[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 1999)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 54270-54272] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-26040] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 48 CFR Parts 1804, 1812 and 1852 Central Contractor Registration (CCR) AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This is a proposed rule to amend the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) to include a requirement for vendors and contractors to register through the DoD Central Contractor Registration (CCR) System. DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before December 6, 1999. ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments to Diane Thompson, NASA Headquarters Office of Procurement, Analysis Division (Code HC), Washington, DC, 20546. Comments may also be submitted by email to [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Thompson, (202) 358-0514, or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Background NASA is in the process of converting to a new Agency-wide accounting software system that will include financial and procurement data. This new software system is referred to as the Integrated Financial Management (IFM) System and will allow NASA to carry out its financial management functions, execute financial operations of the Agency, and report on the Agency's financial status to internal and external customers. The IFM system requires that a specific number, referred to as the vendor number, be entered for each vendor. This identifier will be used by finance for payment purposes as well as by procurement for other business information such as size standard, company address, tax identification number and DUNS number. Currently, the Department of Defense requires all of its vendors to be registered in the CCR database. When a vendor registers in CCR, they are assigned a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, which is the vendor identifier that NASA has chosen for its new accounting software system. B. Regulatory Flexibility Act This proposed rule is not expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., because an estimated two thirds of NASA vendors are already registered in the Defense Logistics Agency/Defense Logistics Information Service (DLA/ DLIS) CCR System. Therefore, an initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has not been prepared. Comments from small entities concerning the affected NASA FAR Supplement subparts will be considered in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 601. C. Paperwork Reduction Act An Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for data collection is [[Page 54271]] being sought under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1804, 1812, 1852 Government procurement. Tom Luedtke, Associate Administrator for Procurement. Accordingly, 48 CFR Parts 1804, 1812, and 1852 are proposed to be amended as follows: 1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Parts 1804, 1812, and 1852 continues to read as follows: Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2473(c)(1). PART 1804--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 2. Subpart 1804.74 is added to read as follows: Table of Contents Subpart 1804.74--Central Contractor Registration 1804.7400 Scope . 1804.7401 Definitions. 1804.7402 Policy. 1804.7403 Procedures. 1804.7404 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2473(c)(1). Subpart 1804.74--Central Contractor Registration 1804.7400 Scope. This subpart prescribes policies and procedures for requiring contractor registration in the DoD Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. 1804.7401 Definitions. ``Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database,'' ``Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number,'' ``Data Universal Numbering System+4 (DUNS+4) number,'' ``Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code,'' and ``Registered in the CCR database'' are defined in the clause at 1852.204-74, Central Contractor Registration. 1804.7402 Policy. Prospective contractors must be registered in the CCR database, prior to any award of a contract, purchase order, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement. This policy applies to all types of awards except the following: (a) Purchases made with a Government-wide commercial purchase card. (b) Awards made to foreign vendors for work performed outside of the United States. (c) Purchases under FAR 6.302-2, Unusual and Compelling Urgency. 1804.7403 Procedures. (a)(1) The contracting officer shall verify that the prospective awardee is registered in the CCR database using the DUNS number or, if applicable, the DUNS+4 number, via the Internet at http:// www.ccr2000.com or by calling toll free: 888-CCR-2423 (888-227-2423), commercial: 616-961-5757. (2) Verification of registration is not required for orders or calls placed under contracts, basic agreements, basic ordering agreements, or blanket purchase agreements in which vendor registration was verified at the time of award of the contract or agreement. (b) If the contracting officer determines that a prospective awardee is not registered in the CCR database, the contracting officer shall-- (1) If delaying the acquisition would not be to the detriment of the Government, proceed to award after the contractor is registered; (2) If delaying the acquisition would be to the detriment of the Government, proceed to award to the next otherwise successful registered offeror, with the written approval of the Procurement Officer; or (3) If the offer results from an invitation for bids, determine the offer to be non-responsive and proceed to award to the next otherwise successful registered offeror. (c) The contracting officer shall protect against improper disclosure of contractor CCR information. 1804.7404 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses. Except as provided in 1804.7402, the contracting officer shall use the clause at 1852.204-74, Central Contractor Registration, in all solicitations and contracts, including those for commercial items. PART 1812--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS 3. In section 1812.301, paragraphs (f)(i)(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), and (J) are redesignated as (f)(i)(B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), and (K) and new paragraph ((f)(i)(A) is added to read as follows: 1812.301 Solicitation provisions and contract clauses for the acquisition of commercial items. (f)(i) * * * (A) 1852.204-74, Central Contractor Registration. * * * * * PART 1852--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES 4. Section 1852.204-74 is added to read as follows: 1852.204-74 Central Contractor Registration. As prescribed in 1804.7404, insert the following clause: Central Contractor Registration (XXX) (a) Definitions. As used in this clause-- (1) Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database means the primary DoD repository for contractor information required for the conduct of business with NASA. (2) Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number means the 9-digit number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information Services to identify unique business entities. (3) Data Universal Numbering System +4 (DUNS+4) number means the DUNS number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet plus a 4-digit suffix that may be assigned by a parent (controlling) business concern. This 4-digit suffix may be assigned at the discretion of the parent business concern for such purposes as identifying sub-units or affiliates of the parent business concern. (4) Commercial Government and Entity Code (CAGE Code) means-- (i) A code assigned by the Defense Logistics Information Service (DLIS) to identify a commercial or Government entity; or (ii) A code assigned by a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that is recorded and maintained by DLIS in the CAGE master file. (5) Registered in the CCR database means that all mandatory information, including the DUNS number or the DUNS+4 number, if applicable, and the corresponding CAGE code, is in the CCR database; the DUNS number and the CAGE code have been validated; and all edits have been successfully completed. (b)(1) By submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee must be registered in the CCR database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation, except for awards to foreign vendors performing work outside of the United States. (2) The Contracting Officer will verify that the offeror is registered in the CCR database. (3) Lack of registration in the CCR database will make an offeror ineligible for award. (4) DoD has established a goal of registering an applicant in the CCR database within 48 hours after receipt of a complete and accurate application via the Internet. However, registration of an applicant submitting an application through a method other than the Internet may take up to 30 days. Therefore, offerors that are not registered should consider applying for registration immediately upon receipt of this solicitation. (c) The Contractor is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the data within the CCR, and for any liability resulting from the Government's reliance on inaccurate or incomplete data. To remain registered in the [[Page 54272]] CCR database after the initial registration, the Contractor is required to confirm on an annual basis that its information in the CCR database is accurate and complete. (d) Offerors and contractors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the Internet at http://www.ccr2000.com or by calling 888-CCR-2423 (888-227-2423). (End of clause) [FR Doc. 99-26040 Filed 10-5-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7510-01-P