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###### Environmental Protection Agency

          - 48 CFR Parts 1515 and 1552
          - [EPA-HQ-OARM-2015-0182; FRL 9923-85-OARM]

# AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

# ACTION:

Direct final rule.

# SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amends the EPA Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) to remove source selection guidance and clauses that are not consistent with current EPA internal operating procedures for source selections. Additionally, EPA is deleting a clause for Payments—Fixed Rate Services Contracts because it is inconsistent with sections in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). EPA does not anticipate any adverse comments.

# DATES:

                        This rule is effective on June 15, 2015 without further notice, unless adverse comment is received May 15, 2015. If adverse comment is received, the EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the rule in the                         **Federal Register**                        .                    

# ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-2015-0182 by one of the following methods:
      -  www.regulations.gov:                          Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.                    
      - Email: docket.oei@epa.gov
      -  Fax:                          (202) 566-1753                    
      -  Mail:                          EPA-HQ-OARM-2015-0182, OEI Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. Please include a total of three (3) copies.                    
      -  Hand Delivery:                          EPA Docket Center—Attention OEI Docket, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington DC 20004. Such                                ( print page 20168)                              deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.                    

*Instructions:*                         Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-2015-0182. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at                         *http://www.regulations.gov,*                         including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through                         *http://www.regulations.gov*                         or email. The                         *http://www.regulations.gov*                         Web site is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without going through                         *http://www.regulations.gov*                         your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at                         *http://www.epa.gov/​epahome/​dockets.htm*.                    

*Docket:*                         All documents in the docket are listed in the                         *http://www.regulations.gov*                         index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available,                         *e.g.,*                         CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in                         *http://www.regulations.gov*                         or in hard copy at the Government Property—Contract Property Administration Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744 and the telephone number for the EPA Docket Center is (202) 566-1752. This Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Staci Ramrakha, Policy, Training, and Oversight Division, Acquisition Policy and Training Service Center (3802R), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-2017; email address:                         *ramrakha.staci@epa.gov*.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## General Information

                    1. Do not submit Classified Business Information (CBI) to EPA Web site                     *http://www.regulations.gov*                     or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as CBI, and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific information that is claimed as CBI. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.                

2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, remember to:
    - Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register                      date and page number).                
    - Follow directions—The Agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part or section number.
    - Explain why you agree or disagree, suggest alternatives, and substitute language for your requested changes.
    - Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/or data that you used.
    - If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced.
    - Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggest alternatives.
    - Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats.

3. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified.

## Background

The EPA has recently issued new internal guidance for conducting source selections in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15. As a result of the new guidance, existing EPAAR subsection 1515.3, Source Selection, is no longer pertinent. The new source selection guidance does not have a significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures of the agency or have a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or offerors. Therefore, this subpart and its related clauses are being removed in their entirety. Additionally, the EPA is removing EPAAR 1552.232-73, Payments—Fixed Rate Services Contracts, because it is inconsistent with FAR 52.232-7.

## Final Rule

This final rule makes the following changes:

1. Amend EPAAR 1515.209 to delete source selection clauses that are no longer applicable to EPA source selections.

2. Remove EPAAR Subpart 15.3, Source Selection, in its entirety.

3. Remove EPAAR 1552.215-70, EPA Source Evaluation and Selection Procedures—Negotiated Procurements, in its entirety.

4. Remove EPAAR 1552.215-71, Evaluation Factors for Award, in its entirety.

5. Remove EPAAR 1552.232-73, Payments—Fixed Rate Services Contracts, in its entirety.

6. Amend EPAAR 1552.215-72(b)(1)(iii) to delete reference to EPAAR 1552.232-73 which has been removed from the EPAAR.

## Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

### A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review

This action is not a “significant regulatory action” under the terms of Executive Order (EO) 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and is therefore not subject to review under the EO 12866 and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011).

### B. Paperwork Reduction Act

                    This action does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501*et seq.*                     Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).                          ( print page 20169)    

### C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.

The RFA generally requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act or any other statute; unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small entities include small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions. For purposes of assessing the impact of today's final rule on small entities, “small entity” is defined as: (1) A small business that meets the definition of a small business found in the Small Business Act and codified at 13 CFR 121.201; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of a city, county, town, school district or special district with a population of less than 50,000; or (3) a small organization that is any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field. After considering the economic impacts of this rule on small entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. In determining whether a rule has a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, the impact of concern is any significant adverse economic impact on small entities, because the primary purpose of the regulatory flexibility analyses is to identify and address regulatory alternatives “which minimize any significant economic impact of the proposed rule on small entities” 5 U.S.C. 503 and 604. Thus, an agency may certify that a rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities if the rule relieves regulatory burden, or otherwise has a positive economic effect on all of the small entities subject to the rule. This action revises current EPAAR clauses and will not have a significant economic impact on substantial number of small entities. We continue to be interested in the potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities and welcome comments on issues related to such impacts.

