[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 11, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 60542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25873]



[[Page 60541]]

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Part III





Department of Defense

General Services Administration

National Aeronautics and Space Administration





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48 CFR Chapter I, Parts 2, 4, et al.



Federal Acquisition Circular 97-20; Introduction and Federal 
Acquisition Regulations: Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business 
Development Act of 1999, Truth in Negotiations Act Threshold, and Small 
Entity Compliance Guide; Final Rules

Federal Register / Vol. 65 , No. 197 / Wednesday, October 11, 2000 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 60542]]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Chapter 1


Federal Acquisition Circular 97-20; Introduction

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Summary presentation of final and interim rules.

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SUMMARY: This document summarizes the Federal Acquisition Regulation 
(FAR) rules agreed to by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and 
the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) in this Federal 
Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-20. The Councils drafted these FAR rules 
using plain language in accordance with the White House memorandum, 
Plain Language in Government Writing, dated June 1, 1998. The Councils 
wrote all new and revised text using plain language. A companion 
document, the Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG), follows this FAC. 
The FAC, including the SECG, is available via the Internet at http://www.arnet.gov/far.

DATES: For effective dates and comment dates, see separate documents 
which follow.

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 the analyst whose name appears in the table below in 
relation to each FAR case or subject area. Please cite FAC 97-20 and 
specific FAR case numbers. Interested parties may also visit our 
website at http://www.arnet.gov/far.

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       Item                  Subject           FAR case       Analyst
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I.................  Veterans                    2000-302  Moss.
                     Entrepreneurship and
                     Small Business
                     Development Act of 1999.
II................  Truth in Negotiations       2000-300  Olson.
                     Act Threshold.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Summaries for each FAR rule follow. For the 
actual revisions and/or amendments to these FAR cases, refer to the 
specific item number and subject set forth in the documents following 
these item summaries.
    Federal Acquisition Circular 97-20 amends the FAR as specified 
below:

Item I--Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development 
Act of 1999 (FAR Case 2000-302)

    This interim rule amends the FAR to implement sections 501(c), 
502(a)(2), and 604(d) of the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small 
Business Development Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-50). This Act established 
new assistance programs for veterans and service-disabled veterans who 
own and operate small businesses. This interim rule--
    <bullet> Defines the terms ``veteran-owned small business 
concerns'' and ``service-disabled veteran-owned small business 
concerns;''
    <bullet> Establishes that veteran-owned and service-disabled 
veteran-owned small businesses be afforded maximum practical 
opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and 
subcontracts awarded by any Federal agency;
    <bullet> Establishes a requirement to include a goal for veteran-
owned small businesses in subcontracting plans under FAR 52.219-9; and
    <bullet> Amends the SF 294 and SF 295 to add data collection 
requirements for subcontract awards to veteran-owned small businesses 
and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns.

Item II--Truth in Negotiations Act Threshold (FAR Case 2000-300)

    This final rule amends FAR 15.403-4 to increase the threshold for 
obtaining cost or pricing data from $500,000 to $550,000. This 
implements the requirements of 10 U.S.C. 2306a(a)(7) and 41 U.S.C. 
254b(a)(7). These statutes require review of the Truth in Negotiations 
Act threshold every 5 years, starting October 1, 1995.

    Dated: October 3, 2000.
Al Matera,
Acting Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.

Federal Acquisition Circular

    Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-20 is issued under the 
authority of the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General 
Services, and the Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration.
    All Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) changes and other 
directive material contained in FAC 97-20 are effective October 11, 
2000.

    Dated: October 3, 2000.
Col. R.D. Kerrins, Jr., USA
Acting Director, Defense Procurement.
    Dated: October 3, 2000.
David A. Drabkin,
Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Acquisition Policy, General 
Services Administration.
    Dated: October 2, 2000.
Tom Luedtke,
Associate Administrator for Procurement, National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-25873 Filed 10-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P