[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 20, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56859-56860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24178]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 1811


Priorities and Allocations

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

ACTION: Proposed Rule.

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SUMMARY: This is a proposed rule amending the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) 
to specify that use of a priority rating under the Defense Priorities 
and Allocations System (DPAS) regulation is not required unless the 
acquisition is in one of the Schedule L categories of the DPAS.

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before November 20, 2000.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James H. Dolvin, Code HK, (202) 358-
1279, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The Defense Priorities and Allocations System is a Department of 
Commerce program which supports certain authorized national defense 
programs by requiring that contractors give priority treatment to 
contracts which have priority ratings. NFS Subpart 1811.6 currently 
requires that most NASA contractual actions receive a priority rating 
under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) regulation 
(15 CFR 700). The present NFS requirement is being changed to provide 
that NASA acquisition actions will be rated only if they are in one of 
the categories in DPAS Schedule L.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    NASA certifies that this proposed rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small business entities 
within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 USC 601, et 
seq.), because it does not impose any new requirements on offerors or 
contractors.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the NFS do not impose any recordkeeping or information collection 
requirements, or collection of information from offerors, contractors, 
or members of the public that require the approval of the Office of 
Management and Budget under 44 USC 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 1811

    Government procurement.

Tom Luedtke,
Associate Administrator for Procurement.
    Accordingly, 48 CFR Part 1811 is proposed to be amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 1811 continues to read as 
follows:

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

PART 1811--DESCRIBING AGENCY NEEDS

    2. Subpart 1811.6 is revised to read as follows:

Subpart 1811.6 --Priorities and Allocations


1811.603  Procedures.

    (e)(i) Priority ratings are assigned on individual contracts and 
purchase

[[Page 56860]]

orders by the contracting officer. The following priority ratings may 
be used on NASA contracts and purchase orders for equipment and 
services that support authorized programs (see Schedule L of the DPAS):

A1--Aircraft
A2--Missiles
A3--Ships
A5--Weapons
A6--Ammunition
A7--Electronic and Communications Equipment
B1--Military Building Supplies
B8--Production Equipment (For Contractor's Account)
B9--Production Equipment (Government-Owned)
C2--Construction
C3--Maintenance, Repair, and Operating Supplies for Facilities
C9--Miscellaneous/Other

    (ii) Priority ratings will not be issued for the following:
    (A) Items ordered or requisitioned from the GSA Federal Supply 
Service.
    (B) Items for plant improvement, expansion, or construction, unless 
they will be physically incorporated into a construction project 
covered by a rated order, or unless NASA has obtained specific priority 
rating authority.
    (C) Production or construction equipment or items to be used for 
the manufacture of production equipment, unless NASA has obtained 
specific priority rating authority.
    (D) Items falling under the jurisdiction of agencies other than 
NASA's Delegate Agency. These are: petroleum, gas, solid fuel, electric 
power, and all other forms of energy; food; civil transportation and 
the movement of persons and property by all modes; minerals; water; 
housing facilities; health facilities; radio-isotopes, stable isotopes, 
source material and special nuclear material produced in Government-
owned plants or facilities operated by or for the Department of Energy; 
communication services; copper raw materials; crushed stone; gravel; 
sand; scrap; slag; central steam heat; and waste paper.
    (iii) NASA rated orders may only be assigned a DO rating, unless 
NASA has obtained a DX rating from the Department of Defense.
    (g) Installation requests for assistance shall be directed to the 
Headquarters Office of Procurement (Code HK).
[FR Doc. 00-24178 Filed 9-19-00; 8:45 am]
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