposing to add a clause for inclusion in CAScovered contracts and subcontracts awarded to foreign concerns. The Board is taking this action to provide a standard clause for use by Government and contractor personnel in applying the CAS requirements to contracts and subcontracts awarded to foreign concerns.
DATES: Interested parties should submit comments in writing on or before August 13, 2007

USAID-Mentor-Protégé Program, Final Rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 32540, June 13, 2007
SUMMARY: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is issuing this final rule to amend its acquisition regulations to formally encourage USAID prime contractors to assist small business, including veteranowned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone, small socially and economically disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business, in enhancing their capabilities to perform contracts and subcontracts for USAID and other Federal agencies. The program seeks to increase the base of small business eligible to perform USAID contracts and subcontracts. The program also seeks to foster long-term business relationships between USAID prime contractors and small business entities and to increase the overall number of small business entities that receive USAID contracts, and subcontract awards.
Dates: Effective Date: This rule will take effect July 13, 2007.

OFPP-Cost Accounting Standards Board (CAS); Applicability of Cost Accounting Standards Coverage, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 32546, June 13, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board, has adopted, without change from the interim rule, a final rule 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.
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 13, 2007

DOE-Acquisition Regulation: Technical Revisions or Amendments to Update Clauses, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 29431, May 29, 2007.
SUMMARY:DOE- The Department of Energy (DOE) is amending the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) to remove clauses concerning simplified acquisition procedures and facilities management contracting and to add a clause addressing work authorization. This rule also revises associated regulatory coverage, as necessary.
Dates: Effective Date: June 28, 2007.

NASA-Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology (IT) Resources, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 26560, May 10, 2007.
SUMMARY: NASA is amending the clause at NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) 1852.204-76, Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology Resources, to reflect the updated requirements of NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 2810, “Security of Information Technology”. The NPR was recently revised to address increasing cyber threats and to ensure consistency with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), which requires agencies to protect information and information systems in a manner that is commensurate with the sensitivity of the information processed, transmitted, or stored.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective May 10, 2007

FEMA-Acquisition Regulation System; Removal of Chapter 44, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 20757, April 26, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a direct final rule that notified the public of its intent to remove the FEMA Acquisition Regulation in its entirety. FEMA did not receive any comments on the rule. Therefore, the rule will go into effect as scheduled.
Dates: The effective date of the direct final rule published March 2, 2007 (72 FR 9445) is confirmed as May 1, 2007

NASA Implementation of OMB Guidance on Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 19783, April 20, 2007.
SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is issuing a new Part 1880 on nonprocurement debarment and suspension in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This new part is NASA’s implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) guidance provided at 2 CFR Part 180. In light of the new Part 1880, NASA is removing 14 CFR Part 1265 which contains the current NASA implementation of the government-wide common rule on nonprocurement debarment and suspension. The new part in 2 CFR serves the same purpose as the common rule in a simpler way. This final rule is part of OMB’s initiative to streamline and consolidate all federal regulations on nonprocurement debarment and suspension. It is an administrative simplification that makes no substantive change in NASA policy or procedures for nonprocurement debarment and suspension.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective April 20, 2007.

USAID Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR), Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 19668, April 19, 2007.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is amending its Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR) to: Remove all references to Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) obsolete Executive Service (ES 6) as the contract employee salary threshold and replace with revised terminology; revise the Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services clause and provisions by deleting the requirement for contractors to purchase MEDEVAC services insurance through a USAID centrally awarded contract; remove clause 752.7016 FAMILY PLANNING AND POPULATION ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES (AUG 1986); and update the title of Office of Procurement (OP) to Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) throughout.
DATES: This rule is effective July 18, 2007 without further action, unless adverse comment is received by May 21, 2007. If adverse comment is received, USAID will publish a timely withdrawal of the rule in the Federal Register. Submit comments on or before May 21, 2007.

