5346 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2001 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 22 and 52

[FAC 97–23; FAR Case 1999–608]

RIN 9000–AI51

Federal Acquisition Regulation;

Prohibition of Acquisition of Products

Produced by Forced or Indentured

Child Labor

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD),

General Services Administration (GSA),

and National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency

Acquisition Council and the Defense

Acquisition Regulations Council

(Councils) are issuing a final rule to

amend the Federal Acquisition

Regulation (FAR) to implement the

specific requirements of Executive

Order 13126, Prohibition of Acquisition

of Products Produced by Forced or

Indentured Child Labor, as well as to

prescribe further appropriate actions to

comply with the broad policy of the

Executive Order (i.e., to enforce laws

prohibiting the manufacture or

importation of products that have been

mined, produced, or manufactured

wholly or in part using forced or

indentured child labor).

DATES: Effective Date: February 20,

2001.

Applicability Date: The FAR, as

amended by this rule, is applicable to

solicitations issued on or after February

20, 2001 per FAR 1.108(d).

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 Ms.

Linda Nelson, Procurement Analyst, at

(202) 501–3775. Please cite FAC 97–23,

FAR case 1999–608.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

This final rule amends the FAR by

adding a new FAR subpart on

prohibition of acquisition of products

produced by forced or indentured child

labor (Subpart 22.15), adding a new

certification regarding knowledge of

child labor for listed end products (FAR

52.212–3 and 52.222–18), and adding a

clause at 52.222–19, that requires

cooperation with authorities if the

solicitation included the certification

provision and provides remedies for

violations relating to use of forced or

indentured child labor.

On June 12, 1999, the President

signed Executive Order 13126,

Prohibition of Acquisition of Products

Produced by Forced or Indentured Child

Labor (the Executive Order). The

Executive Order states a broad policy

that executive agencies must take

appropriate actions to enforce the laws

prohibiting the manufacture or

importation of products mined,

produced, or manufactured wholly or in

part by forced or indentured child labor.

Section 2 of the Executive Order

directed the Department of Labor (DoL),

in consultation with the Department of

Treasury and the Department of State, to

publish in the Federal Register a list of

products (the List, identified by their

country of origin, for which there is a

reasonable basis to believe that such

product may have been mined,

produced, or manufactured by forced or

indentured child labor. DoL published

the preliminary List in the Federal

Register on September 6, 2000 (65 FR

54108–54112), and solicited public

comment. After receipt and

consideration of the public comments,

DoL is publishing the final List in

today’s Federal Register.

Section 3 of the Executive Order

required the Councils to issue a

proposed rule, amending the FAR to

implement the policy expressed in the

Executive Order. Accordingly, the

Councils published a proposed rule in

the Federal Register on September 6,

2000 (65 FR 54104–54107). Public

comments on the proposed rule were

due by November 6, 2000.

Ten respondents submitted public

comments. Most comments received did

not object to the basic policy but were

outside the scope of the case, because

they request FAR revisions that go

beyond the scope of the Executive Order

or are inconsistent with the

requirements of the Executive Order.

For example, some suggested

expanding the scope of the mandate of

the Executive Order in the regulation to

address products made by convict labor

and forced or indentured labor by

persons 18 or older—clearly outside the

purview of this rulemaking. Other

respondents suggested using a different

definition of ‘‘forced or indentured

child labor,’’ a comment that has been

addressed in the companion rule being

issued simultaneously by the

Department of Labor. The Councils

carefully considered all comments in

formulation of the final rule.

The Councils are issuing a final rule

that is the same as the proposed rule,

except for minor editorial changes. This

is a significant regulatory action, and

therefore, was 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 only

a small percentage of acquisitions are

for products on the DoL List, there is

minimal impact on offerors providing a

listed product that originates in a

country other than the corresponding

countries identified on the DoL List, and

not all offerors responding to

solicitations for these acquisitions are

small entities. With regard to the clause

that requires cooperation with

authorities and provides remedies for

violations relating to use of forced or

indentured child labor, we expect that

very few contractors are furnishing end

products or components produced by

forced or indentured child labor. The

rule does not apply to micro-purchases.

The Councils did not receive any

comments regarding the Regulatory

Flexibility Act as a result of publication

of the proposed rule in the Federal

Register at 65 FR 54104.

C. Nonstatutory Certification Approval

In accordance with Section 29 of the

Office of Federal Procurement Policy

Act, 41 U.S.C. Section 425, the FAR

Council has requested approval from the

Administrator for Federal Procurement

Policy for inclusion of a nonstatutory

certification in the Federal Acquisition

Regulation. In the absence of an

Administrator, that approval has been

granted by the Director of the Office of

Management and Budget in accordance

with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act

of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3348(b)(2).

