[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65782-65783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32757]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

48 CFR Part 204

[DFARS Case 97-D033]


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Uniform 
Procurement Instrument Identification

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: Comments are solicited from Government and industry personnel 
on the contemplated revision of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation 
Supplement (DFARS) guidance pertaining to uniform procurement 
instrument identification numbers. DoD has a need to address 
modifications to its system for numbering contracts, modifications, and 
orders.

DATES: Comments should be submitted in writing to the address shown 
below on or before February 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments to: 
Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, Attn: Ms. Melissa Rider, DAR 
Council, IMD 3D139, PDUSD(A&T)DP/DAR, 3062 Defense Pentagon, 
Washington, D.C. 20301-3062. Telefax number (703) 602-0350.
    E-mail comments submitted over the Internet should be addressed to: 
[email protected].
    Please cite DFARS Case 97-D033 in all correspondence related to 
this issue. E-mail comments should cite DFARS Case 97-D033 in the 
subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Melissa Rider, telephone (703) 602-0131.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Defense Acquisition Regulations (DAR)

[[Page 65783]]

Council has opened DFARS Case 97-D033 to revise DFARS Subpart 204.70, 
Uniform Procurement Instrument Identification Numbers, to address 
various issues associated with the use of Procurement Instrument 
Identification Numbers (PIINs) and Supplemental Procurement Instrument 
Identification Numbers (SPIINs).
    a. Among the revisions under consideration is one to increase the 
length of SPIINs used to identify call or order numbers under contracts 
awarded by another activity from 4 characters to 13, or possibly 15, 
characters. This revision is similar to a revision included in an 
earlier proposed rule, DFARS Case 92-D044, that was published in the 
Federal Register on August 18, 1994 (59 FR 42566), and that was 
withdrawn on December 28, 1994 (59 FR 66884), in response to public 
comments addressing the significant cost impact it would have on 
existing automated systems. The notice withdrawing the proposed rule 
stated that ``. . . both industry and Government should ensure that 
these proposed revisions can be accommodated in any future automated 
systems.'' The DAR Council is interested in hearing from industry and 
Government activities with respect to their ability to accommodate such 
a change at this time. The Council asks that respondents specifically 
address whether assignment of a unique 13 (or possibly 15) character 
SPIIN for every order (i.e., every call or order would have a 
completely unique SPIIN, and, therefore, could be tracked by reference 
to its SPIIN only) would improve the potential benefits of the 
contemplated revision.
    b. Other issues under consideration include:
    1. To ensure compatibility with automated systems that use contract 
numbers, should there be a uniform contract numbering system, or an 
agreed upon maximum number of characters, for basic contract numbers 
assigned to all contracts subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation 
or, at least, to any such contracts that may have calls or orders 
issued under them by other agencies?
    2. Is there a need to use more than two digits to designate the 
fiscal year within PIINs, and possibly SPIINs, to avoid potential Year 
2000 problems in automated systems?
Michele P. Peterson,
Executive Edtior, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council.
[FR Doc. 97-32757 Filed 12-15-97; 8:45 am]
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