DOD-Notice Pursuant to Executive Order 12600 of Receipt of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests for Access to the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Database, Notice, 72 Fed. Reg. 18637, April 13, 2007.
SUMMARY: This notice provides submitter’s notice pursuant to Executive Order 12600 that the Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Business Transformation Agency (BTA) has received several FOIA requests for access to the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. The CCR is an e-Gov initiative within the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) and serves as the core system for the IAEs Business Partner Network (BRN). The Department of Defense manages the CCR on behalf of the IAE. The primary objective of the CCR is to provide a web-based application that provides a single source of vendor information in support of the contract award and the electronic payment process of the Federal Government. The CCR is also a registration system for grants and assistance awards. The CCR has 194 data fields, some of which are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Exemptions 2, and/or 4 and/or 6 of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(2), (b)(4) & (b)(6). The following table contains a description of these data fields and their exempt status.
Dates: Comments must be received on or before June 12, 2007. Do not submit comments directly to the point of contact or mail your comments to any address other than what is shown below. Doing so will delay the posting of the submission.

EPA EPAAR Prescription and Solicitation Provision-EPA Green Meetings and Conferences, Final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 18401, April 12, 2007.
SUMMARY: EPA is revising the EPA Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) to establish policy and procedures for acquiring environmentally preferable meeting and conference services. This EPAAR revision adds a prescription and solicitation provision that Agency employees are required to use when soliciting quotes or offers for meeting and conference space and services. The solicitation provision requires meeting and conference venues to provide EPA with information about environmentally preferable features and practices in use at their facilities. As stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), environmentally preferable products and services are those “that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.” The intent of this rule is to ensure that environmental preferability is considered in each purchase of commercial meeting and conference services, which furthers the EPA mission to protect human health and the environment. This action revises the EPAAR, but does not impose any new requirements on Agency contractors. The procedure requires Agency employees to request information from prospective meeting venues about their environmentally preferable (green) practices for consideration in the award decision, thus encouraging the industry to adopt more of these practices so that we will be more likely to do business with them. This rule imposes no requirement or standard that a facility must meet in order to do business with us.
DATES: This final rule is effective on May 1, 2007

OFPP-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, Notice, 72 Fed. Reg. 14300, March 27, 2007.
SUMMARY: 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 2007-$597,912. 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.

FEMA Acquisition Regulation System; Removal of Chapter 44, Direct final rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 9445, March 2, 2007.
SUMMARY: This direct final rule removes the Federal Emergency Management Agency Acquisition Regulation in its entirety. This removal is a result of the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and its subsequent Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Dates: This rule is effective May 1, 2007, unless adverse comment is received by April 2, 2007. If adverse comment is received, FEMA will publish a timely withdrawal of the rule in the Federal Register.

USAID Direct Contracts for Personal Services, Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 6812, February 13, 2007.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is proposing to consolidate its regulations on USAID Direct Contracts for all types of Personal Services into one Appendix. This will clarify and consolidate all regulations for personal services contracts and will eliminate the need for having to refer to multiple sources. This new Appendix A will replace Appendix D-Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad, and Appendix J-Direct USAID Contracts with a Cooperative Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad. Appendix A will also incorporate all the regulations and policies currently contained in Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs) and Acquisition and Assistance Directives (AAPDs). This will eliminate the need to refer to two different appendices and other sources for regulations and policies on personal services contracting.
    This Appendix will be divided into four parts-one part containing provisions for all types of Personal Services Contracts (PSCs), the second part for U.S. PSCs only, the third part for Third-Country National (TCN) PSCs only, and the fourth part for Cooperating Country National (CCN) PSCs, also known as Foreign Service National (FSN) PSCs only. The USPSC part will identify the provisions for U.S. nationals working in AID/W and those posted overseas. In addition, all nonregulatory information such as procedures and guidance currently contained in Appendices D and J will be removed and incorporated into USAID’s internal policy manual-the automated directives system (ADS). We believe this separation of regulations and policies from the procedures and guidance on personal services contracting will clarify and consolidate the regulatory requirements.
DATES: Submit comments on or before April 16, 2007.

