Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/09/13/2018-18985/va-acquisition-regulation-contract-cost-principles-and-procedures-protests-disputes-and-appeals
Timestamp: 2019-11-17 10:10:00
Document Index: 673131039

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 831', 'art 831', 'art 833', 'art 852', 'art 871', 'art 831', 'arts 831', 'art 831', 'art 833', 'art 852', 'art 871']

Federal Register :: VA Acquisition Regulation: Contract Cost Principles and Procedures; Protests, Disputes and Appeals
A Rule by the Veterans Affairs Department on 09/13/2018
This rule is effective on October 15, 2018.
46413-46418 (6 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-18985 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-18985
On April 6, 2018, VA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (83 FR 14826), which announced VA`s intent to amend regulations for VAAR Case RIN 2900-AQ02 (Parts 831 and 833). In particular, this final rule revises VAAR part 831 to clarify the cost principles under the chapter 31 program and to apply those principles to both fixed-price and cost reimbursement contracts with educational institutions, as well as those with commercial and non-profit organizations. It revises VAAR part 833 to update information for where an Start Printed Page 46414interested party may protest to the contracting officer; provides for independent review a level above the contracting officer; and clarifies how interested parties may appeal a contracting officer's decision on a protest. Other revisions include clarification of the types of protests that may be dismissed by VA without consideration of the merits, or may be forwarded to another agency for appropriate action; states that certain challenges of the legal status of a firm as a regular dealer or manufacturer is determined solely by the procuring agency, the Small Business Administration (SBA) if a small business is involved, and the Secretary of Labor; updates two clauses in part 852 related to protests; clarifies a contractor's obligation to continue performance under a dispute; and, revises a definition of a term in VAAR part 871 to comport with the same term used in VAAR part 831.
VA provided a 60-day comment period for the public to respond to the proposed rule. The comment period for the proposed rule ended on June 5, 2018 and VA received no comments. This document adopts as a final rule the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2018, with minor stylistic and grammatical edits. This final rule has Federal Register administrative format changes in the amendatory text which make no substantive text changes at the affected sections.
This final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. This final rule will generally be small business neutral. The overall impact of the rule will be of benefit to small businesses owned by Veterans or service-disabled Veterans as the VAAR is being updated to remove extraneous procedural information that applies only to VA's internal operating procedures. VA is merely adding existing and current regulatory requirements to the VAAR and removing any guidance that is applicable only to VA's internal operation processes or procedures. VA estimates no cost impact to individual businesses will result from these rule updates. This rulemaking does not change VA's policy regarding small businesses, does not have an economic impact to individual businesses, and there are no increased or decreased costs to small business entities. On this basis, the final rule will not have an economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this regulatory action is exempt from the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of sections 603 and 604.
VA's impact analysis can be found as a supporting document at http://www.regulations.gov, usually within 48 hours after the rulemaking document is published. Additionally, a copy of the rulemaking and its impact analysis are available on VA's website at http://www.va.gov/​orpm by following the link for VA Regulations Published from FY 2004 Through Fiscal Year to Date. This final rule is not subject to the requirements of E.O. 13771 because this final rule is expected to result in no more than de minimis costs.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, VA amends 48 CFR parts 831, 833, 852 and 871 as follows:
1. Part 831 is revised to read as follows:
End Amendment Part Start Part Start Printed Page 46415
(1) The tuition covers the charges for supplies or rentals or a stipulated fee is assessed to all students; orStart Printed Page 46416
2. Part 833 is revised to read as follows:
(3) Small business certificate of competency program. A protest made under section 8(b)(7) of the Small Business Act, or in regard to any issuance of a certificate of competency or refusal to issue a certificate under that section, is not reviewed in Start Printed Page 46417accordance with bid protest procedures unless there is a showing of possible fraud or bad faith on the part of Government officials.
4. The heading of subpart 852.2 is revised to read as follows:
5. Section 852.233-70 is revised to read as follows:
(b) Failure to comply with the above may result in dismissal of the protest without further consideration.Start Printed Page 46418
6. Section 852.233-71 is revised to read as follows:
7. The authority citation for part 871 is revised to read as follows:
8. Amend section 871.201-1 by revising the introductory text and paragraph (b) to read as follows:
[FR Doc. 2018-18985 Filed 9-12-18; 8:45 am]