[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2745-2746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-547]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52

[FAC 2005-30; FAR Case 2007-016; Item VIII; Docket 2008-0001; Sequence 
3]
RIN 9000-AK89


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2007-016, Trade 
Agreements--New Thresholds

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 (Councils) have agreed on a final rule 
amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to incorporate 
increased thresholds for application of the World Trade Organization 
Government Procurement Agreement and the Free Trade Agreements, as 
determined by the United States Trade Representative.

DATES: Effective Date: January 15, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Meredith Murphy, Procurement 
Analyst, at (202) 208-6925, for clarification of content. For 
information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the 
FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-30, FAR case 
2007-016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule in the Federal 
Register at 73 FR 10962 on February 28, 2008, to implement the biannual 
changes specified by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to 
the trade agreements thresholds. A correction was published in the 
Federal Register at 73 FR 16747, March 28, 2008.
    No comments were received by the close of the public comment period 
on April 28, 2008. Therefore, the Councils agreed to convert the 
interim rule to a final rule without change.
    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 Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify that this 
final rule will not 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 the dollar threshold 
changes are designed to keep pace with inflation and thus maintain the 
status quo.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub. L. 104-13) applies because the 
final rule contains information collection requirements that affect the 
prescriptions for use of the certifications at FAR 52.225-4 (OMB 
Control No. 9000-0130) and FAR 52.225-6 (OMB Control No. 9000-0025) and 
the clauses at FAR 52.225-9 and 52.225-11 (OMB Control No. 9000-0141), 
which contain information collection requirements approved under the 
specified OMB control numbers by the Office of Management and Budget 
under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. However, there is no impact on the 
estimated burden hours, because the threshold changes are in

[[Page 2746]]

line with inflation and maintain the status quo.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: December 24, 2008
Edward Loeb,
Acting Director, Office of Acquisition Policy.
    Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without Change
    Accordingly, the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 22, 25, and 52, 
which was published at 73 FR 10962 on February 28, 2008, and amended at 
73 FR 16747 on March 28, 2008, is adopted as a final rule without 
change.
[FR Doc. E9-547 Filed 1-14-09; 8:45 am]
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