[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 26, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18672]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 19

[FAC 97-19; FAR Case 1999-012; Item V]
RIN 9000-AI64


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Small Business Competitiveness 
Demonstration Program

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule 
amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the 
Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and Small Business 
Administration (SBA) final policy directive to provide updated guidance 
on the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program.

DATES: Effective Date: July 26, 2000.

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 FAC 97-19, FAR case 1999-012.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    This final rule amends FAR Part 19 to provide updated guidance 
regarding the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program 
(Program). The Program was originally established in 1988 by Title VII 
of Public Law 100-656, as amended, and subsequently implemented in the 
FAR. As statutory amendments were made to the Program, OFPP issued 
conforming modifications to its policy directive. With the enactment of 
Public Law 105-135, the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997, the 
Program was made permanent. The OFPP and SBA published a joint final 
policy directive on the Program in the Federal Register at 64 FR 29693, 
June 2, 1999. DoD, GSA, and NASA published a FAR interim rule in the 
Federal Register at 65 FR 16274, March 27, 2000. The Councils 
considered all comments in the development of the final rule. The 
Councils have agreed to convert the interim rule to a final rule 
without change.
    This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 
subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866, 
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is 
not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify that this 
final rule will not 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 the rule merely makes 
ministerial changes to the existing language and does not change 
existing policy.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub. L. 104-13) does not apply because 
the changes to the FAR do not impose information collection 
requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and 
Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 19

    Government procurement.

    Dated: July 19, 2000.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.

Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without Change

    Accordingly, DoD, GSA, and NASA adopt the interim rule amending 48 
CFR part 19, which was published in the Federal Register at 65 FR 
16274, March 27, 2000, as a final rule without change.

    Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).
[FR Doc. 00-18672 Filed 7-25-00; 8:45 am]
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