SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Approximately every two years, the thresholds for the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA) and the free trade agreements (FTAs) are adjusted according to predetermined formulae under the agreements. On December 11, 2017 (82 FR 58248), the United States Trade Representative published new procurement thresholds. These thresholds became effective on January 1, 2018. The United States Trade Representative has specified the following new thresholds:

II. Discussion and Analysis

This final rule implements the new thresholds in FAR subpart 25.4, Trade Agreements, and other sections in the FAR that include trade agreements thresholds ( i.e., 22.1503, 25.202, 25.603, 25.1101, and 25.1102).

In addition, changes are required to the provision at FAR 52.204-8, Annual Representations and Certifications, and clause at FAR 52.222-19, Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies, with conforming changes to the clause dates in 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items, and 52.213-4, Terms and Conditions—Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial Items).

III. Publication of This Final Rule for Public Comment Is Not Required by Statute

“Publication of proposed regulations,” 41 U.S.C. 1707, is the statute which applies to the publication of the FAR. Paragraph (a)(1) of the statute requires that a procurement policy, regulation, procedure, or form (including an amendment or modification thereof) must be published for public comment if it relates to the expenditure of appropriated funds, and has either a significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures of the agency issuing the policy, regulation, procedure, or form, or has a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or offerors. This final rule is not required to be published for public comment, because it only adjusts the thresholds according to predetermined formulae to adjust for changes in economic conditions, thus maintaining the status quo, without significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures of the Government.

IV. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold and for Commercial Items, Including Commercially Available Off-the-Shelf Items

This rule amends the FAR to revise thresholds for application of the WTO GPA and the FTAs. The revisions do not add any new burdens or impact applicability of clauses and provisions at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, or to commercial items.

V. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

VI. Executive Order 13771

This rule is not subject to E.O. 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs, because this rule is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866.

VII. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to this rule, because this final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision within the meaning of FAR 1.501-1, and 41 U.S.C. 1707 does not require publication for public comment.

VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) does apply to this final rule, since the rule affects the prescriptions for use of the certification and information collection requirements in the provisions at 52.225-4 and 52.225-6 and the clauses at FAR 52.225-9, 52.225-11, 52.225-21, and 52.225-23, currently approved under OMB Control Number 9000-0024, entitled “Buy American Act, Trade Agreements, and Duty-Free Entry.” The impact, however, is expected to be negligible, because the threshold changes are in line with inflation and maintain the status quo. As a result, there is no change to the estimated burden.

Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 22, 25, and 52 as set forth below:

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 22, 25, and 52 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 U.S.C. 20113.

2. Amend section 22.1503 by—

a. Removing from paragraph (b)(3) “$77,533” and adding “$80,317” in its place; and ( printed page 3398)

b. Removing from paragraph (b)(4) “$191,000” and adding “$180,000” in its place.

3. Amend section 25.202 by removing from paragraph (c) “$7,358,000” and adding “$6,932,000” in its place.

4. Amend section 25.402 by revising the table in paragraph (b) to read as follows:

5. Amend section 25.603 by removing from paragraph (c)(1) “$7,358,000” and adding “$6,932,000” in its place.

6. Amend section 25.1101 by—

a. Removing from paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) “$191,000;” and adding “$180,000;” in its place;

b. Removing from paragraphs (b)(1)(iii) and (iv) and (b)(2)(iii) and (iv) “$77,533” and adding “$80,317” in its place; and

c. Removing from paragraphs (c)(1) and (d) “$191,000” and adding “$180,000” in its place.

7. Amend section 25.1102 by—

a. Removing from the introductory text of paragraphs (a) and (c) “$7,358,000” and adding “$6,932,000” in its place;

b. Removing from paragraph (c)(3) “$7,358,000” and “$10,079,365” and adding “$6,932,000” and “$10,441,216” in their places, respectively; and

c. Removing from paragraph (d)(3) “$7,864,000” and “$10,079,365” and adding “$6,932,000” and “$10,441,216” in their places, respectively.

8. Amend section 52.204-8 by—

a. Revising the date of the provision; and

b. Removing from paragraphs (c)(1)(xx)(C) and (D) “$77,533” and adding “$80,317” in its place.

The revision reads as follows:

9. Amend section 52.212-5 by revising the date of the clause and paragraph (b)(26) to read as follows:

10. Amend section 52.213-4 by revising the date of the clause and paragraph (b)(1)(ii) to read as follows:

11. Amend section 52.222-19 by—

a. Revising the date of the clause;

b. Removing from paragraph (a)(3) “$77,533” and adding “$80,317” in its place; and

c. Removing from paragraph (a)(4) “$191,000” and adding “$180,000” in its place.

The revision reads as follows: