[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 20, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56858-56859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24140]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

48 CFR Part 213

[DFARS Case 2000-D019]


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Overseas Use 
of the Purchase Card in Contingency, Humanitarian, or Peacekeeping 
Operations

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Director of Defense Procurement is proposing to amend the 
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to permit 
contracting officers supporting a contingency, humanitarian, or 
peacekeeping operation to use the Governmentwide commercial purchase 
card on a stand-alone basis for purchases valued at or below the 
simplified acquisition threshold. Use of the purchase card streamlines 
purchasing and payment procedures and, therefore, increases operational 
efficiency.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to 
the address shown below on or before November 20, 2000, to be 
considered in the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments on the 
proposed rule to: Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, Attn: Ms. 
Susan L. Schneider, OUSD (AT&L) DP (DAR), IMD 3D139, 3062 Defense 
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3062. Telefax (703) 602-0350.
    E-mail comments submitted via the Internet should be addressed to: 
[email protected].
    Please cite DFARS Case 2000-D019 in all correspondence related to 
this proposed rule. E-mail correspondence should cite DFARS Case 2000-
D019 in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Susan Schneider, (703) 602-0326.

[[Page 56859]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

A. Background

    This rule proposes to amend the policy at DFARS 213.301 to permit 
contracting officers supporting a contingency operation, as defined in 
10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13), or a humanitarian or peacekeeping operation, as 
defined in 10 U.S.C. 2302(8), to use the Governmentwide commercial 
purchase card on a stand-alone basis for purchases valued at or below 
the simplified acquisition threshold. In accordance with FAR 2.101, the 
simplified acquisition threshold for contingency, humanitarian, or 
peacekeeping operations is $200,000.
    Use of the purchase card at the $200,000 threshold would be subject 
to the existing conditions at DFARS 213.301 and the following 
additional conditions: (1) The supplies or services must be immediately 
available; and (2) Only one delivery and one payment will be made. 
These additional conditions are similar to those placed on contingency 
contracting officers using the Standard Form 44, Purchase Order-
Invoice-Voucher, in accordance with FAR 13.306 and DFARS 213.306.
    This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review 
under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The 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 the rule 
applies only to purchases that are made outside the United States for 
use outside the United States in support of contingency, humanitarian, 
or peacekeeping operations. Therefore, DoD has not performed an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis. DoD invites comments from small 
businesses and other interested parties. DoD also will consider 
comments from small entities concerning the affected DFARS subpart in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Such comments should be submitted 
separately and should cite DFARS Case 2000-D019.

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 213

    Government procurement.

Michele P. Peterson,
Executive Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council.
    Therefore, DoD proposes to amend 48 CFR Part 213 as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Part 213 continues to read as 
follows:

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

PART 213--SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

    2. Section 213.301 is amended by adding paragraph (3) to read as 
follows:


213.301  Governmentwide commercial purchase card.

* * * * *
    (3) A contracting officer supporting a contingency operation as 
defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13) or a humanitarian or peacekeeping 
operation as defined in 10 U.S.C. 2302(8) also may use the 
Governmentwide commercial purchase card to make a purchase that exceeds 
the micro-purchase threshold but does not exceed the simplified 
acquisition threshold, if--
    (i) The supplies or services being purchased are immediately 
available;
    (ii) One delivery and one payment will be made; and
    (iii) The requirements of paragraphs (2)(i) and (ii) of this 
section are met.
[FR Doc. 00-24140 Filed 9-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M