This site displays a prototype of a “Web 2.0” version of the daily Federal Register. It is not an official legal edition of the Federal Register, and does not replace the official print version or the official electronic version on GPO’s govinfo.gov.
The documents posted on this site are XML renditions of published Federal Register documents. Each document posted on the site includes a link to the corresponding official PDF file on govinfo.gov. This prototype edition of the daily Federal Register on FederalRegister.gov will remain an unofficial informational resource until the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register (ACFR) issues a regulation granting it official legal status. For complete information about, and access to, our official publications and services, go to About the Federal Register on NARA's archives.gov.
The OFR/GPO partnership is committed to presenting accurate and reliable regulatory information on FederalRegister.gov with the objective of establishing the XML-based Federal Register as an ACFR-sanctioned publication in the future. While every effort has been made to ensure that the material on FederalRegister.gov is accurately displayed, consistent with the official SGML-based PDF version on govinfo.gov, those relying on it for legal research should verify their results against an official edition of the Federal Register. Until the ACFR grants it official status, the XML rendition of the daily Federal Register on FederalRegister.gov does not provide legal notice to the public or judicial notice to the courts.
Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Final rule.
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 make editorial and restructuring changes to clarify the procedures when an ordering activity limits consideration of schedule contractors.
Effective Date: July 27, 2005.
The FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755 for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of content, contact Ms. Linda Nelson, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-1900. Please cite FAC 2005-05, FAR case 2005-004.
On June 18, 2004, DoD, GSA, and NASA published FAR case 1999-603 (69 FR 34231) amending the FAR to incorporate ordering procedures for orders against Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), including the documentation requirements for justifying sole source orders. The rule inadvertently established these justification and approval requirements for sole source orders instead of when an ordering activity restricts consideration of schedule contractors to less than the required number. This rule corrects that oversight. The final rule also based the content of the documentation requirements on that in FAR 6.303-2. By doing so, the rule established some unintentional and inapplicable content requirements, especially for orders under the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT). This rule corrects those unintended changes by establishing the standard for justifying restricted orders under the SAT and accurately specifying the justification content for restricted orders above the SAT.
The Councils agreed that the changes made did not substantively change the intent of the subpart but are merely a clarification and, therefore, publication for public comment is not required.
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.
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 Public Law 98-577, and publication for public comments is not required. However, the Councils will consider comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR Part 8 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 2005-05, FAR case 2005-004), in correspondence.
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. 3501, et seq.
Dated: July 20. 2005.
Julia B. Wise,
Director, Contract Policy Division.
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR part 8 as set forth below:
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 8 is revised to read as follows:
2. Amend section 8.401 by revising the definition “Multiple Award Schedule (MAS”) to read as follows:
Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) means contracts awarded by GSA or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for similar or comparable supplies, or services, established with more than one supplier, at varying prices. The primary statutory authorities for the MAS program are Title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251, et seq.) and Title 40 U.S.C. 501, Services for Executive Agencies.
3. Amend section 8.405-1 in the second sentence of the introductory text of paragraph (c) by adding “at least three schedule contractors through” after the word “surveying”; and adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(e) Minimum documentation. The ordering activity shall document—
( printed page 43579)(1) The schedule contracts considered, noting the contractor from which the supply or service was purchased;
(2) A description of the supply or service purchased; and
(3) The amount paid.
4. Amend section 8.405-2 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(e) Minimum documentation. The ordering activity shall document—
(1) The schedule contracts considered, noting the contractor from which the service was purchased;
(2) A description of the service purchased;
(3) The amount paid;
(4) The evaluation methodology used in selecting the contractor to receive the order;
(5) The rationale for any tradeoffs in making the selection;
(6) The price reasonableness determination required by paragraph (d) of this subsection; and
(7) The rationale for using other than—
(i) A firm-fixed price order; or
(ii) A performance-based order.
