SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

DoD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule in the Federal Register at 71 FR 36935 on June 28, 2006, to implement the Dominican Republic—Central America—United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) with respect to El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua (Public Law 109-53). No comments were received by the close of the public comment period on August 28, 2006. Therefore, the Councils agreed to convert the interim rule to a final rule without change.

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. Although the rule opens up Government procurement to the products of El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, the Councils do not anticipate any significant economic impact on U.S. small businesses. The Department of Defense only applies the trade agreements to the non-defense items listed at DFARS 225.401-70, and acquisitions that are set-aside for small businesses ar exempt.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does apply; however, these changes to the FAR do not impose additional information collection requirements to the paperwork burden previously approved under OMB Control Numbers 9000-0139, 9000-0025, and 9000-0141.

Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without Change

Accordingly, the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 25 and 52, which was published at 71 FR 36935, ( printed page 46361) June 28, 2006, is adopted as a final rule without change.