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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19127-19128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7493]

[[Page 19127]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Acquisition Regulations System

48 CFR Parts 201 and 212

RIN 0750-AH65

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Inflation 
Adjustment of Threshold for Acquisition of Right-Hand Drive Passenger 
Sedans (DFARS Case 2012-D016)

AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense 
(DoD).

ACTION: Interim rule.

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SUMMARY: DoD is issuing an interim rule amending the Defense Federal 
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 that requires 
that the statutory limitation on the acquisition of right-hand drive 
passenger sedans be included on the list of dollar thresholds subject 
to inflation adjustment.

DATES: Effective Date: March 30, 2012.
    Comment Date: Comments on the interim rule should be submitted in 
writing to the address shown below on or before May 29, 2012, to be 
considered in the formation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by DFARS Case 2012-D016, using 
any of the following methods:
    [cir] Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments 
via the Federal eRulemaking portal by entering ``DFARS Case 2012-D016'' 
under the heading ``Enter keyword or ID'' and selecting ``Search.'' 
Select the link ``Submit a Comment'' that corresponds with ``DFARS Case 
2012-D016.'' Follow the instructions provided at the ``Submit a 
Comment'' screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and 
``DFARS Case 2012-D016'' on your attached document.
    [cir] Email: dfars@osd.mil. Include DFARS Case 2012-D016 in the 
subject line of the message.
    [cir] Fax: 571-372-6094.
    [cir] Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Attn: Dr. Laura 
Welsh, OUSD(AT&L)DPAP/DARS, Room 3B855, 3060 Defense Pentagon, 
Washington, DC 20301-3060.
    Comments received generally will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. To 
confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check www.regulations.gov, 
approximately two to three days after submission to verify posting 
(except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted by mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Laura Welsh, telephone 571-372-
6091.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    This interim rule revises the DFARS to implement section 814(b) of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Pub. L. 
112-81). Section 814(b) requires that the dollar limitation established 
in 10 U.S.C. 2253(a)(2) for the acquisition of right-hand drive 
passenger sedans be included on the list of dollar thresholds subject 
to inflation adjustment in accordance with the requirements of 41 
U.S.C. 1908, and to adjust the threshold, as appropriate. 10 U.S.C. 
2253(a)(2) is based on section 101(b) of the Fiscal Year 1986 
Department of Defense Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 99-190). The 
threshold was previously amended from $12,000 per vehicle to $30,000 
per vehicle in 1997 through section 805 of the Fiscal Year 1998 
Department of Defense Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 105-85), enacted on 
November 18, 1997.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    This interim rule revises the DFARS to implement section 814(b) of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Pub. L. 
112-81) as follows:
     Adds DFARS 201.109(a) to include the dollar limitation for 
the acquisition of right-hand drive passenger sedans in the list of 
statutory acquisition-related dollar thresholds to be adjusted for 
inflation.
     Adds DFARS 212.271 to provide the escalated threshold of 
$40,000 per vehicle when acquiring right-hand drive passenger sedans.

III. 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.

IV. 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 it merely 
adjusts upward the current limitation for acquisition of right-hand 
drive passenger vehicles from $30,000 to $40,000 due to inflation. 
Therefore, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis has not been 
performed. DoD invites comments from small business concerns and other 
interested parties on the expected impact of this rule on small 
entities.
    DoD will also consider comments from small entities concerning the 
existing regulations in subparts affected by this rule in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such comments 
separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (DFARS Case 2012-D016), in 
correspondence.

V. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The rule does not contain any information collection requirements 
that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

VI. Determination To Issue an Interim Rule

    A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary 
of Defense that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this 
interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. This action 
is necessary because it implements section 814(b) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Pub. L. 112-81), 
enacted on December 31, 2011. Section 814(b) requires escalating the 
current threshold for acquisition of right-hand drive passenger sedans 
from $30,000 to $40,000. Pursuant to paragraph (d) of 41 U.S.C. 1908, 
revised thresholds take effect on the date of publication in the 
Federal Register. The threshold was last amended from $12,000 per 
vehicle to $30,000 per vehicle in 1997 through section 805 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Pub. L. 105-
85), enacted on November 18, 1997. Delaying implementation of the 
threshold adjustment may negatively impact contracting officers and the 
defense customers they support who require right-hand drive passenger 
sedans by restricting the purchase authority to the 1997 cost 
limitation of $30,000, without providing for adjustment due to 
inflation. Transportation of personnel in right-hand drive passenger 
sedans is needed

[[Page 19128]]

overseas for reasons of safety and security and will allow personnel to 
move to work locations necessary to achieve the mission of the United 
States military worldwide, including support of overseas contingency 
operations. However, pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1707 and FAR 1.501-3(b), DoD 
will consider public comments received in response to this interim rule 
in the formation of the final rule.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 201 and 212

    Government procurement.

Ynette R. Shelkin,
Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.

    Therefore, 48 CFR parts 201 and 212 are amended as follows:

PART 201--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 201 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  41 U.S.C. 1303 and CFR chapter 2.

0
2. Section 201.109 is amended to add paragraph (a) to read as follows:

201.109  Statutory acquisition-related dollar thresholds-adjustment for 
inflation.

    (a) Section 814(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2012 (Pub. L. 112-81) requires that the threshold 
established in 10 U.S.C. 2253(a)(2) for the acquisition of right-hand 
drive passenger sedans be included in the list of dollar thresholds 
that are subject to adjustment for inflation in accordance with the 
requirements of 41 U.S.C. 1908, and is adjusted pursuant to such 
provisions, as appropriate.
* * * * *

PART 212-- ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS

0
3. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 212 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  41 U.S.C. 1303 and CFR chapter 2.

0
4. Section 212.271 is added to subpart 212.2 to read as follows:

212.271  Limitation on acquisition of right-hand drive passenger 
sedans.

    10 U.S.C. 2253(a)(2) limits the authority to purchase right-hand 
drive passenger sedans to a cost of not more than $40,000 per vehicle.

[FR Doc. 2012-7493 Filed 3-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P
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