[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34062-34063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16113]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 9, 11, and 52

[FAC 97-05; FAR Case 97-034; Item II]
RIN 9000-AI00


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Availability of Specifications

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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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 update information 
regarding the availability of specifications, standards, and item 
descriptions cited in Government solicitations and contracts. 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: August 21, 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 Mr. Ralph DeStefano, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 
501-1758. Please cite FAC 97-05, FAR case 97-034.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    This final rule amends FAR Parts 9 and 11 and the provisions at 
52.211-1, 52.211-2, and 52.212-1 to update information regarding the 
availability of specifications, standards, and item descriptions that 
may be cited in Government solicitations and contracts. New 
organization names, addresses, and telephone numbers, and a new method 
of obtaining information on the World Wide Web have been added. In 
addition, the rule clarifies the pricing policy regarding 
specifications, standards, and commercial item descriptions issued by 
GSA.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision 
within the meaning of FAR 1.501 and Pub. L. 98-577, and publication for 
public comments is not required. However, comments from small entities 
concerning the affected FAR subparts 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 97-05, FAR case 97-034), in 
correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the FAR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection 
requirements, or collections of information from offerors, contractors, 
or members of the public which require the approval of the Office of 
Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 9, 11, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: June 11, 1998.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.

    Therefore, 48 CFR Parts 9, 11, and 52 are amended as set forth 
below:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Parts 9, 11, and 52 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).

PART 9--CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

    2. Section 9.203 is amended by revising paragraphs (c)(1) and (d) 
to read as follows:


9.203  QPL's, QML's, and QBL's.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Federal Standardization Manual, FSPM-0001.
* * * * *
    (d) The publications listed in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this 
section are sold to the public. The publications in paragraphs (b)(1) 
and (c)(1) of this section may be obtained from the addressee in 
11.201(d)(1). The publications in paragraphs (b)(2) and (c)(2) of this 
section may be obtained from the addressee in 11.201(d)(2).

PART 11--DESCRIBING AGENCY NEEDS

    3. Section 11.102 is revised to read as follows:


11.102  Standardization program.

    Agencies shall select existing requirements documents or develop 
new requirements documents that meet the needs of the agency in 
accordance

[[Page 34063]]

with the guidance contained in the Federal Standardization Manual, 
FSPM-0001, and, for DoD components, DoD 4120.3-M, Defense 
Standardization Program Policies and Procedures. The Federal 
Standardization Manual may be obtained from the General Services 
Administration (see address in 11.201(d)(1)). DoD 4120.3-M may be 
obtained from DoD (see address in 11.201(d)(2)).
    4. Section 11.201 is amended by revising paragraph (d) and the 
first sentence of paragraph (e) to read as follows:


11.201  Identification and availability of specifications.

* * * * *
    (d)(1) The GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and 
Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101-29, may be purchased from 
the--General Services Administration, Federal Supply Service, 
Specifications Section, Suite 8100, 470 East L'Enfant Plaza, SW, 
Washington, DC 20407, Telephone (202) 619-8925.
    (2) The DoDISS may be purchased from the--Department of Defense 
Single Stock Point (DoDSSP), Building 4, Section D, 700 Robbins Avenue, 
Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Telephone (215) 697-2667/2179.
    (e) Agencies may generally obtain from the GSA Specifications 
Section or DoDSSP those nongovernment (voluntary) standards adopted for 
use by Federal or Defense activities. * * *
    5. Section 11.204 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to 
read as follows:


11.204  Solicitation provisions and contract clauses.

    (a) The contracting officer shall insert the provision at 52.211-1, 
Availability of Specifications Listed in the GSA Index of Federal 
Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 
101-29, in solicitations that cite specifications listed in the Index 
that are not furnished with the solicitation.
    (b) The contracting officer shall insert the provision at 52.211-2, 
Availability of Specifications Listed in the DoD Index of 
Specifications and Standards (DoDISS) and Descriptions Listed in the 
Acquisition Management Systems and Data Requirements Control List, DoD 
5010.12-L, in solicitations that cite specifications listed in the 
DoDISS or DoD 5010.12-L that are not furnished with the solicitation.
* * * * *

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

    6. Sections 52.211-1 and 52.211-2 are revised to read as follows:


52.211-1  Availability of Specifications Listed in the GSA Index of 
Federal Specifications, Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, 
FPMR Part 101-29.

