[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53483-53485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26297]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 2, 12, 46, and 52

[FAC 2001-01; FAR Case 2000-303; Item II]
RIN 9000-AI88


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Acquisition of Commercial Items

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 
amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement two 
statutory changes to the definition and application of ``Commercial 
Items'': Section 803(a)(2)(D) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 to revise the definition of 
``commercial item'' to provide specific guidance on the meaning and 
appropriate application of the terms ``purposes other than government 
purposes'' at 41 U.S.C. 403(12)(A); and Section 805 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 to clarify the 
definition of ``commercial item'' with respect to associated services.
    The final rule also makes changes related to the acquisition of 
commercial items, including conforming the coverage regarding 
contractor liability for property loss or damage to commercial 
practice.

DATES: Effective Date: December 21, 2001.

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. Victoria Moss, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-
4764. Please cite FAC 2001-01, FAR case 2000-303.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial 
Items, was developed to implement Title VIII of the Federal Acquisition 
Streamlining Act of 1994 (FASA) (Pub. L. 103-355). The regulations 
became effective on October 1, 1995.
    The final rule revises--
     Paragraph (a) of the ``commercial item'' definition at FAR 
2.101 and the corresponding definition in the clause at FAR 52.202-1, 
and FAR 12.102 to implement Section 803(a)(2)(D) of the Strom Thurmond 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Pub. L. 105-
261). Section 803(a)(2)(D) requires that the FAR be revised to provide 
specific guidance on the meaning and appropriate application of the 
term ``purposes other than government purposes'' in the definition of 
``commercial item'' at 41 U.S.C. 403(12)(A);
     Paragraph (e) of the ``commercial item'' definition at FAR 
2.101 to implement Section 805 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Pub. L. 106-65) (Clarification of Definition 
of Commercial Items with Respect to Associated Services). Section 805 
clarifies that services ancillary to a commercial item, such as 
installation, maintenance, repair, training, and other support 
services, are considered a commercial service, regardless of whether 
the service is provided by the same vendor or at the same time as the 
item, if the service is provided contemporaneously to the general 
public under similar terms and conditions. The FAR clause at 52.202-1, 
Definitions, is similarly revised to make the new definition available 
to contractors and subcontractors;
     Paragraph (f) of the ``commercial item'' definition at FAR 
2.101 to add definitions of ``catalog price'' and ``market price'' 
which provide guidance for identifying services that may be acquired 
under FAR Part 12;
     FAR 12.209 to add guidance concerning customary commercial 
terms and conditions related to the determination of price 
reasonableness when pricing commercial items;
     Subpart 46.8 to reconcile it with the coverage regarding 
contractor liability for property loss or damage with paragraph (p) in 
the clause at 52.212-4; and
     Paragraph (p) in the clause at 52.212-4 to conform to 
commercial practice (i.e., deleting the phrase ``or implied'' permits 
industry to take advantage of the latitude provided by the Uniform 
Commercial Code which

[[Page 53484]]

allows sellers to exclude the application of an implied warranty 
through the terms of an express warranty).
    DoD, GSA, and NASA published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register at 65 FR 52284, August 28, 2000. Six sources submitted 
comments in response to the proposed rule. The FAR Council considered 
all comments in the development of the final rule.
    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 Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify 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 changes made by the 
rule will primarily affect large businesses that are more likely than 
small businesses to have separate workforces for Federal contracts and 
to be ultimately liable for consequential damages. It clarifies the 
definition of commercial item to more closely parallel the statutory 
language and provide guidance for identifying services that may be 
acquired under FAR Part 12. The rule further conforms language 
regarding contractor liability to commercial practice.

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 parts 2, 12, 46, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: October 12, 2001.
Al Matera,
Director, Acquisition Policy Division.


    Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 2, 12, 46, and 52 
as set forth below:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 2, 12, 46, and 52 
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).