### D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

This action contains no federal mandates under the provisions of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538 for State, local, and tribal governments or the private sector. The action imposes no enforceable duty on any State, local or tribal governments or the private sector. Therefore, this action is not subject to the requirements of Sections 202 or 205 of the UMRA. This action is also not subject to the requirements of section 203 of UMRA because it contains no regulatory requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect small governments.

### E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 13132. Thus, Executive Order 13132 does not apply to this action. In the spirit of Executive Order 13132, and consistent with EPA policy to promote communications between EPA and State and local governments, EPA specifically solicits comment on this action from State and local officials.

### F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments

This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not apply to this action.

### G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health and Safety Risks

Executive Order 13045, entitled “Protection of Children from Environmental Health and Safety Risks” (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997), applies to any rule that: (1) Is determined to be economically significant as defined under EO 12886, and (2) concerns an environmental health or safety risk that may have a proportionate effect on children. This rule is not subject to EO 13045 because it is not an economically significant rule as defined by EO 12866, and because it does not have a proportionate effect on children.

### H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28335 May 22, 2001) because it is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

### I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (NTTAA)

                    Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (“NTTAA”), Public Law 104-113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (                    *e.g.,*                     materials specifications, test methods, sampling procedures and business practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. NTTAA directs EPA to provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use available and applicable voluntary consensus standards. This action does not involve technical standards. Therefore, EPA is not considering the use of any voluntary consensus standards.                

### J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994) establishes federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations in the United States. EPA has determined that this final rule will not have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority or low-income populations because it does not affect the level of protection provided to human health or the environment in the general public.

### K. Congressional Review Act

                    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801*et seq.,*                     as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the Agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. Section 804 exempts from section 801 the following types of rules (1) rules of particular applicability; (2) rules relating to agency management or personnel; and (3) rules                           ( print page 20170)                        of Agency organization, procedure, or practice that do not substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-agency parties. 5 U.S.C. 804(3). EPA is not required to submit a rule report regarding today's action under section 801 because this is a rule of agency organization, procedure, or practice that does not substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-agency parties.                

# List of Subjects

### 48 CFR Part 1515

      - Environmental protection
      - Government procurement

### 48 CFR Part 1552

      - Environmental protection
      - Government procurement
      - Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Dated: April 2, 2015.

John R. Bashista,

Director, Office of Acquisition Management.

For the reasons stated in the preamble, EPA amends 48 CFR Chapter 15, parts 1515 and 1552 as set forth below:

# PART 1515—CONTRACTING BY NEGOTATION

1. The authority citation for part 1515 continues to read as follows: 

Authority:5 U.S.C. 301; Sec. 205(c), 63 Stat. 390, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 486(c); and 41 U.S.C. 418b.

2. Revise 1515.209 to read as follows: 

1515.209 

The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 1552.215-75, Past Performance Information, or a clause substantially the same as 1552.215-75, in all competitively negotiated acquisitions with an estimated value in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold.

# Subpart 1515.3 [Removed]

3. Remove subpart 1515.3. 

# PART 1552—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

4. The authority citation for part 1552 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; Sec. 205(c), 63 Stat. 390, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 486(c); and 41 U.S.C. 418b.

1552.215-70 and 1552.215-71 

5. Remove 1552.215-70 and 1552.215-71. 

6. Amend 1552.215-72 by revising paragraph (b)(1)(iii) to read as follows: 

1552.215-72 

* * * * *

(b) * * *

(1) * * *

(iii) If the contract includes the clause at FAR 52.232-7, “Payments Under Time and Materials and Labor-Hour Contracts,” include in the cost proposal the estimated costs and burden rate to be applied to materials, other direct costs, or subcontracts. The Government will include these costs as part of its cost proposal evaluation.

* * * * *

1552.232-73 

7. Remove 1552.232-73. 

[FR Doc. 2015-08665 Filed 4-14-15; 8:45 am]

 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P