GSAR Case 2006-G522, Federal Supply Schedule Contracts-Recovery Purchasing by State and Local Governments Through Federal Supply Schedules, Interim rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 4649, February 01, 2007.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to implement Section 833 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Pub. L. 109 364). Section 833 amends 40 U.S.C. 502 to authorize the Administrator of General Services to provide to State and local governments the use of Federal Supply Schedules of the GSA for purchase of products and services to be used to facilitate recovery from a major disaster, terrorism or nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack.
DATES: Effective Date: February 1, 2007. Comment Date: Interested parties should submit comments in writing to the Regulatory Secretariat at the address shown below on or before April 2, 2007 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

SBA-HUBZone and Government Contracting, Proposed rule, 72 Fed. Reg. 3750, January 26, 2005.
SUMMARY: This rule proposes to amend the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA or Agency) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program’s definition of the term “employee.” SBA believes that the proposed amendment will simplify the existing definition and increase employment of HUBZone residents.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 26, 2007.

Agency for International Development, Key Subcontractor Consent Requirements, Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, 72 Fed. Reg. 3778, January 26, 2006.
SUMMARY: The United States Agency for International Development is proposing to amend 48 CFR Chapter 7, the USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), by adding additional authority to monitor prime contractor compliance with subcontracting plans. The intent of this amendment is to provide the contracting officer a means for monitoring and assuring that subcontractors who were named in the offeror’s proposal and whose contributions were evaluated as part of the proposal evaluation are in fact used in the contract.
DATES: Submit comments on or before March 27, 2007

HUBZone Program; Correction, 72 Fed. Reg. 3040, January 24, 2007
SUMMARY: This document contains a correction to the final regulations which were published in the Federal Register of May 24, 2004. The regulations amended several definitions and made procedural and technical amendments to cover the U.S. Small Business Administrations (SBA) HUBZone, size and government contracting programs. This rule also inadvertently included two provisions that except for one word are substantively similar. SBA is removing one of these two provisions to eliminate the confusion.
Dates: Effective January 24, 2007.

Department of the Navy Acquisition Regulations, Continuous Process Improvements (CPI), Advance notice of proposed rulemaking, 72 Fed. Reg. 2250, January 18, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Deputy for Acquisition Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) is issuing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit comments that can be used to assist the Department of the Navy (DON) in drafting a proposed Navy Marine Corps Acquisition Regulation Supplement contract clause or statement of work requirements that will incentivize contractors to pursue and implement CPI on DON major defense contracts. In particular, the primary focus will be to incentivize proactive business process improvement activities that identify increased efficiencies, cost avoidance, and cost savings, and provide the greatest motivation for contractors to share related savings with the DON to the maximum extent practicable.
DATES: Comment Date: Interested parties should submit comments on or before March 19, 2007, to be considered in the formulation of any proposed rule.

DOE-Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 70457, December 05, 06.
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving its regulations on nonprocurement debarment and suspension from their current location in title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to title 2 of the CFR, and is adopting the format established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in a notice of interim final guidance on nonprocurement debarment and suspension published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2005. In todays rule, DOE establishes a new 2 CFR part 901 that adopts OMBs final government-wide guidance on nonprocurement debarment and suspension and contains supplemental DOE nonprocurement debarment and suspension provisions. In addition, this rule removes 10 CFR part 606, the existing DOE nonprocurement debarment and suspension regulations, and makes a conforming change to 10 CFR part 600. These changes constitute an administrative simplification that makes no substantive change in DOE policy or procedures for nonprocurement debarment and suspension.
DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective on December 5, 2006.

