[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4397]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
48 CFR Part 45

[FAC 90-20; FAR Case 91-73; Item XVI]
RIN 9000-AF02

 

Federal Acquisition Regulation; Records of Plant Equipment

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 (CAAC) and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (DARC) have agreed on a final rule to 
amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) under Management of 
Government Property in the Possession of Contractors, to add language 
on the use of summary records and expand the use of summary records to 
special tooling and special test equipment costing less than $5,000.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 9, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda Klein at (202) 501-3775 in 
reference to this FAR case. For general information, contact the FAR 
Secretariat, room 4037, GS Building, Washington, DC 20405 (202) 501-
4755. Please cite FAC 90-20, FAR case 91-73.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The CAAC and the DARC have approved a final rule changing FAR 
Subpart 45.5, originating from a proposal from industry, to expand the 
use of summary records for recording and controlling plant equipment to 
special tooling and special test equipment. A proposed rule was 
published in the Federal Register at 57 FR 40891, September 8, 1992. 
Under this rule, summary records are permitted to account for multiple 
quantities of a line item of plant equipment, special tooling and 
special test equipment costing less than $5,000, except when the 
contracting officer determines that individual records are necessary 
for effective control, calibration, or maintenance. Industry has 
advised that control and recordkeeping burden is a problem on certain 
items of individual equipment below $5,000, because of the need to 
alter property records each time an item in this category is moved 
within the contractor's facilities. This rule will permit listing only 
a general location in the summary record for multiple quantities of 
plant equipment, special tooling, and special test equipment costing 
less than $5,000 per unit, provided the contractor can locate the 
property within a reasonable period of time.

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 under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 
601, et seq., because the rule expands the use of summary records to 
special tooling and special test equipment, thus reducing 
administrative burden on contractors. We received no comments on the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act statement in the proposed rule during the 
public comment period.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule reduces existing recordkeeping requirements or collection 
of information from offerors, contractors, or members of the public 
which require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. It reduces the information collection 
hours by extending use of the summary records to special tooling and 
special test equipment. Therefore, the Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub. L. 
96-511) is deemed to apply because the final rule contains information 
collection requirements. This reduction in burden has been reflected in 
a revised clearance for Control Number 9000-0075 submitted under 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq. on October 18, 1993, for approval. Public comments 
concerning this request will be invited through a subsequent Federal 
Register notice.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 45

    Government procurement.

    Dated: February 15, 1994.
Albert A. Vicchiolla,
Director, Office of Federal Acquisition Policy.
    Therefore, 48 CFR part 45 is amended as set forth below:

PART 45--GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 45 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).

    2. Section 45.501 is amended by adding ``Summary record'' in 
alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec. 45.501  Defintions.

* * * * *
    Summary record, as used in this subpart, means a separate card, 
form, document or specific line(s) of computer data used to account for 
multiple quantities of a line item of special tooling, special test 
equipment, or plant equipment costing less than $5,000 per unit.
* * * * *
    3. Section 45.505-1 is amended by designating the introductory 
paragraph as paragraph (a); redesignating paragraphs (a) through (g) as 
(1) through (7); amending the new paragraph (a) by removing the 
reference ``45.505-5a(a)'' and inserting ``paragraph (b) of this 
section''; and adding paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec. 45.505-1  Basic information.

* * * * *
    (b) Summary records are normally adequate for special tooling, 
special test equipment, and plant equipment costing less than $5,000 
per unit, except where the contract administration office determines 
that individual item records are necessary for effective control, 
calibration, or maintenance. Summary records shall provide the 
information listed in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(7) of this section, 
but may reference a general location, provided the contractor can 
locate the property within a reasonable period of time.
    4. Section 45.505-4 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 45.505-4  Records of special tooling and special test equipment.

* * * * *
    (a) Unless summary records are used as authorized under 45.505-
1(b), the contractor's property control system shall provide the basic 
information listed in 45.505-1(a) regarding each item of Government-
owned special tooling and special test equipment, including any general 
purpose test equipment incorporated as components in such a manner that 
removal and reuse may be feasible and economical.
* * * * *
    5. Section 45.505-5 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 45.505-5  Records of plant equipment.

    (a) Unless summary records are used as authorized under 45.505-
1(b), the contractor shall maintain individual item records for each 
item of plant equipment.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 94-4397 Filed 3-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-34-M