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub.

L. 104–13) applies. This final rule

contains information collection

requirements that have been submitted

to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) which will not take effect prior

to OMB approval of these provisions.

Two respondents commented on the

estimated burden of the information

collection requirements.

The Councils note that the average

response time reflects the average

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2001 / Rules and Regulations 5347

burden on all contractors, including

those who must simply certify that they

are not supplying products that were

mined, produced, or manufactured in

the corresponding country identified on

the DoL List. We also anticipate that,

given the need to comply with the Tariff

Act of 1930, many offerors would

already have taken steps that would

enable them to make the necessary

certification, before they sought to

supply a product from a country

identified on the DoL List.

The proposed rule erroneously stated

the estimated hours per response as .30

hours rather than .5 hours (30 minutes).

This does not change the total estimate

of 250 response burden hours per year.

The revised annual reporting burden is

estimated as follows:

Respondents: 500.

Responses per respondent: 1.

Total annual responses: 500.

Preparation hours per response: .5.

Total response burden hours: 250.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 22 and

52

Government procurement.

Dated: January 12, 2001.

Al Matera,

Acting Director, Federal Acquisition Policy

Division.

Federal Acquisition Circular

Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC)

97–23 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 97–23 are

effective February 20, 2001.

Dated: January 11, 2001.

R.D. Kerrins, Jr.,

Acting Director, Defense Procurement,

Department of Defense.

Dated: January 11, 2001.

David A. Drabkin,

Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of

Acquisition Policy, General Services

Administration.

Dated: January 12, 2001.

Anne Guenther,

Acting Associate Administrator for

Procurement, National Aeronautics and

Space Administration.

Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA

amend 48 CFR Parts 22 and 52 as set

forth below:

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR

Parts 22 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 22—APPLICATION OF LABOR

LAWS TO GOVERNMENT

ACQUISITIONS

2. Add Subpart 22.15 to read as

follows:

Subpart 22.15—Prohibition of

Acquisition of Products Produced by

Forced or Indentured Child Labor

Sec.

22.1500 Scope.

22.1501 Definitions.

22.1502 Policy.

22.1503 Procedures for acquiring end

products on the List of Products

Requiring Contractor Certification as to

Forced or Indentured Child Labor.

22.1504 Violations and remedies.

22.1505 Solicitation provision and contract

clause.

22.1500 Scope.

This subpart applies to acquisitions of

supplies that exceed the micro-purchase

threshold.

22.1501 Definitions.

As used in this subpart—

Forced or indentured child labor

means all work or service—

(1) Exacted from any person under the

age of 18 under the menace of any

penalty for its nonperformance and for

which the worker does not offer himself

voluntarily; or

(2) Performed by any person under

the age of 18 pursuant to a contract the

enforcement of which can be

accomplished by process or penalties.

List of Products Requiring Contractor

Certification as to Forced or Indentured

Child Labor means the list published by

the Department of Labor in accordance

with Executive Order 13126 of June 12,

1999, Prohibition of Acquisition of

Products Produced by Forced or

Indentured Child Labor. The list

identifies products, by their country of

origin, that the Departments of Labor,

Treasury, and State have a reasonable

basis to believe might have been mined,

produced, or manufactured by forced or

indentured child labor.

22.1502 Policy.

Agencies must take appropriate action

to enforce the laws prohibiting the

manufacture or importation of products

that have been mined, produced, or

manufactured wholly or in part by

forced or indentured child labor (19

U.S.C. 1307, 29 U.S.C. 201, et seq., and

41 U.S.C. 35, et seq.). Agencies should

make every effort to avoid acquiring

such products.

22.1503 Procedures for acquiring end

products on the List of Products Requiring

Contractor Certification as to Forced or

Indentured Child Labor.

(a) When issuing a solicitation for

supplies expected to exceed the micropurchase threshold, the contracting

officer must check the List of Products

Requiring Contractor Certification as to

Forced or Indentured Child Labor (the

List) (www.dol.gov/dol/ilab) (see

22.1505(a)). Appearance of a product on

the List is not a bar to purchase of any

such product mined, produced, or

manufactured in the identified country,

but rather is an alert that there is a

reasonable basis to believe that such

product may have been mined,

produced, or manufactured by forced or

indentured child labor.