Department of the Army, Claims Against the United States, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 69360, November 30, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Department of the Army is publishing as a final rule an amendment to its regulations to reflect a substantial revision of AR 27-20, an Army publication which governs the processing of claims worldwide. The purpose of this revision is to make AR 27-20 clearer and easier to use, after years of piecemeal amendments. This rewrite also ensures that AR 27-20 is in keeping with current statutes, legal opinions and Department of Justice guidance pertaining to claims processing. This updated rule will expedite payment of meritorious claims throughout the world.
Dates: Effective date: January 2, 2007.

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR, SEVERELY DISABLED, AbilityOne Program, Final rule 71 Fed. Reg. 68492, November 27, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (the Committee) has deliberated and voted to change the name of the JWOD Program to the AbilityOne Program. The name of the program is being changed to AbilityOne to give a stronger, more unified identity to the program and to show a connection between the program name and the abilities of those who are blind or have other severe disabilities.
DATES: Effective Date: November 27, 2006.

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Mentor-Protégé Program, Proposed rulemaking, 71 Fed. Reg. 67518, November 22, 2006.
SUMMARY: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is proposing to amend its acquisition regulations to formally encourage USAID prime contractors to assist small disadvantaged firms certified by the Small Business Administration under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, other small disadvantaged business, Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority institutions of higher learning, and women-owned small business in enhancing their capabilities to perform contracts and subcontracts for USAID and other Federal agencies. The program seeks to provide a Mentor- Protégé Program that assists qualified small business to receive developmental assistance from USAID prime contractors in order to increase the base of small business eligible to perform USAID contracts and subcontracts. The program also seeks to foster long-term business relationships between USAID prime contractors and small business entities and minority institutions of higher learning and to increase the overall number of small business entities and minority institutions that receive USAID grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and subcontract awards.
DATES: : Written comments on the proposed rulemaking must be received on or before December 8, 2006

Small Business Size Regulations; Size for Purposes of Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts, Multiple Award Schedule Contracts and Other Long- Term Contracts; 8(a) Business Development/Small Disadvantaged Business; Business Status Determinations, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 66434, November 15, 2006.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is amending its regulations to address the time at which size is determined for the purposes of long-term federal contracts including Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), the General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts and multi-agency contracts (MACs). SBA is also amending its 8(a) Business Development regulations to address when a business concern may receive orders as an 8(a) program participant under GSA’s MAS Program and other multiple award contracts. This final action is necessary to ensure that small business size status is accurately represented and reported over the life of these long-term Federal contracts.
Dates: Effective Date: This rule is effective June 30, 2007, and applies to solicitations and contracts issued after the effective date, as well as contracts and solicitations in existence at the time of the effective date.

Small Business Size Standards: Waiver of the Nonmanufacturer Rule,
ACTION: Notice of denial to waive the Nonmanufacturer Rule for Personal Computers. 71 Fed. Reg. 66214, November 13, 2006.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is denying a request for a waiver of the Nonmanufacturer Rule for Personal Computers based on our discovery of small business manufacturers for this class of product. Denying this waiver will require recipients of contracts set aside for small businesses, servicedisabled veteran-owned small businesses, or SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program to provide the products of small business manufacturers or processors on such contracts.
DATE: This notice of denial is effective November 28, 2006.

NASA Implementation of Earned Value Management (EVM), Interim rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 66120, November 13, 2006.
SUMMARY: This interim rule revises the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) to implement the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) EVM coverage issued in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-11.
Dates: Effective date: This interim rule is effective November 13, 2006.
Comment date: Interested parties should submit comments to NASA at the address below on or before January 12, 2007 to be considered in formulation of the final rule.

USAID Acquisition Regulation, Application of Post Differential and Danger Pay Allowances To Extended Workweeks Under Cost- Reimbursement Type Contracts, Proposed rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 6229, October 24, 2006.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is proposing to amend its regulations by adding how Post-differential and Danger pay allowances will be applied to extended
DATES: Submit comments on or before December 26, 2006.

