[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 1999)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 3380] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-1315] [[Page 3379]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part IV Department of Defense General Services Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration _______________________________________________________________________ 48 CFR Part 31 Federal Acquisition Regulation; Business Class Airfare; Proposed Rule Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 13 / Thursday, January 21, 1999 / Proposed Rules [[Page 3380]] DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 48 CFR Part 31 [FAR Case 97-040] RIN 9000-AH98 Federal Acquisition Regulation; Business Class Airfare AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council have decided to withdraw FAR Case 97- 040, Business Class Airfare, published in the Federal Register at 63 FR 43239, August 12, 1998. The rule proposed to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to revise the ``travel costs'' cost principle to allow, in certain situations, business class airfare costs for flights lasting more than 14 hours. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The FAR Secretariat, Room 4035, GS Building, Washington, DC 20405, (202) 501-4755, for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of content, contact Ms. Linda Nelson, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501- 1900. Please cite FAR case 97-040, withdrawal. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The proposed rule revised paragraph (d) of FAR 31.205-46, Travel costs, to allow, under certain conditions, contractor costs for business class airfare on flights lasting more than 14 hours. The rule designated the current coverage at (d) as (d)(1) and added a new subparagraph (d)(2) to deal specifically with business class airfare. Some of the respondents to the Federal Register notice expressed concern that the rule would result in inconsistent treatment of the costs for business class and first class airfares (e.g., the allowability requirements for business class airfare are more restrictive than those for first class airfare); confusion (e.g., differing interpretations of the words ``stopovers,'' ``rest stop in route,'' and ``rest period upon arrival''); and an administrative burden (e.g., documentation showing no rest period for business class airfare). After review of the public comments, DoD, GSA, and NASA have decided to withdraw the proposed rule, and retain the current cost principle which adequately addresses the allowability of first class and business class airfare costs. List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 31 Government procurement. Dated: January 14, 1999. Edward C. Loeb, Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division. [FR Doc. 99-1315 Filed 1-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P