[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 20, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 80266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32430]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Chapter 1


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Small Entity Compliance Guide

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

ACTION: Small Entity Compliance Guide.

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SUMMARY: This document is issued under the joint authority of the 
Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services and the 
Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
This Small Entity Compliance Guide has been prepared in accordance with 
Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
of 1996 (Public Law 104-121). It consists of a summary of the rule 
appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-21 which amends the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Interested parties may obtain 
further information regarding this rule by referring to FAC 97-21 which 
precedes this document. This document is also available via the 
Internet at http://www.arnet.gov/far.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Duarte, FAR Secretariat, (202) 
501-4225. For clarification of content, contact Ralph De Stefano, 
Procurement Analyst, General Services Administration, at (202) 501-
1758.

Contractor Responsibility, Labor Relations Costs, and Costs 
Relating to Legal and Other Proceedings (FAC 97-21, FAR Case 1999-
010)

    This final rule amends--
     Part 9 to clarify that a satisfactory record of compliance 
with the law indicates that the prospective contractor possesses basic 
honesty and that the Government can trust or rely on the contractor to 
perform the contract in a timely manner. In making a determination of 
responsibility based upon integrity and business ethics, contracting 
officers must consider all relevant credible information. However, 
contracting officers should give the greatest weight to violations of 
laws that have been adjudicated within the last three years preceding 
the offer.
     FAR Parts 14 and 15 to provide notice to prospective 
contractors as quickly as possible when a nonresponsibility 
determination is made;
     FAR Part 31, to make unallowable certain costs related 
labor activities, and other legal proceedings unallowable; and
     FAR Part 52, to add a requirement for offerors to certify 
to violations of certain laws.

    Dated: December 15, 2000.
Al Matera,
Acting Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 00-32430 Filed 12-19-00; 8:45 am]
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