[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 40494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19011]



[[Page 40493]]

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Part VI

Department of Defense

General Services Administration

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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48 CFR Parts 12, 14 et al.



Federal Acquisition Regulation; Empowerment Contracting; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 142 / Monday, July 26, 1999 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 40494]]



DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 12, 14, 15, 26, 36, and 52

[FAR Case 97-603]
RIN 9000-AH58


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Empowerment Contracting

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-
603, Empowerment Contracting, published in the Federal Register at 62 
FR 19200, April 18, 1997. The rule proposed to amend the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to establish phase one of an Empowerment 
Contracting Program that provided procurement incentives to both large 
and small businesses to encourage their activity in areas of general 
and severe economic distress. That action was taken to implement 
Executive Order 13005 of May 21, 1996, Empowerment Contracting.

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. Victoria Moss, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-
4764. Please cite FAR case 97-603, Empowerment Contracting; Withdrawal.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Executive Order 13005 established the Empowerment Contracting 
Program to encourage business activity in areas of general economic 
distress by providing procurement incentives to qualified businesses. 
This initiative has been effectively superseded by the HUBZone Act of 
1997, enacted on December 2, 1997, and the subsequent implementation of 
Sections 601-607 of the Act in the Federal Acquisition Regulation under 
FAR case 97-307, HUBZone Program. An interim rule was published in the 
Federal Register on December 12, 1998 (63 FR 70265). Therefore, the 
proposed rule for FAR case 97-603 is withdrawn.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 12, 14, 15, 26, 36, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: July 20, 1999.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 99-19011 Filed 7-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P