SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

Public Law 109-295, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007, section 697, requires the establishment and maintenance of a registry of contractors willing to perform debris removal, distribution of supplies, reconstruction, and other disaster or emergency relief activities. In addition, contracting officers are required to consult the registry during market research and acquisition planning.

The interim rule was published in the Federal Register on October 14, 2009 (74 FR 52847). The public comment period closed on December 14, 2009. No comments were received in response to the interim rule.

In the interim rule, the Councils amended the language at FAR 2.101 to add a definition of “Disaster Response Registry,” and at FAR 4.1104, 18.102, and 26.205 to require contracting officers to consult the registry at http://www.ccr.gov. In addition, a requirement was added to FAR 10.001 to require contracting officers to take advantage of commercially available market research methods to identify capabilities to meet agency requirements for disaster relief.

The Disaster Response Registry is located at www.ccr.gov. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (within the Department of Homeland Security) has a link to the registry for vendors on its Web site http://www.fema.gov/​business/​contractor.shtm. The Registry covers disaster and emergency relief activities inside the United States and its outlying areas only. Major disaster and emergency declarations are published in the Federal Register and are available at http://www.fema.gov/​news/​disasters.fema.

This is a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was 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., because this rule does not revise or change existing regulations pertaining to small business concerns seeking Government contracts. In addition, the Councils sought comments from small businesses on the affected FAR parts at the publication of the interim rule. No comments were received.

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.

Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without Change

Accordingly, the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 2, 4, 7, 10, 13, 18, 26, and 52, which was published in the Federal Register at 74 FR 52847 on October 14, 2009, is adopted as a final rule without change.