    As prescribed in 11.204(a), insert the following provision:

AVAILABILITY OF SPECIFICATIONS LISTED IN THE GSA INDEX OF FEDERAL 
SPECIFICATIONS, STANDARDS AND COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTIONS, FPMR PART 
101-29 (AUG 1998)

    (a) The GSA Index of Federal Specifications, Standards and 
Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101-29, and copies of 
specifications, standards, and commercial item descriptions cited in 
this solicitation may be obtained for a fee by submitting a request 
to--GSA Federal Supply Service, Specifications Section, Suite 8100, 
470 East L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC 20407, Telephone (202) 
619-8925, Facsimile (202) 619-8978.
    (b) If the General Services Administration, Department of 
Agriculture, or Department of Veterans Affairs issued this 
solicitation, a single copy of specifications, standards, and 
commercial item descriptions cited in this solicitation may be 
obtained free of charge by submitting a request to the addressee in 
paragraph (a) of this provision. Additional copies will be issued 
for a fee.

(End of provision)


52.211-2  Availability of Specifications Listed in the DoD Index of 
Specifications and Standards (DoDISS) and Descriptions Listed in the 
Acquisition Management Systems and Data Requirements Control List, DoD 
5010.12-L.

    As prescribed in 11.204(b), insert the following provision:

AVAILABILITY OF SPECIFICATIONS LISTED IN THE DOD INDEX OF 
SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS (DODISS) AND DESCRIPTIONS LISTED IN THE 
ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND DATA REQUIREMENTS CONTROL LIST, DOD 
5010.12-L (AUG 1998)

    (a) Copies of specifications, standards, and data item 
descriptions cited in this solicitation may be obtained for a fee by 
submitting a request to the--Department of Defense Single Stock 
Point (DoDSSP), Building 4, Section D, 700 Robbins Avenue, 
Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Telephone (215) 697-2667/2179, 
Facsimile (215) 697-1462.
    (b) Order forms, pricing information, and customer support 
information may be obtained--
    (1) By telephone at (215) 697-2667/2179; or
    (2) Through the DoDSSP Internet site at <a href="http://
www.dodssp.daps.mil">http://
www.dodssp.daps.mil</a>.

(End of provision)

    7. Section 52.212-1 is amended by revising the date of the 
provision and paragraph (i) to read as follows:


52.212-1  Instructions to Offerors--Commercial Items.

* * * * *

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (AUG 1998)

* * * * *
    (i) Availability of requirements documents cited in the 
solicitation. (1)(i) The GSA Index of Federal Specifications, 
Standards and Commercial Item Descriptions, FPMR Part 101-29, and 
copies of specifications, standards, and commercial item 
descriptions cited in this solicitation may be obtained for a fee by 
submitting a request to--GSA Federal Supply Service Specifications 
Section, Suite 8100, 470 East L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC 
20407, Telephone (202) 619-8925, Facsimile (202) 619-8978.
    (ii) If the General Services Administration, Department of 
Agriculture, or Department of Veterans Affairs issued this 
solicitation, a single copy of specifications, standards, and 
commercial item descriptions cited in this solicitation may be 
obtained free of charge by submitting a request to the addressee in 
paragraph (i)(1)(i) of this provision. Additional copies will be 
issued for a fee.
    (2) The DoD Index of Specifications and Standards (DoDISS) and 
documents listed in it may be obtained from the--Department of 
Defense Single Stock Point (DoDSSP), Building 4, Section D, 700 
Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Telephone (215) 697-
2667/2179, Facsimile (215) 697-1462.
    (i) Automatic distribution may be obtained on a subscription 
basis.
    (ii) Order forms, pricing information, and customer support 
information may be obtained--
    (A) By telephone at (215) 697-2667/2179; or
    (B) Through the DoDSSP Internet site at <a href="http://
www.dodssp.daps.mil">http://
www.dodssp.daps.mil</a>.
    (3) Nongovernment (voluntary) standards must be obtained from 
the organization responsible for their preparation, publication, or 
maintenance.
* * * * *

(End of provision)

[FR Doc. 98-16113 Filed 6-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P