NASA-Cross-Waiver of Liability, Notice of proposed rulemaking, 71 Fed. Reg. 62061, October 23, 2006.
SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is proposing to amend part 1266 of Title 14 to update and ensure consistency in the use of cross-waiver of liability provisions in NASA agreements. Part 1266 provides the regulatory basis for cross-waiver provisions used in the following categories of NASA mission agreements: Agreements for activities in connection with the “Agreement Among the Government of Canada, Governments of Member States of the European Space Agency, the Government of Japan, the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Government of the United States of America concerning Cooperation on the Civil International Space Station” (commonly referred to as the ISS Intergovernmental Agreement, or IGA); agreements for use of the Space Shuttle; and agreements for NASA’s science and space exploration missions that are launched on Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELVs). Among other generally clerical amendments to this Part, NASA is proposing to delete the subsection regarding the cross-waiver of liability during Space Shuttle operations and expand the scope of the ELV provision to encompass Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs) as well as other users of the same launch vehicle during the same launch.
Comment Date: Comments due on or before November 22, 2006.

NASA-Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Contractor Recertification of Program Compliance, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 61687, October 19,2006.
SUMMARY:This rule adopts the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on September 30, 2005 as final with minor, non-substantive editorial changes. The final rule amends the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) to include a requirement for NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program contractors to complete a recertification of program compliance prior to final payment. This requirement is being established to facilitate the Government’s ability to hold contractors accountable for compliance with Federal statute, regulation, and requirements associated with the SBIR and STTR programs. In addition, the final rule corrects the following in the proposed rule: Revises the section numbering of the prescription identified in NFS 1832.12 of the proposed rule from NFS 1832.1200 to NFS 1819.7302(f); revises the numbering of the clause from NFS 1852.232-83 in the proposed rule to NFS 1852.219-85 in the final rule; makes minor revisions to conform clause titles with those in the clause prescriptions; revises the Supplementary Information, Paragraph B. Regulatory Flexibility Act to expand the justification that the rule does not have a significant economic impact on small entities; and makes other minor editorial corrections.
DATES: Effective Date: October 19, 2006.

OFCCP-Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Contractors and Subcontractors; Equal Opportunity Survey, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 53042, September 08, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is publishing a final rule rescinding the Equal Opportunity Survey (EO Survey) requirement in order to more effectively focus enforcement resources and eliminate a regulatory requirement that fails to provide value to either OFCCP enforcement or contractor compliance. This rule allows OFCCP to better direct its resources for the benefit of victims of discrimination, the government, contractors, and taxpayers.
DATES: Effective Date: September 8, 2006.

DOE-Federal Energy Management Program; Standard for Premium Energy Efficient Electric Motors for Federal Acquisition, Final determinatiopn, 71 Fed. Reg. 47791, August 18, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) requires that in the case of electric motors of 1 to 500 horsepower, Federal agencies shall select and purchase only premium efficient motors that meet a specification designated by the Secretary of Energy (Secretary). DOE today designates the specifications developed by the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) under Executive Order 13123 as the specification for premium efficient motors for purposes of Federal purchasing. The specifications in todays final standard are identical to those in a temporary standard published for public comment on February 14, 2006. This final standard is consistent with standards recommended by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and other energy efficiency groups.
DATES: The effective date of this notice is August 18, 2006.

NASA-Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology (IT) Resources, Proposed rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 43408, August 01, 2006.
SUMMARY: NASA is proposing to amend the clause at NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) 1852.20476, Security Requirements for Unclassified Information Technology Resources, to reflect the updated requirements of NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 2810, “Security of Information Technology”. The NPR was recently revised to address increasing cyber threats and to ensure consistency with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), which requires agencies to protect information and information systems in a manner that is commensurate with the sensitivity of the information processed, transmitted, or stored.
DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before October 2, 2006.

