44828 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 163 / Friday, August 22, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Such

comments must be submitted separately

and cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAC 97–

01, FAR case 97–019), in

correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does

not apply because the changes to the

FAR do not impose recordkeeping or

information collection requirements, or

collections of information from offerors,

contractors, or members of the public

which 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 25

Government procurement.

Dated: August 7, 1997.

Edward C. Loeb,

Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.

Therefore, 48 CFR Part 25 is amended

as set forth below:

PART 25—FOREIGN ACQUISITION

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR

Part 25 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C.

chapter 137; and 42 U.S.C. 2473(c).

25.401 [Amended]

2. Section 25.401 is amended in the

definition of ‘‘Designated country’’ by

adding, in alphabetical order, ‘‘Hong

Kong’’.

[FR Doc. 97–21498 Filed 8–21–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 31

[FAC 97–01; FAR Case 96–012; Item XIV]

RIN 9000–AH43

Federal Acquisition Regulation;

Foreign Differential Pay

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD),

General Services Administration (GSA),

and National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Interim rule adopted as final.

SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency

Acquisition Council and the Defense

Acquisition Regulations Council have

agreed to convert the interim rule

published as Item VI of Federal

Acquisition Circular 90–44 on

December 31, 1996, to a final rule

without change. The rule amends the

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to

remove the prohibition on the

calculation of foreign differential pay

based directly on an employee’s specific

increase in income taxes resulting from

assignment overseas. This regulatory

action was not subject to Office of

Management and Budget review under

Executive Order 12866, dated

September 30, 1993. This is not a major

rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

DATE: Effective October 21, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The

FAR Secretariat, Room 4035, GS

Building, Washington, DC 20405 (202)

501–4755 for information pertaining to

status or publication schedules. For

clarification of content, contact Mr.

Jeremy Olson, Procurement Analyst, at

(202) 501–3221. Please cite FAC 97–01,

FAR case 96–012.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

An interim rule was published on

December 31, 1996 (61 FR 69294). The

interim rule revised the cost principle at

FAR 31.205–6, Compensation for

personal services, to permit contractors

to calculate any increased compensation

for foreign overseas differential pay on

the basis of an employee’s specific

increase in taxes resulting from foreign

assignment. The interim rule is

converted to a final rule with no change.

Public comments were received from

one source. The comments were

considered in developing the final rule.

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 most

contracts awarded to small entities use

simplified acquisition procedures or are

awarded on a competitive fixed-price

basis and do not require application of

the cost principle contained in this rule.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does

not apply because the changes to the

FAR do not impose recordkeeping or

information collection requirements, or

collections of information from offerors,

contractors, or members of the public

which 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 31

Government procurement.

Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without

Change

Accordingly, the interim rule

amending 48 CFR Part 31 which was

published at 61 FR 69294, December 31,

1996, is adopted as a final rule without

change.

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C.

chapter 137; and 42 U.S.C. 2473(c).

Dated: August 7, 1997.

Edward C. Loeb,

Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.

[FR Doc. 97–21499 Filed 8–21–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 31

[FAC 97–01; FAR Case 96–003; Item XV]

RIN 9000–AH35

Federal Acquisition Regulation; Local

Government Lobbying Costs

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD),

General Services Administration (GSA),

and National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Interim rule adopted as final.

SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency

Acquisition Council and the Defense

Acquisition Regulations Council have

agreed to convert the interim rule

published as Item XI of Federal

Acquisition Circular 90–43 on

December 20, 1996, to a final rule

without change. The rule amends the

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to

make allowable the costs of any

lobbying activities to influence local

legislation in order to directly reduce

contract cost, or to avoid material

impairment of the contractor’s authority

to perform the contract. This regulatory

action was not subject to Office of

Management and Budget review under

Executive Order 12866, dated

September 30, 1993, and is not a major

rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

DATES: Effective October 21, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The

FAR Secretariat, Room 4035, GS

Building, Washington, DC 20405 (202)

501–4755 for information pertaining to

status or publication schedules. For

clarification of content, contact Ms.