[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]]

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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.

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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