FPMR-Disposition of Seized, Forfeited, Voluntarily Abandoned, and Unclaimed Personal Property, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 41369, July 21, 2006.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the Federal Property Management Regulations (FPMR) by revising coverage on utilization, donation, or disposal of abandoned and forfeited personal property and moving it into the Federal Management Regulation (FMR). A cross-reference is added to the FPMR to direct readers to the coverage in the FMR. The FMR is written in plain language to provide agencies with updated regulatory material that is easy to read and understand.
DATES: Effective Date: July 21, 2006.

SBA-The Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Program, Proposed rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 34550, June 15, 2006.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposes to amend its regulations governing SBA’s government contracting programs. This proposed rule would add a new part to implement the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Assistance Program authorized under the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000. It would also make the relevant conforming amendments to SBA’s regulations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 17, 2006.

Department of Health and Human Services-Acquisition Regulations, Proposed rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 30520, May 26, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services proposes to amend its acquisition regulations (HHSAR) to make administrative and editorial changes to reflect organizational title changes resulting from Office of the Secretary (OS) and Operating Division (OPDIV) reorganizations and to update or remove outdated text and references. The intent of the proposal is to bring the HHSAR up to date and to make the HHSAR consistent with the latest amendments to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
DATES: Comments must be received by July 25, 2006.

NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Handbook-Patent Rights and Rights in Data, CSC Programs, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 28774, May 18, 2006.
SUMMARY: This final rule amends 14 CFR 1260.20(e), “Provisions,” and the introductory paragraph to Exhibit E (Commercial Space Centers Program Grants/Cooperative Agreements Intellectual Property) to clarify that the “Patent Rights” and “Rights in Data-CSC Program” special conditions in Exhibit E are to be used in all grants or cooperative agreements awarded to Commercial Space Centers (CSC) under the Space Development and Commercial Research (SDCR) Program instead of (rather than in addition to) the general conditions for Patent Rights ( 1260.28) and Rights in Data (§ 1260.30). In addition, this final rule makes an administrative change to correct a crossreference error in paragraph (e) of the general condition entitled, “Patent Rights,” § 1260.28.
DATES: Effective Date: May 18, 2006.

Small Business Size Standards; Air Traffic Control, Other Airport Operations, and Other Support Activities for Air Transportation, Proposed rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 28604, May 17, 2006.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) proposes to increase the size standard for the Air Traffic Control (North American Classification Systems (NAICS) 488111), Other Airport Operations (NAICS 488119), and Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (NAICS 488190) industries from $6.5 million in average annual receipts to $21 million. The proposed revisions are being made to better define the size of a small business in these industries based on a review of industry characteristics.
DATES: Comments must be received by SBA on or before June 16, 2006.

DOE-Assistance Regulations, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 27158, May 09, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is adopting, with minor changes, the interim final rule published on November 15, 2005, that established a new part to the DOE assistance regulations and revised 10 CFR part 600, subpart A to conform with the new part. The new part establishes policies and procedures to implement the “other transactions” authority granted to the Secretary of Energy by Section 1007 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. DOE is implementing this new authority through the award and administration of technology investment agreements (TIAs).
DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective on July 10, 2006.

DOE-Acquisition Regulation: Implementation of DOE’s Cooperative Audit Strategy for Its Management, Notice of proposed rulemaking, 71 Fed. Reg. 26723, May 08, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to amend the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) to revise and expand policy and requirements for contractor internal audits, through the use of DOE’s Cooperative Audit Strategy. The amendments would ensure that internal contractor audits are conducted in a manner that ensures reliability.
DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before July 7, 2006.

Revision of Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 25759, May 02, 2006.
SUMMARY: This final rule adopts, with specified changes, the interim rule establishing the Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR). This regulation supplements the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and provides a uniform department-wide acquisition regulation for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The HSAR provides specificity about the Department’s organization, policies, procedures, and delegations of authority. The FAR and HSAR apply to all DHS entities, except the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
DATES: This rule is effective on June 1, 2006

DOE-Acquisition Regulation: Make-or-Buy Plans, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 16241, March 31, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is amending the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) to revise its requirements for contractor make-or-buy plans. The Department published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on December 15, 2004, proposing to eliminate its program requiring make or buy analyses and plans from its management and operating (M&O) contractors.
DATES: Effective Date: May 1, 2006.

