[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 3, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8016]



      

[[Page 14943]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part IV

Department of Defense

General Services Administration

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
_______________________________________________________________________



48 CFR Part 15, et al.



Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR): Withdrawal of Proposals; 
Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 3, 1996 / 
Proposed Rules  
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 14944]]


DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 15, 17, 31, and 52

[FAR Cases 90-52, 91-018, 95-008, and 92-024]
RINs 9000-AE21, 9000-AE65, 9000-AG67, and 9000-AG53


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Withdrawal of Proposals

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council have decided to withdraw four proposed 
rules published in the Federal Register as follows:
    FAR Case 90-52, Evaluation Factors (55 FR 46930, November 7, 1990). 
This rule proposed an amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation 
(FAR) to state, among other things, that quality must be considered in 
planning every source selection and, if appropriate, included as an 
evaluation factor. A final rule, 93-002, Past Performance Information, 
was published in the Federal Register at 60 FR 16718, March 31, 1995. 
The final rule revised the FAR in a manner which meets the intent of 
the proposed rule concerning evaluation factors, by allowing 
``quality'' to be addressed through inclusion in one or more of the 
non-cost evaluation factors or subfactors (i.e., past performance). 
Therefore, the proposed rule is withdrawn.
    FAR Case 91-018, Special Contracting Methods (Multiyear 
Contracting) (56 FR 20507, May 3, 1991). This rule proposed amendments 
to the FAR concerning multiyear solicitations and contracts. The case 
has been superseded by FAR Case 94-712, Multiyear Contracting, which 
implements Sections 1022 and 1072 of the Federal Acquisition 
Streamlining Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-355). Therefore, the proposed 
rule is withdrawn.
    FAR Case 95-008, Competitive Range (60 FR 56035, November 6, 1995). 
This rule proposed an amendment to the FAR to delete the statement that 
a proposal should be included in the competitive range. Section 4203 of 
the 1996 DoD Authorization Act. (Public Law 104-106) contains authority 
for establishing more flexibility in determining competitive ranges. 
The Councils believe that the DOD Procurement Process Reform Process 
Action Team's recommended FAR change would not be best addressed under 
the more general revisions that will arise from implementation of the 
acquisition reform provisions of the 1996 DOD Authorization Act. 
Therefore, the proposed rule is withdrawn.
    FAR Case 92-024, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (60 FR 56216, 
November 7, 1995). This rule proposed revisions to the FAR to ensure 
uniform treatment on the allowability of costs of all employee stock 
ownership plans (ESOPs), irrespective of whether the ESOP is structured 
as a pension plan or as deferred compensation,including making the 
interest costs of leveraged ESOPs expressly unallowable.
    The respondents expressed concerns that the rule, as currently 
written, would (1) inhibit the establishment of new ESOPs and the 
expansion of existing ESOPs by Government contractors, and (2) 
adversely impact the financial condition of Government contractors with 
existing ESOPs. Therefore, this rule has been withdrawn.

for further information contact: Ms. Beverly Fayson, FAR Secretariat, 
Room 4037, GS Building, Washington, DC 20405 (202) 501-4755.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 15, 17, 31, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: March 27, 1996.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 96-8016 Filed 4-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P