(b) The requirements of this subpart

that result from the appearance of any

end product on the List do not apply to

a solicitation or contract if the identified

country of origin on the List is—

(1) Canada, and the anticipated value

of the acquisition is $25,000 or more

(see 25.405);

(2) Israel, and the anticipated value of

the acquisition is $50,000 or more (see

25.406);

(3) Mexico, and the anticipated value

of the acquisition is $54,372 or more

(see 25.405); or

(4) Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Denmark,

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong

Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea,

Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,

Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,

Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,

or the United Kingdom and the

anticipated value of the acquisition is

$177,000 or more (see 25.403(b)).

(c) Except as provided in paragraph

(b) of this section, before the contracting

officer may make an award for an end

product (regardless of country of origin)

of a type identified by country of origin

on the List the offeror must certify

that—

(1) It will not supply any end product

on the List that was mined, produced,

or manufactured in a country identified

on the List for that product, as specified

in the solicitation by the contracting

officer in the Certification Regarding

Knowledge of Child Labor for Listed

End Products; or

(2)(i) It has made a good faith effort to

determine whether forced or indentured

child labor was used to mine, produce,

or manufacture any end product to be

furnished under the contract that is on

the List and was mined, produced, or

manufactured in a country identified on

the List for that product; and

5348 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2001 / Rules and Regulations

(ii) On the basis of those efforts, the

offeror is unaware of any such use of

child labor.

(d) Absent any actual knowledge that

the certification is false, the contracting

officer must rely on the offerors’

certifications in making award

decisions.

(e) Whenever a contracting officer has

reason to believe that forced or

indentured child labor was used to

mine, produce, or manufacture an end

product furnished pursuant to a contract

awarded subject to the certification

required in paragraph (c) of this section,

the contracting officer must refer the

matter for investigation by the agency’s

Inspector General, the Attorney General,

or the Secretary of the Treasury,

whichever is determined appropriate in

accordance with agency procedures,

except to the extent that the end product

is from the country listed in paragraph

(b) of this section, under a contract

exceeding the applicable threshold.

(f) Proper certification will not

prevent the head of an agency from

imposing remedies in accordance with

section 22.1504(a)(4) if it is later

discovered that the contractor has

furnished an end product or component

that has in fact been mined, produced,

or manufactured, wholly or in part,

using forced or indentured child labor.

22.1504 Violations and remedies.

(a) Violations. The Government may

impose remedies set forth in paragraph

(b) of this section for the following

violations (note that the violations in

paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) of this

section go beyond violations of the

requirements relating to certification of

end products) (see 22.1503):

(1) The contractor has submitted a

false certification regarding knowledge

of the use of forced or indentured child

labor.

(2) The contractor has failed to

cooperate as required in accordance

with the clause at 52.222–19, Child

Labor Cooperation with Authorities and

Remedies, with an investigation of the

use of forced or indentured child labor

by an Inspector General, the Attorney

General, or the Secretary of the

Treasury.

(3) The contractor uses forced or

indentured child labor in its mining,

production, or manufacturing processes.

(4) The contractor has furnished an

end product or component mined,

produced, or manufactured, wholly or

in part, by forced or indentured child

labor. Remedies in paragraphs (b)(2) and

(b)(3) of this section are inappropriate

unless the contractor knew of the

violation.

(b) Remedies. (1) The contracting

officer may terminate the contract.

(2) The suspending official may

suspend the contractor in accordance

with the procedures in subpart 9.4.

(3) The debarring official may debar

the contractor for a period not to exceed

3 years in accordance with the

procedures in subpart 9.4.

22.1505 Solicitation provision and

contract clause.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph

(b) of 22.1503, insert the provision at

52.222–18, Certification Regarding

Knowledge of Child Labor for Listed

End Products, in all solicitations that

are expected to exceed the micropurchase threshold and are for the

acquisition of end products (regardless

of country of origin) of a type identified

by country of origin on the List of

Products Requiring Contractor

Certification as to Forced or Indentured

Child Labor, except solicitations for

commercial items that include the

provision at 52.212–3, Offeror

Representations and Certifications—

Commercial Items. The contracting

officer must identify in paragraph (b) of

the provision at 52.222–18, Certification

Regarding Knowledge of Child Labor for

Listed End Products, or paragraph (i)(1)

of the provision at 52.212–3, any

applicable end products and countries

of origin from the List. For solicitations

estimated to equal or exceed $25,000,

the contracting officer must exclude

from the List in the solicitation end

products from any countries identified

at 22.1503(b), in accordance with the

specified thresholds.

(b) Insert the clause at 52.222–19,

Child Labor—Cooperation with

Authorities and Remedies, in all

solicitations and contracts for the

acquisition of supplies that are expected

to exceed the micro-purchase threshold.

