[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 1998)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 12969] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-5903] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 48 CFR Chapter 5 General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; Small Entity Compliance Guide AGENCY: Office of Acquisition Policy, GSA. ACTION: Small Entity Compliance Guide. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This Small Entity Compliance Guide has been prepared in accordance with Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121). It summarizes Change 77 which amended the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to authorize payment of invoices in 10 days for Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Stock, Special Order, and Schedules contracts when the contractor agrees to full cycle electronic commerce. Further information regarding this change may be obtained by referring to Change 77 which precedes this notice. DATES: The interim rule is effective March 16, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gloria Sochon, GSA Acquisition Policy Division, (202) 208-6726. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The interim rule provides the opportunity for public comments. Interested parties may submit comments on or before May 15, 1998. Submit comments in writing to: General Services Administration, Office of Acquisition Policy, GSA Acquisition Policy Division (MVP), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4012, Washington, DC 20405. The interim rule affects both GSA contracting personnel and commercial entities submitting offers under the FSS Stock, Special Order, and Schedule programs. The following is a summary of the most significant provisions of the interim rule as it applies to these programs:To encourage contractor participation in electronic commerce, GSA will pay invoices in 10 days for contractors who agree to process orders and invoices electronically using implementation conventions provided by GSA. Because not all contractors are EDI capable, full cycle EC is not mandatory. Contractors who do not agree to the terms will be paid under standard Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3903) procedures and suffer no adverse consequences. ``Full cycle electronic commerce'' means the use of electronic data interchange (EDI) and electronic funds transfer (EFT): (a) By the Government, to place purchase or delivery orders, receive invoices, and pay invoices. (b) By the Contractor, to accept and fill orders, submit invoices, and receive payment. Full cycle electronic commerce includes all the following elements: (a) The Contractor must receive and fulfill electronic data interchange (EDI) purchase orders (transaction set 850). (b) The Contractor must generate and submit to the Government valid EDI invoices (transaction set 810). (c) The Contractor's financial institution must receive and process, on behalf of the Contractor, EFT payments through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. (d) The EDI transaction sets in (i) through (iii) above must adhere to implementation conventions provided by GSA. Dated: February 27, 1998. Ida M. Ustad, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Acquisition Policy. [FR Doc. 98-5903 Filed 3-13-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-61-P