Proposed Rules. Proposed rule with request for comments

Agency: Department of Defense (DoD)
Action: Proposed rule with request for comments
Citation: FR Doc. 05-9006 · DFARS Case 2003-D052 · 48 CFR 204

Summary

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to add policy permitting assignment of an additional identification number to an existing contract for administrative purposes. This proposed rule is a result of a transformation initiative undertaken by DoD to dramatically change the purpose and content of the DFARS.

Dates

Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to the address shown below on or before July 5, 2005, to be considered in the formation of the final rule.

Supplementary Information

A. Background DFARS Transformation is a major DoD initiative to dramatically change the purpose and content of the DFARS. The objective is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the acquisition process, while allowing the acquisition workforce the flexibility to innovate. The transformed DFARS will contain only requirements of law, DoD-wide policies, delegations of FAR authorities, deviations from FAR requirements, and policies/procedures that have a significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures of DoD or a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or offerors. Additional information on the DFARS Transformation initiative is available at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dfars/transf.htm. This proposed rule is a result of the DFARS Transformation initiative. The proposed DFARS changes permit DoD contracting activities to assign an additional identification number to an existing contract by issuing a separate “continued” contract, when continued performance under the existing contract number is not practical for administrative reasons. The continued contract would incorporate all prices, terms, and conditions of the predecessor contract. Use of this procedure is expected to be limited, but will help to simplify administration, payment, and closeout of lengthy, complex contracts; and will help in situations where a contracting activity has exhausted its assigned series of identification numbers for orders placed against another activity's contract. This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993. B. Regulatory Flexibility Act DoD does not expect this rule to 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 the proposed change is administrative. A continued contract does not constitute a new procurement and will incorporate all prices, terms, and conditions of the predecessor contract. Therefore, DoD has not performed an initial regulatory flexibility analysis. DoD invites comments from small businesses and other interested parties. DoD also will consider comments from small entities concerning the affected DFARS subpart in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Such comments should be submitted separately and should cite DFARS Case 2003-D052. C. Paperwork Reduction Act The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the rule does not impose any information collection requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 204 Government procurement. Michele P. Peterson, Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations System. Therefore, DoD proposes to amend 48 CFR Part 204 as follows: PART 204—ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Part 204 continues to read as follows: Authority: 41 U.S.C. 421 and 48 CFR Chapter 1. 2. Section 204.7001 is revised to read as follows: 204.7001 Policy. (a) Use the uniform PII numbering system prescribed by this subpart for the solicitation/contract instruments described in 204.7003 and 204.7004. (b) Retain the basic PII number unchanged for the life of the instrument unless the conditions in paragraph (c) of this section exist. (c)(1) If continued performance under a contract number is not possible or is not in the Government's best interest solely for administrative reasons (e.g., when the supplementary PII serial numbering system is exhausted or for lengthy major systems contracts with multiple options), the contracting officer may assign an additional PII number by issuing a separate continued contract to permit continued contract performance. (2) A continued contract— (i) Does not constitute a new procurement; (ii) Incorporates all prices, terms, and conditions of the predecessor contract effective at the time of issuance of the continued contract; (iii) Operates as a separate contract independent of the predecessor contract once issued; and (iv) Shall not evade competition, expand the scope of work, or extend the period of performance beyond that of the predecessor contract. (3) When issuing a continued contract, the contracting officer shall— (i) Issue an administrative modification to the predecessor contract to clearly state that— (A) Any future awards provided for under the terms of the predecessor contract ( e.g. , issuance of orders or exercise of options) will be accomplished under the continued contract; and (B) Supplies and services already acquired under the predecessor contract shall remain solely under that contract for purposes of Government inspection, acceptance, payment, and closeout; and (ii) Follow the procedures at PGI 204.7001(c). [FR Doc. 05-9006 Filed 5-4-05; 8:45 am]