PART 52—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS

AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

3. In section 52.212–3, revise the date

of the provision; add, in alphabetical

order, in paragraph (a) the definition

‘‘Forced or indentured child labor’’; and

add paragraph (i) to read as follows:

52.212–3 Offeror Representations and

Certifications—Commercial Items.

* * * * *

OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND

CERTIFICATIONS—COMMERCIAL ITEMS

(February 2001)

(a) * * *

* * * * *

Forced or indentured child labor means all

work or service—

(1) Exacted from any person under the age

of 18 under the menace of any penalty for its

nonperformance and for which the worker

does not offer himself voluntarily; or

(2) Performed by any person under the age

of 18 pursuant to a contract the enforcement

of which can be accomplished by process or

penalties.

* * * * *

(i) Certification Regarding Knowledge of

Child Labor for Listed End Products

(Executive Order 13126). [The Contracting

Officer must list in paragraph (i)(1) any end

products being acquired under this

solicitation that are included in the List of

Products Requiring Contractor Certification

as to Forced or Indentured Child Labor,

unless excluded at 22.1503(b).]

(1) Listed end products.

Listed End Product

lllllllllllllllllllll

lllllllllllllllllllll

Listed Countries of Origin

lllllllllllllllllllll

lllllllllllllllllllll

(2) Certification. [If the Contracting Officer

has identified end products and countries of

origin in paragraph (i)(1) of this provision,

then the offeror must certify to either (i)(2)(i)

or (i)(2)(ii) by checking the appropriate

block.]

b (i) The offeror will not supply any end

product listed in paragraph (i)(1) of this

provision that was mined, produced, or

manufactured in the corresponding country

as listed for that product.

b (ii) The offeror may supply an end

product listed in paragraph (i)(1) of this

provision that was mined, produced, or

manufactured in the corresponding country

as listed for that product. The offeror certifies

that it has made a good faith effort to

determine whether forced or indentured

child labor was used to mine, produce, or

manufacture any such end product furnished

under this contract. On the basis of those

efforts, the offeror certifies that it is not aware

of any such use of child labor.

3a. Effective March 12, 2001, the date of

the clause at 52.212–3 is amended by

removing ‘‘(February 2001)’’ and adding

(MAR 2001) in its place).

4. In section 52.212–5, revise the date

of the clause and the introductory text

of paragraph (b); redesignate paragraphs

(b)(16) through (b)(27) as (b)(17) through

(b)(28), respectively, and add new

paragraph (b)(16) to read as follows:

52.212–5 Contract Terms and Conditions

Required to Implement Statutes or

Executive Orders—Commercial Items.

* * * * *

Contract Terms and Conditions

Required to Implement Statues or

Executive Orders—Commercial Items

(February 2001)

* * * * *

(b) The Contractor shall comply with

the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b)

that the Contracting Officer has

indicated as being incorporated in this

contract by reference to implement

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2001 / Rules and Regulations 5349

provisions of law or Executive orders

applicable to acquisitions of commercial

items or components:

[Contracting Officer must check as

appropriate.]

* * * * *

ll(16) 52.222–19, Child Labor—

Cooperation with Authorities and

Remedies (E.O. 13126).

* * * * *

5. In section 52.213–4, revise the date

of the clause; redesignate paragraphs

(b)(1)(vii) through (xi) as (b)(1)(viii)

through (xii), respectively, and add new

paragraph (vii) to read as follows:

52.213–4 Terms and Conditions—

Simplified Acquisitions (Other than

Commercial Items).

* * * * *

Terms and Conditions—Simplified

Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial Items)

(February 2001)

* * * * *

(vii) 52.222–19, Child Labor—Cooperation

with Authorities and Remedies (JAN 2001)

(E.O. 13126). (Applies to contracts for

supplies exceeding the micro-purchase

threshold.)

* * * * *

5a. Effective March 12, 2001, the date of

the clause at 52.213–4 is amended by

removing ‘‘February 2001’’ and adding

‘‘(MAR 2001)’’ in its place).

6. Add new sections 52.222–18 and

52.222–19 to read as follows:

52.222–18 Certification Regarding

Knowledge of Child Labor for Listed End

Products.

As prescribed in 22.1505(a), insert the

following provision:

Certification Regarding Knowledge of

Child Labor for Listed End Products

(February 2001)

(a) Definition. 

Forced or indentured child labor

means all work or service—

(1) Exacted from any person under the

age of 18 under the menace of any

penalty for its nonperformance and for

which the worker does not offer himself

voluntarily; or

(2) Performed by any person under

the age of 18 pursuant to a contract the

enforcement of which can be

accomplished by process or penalties.

