[Federal Register: June 3, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 107)]
[Notices]
[Page 31688-31689]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03jn08-40]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel; Notification of Public
Advisory Panel Meetings
AGENCY: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award
Schedule Advisory Panel (MAS Panel), a Federal Advisory Committee, will
hold public meetings on the following dates: Monday, June 16, 2008;
Tuesday, June 17 2008; Monday, July 21, 2008; and Monday, August 18,
2008. GSA utilizes the Schedules program to establish long-term
Governmentwide contracts with responsible firms to provide Federal,
State, and local government customers with access to a wide variety of
supplies (products) and services.
The MAS Panel was established to develop advice and recommendations
on MAS program pricing policies, provisions, and procedures in the
context of current commercial pricing practices. For the next 3 to 4
meeting dates, the Panel plans to focus on three areas: (1) STAKEHOLDER
EXPECTATIONS--what are our stakeholder expectations of the MAS program;
what should be the purpose of the MAS program; and is it structured to
serve our stakeholder needs; (2) ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES--what
should be the role and responsibilities of the GSA contracting officer
and that of the ordering agency contracting
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officer; the need to eliminate duplication at the task order level
those pricing determinations made by the GSA contracting officer; and,
the management and oversight responsibilities, such as training and
assuring consistency in policy; and (3) FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE
DETERMINATIONS--what are the stakeholder expectations for schedule
prices; should the GSA contracting officer or the ordering agency
contracting officer make the fair and reasonable price determination;
the presumption that the schedule contract negations result in fair and
reasonable prices; and orders issued in compliance with FAR 8.4
ordering procedures result in best value.
To that end, the Panel would like to hear from the many
stakeholders of the MAS program. The MAS program stakeholders include,
but not limited to, ordering agency contracting officers, customer
agency contracting officer, GSA contracting officers, schedule contract
holders, Congress, program managers, General Accountability Office, and
agency Inspector General Offices. The panel is particularly interested
in stakeholder views as to how the issues discussed above may relate
differently to the purchase of goods, services, or goods and services
that are configured to propose an integrated solution to an agency's
needs.
I. STAKEHOLDER EXPECTATIONS
Discussions and presentations on STAKEHOLDER EXPECTATIONS will take
place on Monday, June 16, 2008, and Tuesday, June 17, 2008. The meeting
start time for each day is 9:00 a.m., and they will adjourn no later
than 5:00 p.m.
Monday, June 16, 2008 Location & Address: The meeting will be held
at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Building, 2nd Floor, 1725
New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The building is located at the
corner of 18th Street and New York Avenue, NW. Entrance to the building
is on either 18th Street, or New York Avenue. The AIA is within walking
distance from the Farragut North Metro stop.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Location & Address: The meeting will be held
at the Jury's Washington Hotel, Westbury Room, 1500 New Hampshire
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The hotel is within walking distance from
the Dupont Circle Metro stop.
II. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Discussions and presentations on ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES will
take place on Monday, July 21, 2008.
Monday, July 21, 2008 Location and Address: The meeting will be
held at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Building, 2nd Floor,
1725 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The building is located at
the corner of 18th Street and New York Avenue, NW. Entrance to the
building is on either 18th Street, or New York Avenue. The meeting
start time is 9:00 a.m., and it will adjourn no later than 5:00 p.m.
The AIA is within walking distance from the Farragut North Metro stop.
III. FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE DETERMINATIONS
Discussions and presentations on FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE
DETERMINATIONS will take place on Monday, August 18, 2008.
Monday, August 18, 2008 Location and Address: The meeting will be
held at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Building, 2nd Floor,
1725 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The building is at the
corner of 18th Street and New York Avenue, NW. Entrance to the building
is on either 18th Street, or New York Avenue. The meeting start time is
9:00 a.m., and it will adjourn no later than 5:00 p.m. The AIA is
within walking distance from the Farragut North Metro stop.
For presentations before the Panel, the following guidance is
provided:
Oral comments: Requests to present oral comments at this meeting
must be in writing (email or fax) and received by the Designated
Federal Official, Pat Brooks, at the below address ten (10) business
days prior to the meeting date. Each individual or group requesting an
oral presentation will be limited to a total time of five minutes.
Speakers should bring at least 50 copies of their comments for
distribution to the reviewers and public at the meeting.
Written Comments: Written comments must be received ten (10)
business days prior to the meeting date so that the comments may be
provided to the Panel for their consideration prior to the meeting.
Comments should be supplied to Ms. Brooks at the address/contact
information noted below in the following format: one hard copy with
original signature and one electronic copy via email in Microsoft Word.
Subsequent meeting dates, locations, and times will be published at
least 15 days prior to the meeting date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information on the Panel meetings,
agendas, and other information can be obtained at www.gsa.gov/
masadvisorypanel or you may contact Ms. Pat Brooks, Designated Federal
Officer, Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel, U.S. General Services
Administration, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 911, Arlington, VA 22205;
telephone 703 605-3406, Fax 703 605-3454; or via email at
mas.advisorypanel@gsa.gov.
AVAILABILITY OF MATERIALS: All meeting materials, including meeting
agendas, handouts, public comments, and meeting minutes will be posted
on the MAS Panel Web site at www.gsa.gov/masadvisorypanel or
www.gsa.gov/masap.
MEETING ACCESS: Individuals requiring special accommodations at any
of these meetings should contact Ms. Brooks at least ten (10) business
days prior to the meeting date so that appropriate arrangements can be
made.
Dated: May 28, 2008.
David A. Drabkin,
Acting Chief Acquisition Officer, Office of the Chief Acquisition
Officer, General Services Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-12316 Filed 6-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S