DOT-Federal Transit Administration, Buy America Requirements; Amendments to Definitions, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 14112, March 21, 2006.
SUMMARY: This final rule amends 49 CFR Parts 661 and 663 as required by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) [Pub. L. 10959, August 10, 2005]. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) proposed certain changes to the Buy America requirements on November 21, 2005 (70 FR 71246). This final rule addresses fewer issues than were proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) because of the complexity of a number of recommendations and issues presented during the comment period. Thus, FTA is publishing a final rule on those issues that received little or no public comment. FTA will publish a new NPRM in the Federal Register and hold a public meeting to address the issues raised in the NPRM published on November 21, 2005, but not addressed herein. Thereafter, FTA will publish a final rule with respect to such issues.
DATES: Effective Date: The effective date of this rule is March 21, 2006.

EPA-EPAAR Prescription and Clause—Simplified Acquisition Procedures Financing, Proposed rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 12660, March 13, 2006.
SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to revise the EPA Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) Subparts 1532 and 1552 to implement a procedure for simplified acquisition procedures financing. This proposed EPAAR revision will add a prescription and clause for contracting officers to use when approving advance or interim payments on simplified acquisitions. The proposed prescription and clause apply to commercial item orders at or below the simplified acquisition threshold. This action revises the EPAAR, but does not impose any new requirements on Agency contractors. The procedure will allow contractors to invoice for advance and interim payments in accordance with standard commercial practices when authorized by the contracting officer and identified in the clause payment schedule.
DATES: Interested parties should submit comments in writing on or before May 12, 2006.

NASA-Safety and Health-Alternate I to Major Breach of Safety or Security Clause, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. , February 22, 2006.
SUMMARY: This rule adopts as final, with a minor editorial change, the proposed rule published in the Federal Register (70 FR 33726-33727) on June 9, 2005. This final rule amends the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) to add Alternate I to the “Major Breach of Safety or Security” clause. Alternate I deletes references to termination for default and makes other changes to be consistent with the FAR termination clauses prescribed for use with educational or nonprofit institutions performing research and development work on a nonprofit or nofee basis, and in contracts for commercial items.
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 22, 2006.

Criminal Jurisdiction Over Civilians Employed by or Accompanying the Armed Forces Outside the United States, Service Members, and Former Service Members, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. , February 22, 2006.
SUMMARY: Chapter 212 of title 18, United States Code (Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 2000 (MEJA)) establishes Federal criminal jurisdiction over whoever engages in conduct outside the United States that would constitute an offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year (i.e., a felony offense) while employed by or accompanying the Armed Forces outside the United States, certain members of the Armed Forces subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (Chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code), and former members of the Armed Forces. This rule is established to correspond with the Department of Defense Instruction 5525.11, “Criminal Jurisdiction Over Civilians Employed By or Accompanying the Armed Forces Outside the United States, Certain Service Members, and Former Service Members,” that the Deputy Secretary of Defense approved on March 3, 2005.
DATES: Effective: March 3, 2005.

GSA-Acquisition Regulation; GSAR Revision Initiative, Advance notice of proposed rulemaking with request for comments, 71 Fed. Reg. 7910, February 15, 2006.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is requesting comments from both Government and industry on areas in which the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) can be revised to improve clarity and simplify procedures.
DATES: Interested parties should submit comments in writing on or before April 17, 2006 to be considered in the formulation of a proposed rule.

NASA-Change in Definition of Head of the Contracting Activity, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 7873, February 15, 2006.
SUMMARY: This final rule amends the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) by revising the definition for “Head of the contracting activity (HCA).”
DATES: Effective Date: February 15, 2006.

