[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52265-52266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26555]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

48 CFR Parts 1401, 1425 and 1452

RIN 1090-AA65


Department of the Interior Acquisition Regulation; Regulatory 
Streamlining

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In the interests of streamlining processes and improving 
relationships with contractors, the Department of the Interior (DOI) is 
issuing this final rule which amends 48 CFR Chapter 14 by revising and 
updating the Department of the interior Acquisition Regulation (DIAR).

EFFECTIVE DATES: November 6, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary L. McGarvey at (202) 208-
3158, Department of the Interior, Office of Acquisition and Property 
Management, 1849 C Street, N.W. (MS5522 MIB), Washington, D.C. 20240.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Under the auspices of the National Performance Review, a thorough 
review of the DIAR was conducted. The review revealed unnecessary and 
outdated regulations, and some excessively burdensome procedures.
    In the interests of streamlining processes and improving 
relationships with contractors, essential portions of the DIAR are 
being removed, revised and/or retained in 48 CFR, when appropriate. 
This review identified Sections to be removed from 48 CFR Chapter 14. 
Specifically, Section 1425.203, which requires the use of a 6% 
differential to evaluate U.S. versus foreign construction materials, is 
being removed. Sections 1425.205 and 1452.225-70 are the prescription 
and the clause associated with this Department of the Interior policy. 
This language is being removed from 48 CFR because the same information 
is now located in the Federal Acquisition Regulation and it is 
redundant to maintain the information in the Department of the Interior 
Acquisition Regulation. This removes Part 1425 in its entirety from 48 
CFR Chapter 14.
    Section 1401.106, OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
DIAR Segment 1452.225-70--OMB Control Number 0018, is being removed 
from 48 CFR Chapter 14 because the new OMB control Number 9000-0141 
approved through February 28, 1999 is now part of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation.
    This final rule is not expected to have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.; an Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has, therefore, not been performed.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The final rule does not impose recordkeeping requirements or 
information collection 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.
    Required Determinations: The Department believes that public 
comment is unnecessary because removal of the information is due to 
redundancy with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and public comment 
was sought in that rulemaking process. Therefore, in accordance with 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Department finds good cause to publish this 
document as a final rule. This rule was not subject to Office of 
Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866. In accordance 
with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Department has determined that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial

[[Page 52266]]

number of small entities because no requirements are being added for 
small businesses and no protections are being withdrawn. The Department 
has determined that this rule does not constitute a major Federal 
action having a significant impact on the human environment under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Department has certified 
that this rule meets the applicable standards provided in Sections 3(a) 
and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1401, 1425 and 1452

    Government procurement, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: September 22, 1997.
Brooks B. Yeager,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Policy, Management and Budget.

    Chapter 14 of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations is 
amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 1401, 1425 and 1452 
continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sec. 205(c), 63 Stat. 390; 40 U.S.C. 486(c), and 5 
U.S.C. 301.

    2. In 48 CFR Part 1401, section 1401.106, remove from the table 
therein the reference to DIAR Segment 1452.225-70 and OMB Control 
Number 1084-0018.
    3. 48 CFR part 1425 is removed in its entirety.
    4. In 48 CFR part 1452, remove 1452.225-70, Use of Foreign 
Construction Materials.

[FR Doc. 97-26555 Filed 10-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-RF-M