[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 131 (Friday, July 9, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37044-37045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17373]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

48 CFR Part 2832

[Justice Acquisition Circular 99-1]
RIN 1105-AA68


Amendment to the Justice Acquisition Regulations (JAR) Regarding: 
Electronic Funds Transfer

AGENCY: Justice Management Division, Justice.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice is amending the Justice Acquisition 
Regulations (JAR) to provide flexibility to contractors in the timing 
of receipt of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) information from them. 
The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Public Law (P.L.) 104-134, 
mandates payment by EFT in most situations. In order to make the 
payment by EFT, the Department needs certain information from 
contractors. This rule gives the Department's contracting officers 
discretion in determining when contractors must submit the required 
information. Without the changes made by this rule, contractors would 
have to submit their EFT information no later than 15 days prior to 
their first request for payment.

DATES: Effective date: This rule is effective July 9, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janis A. Spostao, Procurement 
Executive, Justice Management Division (202) 514-3103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Why Is the Department Changing the Justice Acquisition Regulations?

    Public Law 104-134 amended 31 U.S.C. section 3332, to require that 
beginning January 2, 1999, all Federal payments (other than payments 
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) shall be made by EFT. The 
Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition 
Regulations Council are responsibilities for issuing Federal 
Acquisition Circulars (FACs) and the Federal Acquisition Regulations 
(FAR) which are binding on other Federal Agencies. On March 4, 1999, 
these councils published Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-11, in 
the Federal Register (64 FR 10538-10544) as a final rule with an 
effective date of May 3, 1999. A portion of this final rule--Item IV--
Electronic Funds Transfer--amended the FAR to address the use of EFT 
for Federal contract payments and to facilitate the implementation of 
P.L. 104-134.

Who Is Affected by the Changes Made by Item IV--Electronic Funds 
Transfer?

    Before the latest FAR revision, contractors who sell to Federal 
agencies were required to furnish EFT information no later than 15 days 
prior to the submission of their first request for payment. Some 
contractors furnish their EFT information by registering in the Central 
Contractor Registration database. Agencies use that database to obtain 
EFT information. Other contractors are not registered in the Central 
Contractor Registration database, or agencies elect not to use the 
database. Under those circumstances, agencies collect EFT information 
directly from contractors.

What Changes Does This Rule Make?

    When collecting EFT information directly from contractors, Item IV 
of FAC 97-11 allows the heads of Federal agencies to issue procedures 
that allow contracting officers discretion in determining when 
contractors' EFT information must be submitted in order to comply with 
P.L. 104-134 and to make timely payments. In the absence of this 
regulation, contractors of the Department would have to submit EFT 
information no later than 15 days prior to the submission of the first 
request for payment. This rule gives the Department's contracting 
officers discretion in determining when contractors must submit the 
required information. This flexibility will allow components of the 
Department to receive the EFT information with the first invoice, 
rather than 15 days before the first invoice. For those components that 
adopt such a procedure, contractors will only have to make one 
submission (the EFT information along with the invoice) rather than two 
submissions (the EFT information and--at least 15 days later--the 
invoice.) The flexibility proposed by this rule should be a benefit to 
contractors.

Regulatory Certifications

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553

    This rule enhances the ability of Department contracting officers 
to allow contractors flexibility as to when to submit information 
required by current statute law and regulations. Further, this rule 
imposes no new restrictions. Accordingly, the Department of Justice 
finds good cause for exempting this rule from the provision of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of 
proposed rulemaking, the opportunity for public comment, and delay in 
effective date.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition 
Regulations Council published FAC 97-11 on March 4, 1999 at 64 FR 
10538. In conjunction with the publication of that final rule, these 
councils performed a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis and 
submitted a copy to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration.
    The Assistant Attorney General for Administration in accordance 
with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed 
this regulation and by approving it certifies that this regulation will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities because this regulation merely sets forth internal procedures 
of the Department relating to the timing of receipt of EFT information 
from contractors.

Executive Order 12866

    This regulation has been drafted and reviewed in accordance with 
Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review'', Sec. 1(b), 
Principles of Regulation. The Department of Justice has determined that 
this rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866, Sec. 3(f), and accordingly this rule has not been reviewed 
by the Office of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 12612

    This regulation will not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive 
Order 12612, it is determined that this rule does not have sufficient 
federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism 
Assessment.

[[Page 37045]]

Executive Order 12988--Civil Justice Reform

    This regulation meets the applicable standards set forth in 
sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local and 
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of 
$100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed 
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995.

Plain Language Instructions

    We try to write clearly. If you can suggest how to improve the 
clarity of these regulations, call or write Janis A. Sposato, 
Procurement Executive, Justice Management Division (202) 514-3103.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule imposes no new information collection requirements that 
require approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-511). All information 
collection requirements have been submitted to OMB. In those cases 
where an OMB control number has been assigned, the control number is 
included in the regulation.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 2832

    Government procurement.
Stephen R. Colgate,
Assistant Attorney General for Administration.
    Accordingly, 48 CFR part 2832 is amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 2832 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 28 U.S.C. 510; 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 28 CFR 0.75(j) and 
28 CFR 0.76(j).

PART 2832--CONTRACT FINANCING

    2. A new Subpart 2832.11 is added to read as follows:

Subpart 2832.11--Electronic Funds Transfer

2832.1110  Solicitation provision and contract clauses.

Subpart 2832.11--Electronic Funds Transfer


2832.1110  Solicitation provision and contract clauses.

    When the clause at FAR 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds 
Transfer-Other than Central Contractor Registration, is required the 
contracting officer may insert in paragraph (b)(1) of the clause a 
particular time after award, such as a fixed number of days, or an 
event such as the submission of the first request for payment, to 
establish the point at which contractors' EFT information must be 
provided.

[FR Doc. 99-17373 Filed 7-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-AR-M