[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 24348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12084]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Establishment of the Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition 
(ODR)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of establishment.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is announcing the 
establishment, within the FAA Office of the Chief Counsel, of the 
Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition (ODR). Protests and 
contract disputes related to FAA Screening Information Requests (SIRs), 
contract awards, and contracts, must be filed directly with this 
office.

ADDRESSES: The complete text of the FAA's new Acquisition Management 
System (including the section on Resolution of Protests and Disputes) 
is available on the Internet at <a href="http://www.faa.gov/asu/asu100/acq-
reform/acq__home.htm">http://www.faa.gov/asu/asu100/acq-
reform/acq__home.htm</a>. Use of the Internet World Web Site is strongly 
encouraged for access to copies of the FAA Acquisition Management 
System. If Internet service is not available, requests for copies may 
be made to the following address: FAA Acquisition Reform, ASU-100, Rm. 
435, 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerome P. Jones, Jr., Acting Director, Office of Dispute Resolution, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW.--Suite 900 
East, Washington, DC 20591, (202) 267-3222. Please also use this 
address when filing protests or contract disputes with the FAA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 31, 1995, Congress passed an act, 
Making Appropriations for the Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies, for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1996, and for Other 
Purposes (the 1996 DOT Appropriations Act). On November 15, 1995, the 
President signed this bill into law. In Section 348 of this law, 
Congress directed the Administrator of the FAA to develop and implement 
a new acquisition management system that addresses the unique needs of 
the agency. At a minimum, this system is to provide for more timely and 
cost-effective acquisitions. The FAA's new acquisition management 
system went into effect on April 1, 1996 [see Notice of availability at 
61 FR 15155 (April 4, 1996)]. As part of this system, the FAA has 
developed an internal mechanism for resolving disputes, one that will 
help ensure that offerors and contractors are treated fairly and that 
disputes are resolved as quickly and inexpensively as possible for all 
parties. Protests concerning SIRs and award of contracts, as well as 
disputes pertaining to contract administration, will be resolved, 
within the agency, through the FAA Dispute Resolution System. The new 
system will rely heavily on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) 
techniques.

    The FAA Office of Dispute Resolution is established as an 
organization that is independent of agency organizations responsible 
for procurement actions and that reports to the FAA Chief Counsel. In 
addition to a Director, the office staff will, in time, include other 
Dispute Resolution Officers as warranted. The office is located at FAA 
Headquarters. On a case-by-case basis, the ODR staff may be augmented 
by Dispute Resolution Officers in the FAA's regional offices and 
centers or by third party neutrals, as deemed necessary by the FAA 
Chief Counsel. The FAA will promulgate rules of procedure governing the 
dispute resolution process. Until these rules are finalized, procedures 
and other provisions related to dispute resolution will be included or 
referenced in all FAA SIRs and contracts, made available to offerors 
and contractors upon request, or provided through briefings.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 7, 1996.
Nicholas G. Garaufis,
Chief Counsel, AGC-1.
[FR Doc. 96-12084 Filed 5-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M