[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 18, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20791-20792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9555]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 1827, 1835 and 1852


Submission of Final Reports Under NASA Research and Development 
Contracts

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This is a proposed rule to revise report submission 
requirements under NASA research and development (R&D) contracts and 
clarify that contractors cannot release these final reports until NASA 
has completed its Document Availability Authorization (DAA) review and 
the availability of the report has been determined.

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before June 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments to Celeste 
Dalton, NASA Headquarters Office of Procurement, Contract Management 
Division (Code HK), Washington, DC, 20546. Comments may also be 
submitted by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Celeste Dalton (202) 358-1645.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    NASA's Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI) serves as a 
repository of NASA scientific and technical information (STI). This 
includes information developed under NASA-sponsored research and 
development efforts. The NFS currently requires that copies of the 
final report and other progress reports under R&D contracts be 
submitted to CASI. The need for other progress reports no longer 
exists. Copies of only the final report required under an R&D contract 
must be submitted to CASI. Before NASA STI is made available, it is 
subject to a NASA Document Availability Authorization (DAA) review and 
release determination. Contractors cannot release final reports 
resulting from NASA R&D contracts until NASA has completed its Document 
Availability Authorization (DAA) review (NASA Form 1676).

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 it only 
affects small business entities whose R&D contracts required progress 
reporting.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the NFS do not impose any new record keeping or information collection 
requirements which require the approval of the Office of Management and 
Budget under 44 U.S.C 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1827, 1835 and 1852

    Government procurement.

Tom Luedtke,
Associate Administrator for Procurement.

    Accordingly, 48 CFR parts 1827, 1835, and 1852 are proposed to be 
amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 1827, 1835, and 1852 
continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2473(c)(1).

[[Page 20792]]

PART 1827--PATENTS, DATA, AND COPYRIGHTS

    2. Revise section 1827.406-70 to read as follows:


1827.406-70  Reports of work.

    (a) When considered necessary for monitoring contract performance, 
contracting officers must require contractors to furnish reports of 
work performed under research and development contracts (fixed-price 
and cost reimbursement), interagency agreements, or in cost-
reimbursement supply contracts. This purpose may be achieved by 
including the following general requirements, modified as needed to 
meet the particular requirements of the contract, in the section of the 
contract specifying data delivery requirements:
    (1) Monthly progress reports. Reports should be in narrative form, 
brief, and informal. They should include a quantitative description of 
progress, an indication of any current problems that may impede 
performance, proposed corrective action, and a discussion of the work 
to be performed during the next monthly reporting period. (Normally, 
this requirement should not be used in contracts with nonprofit 
organizations.)
    (2) Quarterly progress reports. In addition to factual data, these 
reports should include a separate analysis section interpreting the 
results obtained, recommending further action, and relating occurrences 
to the ultimate objectives of the contract. Sufficient diagrams, 
sketches, curves, photographs, and drawings should be included to 
convey the intended meaning.
    (3) Final report. This report should summarize the results of the 
entire contract, including recommendations and conclusions based on the 
experience and results obtained. The final report should include 
tables, graphs, diagrams, curves, sketches, photo graphs, and drawings 
in sufficient detail to explain comprehensively the results achieved 
under the contract. The final report must comply with NPG 2200.2A, 
Guidelines for Documentation, Approval, and Dissemination of NASA 
Scientific and Technical Information.
    (4) Report Documentation Page. The final report must include a 
completed Report Documentation Page, Standard Form (SF) 298 as the 
final page of the report.
    (b) The contracting officer must consider the desirability of 
providing reports on the completion of significant units or phases of 
work, in addition to periodic reports and reports on the completion of 
the contract.
    (c) Submission of Final Report. In addition to the original of the 
final report submitted to the contracting officer, contracts containing 
the clause at 1852.235-70, Center for AeroSpace Information--Final 
Scientific and Technical Reports (see 1835.070(a)), must require the 
concurrent submission of a reproducible copy and a printed or 
reproduced copy of the final report to the NASA Center for AeroSpace 
Information (CASI).
    (d) NASA Review of Final Report. When required by the contract, 
final reports submitted to NASA for review, shall be reviewed for 
technical accuracy, conformance with applicable law, policy and 
publication standards, and to determine the availability and 
distribution of NASA-funded documents containing scientific and 
technical information (STI) (NASA Form 1676, NASA Scientific and 
Technical Document Availability Authorization (DAA)). The final report 
must not be released outside of NASA until NASA's DAA review has been 
completed and the availability of the document has been determined. The 
document is considered available when it is accessible through CASI.

PART 1835--RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTING

    3. In section 1835.070, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


1835.070  NASA contract clauses and solicitation provision.

    (a) The contracting officer must insert the clause at 1852.235-70, 
Center for AeroSpace Information--Final Scientific and Technical 
Reports, in all research and development contracts, interagency 
agreements, and in cost-reimbursement supply contracts involving 
research and development work.
* * * * *

PART 1852--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

    4. Revise section 1852.235-70 to read as follows:


1852.235-70  Center for AeroSpace Information--Final Scientific and 
Technical Reports.

    As prescribed in 1835.070(a), insert the following clause:

Center for Aerospace Information--Final Scientific and Technical 
Reports (XXX)

    (a) The Contractor should register with and avail itself of the 
services provided by the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information 
(CASI) (http://www.sti.nasa.gov) for the conduct of research or 
research and development required under this contract. CASI provides 
a variety of services and products as a central NASA repository of 
research information, which may enhance contract performance. The 
address is set out in paragraph (d) of this clause.
    (b) Should the CASI information or service requested by the 
Contractor be unavailable or not in the exact form necessary by the 
Contractor, neither CASI nor NASA is obligated to search for or 
change the format of the information. A failure to furnish 
information shall not entitle the Contractor to an equitable 
adjustment under the terms and conditions of this contract.
    (c) In addition to the final report, as defined at 1827.406-
70(a)(3), submitted to the contracting officer, a reproducible copy 
and a printed or reproduced copy of the final report or data shall 
be concurrently submitted to: Center for AeroSpace Information 
(CASI), Attn: Document Processing Section, 7121 Standard Drive, 
Hanover, Maryland 21076-1320, Phone: 301-621-0390, FAX: 301-621-
0134.
    (d) The last page of the final report submitted to CASI shall be 
a completed Standard Form (SF) 298, Report Documentation Page. In 
addition to the copy of the final report, the contractor shall 
provide, to CASI, a copy of the letter transmitting the final report 
to NASA for its Document Availability Authorization (DAA) review.
    (e) The contractor shall not release the final report, outside 
of NASA, until the DAA review has been completed by NASA and 
availability of the report has been determined.

(End of clause)

[FR Doc. 00-9555 Filed 4-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-P