[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 5819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1513]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Acquisition Regulations System


Statement of Policy and Report Relating to Contracting With 
Employers of Persons With Disabilities

AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 848 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, the Department of Defense 
(DoD), the U.S. Department of Education (DoED), and the Committee for 
Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, are required 
to issue a joint policy statement and report relating to contracting 
with employers of persons with disabilities, and are seeking comments 
that will assist in identifying appropriate policy solutions for 
implementation of the Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107 et seq.) and 
the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46 et seq.) as they pertain to 
both the operation and management of military dining facilities.

DATES: Submit written comments to the address shown below on or before 
March 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to: Director, Defense Procurement and 
Acquisition Policy, 3060 Defense Pentagon, Attn: Ms. Susan Pollack, 
Washington, DC 20301-3060; or by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Pollack, (703) 697-8336.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Subsections (b) and (c) of section 848 of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Pub. L. 
109-163) contain the following statement of policy and report relating 
to contracting with employers of persons with disabilities:

    ``(b) Statement of Policy--The Secretary of Defense, the 
Secretary of Education, and the Chairman of the Committee for 
Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled shall 
jointly issue a statement of policy related to the implementation of 
the Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107 et seq.) and the Javits-
Wagner-O'Day Act (41 U.S.C. 48) within the Department of Defense and 
the Department of Education. The joint statement of policy shall 
specifically address the application of those Acts to both operation 
and management of all or any part of a military mess hall, military 
troop dining facility, or any similar dining facility operated for 
the purpose of providing meals to members of the Armed Forces, and 
shall take into account and address, to the extent practicable, the 
positions acceptable to persons representing programs implemented 
under each Act.
    (c) Report--Not later than April 1, 2006, the Secretary of 
Defense, the Secretary of Education, and the Chairman of the 
Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives, the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives a report 
describing the joint statement of policy issued under subsection 
(b), with such findings and recommendations as the Secretaries 
consider appropriate.''

    The interagency team is seeking suggestions for potential policy 
solutions and invites interested parties to submit written comments for 
consideration by the team in developing the policy statement and report 
to Congress. The DoD point of contact is collecting the written 
comments centrally for efficiency and to avoid duplication, however, 
please note that DoD will share all information received with DoED and 
the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled.
    Material that is business confidential information will be exempted 
from public disclosure as provided for by 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) (Freedom 
of Information Act rules). Anyone submitting business confidential 
information should clearly identify the business confidential portion 
of the submission and also provide a non-confidential submission, which 
can be placed in the public file. Comments not marked business 
confidential may be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act.

Michele P. Peterson,
Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.
 [FR Doc. E6-1513 Filed 2-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-08-P