[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 65360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30699]



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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET


Office of Federal Procurement Policy FAR Part 15 Rewrite

AGENCY: Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and 
Budget.

ACTION: Request for Comments via the Internet.

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SUMMARY: In response to the report of the National Performance Review 
(NPR), the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has embarked on a 
rewrite of FAR Part 15 to simplify, update and streamline rules related 
to negotiated procurements. The intent of this notice is twofold: 
first, to announce a future rulemaking action; second, to inform the 
public that electronic means will be used to engage the public in 
electronic discussions about issues important to the rewrite of the 
rules governing negotiated procurements. For those who do not want to 
participate electronically or cannot access the World Wide Web but 
would like to provide initial input for the rewrite, a notice of 
proposed rulemaking was published requesting paper comments and 
announcing a public meeting. This notice, which was issued by the 
Department of Defense, in concert with the Federal Aquisition 
Regulations Council, appeared in the Federal Register on December 8, 
1995 (60 FR 63023).

DATES: The initial round for electronic discussions will be conducted 
during the period December 1, 1995 through January 22, 1996. We 
anticipate further rounds as the rulemaking progresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan E. Alesi at 202-395-3301.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 7, 1993, the Vice President released the report of the 
NPR which advocated simplification of the procurement process by, in 
part, rewriting the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). As a first 
step in this project, a set of core guiding principles was formulated 
to guide the federal acquisition system. These principles are now 
included in FAR Part 1. The project has now resumed with the rewrite of 
FAR Part 15 dealing with the rules on negotiated rulemaking under the 
direction of the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council).
    The FAR Council has established a team of 11 individuals from 
civilian agencies, DOD components and the Office of Federal Procurement 
Policy, with co-chairs from DOD and NASA to participate in rewriting 
Part 15. The actual drafting of the regulatory language is scheduled to 
start no later than February 1, 1996, with a target finish date of 
October 1996. This delayed starting date was proposed and agreed upon 
to allow time to solicit input and to identify those areas that need 
the most attention. The initial public input will be accomplished in a 
number of ways. In addition to such traditional methods as requesting 
the submission of written comments and holding a public meeting, 
additional methods of obtaining public comment are being used, one of 
which is through on-line discussions via the Acquisition Reform Network 
(ARnet).
    The ARnet was established in June 1, 1995, as an initiative of the 
NPR to help government workers communicate electronically. The purpose 
of the Internet based World Wide Web Network is to inform the members 
of the acquisition community about reform initiatives, give them 
electronic access to references, training materials and other 
electronic sources of information, and engage them in on-line 
discussions about issues important to improving our acquisition system.
    Use of the ARnet On-Line Forum to assist the FAR Part 15 Rewrite 
Team provides an additional avenue for two-way communication with the 
acquisition community. This support will initially be used as a call 
for inputs organized around a series of key Part 15 issues. Some of 
these issues are government-industry communications via draft 
solicitations, discussions and oral proposals; Part 15 and commercial 
items; source selection and best value determinations; selection of 
proposals for competitive range; and the use of ``shalls'' in 
governmentwide regulations governing negotiated procurements. We 
anticipate that the ARnet will subsequently be used to publicize 
proposed rule(s) and provide another round of discussions on these 
rule(s) during the public comment period.

Electronic Access to the FAR Part 15 Rewrite Forum on the Internet

    General: This Forum can be accessed through the World Wide Web by 
using any HTML viewer at the following URL address: http://www-
far.npr.gov. Anyone with access to the World Wide Web can participate 
through using comment options residing on the Web Site.
    Participation Options: The method for participating in this forum 
which is currently operational is through the World Wide Web. However, 
we are also working to provide access to these discussions through E-
mail; if E-mail access can be arranged, a supplemental notice will be 
issued announcing how interested persons can participate in the forum 
via E-mail. In addition, individuals who cannot participate through 
these electronic methods, or would prefer to provide their comments 
through alternative means, will be able to participate through non-
electronic means as described above (i.e., by submitting written 
comments or participating in a public meeting).
Steven Kelman,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-30699 Filed 12-18-95; 8:45 am]
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