[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42040-42042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19648]


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AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

48 CFR Parts 701, 702, 703, 705, 706, 709, 714, 716, 719, 726, 732, 
733, 734, 749, 750 and 752

[AIDAR Circular 99-1]
RIN 042-AA42


Realignment of Contracting Responsibilities and Authorities From 
the Procurement Executive to the Director, Office of Procurement, and 
Other Miscellaneous Amendments to Acquisition Regulations

AGENCY: U.S. Agency for International Development.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Authorities previously delegated to the Agency Procurement 
Executive have been redelegated to the Director of the Office of 
Procurement. Many of these authorities are identified in the USAID 
Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), 48 CFR Chapter 7, which consequently 
must be amended to reflect the redelegation. Other administrative 
amendments are being made concurrently.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 2, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: M/OP/POL, Ms. Diane M. Howard, Room 
7.08-082U, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., U.S. Agency for International 
Development, Washington, DC 20523-7801. Telephone (202) 712-0206; 
internet: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In conjunction with the reassignment of the 
Agency Procurement Executive and the naming of a new Director of the 
Office of Procurement (``M/OP Director''), authorities and 
responsibilities previously delegated to the Procurement Executive have 
been redelegated to the M/OP Director. Many of these authorities and 
responsibilities are specified in the USAID Acquisition Regulation 
(AIDAR), and consequently the AIDAR is being amended to reflect this 
realignment and to appropriately relocate and more concisely state 
these authorities and responsibilities in (48 CFR) AIDAR 701. 
Amendments 2 through 8, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, and 22 make changes 
resulting from this redelegation. In addition, amendments 4 and 5 amend 
the organization of AIDAR administrative policy and contracting 
authorities in the AIDAR itself to more closely parallel the FAR, 
including instituting the use of the term ``AIDAR Circular'' rather 
than ``AIDAR Notice'' as the title of the document used to revise the 
AIDAR.
    Administrative matters are effected through Amendments 9, 10, 12, 
15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 24, summarized as follows:
    1. Amendment 9 amends section 702.170-17 to update USAID's 
definition of its Automated Directives System;
    2. Amendment 10 removes a redundant section;
    3. Amendments 12, 15, and 17 correct references that were 
overlooked in AIDAR Notice 98-1, which amended the AIDAR to be 
consistent with the FAR Part 15 Rewrite (FAC 97-2);
    4. Amendment 16 amends the heading for Part 719 to be consistent 
with FAR Part 19;
    5. Amendment 19 removes invalid language;
    6. Amendment 21 removes the references to the International 
Development Cooperation Agency in section 750.7101, since this agency 
was abolished in the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 
1998, Public Law 105-277;
    7. Amendment 23 updates the name of the referenced office; and
    8. Amendment 24 removes the clause in section 752.2026, because 
replacement regulatory coverage for periodic reporting is being handled 
separately through the Proposed rule published on November 4, 1998, as 
AIDAR Notice 98-2 (63 FR 59501), and the continued inclusion of this 
clause in the AIDAR is confusing.
    The changes being made by this Circular are not considered 
``significant'' under FAR 1.301 or FAR 1.501, and public comments have 
not been solicited. This Circular will not have an impact on a 
substantial number of small entities nor does it establish a new 
collection of information as contemplated by the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act. Because of the nature and subject 
matter of this Circular, use of the proposed rule/public comment 
approach was not considered necessary. We decided to issue as a Final 
Rule; however, we welcome public comment on the material covered by 
this Circular or any other part of the AIDAR at any time. Comments or 
questions may be addressed as specified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section of the Preamble.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 701, 702, 703, 705, 706, 709, 714, 
716, 719, 726, 732, 733, 734, 749, 750 and 752

    Government procurement.

    For the reasons set out in the Preamble, 48 CFR Chapter 7 is 
amended as set forth below.
    1. The authority citations in Parts 701, 702, 703, 705, 706, 709, 
714, 716, 719, 726, 732, 733, 749, 750 and 752 continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 621, Pub. L. 87-195, 75 Stat. 445, (22 U.S.C. 
2381) as amended; E.O. 12163, Sept. 29, 1979, 44 FR 56673; 3 CFR 
1979 Comp., p. 435.

CHAPTER 7--[AMENDED]

    2. Chapter 7 is amended by removing ``Procurement Executive'' 
wherever it appears in the following sections and adding ``M/OP 
Director'' in its place:

709.403
714.406-3
714.406-4
726.7005
733.103-71
733.103-72
733.103-73
734.002-70
749.111-70
749.111-71
750.7105
750.7110-2
750.7110-3
750.7110-4

Appendix D to Chapter 7, Section 4(e)(3)

    3. Chapter 7 is amended by removing ``USAID Procurement Executive'' 
wherever it appears in the following sections and adding ``M/OP 
Director'' in its place:

 701.602-3
706.501

PART 701--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION SYSTEM

    4. Subpart 701.3 is revised to read as follows:

Subpart 701.3--U.S. Agency for International Development 
Acquisition Regulation

701.301  Policy.
701.303  Publication and codification.


701.301  Policy.

    (a) Responsibility. Subject to the direction of the Administrator, 
the Director, Office of Procurement (``M/OP Director'') is responsible 
for:
    (1) Developing and maintaining necessary uniform procurement 
policies, procedures, and standards;

[[Page 42041]]

    (2) Providing assistance to the contracting activities as 
appropriate;
    (3) Keeping the Administrator and Executive Staff fully informed on 
procurement matters which should be brought to their attention; and
    (4) All agency head duties and authorities stated in (48 CFR) FAR 
subpart 1.3, in accordance with (48 CFR) AIDAR 701.601. These 
responsibilities include but are not limited to developing, issuing, 
and maintaining the USAID Acquisition Regulation (``AIDAR'', 48 CFR 
chapter 7), USAID's supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation 
(48 CFR Chapter 1), in coordination with the General counsel and such 
other offices as may be appropriate.
    (b) Applicability. (1) Unless a deviation is specifically 
authorized in accordance with subpart 701.4, or unless otherwise 
provided, the FAR and AIDAR apply to all contracts (regardless of 
currency of payment, or whether funds are appropriated or non-
appropriated) to which USAID is a direct party.
    (2) At Missions where joint administrative services are arranged, 
procuring offices may apply the Department of State Acquisition 
Regulation (48 CFR chapter 6) for all administrative and technical 
support contracts except in defined areas. The Office of Administrative 
Services will furnish the defined areas and administrative guidelines 
for procurement to the overseas Missions. Administrative and local 
support services include the procurement accountability, maintenance 
and disposal of all office and residential equipment and furnishings, 
vehicles and expendable supplies purchased with administrative and/or 
technical support funds, either dollars or local currency.


701.303  Publication and codification.

    (a) The AIDAR is USAID's Acquisition Regulation supplementing the 
FAR (48 CFR chapter 1) and is published as chapter 7 of Title 48, Code 
of Federal Regulations. AIDAR Circulars shall be used to promulgate 
changes to the AIDAR and shall be published in compliance with (48 CFR) 
FAR part 1.
    (b) Appendices. Significant procurement policies and procedures 
that do not correspond to or conveniently fit into the FAR system 
described in FAR 1.1 and 1.303 may be published as Appendices to the 
AIDAR. Appendices follow the main text of the AIDAR in a section 
entitled ``Appendices to Chapter 7'' and contain a table of contents 
and the individual appendices identified by letter and subject title 
(e.g., ``Appendix D--Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a 
U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad'').
    (c) Only the M/OP Director has the authority to issue internal 
agency guidance applicable to all agency contracts. The heads of the 
various USAID contracting activities (see subparts 701.6 and 702.10) 
may issue operating instructions and procedures consistent with the 
FAR, AIDAR, and other Agency regulations, policies, and procedures for 
application within their organizations. One copy of each such issuance 
shall be forwarded to the Office of Procurement, Policy Division (M/OP/
POL). Insofar as possible, such material will be numerically keyed to 
the AIDAR.

Subpart 701.6--[Amended]

    5. The head for subpart 701.6 is revised and section 701.601 is 
amended by redesignating paragraphs (a) and (b) as (b) and (c) 
respectively; by removing newly designated paragraph (c) (1) and 
redesignating paragraphs (c)(2), (c)(3), and (c)(4) as (c)(1), (c)(2), 
and (c)(3) respectively; and by adding a new paragraph (a), to read as 
follows:

Subpart 701.6--Career Development, Contracting Authority, and 
Responsibilities


701.601  General

    (a) (1) Pursuant to the delegations in ADS 103.5.10, the M/OP 
Director is authorized to act as the Head of the Agency for all 
purposes described in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR, 48 CFR 
Chapter 1), except for the authority in (48 CFR) FAR sections 6.302-
7(a)(2), 6.302-7(c)(1), 17.602(a), 19.201(c), 27.306(a), 27.306(b), and 
30.201-5, or where the ``head of the agency'' authority is expressly 
not delegable under the FAR or AIDAR. Further, the M/OP Director is 
responsible for implementing the procurement related aspects of the 
Foreign Assistance Act, Executive Order 11223, the Office of Federal 
Procurement Policy Act, and other statutory and Executive Branch 
procurement policies and requirements applicable to USAID operations, 
except for those authorities and responsibilities delegated to the 
Procurement Executive as specified in ADS 103.5.10f.
    (2) The M/OP Director has specified authority to:
    (i) Select and appoint contracting officers and terminate their 
appointments in accordance with section 1.603 of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation; and
    (ii) Exercise in person or by delegation the authorities stated in 
subpart 1.4 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation with regard to 
deviations from that regulation.
* * * * *

PART 702--DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS


702.170-9  [Amended]

    6. Section 702.170-9 is amended by removing ``702.170-13(c)(4), the 
Agency Procurement Executive'' and adding ``701.601(a)(1), the M/OP 
Director'' in its place.
    7. Section 702.170-13 is revised to read as follows:


702.170-13  Procurement Executive.

