[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8207]
[[Page 57375]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52
[FAC 2005-13; FAR Case 2005-030; Item V;Docket 2006-0020, Sequence 15]
RIN 9000-AK40
Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2005-030, Trade
Agreements--Thresholds
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have adopted as final,
without change, an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR) to implement the increased thresholds for the World
Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade
Agreements.
DATES: Effective Date: September 28, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact
Ms. Jeritta Parnell, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-4082. Please
cite FAC 2005-13, FAR case 2005-030. For information pertaining to
status or publication schedules, contact the FAR Secretariat at (202)
501-4755.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
The Councils published an interim rule in the Federal Register at
71 FR 864, January 5, 2006, to implement the increased thresholds for
the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free
Trade Agreements. Every two years, the trade agreements thresholds are
escalated according to a pre-determined formula set forth in the
agreements. The United States Trade Representative published the new
thresholds in the Federal Register at 70 FR 73510 to 73511, December
12, 2005. No comments were received by the close of the public comment
period on March 6, 2006, therefore, the Councils agreed to convert the
interim rule to a final rule.
This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not
subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866,
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is
not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify that this
final rule will not 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 threshold changes
are in line with inflation and only maintain the status quo.
C. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does apply, because the final rule
affects the certification and information collection requirements in
the provisions at FAR 52.212-3, 52.225-4, 52.225-6, and 52.225-11
currently approved under OMB clearances 9000-0136, 9000-0130, 9000-
0025, and 9000-0141 respectively. There is, however, no change to these
clearances because the threshold changes are due to inflation and only
maintain the status quo. As a result, these FAR changes do not impose
additional information collection requirements.
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52
Government procurement.
Dated: September 19, 2006
Ralph De Stefano,
Director,Contract Policy Division.
Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without Change
0
Accordingly, the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 22, 25 and 52,
which was published at 71 FR 864, January 5, 2006, is adopted as a
final rule without change.
[FR Doc. 06-8207 Filed 9-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S