[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 26, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18676]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 50

[FAC 97-19; FAR Case 2000-006; Item IX]
RIN 9000-AI85


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Repeal of Reporting Requirements 
under Public Law 85-804

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 
to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement 
paragraph 901(r)(1) of the Federal Reports Elimination Act of 1998 
(Pub. L. 105-362), that repealed section 4 of Public Law 85-804 (50 
U.S.C. 1434). Section 4 required each department and agency to report 
annually to Congress any contract action in excess of $50,000 issued 
under the authority of this law.

DATES: Effective Date: September 25, 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. Linda Klein, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-
3775. Please cite FAC 97-19, FAR case 2000-006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The final rule revises FAR 50.000 to update the reference to Public 
Law 85-804 and eliminates the reporting requirements at FAR 50.104. 
Agencies are no longer required to submit to Congress annually a report 
of actions taken on requests for relief under the authority of Public 
Law 85-804.
    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 final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision 
within the meaning of FAR 1.501 and Pub. L. 98-577, and publication for 
public comments is not required. However, the Councils will consider 
comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR Part 50 in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such 
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAC 97-19, 
FAR case 2000-006), in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act 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 50

    Government procurement.

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

    Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR part 50 as set forth 
below:

PART 50--EXTRAORDINARY CONTRACTUAL ACTIONS

    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 50 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).


    2. Revise section 50.000 to read as follows:


50.000  Scope of part.

    This part prescribes policies and procedures for entering into, 
amending, or modifying contracts in order to facilitate the national 
defense under the extraordinary emergency authority granted by Public 
Law 85-804 (50 U.S.C. 1431-1434), referred to in this part as the 
``Act'', and Executive Order 10789, dated November 14, 1958, referred 
to in this part as ``the Executive order'', It does not cover advance 
payments (see subpart 32.4).


50.104  [Removed and Reserved]

    3. Remove and reserve section 50.104.
[FR Doc. 00-18676 Filed 7-25-00; 8:45 am]
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