5. Amend section 8.405-3 in paragraph (b)(2)(i) by removing the word “additional”.
6. Revise the section heading and text of section 8.405-6 to read as follows:
(a) Orders placed under Federal Supply Schedules are exempt from the requirements in Part 6. However, an ordering activity must justify its action when restricting consideration of schedule contractors to fewer than required in 8.405-1 or 8.405-2.
(b) Circumstances that may justify restriction include—
(1) Only one source is capable of responding due to the unique or specialized nature of the work;
(2) The new work is a logical follow-on to an original Federal Supply Schedule order provided that the original order was placed in accordance with the applicable Federal Supply Schedule ordering procedures. The original order must not have been previously issued under sole source or limited source procedures;
(3) The item is peculiar to one manufacturer. A brand name item, whether available on one or more schedule contracts, is an item peculiar to one manufacturer; or
(4) An urgent and compelling need exists, and following the ordering procedures would result in unacceptable delays.
(c) When an ordering activity restricts consideration of schedule contractors to fewer than that required in 8.405-1 or 8.405-2, the ordering activity shall procure such requirements under this subpart only if the need to do so is justified in writing and approved at the levels specified in paragraphs (d) and (f) of this subsection.
(d) Orders exceeding the micro-purchase threshold, but not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold as defined in 2.101. For proposed orders exceeding the micro-purchase threshold, but not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the ordering activity contracting officer shall document the circumstances when restricting consideration of schedule contractors to fewer than required in 8.405-1 or 8.405-2.
(e) Orders exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (1) For proposed orders exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, the requiring activity shall assist the ordering activity contracting officer in the preparation of the justification. The justification shall cite that the acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Multiple Award Schedule Program (see 8.401).
(2) As a minimum, each justification shall include the following information:
(i) Identification of the agency and the contracting activity, and specific identification of the document as a “Limited Source Justification.”
(ii) Nature and/or description of the action being approved.
(iii) A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value).
(iv) Identification of the justification rationale (see 8.405-6(b)) and, if applicable, a demonstration of the proposed contractor's unique qualifications to provide the required supply or service.
(v) A determination by the ordering activity contracting officer that the order represents the best value consistent with 8.404(d).
(vi) A description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted.
(vii) Any other facts supporting the justification.
(viii) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers that preclude the agency from meeting the requirements of 8.405-1 and 8.405-2 before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services is made.
(ix) The ordering activity contracting officer's certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the contracting officer's knowledge and belief.
(x) Evidence that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel ( e.g., verifying the Government's minimum needs or requirements or other rationale for limited sources) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate by the technical or requirements personnel.
(f) Justification approvals. (1) For proposed orders exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, but not exceeding $500,000, the ordering activity contracting officer's certification that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of the ordering activity contracting officer's knowledge and belief will serve as approval, unless a higher approval level is established in accordance with agency procedures.
(2) For a proposed order exceeding $500,000, but not exceeding $10 million, the justification must be approved by the competition advocate of the activity placing the order, or by an official named in paragraph (f)(3) or (f)(4) of this subsection. This authority is not delegable.
(3) For a proposed order exceeding $10 million, but not exceeding $50 million (or, for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, not exceeding $75 million), the justification must be approved by—
(i) The head of the procuring activity placing the order;
(ii) A designee who—
(A) If a member of the armed forces, is a general or flag officer;
(B) If a civilian, is serving in a position in a grade above GS-15 under the General Schedule (or in a comparable or higher position under another schedule); or
(iii) An official named in paragraph (f)(4) of this subsection.
(4) For a proposed order exceeding $50 million (or, for DoD, NASA, and the Coast Guard, over $75 million), the justification must be approved by the senior procurement executive of the agency placing the order. This authority is not delegable, except in the case of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, acting as the senior procurement executive for the Department of Defense.
7. Remove section 8.405-7.
8. Redesignate section 8.405-8 as 8.405-7.
[FR Doc. 05-14667 Filed 7-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S