Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
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###### Department of Defense

###### General Services Administration

###### National Aeronautics and Space Administration

          - 48 CFR Parts 5, 6, and 24
          - [FAC 2005-30; FAR Case 2008-003; Item IV; Docket 2008-0001, Sequence 08]
          - RIN 9000-AL13

# AGENCIES:

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

# ACTION:

Interim rule with request for comments.

# SUMMARY:

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement Section 844 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 “Public Disclosure of Justification and Approval Documents for Noncompetitive Contracts” (FY08 NDAA). Section 844 of the FY08 NDAA stipulates the requirements regarding the public availability of justification and approval documents after the award of Federal contracts, except for information exempt from public disclosure.

# DATES:

*Effective Date*: February 17, 2009.                        

*Applicability Date*: This interim rule applies to all contracts awarded from a 6.303-1 justification and approval document on or after the effective date.                    

*Comment Date*: Interested parties should submit written comments to the FAR Secretariat on or before March 16,                               ( print page 2732)                            2009 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.                    

# ADDRESSES:

Submit comments identified by FAC 2005-30, FAR case 2008-003, by any of the following methods:
      - Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov .Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by inputting “FAR Case 2008-003” under the heading “Comment or Submission”. Select the link “Send a Comment or Submission” that corresponds with FAR Case 2008-003. Follow the instructions provided to complete the “Public Comment and Submission Form”. Please include your name, company name (if any), and “FAR Case 2008-003” on your attached document.                        
      - Fax: 202-501-4067.
      - Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (VPR), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, ATTN: Hada Flowers, Washington, DC 20405.

*Instructions*: Please submit comments only and cite FAC 2005-30, FAR case 2008-003, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments received will be posted without change to                             *http://www.regulations.gov*, including any personal and/or business confidential information provided.                        

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Ernest Woodson, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-3775 for clarification of content. Please cite FAC 2005-30, FAR case 2008-003. For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## A. Background

                        The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Section 844 “Public Disclosure of Justification and Approval Documents for Noncompetitive Contracts ”amends 10 U.S.C. 2304 and 41 U.S.C. 253 regarding procurements made under subsection (c) (                        *i.e.*, other than competitive procedures) to require public availability of the justification and approval documents after contract award except for information exempt from public disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552. The provisions of Section 844 require the head of an executive agency to make certain justification and approval documents relating to the use of noncompetitive procedures in contracting available on the website of an agency and through a governmentwide website selected by the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy within 14 days of contract award. In the case of noncompetitive contracts awarded on the basis of unusual and compelling urgency, the documents must be posted within 30 days of contract award. The Competition in Contracting Act (Public Law 98-369) already requires that such justification and approval documents be made available for public inspection, subject to the exemptions from public disclosures provided in the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).                    

This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

## B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

                        The interim rule is not expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601,                         *et seq.*, because this rule does not revise or change existing regulations pertaining to small business concerns seeking Government contracts. Therefore, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has not been performed. The Councils will consider comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR Parts 5, 6, and 24 in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C 601,                         *et seq.*                         (FAC 2005-30, FAR case 2008-003), in all correspondence.                    

## C. Paperwork Reduction Act

                        The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to the FAR do not impose information collection requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501,                         *et seq.*

## D. Determination to Issue an Interim Rule

A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary of Defense (DoD), the Administrator of General Services (GSA), and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. This action is necessary because the provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Section 844 was enacted on January 28, 2008. The Councils believe that the interim rule in the FAR will provide contracting officers the relevant regulatory guidance needed when addressing requirements outlined in this notice. The rule will also benefit industry by increasing transparency and accountability in federal contracting. This interim rule is applicable to all contracts awarded from a 6.303-1 justification and approval document on or after the effective date of this rule. However, pursuant to Public Law 98-577 and FAR 1.501, the Councils will consider public comments received in response to this interim rule in the formation of the final rule.

# List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 5, 6, and 24

      - Government procurement

Dated: December 24, 2008

Edward Loeb,

Acting Director, Office of Acquisition Policy.

Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 5, 6, and 24 as set forth below:

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 5, 6, and 24 continues to read as follows:

Authority:40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 U.S.C. 2473(c).

# PART 5—PUBLICIZING CONTRACT ACTIONS

2. Amend section 5.301 by adding paragraph (d) to read as follows: 

5.301

* * * * *

(d) Justifications for other than full and open competition must be posted in accordance with 6.305.

3. Add section 5.406 to read as follows: 

5.406

Justifications for other than full and open competition must be posted in accordance with 6.305.

# PART 6—COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS

4. Revise section 6.305 to read as follows: 

6.305

(a) Except for paragraph (b) of this section, the agency shall make publicly available within 14 days after contract award the justification required by 6.303-1 as required by 10 U.S.C. 2304(f)(4) and 41 U.S.C. 253(f)(4)—

                            (1) At the GPE                             *www.fedbizopps.gov*; and                        

(2) On the website of the agency, which may provide access to the justifications by linking to the GPE.

                            (b) In the case of a contract award permitted under 6.302-2, the                                   ( print page 2733)                                justification shall be posted within 30 days after contract award.                        

(c) Contracting officers shall carefully screen all justifications for contractor proprietary data and remove all such data, and such references and citations as are necessary to protect the proprietary data, before making the justifications available for public inspection. Contracting officers shall also be guided by the exemptions to disclosure of information contained in the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the prohibitions against disclosure in 24.202 in determining whether other data should be removed.

# PART 24—PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

5. Amend section 24.203 by adding after the second sentence and at the end of paragraph (b) new sentences to read as follows: 

24.203

* * * * *

                            (b) * * * Other exemptions include agency personnel practices, and law enforcement. * * * A Freedom of Information Act guide and other resources are available at the Department of Justice website under FOIA reference materials:                             *http://www.usdoj.gov/​oip*.                        

[FR Doc. E9-555 Filed 1-14-09; 8:45 am]

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