Federal Register, Volume 74 Issue 52 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 52 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11828-11829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5867]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 25 and 52

[FAC 2005-31; FAR Case 2008-021; Item IV; Docket 2009-0005; Sequence 1]
RIN 9000-AL16


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2008-021, Least 
Developed Countries that are Designated Countries

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 agreed on a final rule 
amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a 
revision by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to the list 
of Least Developed Countries that are designated countries under the 
Trade Agreements Act of 1979.

DATES: Effective Date: March 19, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact 
Ms. Meredith Murphy, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 208-6925. For 
information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the 
FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-31, FAR case 
2008-021.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The list of Least Developed Countries is derived from a United 
Nations list of Least Developed Countries. The USTR has revised the 
list of Least Developed Countries that are designated as eligible 
countries under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, to add 
Liberia and to remove Cape Verde.
    This final rule amends the FAR to revise (a) the definitions of 
``designated country'' and ``least developed country'' at FAR 25.003 
and (b) the definition of ``designated country'' in the clauses at FAR 
52.225-5, Trade Agreements, and 52.225-11, Buy American Act--
Construction Materials Under Trade Agreements.
    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 Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to this rule. This 
final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision within the 
meaning of FAR 1.501 and Pub. L. 98-577, and publication for public 
comments is not required. However, the Councils will consider comments 
from small entities concerning the affected FAR Parts 25 and 52 in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such 
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAC 2005-31, 
FAR case 2008-021), in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the FAR do not impose information collection requirements that require 
the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 25 and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: March 13, 2009.
Al Matera,
Director, Office of Acquisition Policy.

0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 25 and 52 as set forth 
below:
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 25 and 52 continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).

PART 25--FOREIGN ACQUISITION

0
2. Amend section 25.003 by revising paragraph (3) of the definition 
``Designated country'' and the definition ``Least developed country'' 
to read as follows:


25.003  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Designated country means any of the following countries:
* * * * *
    (3) A least developed country (Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, 
Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African 
Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, East 
Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, 
Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, 
Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, 
Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, or Zambia); or
* * * * *
    Least developed country means any of the following countries: 
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, 
Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic 
of Congo, Djibouti, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, 
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, 
Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, 
Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, 
Solomon Islands, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, 
Yemen, or Zambia.
* * * * *

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
3. Amend section 52.212-5 by revising the date of the clause and 
paragraph (b)(31) to read as follows:


52.212-5  Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes 
or Executive Orders--Commercial Items.

* * * * *
    CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR 
EXECUTIVE ORDERS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (MAR 2009)
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    ---- (31) 52.225-5, Trade Agreements (MAR 2009) (19 U.S.C. 2501, 
et seq., 19 U.S.C. 3301 note).
* * * * *

0
4. Amend section 52.225-5 by revising the date of the clause and in 
paragraph (a) in the definition ``Designated country'', revising 
paragraph (3) to read as follows:


52.225-5  Trade Agreements.

* * * * *
    TRADE AGREEMENTS (MAR 2009)
    (a) * * *
    Designated Country * * *
    (3) A least developed country (Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, 
Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African 
Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, 
East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia,

[[Page 11829]]

Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, 
Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, 
Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, 
Solomon Islands, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, 
Yemen, or Zambia); or
* * * * *

0
5. Amend section 52.225-11 by revising the date of the clause and in 
paragraph (a) in the definition ``Designated country'', revising 
paragraph (3) to read as follows:


52.225-11  Buy American Act--Construction Materials Under Trade 
Agreements.

* * * * *
    BUY AMERICAN ACT--CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS UNDER TRADE AGREEMENTS 
(MAR 2009)
    (a) * * *
    Designated Country * * *
    (3) A least developed country (Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, 
Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African 
Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, 
East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, 
Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, 
Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, 
Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon 
Islands, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, or 
Zambia); or
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E9-5867 Filed 3-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S