    ``Procurement Executive'' is synonymous with ``Senior Procurement 
Executive'' as defined in FAR 2.101 and means the USAID official who is 
responsible for the management direction of USAID's assistance and 
acquisition (``A&A'') system, as so delegated and more fully described 
in ADS 103.5.10f.


702.170-14  [Removed]

    8. Section 702.170-14 is removed and reserved.
    9. Section 702.170-17 is revised to read as follows:


702.170-17  Automated Directives System

    ``Automated Directives System'' (``ADS'') sets forth the Agency's 
policies and essential procedures, as well as supplementary 
informational references. It contains six functional series, interim 
policy updates, valid USAID handbook chapters, a resource library, and 
a glossary. References to ``ADS'' throughout this chapter 7 are 
references to the Automated Directives System. Procurement-related 
sections of this system are accessible to the general public at the 
following internet address: http://www.info.usaid.gov/pubs/ads. The 
entire ADS is available on the ADS Compact Disk (ADS CD), which may be 
purchased from the Agency at cost by submitting a completed ADS CD 
order form. To request a fax copy of the ADS CD order form, send an e-
mail with your fax number to [email protected].

PART 703--IMPROPER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF 
INTEREST


703.104-11  [Removed]

    10. Section 703.104-11 is removed.

[[Page 42042]]

PART 705--PUBLICIZING CONTRACT ACTIONS


705.502  [Amended]

    11. Section 705.502(a) is amended by removing ``Procurement 
Executive'' and ``702.170-13(c)(4)'' in the first sentence and adding 
``M/OP Director'' and ``701.601(a)(1)'' in their places respectively.

PART 706--COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS


706.302-70  [Amended]

    12. Paragraph (b)(4) of section 706.302-70 is amended by removing 
``715.613-70'' and replacing it with ``715.370-1'' and by removing 
``715.613-71'' and replacing it with ``715.370-2''.

PART 709--CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

    13. Section 709.503 is revised to read as follows:


 709.503  Waiver.

    For purposes of approving waivers or further delegating the 
authority to approve waivers pursuant to FAR 9.503, the M/OP Director 
is the Agency head (see AIDAR 701.601(a)(1)). The M/OP Director hereby 
delegates the authority to approve waivers pursuant to FAR 9.503 to the 
heads of USAID contracting activities, as defined in AIDAR 702.170-10.

PART 716--TYPES OF CONTRACTS


 716.303  [Amended]

    14. Section 716.303(c) is amended by removing ``USAID Procurement 
Executive (see 702.170-13)'' and replacing it with ``M/OP Director (see 
701.601(a)(1))''.


 716.306  [Removed]

    15. Section 716.306 is removed and reserved.
    16. The heading for Part 19 is revised to read as follows:

PART 719--SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS


 719.271-6  [Amended]

    17. Section 719.271-6 is amended by removing ``715.613-71'' in 
paragraph (a)(3) and replacing it with ``715.370-2''.

PART 732--CONTRACT FINANCING

    18. Section 732.402 is amended by revising paragraph (e)(1) to read 
as follows:


 732.402  General.

* * * * *
    (e)(1) U.S. Dollar advances to for-profit organizations, including 
advances for disbursement to grantees, shall be processed and approved 
in accordance with ADS 583.5.6b.
* * * * *


 732.406-72  [Amended]

    19. Section 732.406-72 is amended by removing ``16 digit'' from 
paragraph (b)(2).

PART 733--PROTESTS, DISPUTES AND APPEALS


 733.101  [Amended]

    20. Section 733.101 is amended by removing paragraph (a) and by 
redesignating paragraphs (b) and (c) as (a) and (b), respectively.

PART 750--EXTRAORDINARY CONTRACTUAL ACTIONS


750.7101  [Amended]

    21. Section 750.7101 is amended by removing the designation ``(a)'' 
in front of the first paragraph and by removing paragraph (b) in its 
entirety. The first sentence of the remaining text is amended by adding 
``and'' in front of ``Executive Order 12163'' and by removing ``as 
amended; and International Development Cooperation Agency Delegation of 
Authority No. 1, dated October 1, 1979 (44 FR 57521)''.
    22. Section 750.7110-1 is amended by revising the last sentence to 
read as follows:


750.7110-1  Investigation

    * * * The investigation shall establish the facts essential to meet 
the standards for deciding the particular case and shall address the 
limitations upon exercise of the authority of the M/OP Director to 
approve the request.

PART 752--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES


752.202-1  Alternate 71 [Amended]

    23. The definition of the ``Director'' in section 752.202-1, 
Alternative 71, is amended by removing ``Office of International 
Training'' and replacing it with ``Center for Human Capacity 
Development (G/HCD)''.


752.7026  [Removed]

    24. Section 752.7026 is removed and reserved.

    Dated: July 8, 1999.
Rodney W. Johnson,
Director, Office of Procurement.
[FR Doc. 99-19648 Filed 8-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6116-01-M