PART 2--DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS

    2. In section 2.101, amend the definition ``Commercial item'' by 
revising the introductory text of paragraph (1), and paragraphs (5) and 
(6) to read as follows:


2.101  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Commercial item means--
    (1) Any item, other than real property, that is of a type 
customarily used by the general public or by non-governmental entities 
for purposes other than governmental purposes, and--
* * * * *
    (5) Installation services, maintenance services, repair services, 
training services, and other services if--
    (i) Such services are procured for support of an item referred to 
in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this definition, regardless of 
whether such services are provided by the same source or at the same 
time as the item; and
    (ii) The source of such services provides similar services 
contemporaneously to the general public under terms and conditions 
similar to those offered to the Federal Government;
    (6) Services of a type offered and sold competitively in 
substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace based on 
established catalog or market prices for specific tasks performed under 
standard commercial terms and conditions. This does not include 
services that are sold based on hourly rates without an established 
catalog or market price for a specific service performed. For purposes 
of these services--
    (i) Catalog price means a price included in a catalog, price list, 
schedule, or other form that is regularly maintained by the 
manufacturer or vendor, is either published or otherwise available for 
inspection by customers, and states prices at which sales are 
currently, or were last, made to a significant number of buyers 
constituting the general public; and
    (ii) Market prices means current prices that are established in the 
course of ordinary trade between buyers and sellers free to bargain and 
that can be substantiated through competition or from sources 
independent of the offerors.
* * * * *

PART 12--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS

    3. Amend section 12.102 by redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph 
(e) and by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:


12.102  Applicability.

* * * * *
    (d) The definition of commercial item in section 2.101 uses the 
phrase ``purposes other than governmental purposes.'' These purposes 
are those that are not unique to a government.
* * * * *

    4. Revise section 12.209 to read as follows:


12.209  Determination of price reasonableness.

    While the contracting officer must establish price reasonableness 
in accordance with 13.106-3, 14.408-2, or subpart 15.4, as applicable, 
the contracting officer should be aware of customary commercial terms 
and conditions when pricing commercial items. Commercial item prices 
are affected by factors that include, but are not limited to, speed of 
delivery, length and extent of warranty, limitations of seller's 
liability, quantities ordered, length of the performance period, and 
specific performance requirements. The contracting officer must ensure 
that contract terms, conditions, and prices are commensurate with the 
Government's need.

PART 46--QUALITY ASSURANCE

    5. In section 46.801, revise the last sentence of paragraph (a) to 
read as follows:


46.801  Applicability.

    (a) * * * This subpart does not apply to commercial items.
* * * * *


46.804  [Removed and Reserved]

    6. Remove and reserve section 46.804.

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

    7. In section 52.202-1, revise the date of the clause and 
paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(5), and (c)(6) to read as follows:


52.202-1  Definitions.

* * * * *

Definitions (Dec 2001)

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Any item, other than real property, that is of a type 
customarily used by the general public or by non-governmental 
entities for purposes other than governmental purposes, and that--
    (i) Has been sold, leased, or licensed to the general public; or
    (ii) Has been offered for sale, lease, or license to the general 
public;
* * * * *

[[Page 53485]]

    (5) Installation services, maintenance services, repair 
services, training services, and other services if--
    (i) Such services are procured for support of an item referred 
to in paragraph (c)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of this definition, 
regardless of whether such services are provided by the same source 
or at the same time as the item; and
    (ii) The source of such services provides similar services 
contemporaneously to the general public under terms and conditions 
similar to those offered to the Federal Government;
    (6) Services of a type offered and sold competitively in 
substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace based on 
established catalog or market prices for specific tasks performed 
under standard commercial terms and conditions. This does not 
include services that are sold based on hourly rates without an 
established catalog or market price for a specific service 
performed. For purposes of these services--
    (i) Catalog price means a price included in a catalog, price 
list, schedule, or other form that is regularly maintained by the 
manufacturer or vendor, is either published or otherwise available 
for inspection by customers, and states prices at which sales are 
currently, or were last, made to a significant number of buyers 
constituting the general public; and
    (ii) Market prices means current prices that are established in 
the course of ordinary trade between buyers and sellers free to 
bargain and that can be substantiated through competition or from 
sources independent of the offerors.
* * * * *


52.212-4  [Amended]

    8. Amend section 52.212-4 by revising the date in the clause 
heading to read ``(Dec 2001)''; and by removing ``or implied'' from 
paragraph (p).

[FR Doc. 01-26297 Filed 10-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P