OFCCP-Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Contractors and Subcontractors Regarding Protected Veterans; Correction, 71 Fed. Reg. 6213, February 07, 2006.
SUMMARY: This document contains a correction to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) final regulations implementing the affirmative action provisions of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), which were published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2005. Those final regulations, among other things, incorporate the changes to VEVRAA that were made by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 and the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000.
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 7, 2006.

OFPP-Cost Accounting Standards Board; Accounting for Insurance Costs AGENCY: Cost Accounting Standards Board, Staff discussion paper., 71 Fed. Reg. 4335, January 26, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, invites public comments on the staff discussion paper (SDP) regarding CAS 416, “Accounting for Insurance Costs.” In particular, this staff discussion paper addresses the use of the term “catastrophic losses” in CAS 416-50(b)(1).
DATES: Comments must be in writing and must be received by March 27, 2006.

OFCCP-Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Contractors and Subcontractors; Equal Opportunity Survey, Notice of proposed rulemaking, 71 Fed. Reg. 3374, January 20, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) commissioned two studies to determine whether data submitted by contractors in response to the Equal Opportunity Survey (EO Survey) could be used to develop an effective and efficient tool to target those contractors most likely to be discriminating. The first study failed to find a correlation between the predictive variables generated from the EO Survey and determinations of noncompliance. The second study showed that the EO Survey did not provide sufficiently useful data for enforcement targeting purposes. In light of these findings, together with a review of both the costs associated with the EO Survey and the utility of the EO Survey in accomplishing any of its stated objectives, OFCCP is proposing to remove the current requirement for nonconstruction federal contractors to file the EO Survey under Section 60 2.18. This proposed change is intended to more effectively focus enforcement resources and to eliminate a regulatory requirement that fails to provide value to either OFCCP enforcement or contractor compliance. OFCCP’s resources could be better directed for the benefit of victims of discrimination, the government, contractors, and taxpayers.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 21, 2006.

OFCCP-Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Contractors and Subcontractors Regarding Disabled Veterans, Recently Separated Veterans, Other Protected Veterans, and Armed Forces Service Medal Veterans, Notice of proposed rulemaking, 71 Fed. Reg. 3352, January 20, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is proposing new regulations to implement the amendments to the affirmative action provisions of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (“VEVRAA”) that were made by the Jobs for Veterans Act (“JVA”) enacted in 2002.
    JVA amended VEVRAA by: Raising the dollar amount of the Government contracts that are subject to the requirements of VEVRAA; changing the categories of veterans protected under the law; and changing the manner in which the mandatory job listing requirement is to be implemented. The JVA amendments apply to Government contracts entered into on or after December 1, 2003.
    For the convenience of contractors, veterans, and other interested parties, OFCCP proposes to publish the regulations implementing the JVA amendments to VEVRAA in a new part. This proposed rule would apply only to Government contracts entered into on or after December 1, 2003. The existing VEVRAA implementing regulations will continue to apply to Government contracts entered into before December 1, 2003. Contractors with Government contracts entered into both before, and on or after December 1, 2003, would be subject to both the requirements found in the existing VEVRAA implementing regulations and the requirements in today’s proposal.
DATES: To be assured of consideration, comments must be received on or before March 21, 2006

Federal Employees Health Benefits Acquisition Regulation: Technical Amendments, Final rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 3015, January 19, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing this final regulation to make minor technical amendments to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Acquisition Regulation (FEHBAR).
DATES: Effective February 21, 2006.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT-Amendments to HUD Acquisition Regulations (HUDAR), Proposed rule, 71 Fed. Reg. 2444, January 13, 2006.
SUMMARY: This rule proposes to amend HUD’s Acquisition Regulations (HUDAR) to implement miscellaneous changes. The proposed revisions include improvements in clarity and uniformity in the Department’s acquisition regulations.
DATES: Comment Due Date: March 14, 2006.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT-Amendments to HUD Acquisition Regulation (HUDAR),