64936 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 236 / Tuesday, December 9, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

53.243 [Amended]

5. Section 53.243 is amended by

revising ‘‘42.1203(f)’’ to read

‘‘42.1203(h)’’.

[FR Doc. 97–31824 Filed 12–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 47

[FAC 97–03; FAR Case 97–017; Item XII]

RIN 9000–AH78

Federal Acquisition Regulation;

Commercial Bills of Lading, Small

Package Shipments

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD),

General Services Administration (GSA),

and National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency

Acquisition Council and the Defense

Acquisition Regulations Council have

agreed on a final rule amending the

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to

raise the threshold for requiring

receipted freight bills for small package

shipments, and the maximum amount

that the Government may pay for

invoiced but unsupported

transportation charges. 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 9, 1998.

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.

Linda Klein, Procurement Analyst, at

(202) 501–3775. Please cite FAC 97–03,

FAR case 97–017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

Based upon the benefits encountered

during a 6-month test conducted by the

Defense Finance and Accounting

Service, Denver Center, this rule

amends FAR 47.303–17 to raise the

threshold for requiring receipted freight

bills for small package shipments from

$25 to $100, and the maximum amount

that the Government may pay for

invoiced but unsupported

transportation charges from $100 to

$250. These increased amounts are

considered to more accurately reflect

shipping costs in today’s business

environment.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The final rule does not constitute a

significant FAR revision within the

meaning of FAR 1.501 and Public Law

98–577, and publication for public

comments is not required. However,

comments from small entities

concerning the affected FAR subpart

will be considered in accordance with 5

U.S.C. 610. Such comments must be

submitted separately and should cite 5

U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAC 97–03, FAR

case 97–017), in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub.

L. 96–511) is deemed to apply because

the final rule contains information

collection requirements. Accordingly, a

revised paperwork burden reflecting a

decrease in burden as a result of the

increase to thresholds will be forwarded

to the Office of Management and Budget

under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 47:

Government procurement.

Dated: December 1, 1997.

Edward C. Loeb,

Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.

Therefore, 48 CFR Part 47 is amended

as set forth below:

PART 47—TRANSPORTATION

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR

part 47 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).

47.303–17 [Amended]

2. Section 47.303–17 is amended in

paragraph (d)(1) by removing ‘‘$25’’ and

inserting ‘‘$100’’; in (d)(2) by removing

‘‘$100’’ and inserting ‘‘$250’’; and in the

second sentence of paragraph (e) by

replacing ‘‘47.303–17(d)(1)’’ with

‘‘paragraph (d)(2) of this subsection’’

and ‘‘$25’’ with ‘‘$250’’.

[FR Doc. 97–31825 Filed 12–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 53

[FAC 97–05; FAR Case 96–022; Item XIII]

RIN 9000–AH74

Federal Acquisition Regulation;

Standard Form 1406, Preaward Survey

of Prospective Contractor—Quality

Assurance

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD),

General Services Administration (GSA),

and National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency

Acquisition Council and the Defense

Acquisition Regulations Council have

agreed on a final rule amending the

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to

revise Standard Form 1406, Preaward

Survey of Prospective Contractor—

Quality Assurance, to delete references

to canceled specifications and to

conform the language in the form to the

current quality assurance guidance in

the FAR. 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 9, 1998.

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.

Linda Klein, Procurement Analyst, at

(202) 501–3775. Please cite FAC 97–05,

FAR case 96–022.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

Revision of the Standard Form 1406 is

necessary due to the cancellation of

military specifications, such as MIL–Q–

9858 and MIL–I–45208, which are cited

in the form, and to conform the

language in the form to the current

language in FAR Part 46.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The final rule does not constitute a

significant FAR revision within the

meaning of FAR 1.501 and Public Law

98–577, and publication for public

comments is not required. However,

comments from small entities

concerning the affected FAR subpart