[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 10, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48445-48446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18084]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

48 CFR Part 229

[DFARS Case 2003-D032]


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Resolving Tax 
Problems

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition 
Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update text pertaining to resolution 
of tax problems under DoD contracts. This proposed rule is a result of 
a transformation initiative undertaken by DoD to dramatically change 
the purpose and content of the DFARS.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to 
the address shown below on or before October 12, 2004, to be considered 
in the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by DFARS Case 2003-D032, 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Defense Acquisition Regulations Web Site: http://emissary.acq.osd.mil/dar/dfars.nsf/pubcomm. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include DFARS Case 2003-D032 in the 
subject line of the message.
     Fax: Primary: (703) 602-7887; Alternate: (703) 602-0350.
     Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, Attn: Mr. 
Euclides Barrera, OUSD(AT&L)DPAP(DAR), IMD 3C132, 3062 Defense 
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3062.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Defense Acquisition Regulations 
Council, Crystal Square 4, Suite 200A, 241 18th Street, Arlington, VA 
22202-3402.
    All comments received will be posted to http://emissary.acq.osd.mil/dar/dfars.nsf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Euclides Barrera, (703) 602-0296.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    DFARS Transformation is a major DoD initiative to dramatically 
change the purpose and content of the DFARS. The objective is to 
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the acquisition process, 
while allowing the acquisition workforce the flexibility to innovate. 
The transformed DFARS will contain only requirements of law, DoD-wide 
policies, delegations of FAR authorities, deviations from FAR 
requirements, and policies/procedures that have a significant effect 
beyond the internal operating procedures of DoD or a significant cost 
or administrative impact on contractors or offerors. Additional 
information on the DFARS Transformation initiative is available at 
http://www.acq.osd.mil/dp/dars/transf.htm.
    This proposed rule is a result of the DFARS Transformation 
initiative. The proposed changes revise DFARS 229.101 to remove text 
pertaining to (1) resolution of issues regarding the applicability of 
taxes under DoD contracts; and (2) tax relief agreements between the 
United States and European governments. This text will be relocated to 
the new DFARS companion resource, Procedures, Guidance, and Information 
(PGI). A proposed rule describing the purpose and structure of PGI was 
published at 69 FR 8145 on February 23, 2004. The draft PGI text 
related to this proposed rule is available at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dfars/changes.htm.
    This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review 
under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    DoD does not expect this rule to have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., because the rule 
relocates DoD procedural information related to tax relief, with no 
change to policy. Therefore, DoD has not performed an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis. DoD invites comments from small 
businesses and other interested parties. DoD also will consider 
comments from small entities concerning the affected DFARS subpart in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Such comments should be submitted 
separately and should cite DFARS Case 2003-D032.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the rule does 
not impose any information collection requirements that require the 
approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, 
et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 229

    Government procurement.

Michele P. Peterson,
Executive Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council.
    Therefore, DoD proposes to amend 48 CFR Part 229 as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Part 229 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 41 U.S.C. 421 and 48 CFR Chapter 1.

PART 229--TAXES

    2. Subpart 229.1 is revised to read as follows:

Subpart 229.1--General

Sec.
229.101 Resolving tax problems.
229.101 Resolving tax problems.
    (a) Within DoD, the agency-designated legal counsels are the 
defense agency General Counsels, the General Counsels of the Navy and 
Air Force, and for the Army, the Chief, Contract Law Division, Office 
of the Judge Advocate General.
    (c) For guidance on directing a contractor to litigate the 
applicability of a particular tax, see PGI 229.101(c).

[[Page 48446]]

    (d) For information on tax relief agreements between the United 
States and European foreign governments, see PGI 229.101(d).
[FR Doc. 04-18084 Filed 8-9-04; 8:45 am]
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