[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 160 (Thursday, August 17, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20959]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

48 CFR Part 252

[DFARS Case 99-D025]


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Contract 
Drawings, Maps, and Specifications

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Director of Defense Procurement has issued a final rule 
amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 
to revise a clause used in construction contracts. The revised clause 
explicitly allows the Government to furnish drawings and specifications 
to construction contractors in electronic form and requires 
construction contractors to reproduce and print contract drawings and 
specifications as needed.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 17, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Amy Williams, Defense Acquisition 
Regulations Council, OUSD(AT&L)DP(DAR), IMD 3D139, 3062 Defense 
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3062. Telephone (703) 602-0288; telefax 
(703) 602-0350. Please cite DFARS Case 99-D025.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    DoD uses the clause at DFARS 252.236-7001, Contract Drawings, Maps, 
and Specifications, in fixed-price construction contracts. The clause 
previously stated that the Government will provide five sets (unless 
another quantity is specified) of large-scale drawings and 
specifications to the contractor without charge; or, at the 
Government's option, may furnish the contractor with one set of 
reproducibles, or half-size drawings. This rule revises the clause to 
specify that the Government will provide one set of drawings and 
specifications to the contractor in electronic or paper media, as 
chosen by the contracting officer, and that the contractor will 
reproduce and print contract drawings and specifications as needed. In 
addition, the rule removes the term ``maps'' from the clause title, 
since the text of the clause does not contain this term.
    DoD published a proposed rule at 65 FR 6574 on February 10, 2000. 
Three sources submitted comments on the proposed rule. DoD considered 
all comments in the development of the final rule.
    This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review 
under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    DoD certifies 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 reproducing and printing contract drawings and specifications 
normally does not constitute a significant expense, and the contractor 
can pass this expense along to the Government as part of the contract 
price.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the rule does 
not impose any 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 252

    Government procurement.

Michele P. Peterson,
Executive Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council.

    Therefore, 48 CFR Part 252 is amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Part 252 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 41 U.S.C. 421 and 48 CFR Chapter 1.

PART 252--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

    2. Section 252.236-7001 is revised to read as follows:


252.236-7001  Contract Drawings and Specifications.

    As prescribed in 236.570(a), use the following clause:

Contract Drawings and Specifications (Aug 2000)

    (a) The Government will provide to the Contractor, without 
charge, one set of contract drawings and specifications, except 
publications incorporated into the technical provisions by 
reference, in electronic or paper media as chosen by the Contracting 
Officer.
    (b) The Contractor shall--
    (1) Check all drawings furnished immediately upon receipt;
    (2) Compare all drawings and verify the figures before laying 
out the work;
    (3) Promptly notify the Contracting Officer of any 
discrepancies;
    (4) Be responsible for any errors that might have been avoided 
by complying with this paragraph (b); and
    (5) Reproduce and print contract drawings and specifications as 
needed.
    (c) In general--
    (1) Large-scale drawings shall govern small-scale drawings; and
    (2) The Contractor shall follow figures marked on drawings in 
preference to scale measurements.
    (d) Omissions from the drawings or specifications or the 
misdescription of details of work that are manifestly necessary to 
carry out the intent of the drawings and specifications, or that are 
customarily performed, shall not relieve the Contractor from 
performing such omitted or misdescribed details of the work. The 
Contractor shall perform such details as if fully and correctly set 
forth and described in the drawings and specifications.
    (e) The work shall conform to the specifications and the 
contract drawings identified on the following index of drawings:

Title    File    Drawing No.
(End of Clause)

[FR Doc. 00-20959 Filed 8-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M