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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 19 (Monday, January 30, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4631-4632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1488]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Acquisition Regulations System

48 CFR Part 252

[Docket No. DARS-2011-0082-0002]
RIN 0750-AH48

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: New Designated 
Country--Armenia (DFARS Case 2011-D057)

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal 
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to add Armenia as a World 
Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA) country 
and a designated country, due to the accession of Armenia to membership 
in the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement.

DATES: Effective Date: January 30, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Amy G. Williams, Defense 
Acquisition Regulations System, OUSD (AT&L) DPAP/DARS, Room 3B855, 3060 
Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3060. Telephone (703) 602-0328; 
facsimile (703) 602-0350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On September 15, 2011, Armenia became a party to the World Trade 
Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA). The Trade 
Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) provides the authority for the 
President to waive the Buy American Act and other discriminatory 
provisions for eligible products from countries that have signed an 
international trade agreement with the United States (such as the WTO 
GPA). The President has delegated this waiver authority to the U.S. 
Trade Representative (see FAR 25.402).
    On September 22, 2011, because Armenia became a party to the WTO 
GPA and because the U.S. Trade Representative has determined that 
Armenia will provide appropriate reciprocal competitive Government 
procurement opportunities to United States products and services and 
suppliers of such products and services, the U.S. Trade Representative 
published a notice in the Federal Register (76 FR 58856) waiving the 
Buy American Act and other discriminatory provisions for eligible 
products from Armenia.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    FAR 25.003 defines WTO GPA countries by listing the parties to the 
WTO GPA, and defines ``designated country'' as a WTO GPA country, a 
Free Trade Agreement country, a least designated country, or a 
Caribbean Basin country.
    Because Armenia is now a WTO GPA country and therefore also a 
designated country, as determined by the U.S. Trade Representative, 
this final rule adds Armenia to the lists of WTO GPA countries within 
the definition of ``designated country'' at DFARS 252.225-7021, Trade 
Agreements, and 252.225-7045, Balance of Payments Program--Construction 
Material Under Trade Agreements. Conforming changes were also made to 
the clause date at 252.225-7001(b)(12)(i).

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 a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was 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

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to this rule because 
an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is only required for 
proposed or interim rules that require publication for public comment 
(5 U.S.C. 603) and a final regulatory flexibility analysis is only 
required for final rules that were previously published for public 
comment, and for which an initial regulatory flexibility analysis was 
prepared (5 U.S.C. 604).
    Publication of this final rule for public comment is not required 
by statute (41 U.S.C. 1707) because it recognizes actions taken by the 
United States Trade Representative that do not have a significant 
effect on contractors or offerors or a significant effect beyond the 
internal operating procedures of the Government. Therefore, publication 
for public comment under 41 U.S.C. 1707 is not required.

V. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does apply because the final rule 
affects the certification and information collection requirement in the 
provisions at DFARS 252.225-7020, Trade Agreements Certificate, 
currently approved under OMB clearance 0704-0229, DFARS Part 225, 
Foreign Acquisition, and associated clauses. DFARS provision 252.225-
7020 relies on the definition of ``designated country'' in DFARS 
252.225-7021, which now includes Armenia. The impact, however, is 
negligible. Comments regarding the burden estimates or any other aspect 
of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing 
the burden, in response to approved OMB clearance 0704-0229, should be 
sent, not later than March 30, 2012 to Ms. Jasmeet Seehra at the Office 
of Management and Budget, Desk Officer for DoD, Room 10236, New 
Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, with a copy to the 
Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Amy Williams, OUSD 
(AT&L) DPAP (DARS), Room 3B855, 3060 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 
20301-3060.
    Requesters may obtain a copy of the supporting statement for the 
burden

[[Page 4632]]

approved under OMB clearance 0704-0229 from the point of contact 
identified in this notice. Please cite OMB Control Number 0704-0229, in 
all correspondence.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 252

    Government procurement.

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

    Therefore, 48 CFR part 252 is amended as follows:

PART 252--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 252 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1303 and 48 CFR chapter 1.

252.212-7001  [Amended].

0
2. In section 252.212-7001, remove the clause date ``(DEC 2011)'' and 
add ``(JANUARY 2012)'' in its place and in paragraph (b)(13)(i) remove 
the clause date ``(OCT 2011)'' and add ``(JANUARY 2012)'' in its place.
0
3. In section 252.225-7021, remove the clause date ``(OCT 2011)'' and 
add ``(JAN 2012)'' in its place and in paragraph (a), in the definition 
for ``Designated country'', revise paragraph (i) to read as follows:

252.225-7021  Trade agreements.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    Designated country * * *
    (i) A World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement 
(WTO GPA) country (Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, 
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, 
Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, 
Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 
Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, 
Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (known in 
the World Trade Organization as ``the Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu'' (Chinese Taipei)), or the United 
Kingdom);
* * * * *

0
4. In section 252.225-7045, remove the clause date ``(JUN 2011)'' and 
add ``(JAN 2012)'' in its place and in paragraph (a), in the definition 
for ``Designated country'', revise paragraph (1) to read as follows:

252.225-7045  Balance of Payments Program--Construction Material Under 
Trade Agreements.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    Designated country * * *
    (1) A World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement 
(WTO GPA) country (Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, 
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, 
Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, 
Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 
Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, 
Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (known in 
the World Trade Organization as ``the Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu'' (Chinese Taipei)), or the United 
Kingdom);
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2012-1488 Filed 1-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P
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