(b) Listed end products. The following

end product(s) being acquired under

this solicitation is (are) included in the

List of Products Requiring Contractor

Certification as to Forced or Indentured

Child Labor, identified by their country

of origin. There is a reasonable basis to

believe that listed endproducts from the

listed countries of origin may have been

mined, produced, or manufactured by

forced or indentured child labor.

Listed End Product

lllllllllllllllllllll

lllllllllllllllllllll

Listed Countries of Origin

lllllllllllllllllllll

lllllllllllllllllllll

(c) Certification. The Government will not

make award to an offeror unless the offeror,

by checking the appropriate block, certifies to

either paragraph (c)(1) or paragraph (c)(2) of

this provision.

b (1) The offeror will not supply any end

product listed in paragraph (b) of this

provision that was mined, produced, or

manufactured in a corresponding country as

listed for that end product.

b (2) The offeror may supply an end

product listed in paragraph (b) of this

provision that was mined, produced, or

manufactured in the corresponding country

as listed for that product. The offeror certifies

that it has made a good faith effort to

determine whether forced or indentured

child labor was used to mine, produce, or

manufacture such end product. On the basis

of those efforts, the offeror certifies that it is

not aware of any such use of child labor.

(End of provision)

52.222–19 Child Labor—Cooperation with

Authorities and Remedies.

As prescribed in 22.1505(b), insert the

following clause:

Child Labor—Cooperation With Authorities

and Remedies (February 2001)

(a) Applicability. This clause does not

apply to the extent that the Contractor is

supplying end products mined, produced, or

manufactured in—

(1) Canada, and the anticipated value of the

acquisition is $25,000 or more;

(2) Israel, and the anticipated value of the

acquisition is $50,000 or more;

(3) Mexico, and the anticipated value of the

acquisition is $54,372 or more; or

(4) Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Denmark,

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong

Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea,

Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands,

Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden,

Switzerland, or the United Kingdom and the

anticipated value of the acquisition is

$177,000 or more.

(b) Cooperation with Authorities. To

enforce the laws prohibiting the manufacture

or importation of products mined, produced,

or manufactured by forced or indentured

child labor, authorized officials may need to

conduct investigations to determine whether

forced or indentured child labor was used to

mine, produce, or manufacture any product

furnished under this contract. If the

solicitation includes the provision 52.222–

18, Certification Regarding Knowledge of

Child Labor for Listed End Products, or the

equivalent at 52.212–3(i), the Contractor

agrees to cooperate fully with authorized

officials of the contracting agency, the

Department of the Treasury, or the

Department of Justice by providing

reasonable access to records, documents,

persons, or premises upon reasonable request

by the authorized officials.

(c) Violations. The Government may

impose remedies set forth in paragraph (d)

for the following violations:

(1) The Contractor has submitted a false

certification regarding knowledge of the use

of forced or indentured child labor for listed

end products.

(2) The Contractor has failed to cooperate,

if required, in accordance with paragraph (b)

of this clause, with an investigation of the

use of forced or indentured child labor by an

Inspector General, Attorney General, or the

Secretary of the Treasury.

(3) The Contractor uses forced or

indentured child labor in its mining,

production, or manufacturing processes.

(4) The Contractor has furnished under the

contract end products or components that

have been mined, produced, or manufactured

wholly or in part by forced or indentured

child labor. (The Government will not pursue

remedies at paragraph (d)(2) or paragraph

(d)(3) of this clause unless sufficient

evidence indicates that the Contractor knew

of the violation.)

(d) Remedies. (1) The Contracting Officer

may terminate the contract.

(2) The suspending official may suspend

the Contractor in accordance with procedures

in FAR Subpart 9.4.

(3) The debarring official may debar the

Contractor for a period not to exceed 3 years

in accordance with the procedures in FAR

Subpart 9.4.

(End of clause)

[FR Doc. 01–1503 Filed 1–17–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Chapter 1

Federal Acquisition Regulation; Small

Entity Compliance Guide

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD),

General Services Administration (GSA),

and National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Small entity compliance guide.

SUMMARY: This document is issued

under the joint authority of the

Secretary of Defense, the Administrator

of General Services and the

Administrator for the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration.

This Small Entity Compliance Guide has

been prepared in accordance with

Section 212 of the Small Business

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of

1996 (Public Law 104–121). It consists

of a summary of the rule appearing in

Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97–

23 which amends the Federal

Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Interested parties may obtain further

information regarding this rule by