[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56679-56680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24584]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 4

[FAC 2001-16; FAR Case 2002-025; Item III]
RIN 9000-AJ70


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Unique Contract and Order 
Identifier Numbers

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

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to issue an 
interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to 
require that Federal agencies assign a unique identifier for every 
contract, purchase order, BOA, Basic Agreement, and BPA reported to the 
Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). Agencies must be

[[Page 56680]]

in compliance with this requirement no later than October 1, 2003, when 
the next generation of FPDS, ``FPDS-NG,'' becomes operational.

DATES: Effective Date: October 1, 2003.
    Comment Date: Interested parties should submit comments to the FAR 
Secretariat at the address shown below on or before October 31, 2003, 
to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to--General Services Administration, 
FAR Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Attn: Ms. Laurie 
Duarte, Washington, DC 20405.
    Submit electronic comments via the Internet to--farcase.2002-
[email protected].
    Please submit comments only and cite FAC 2001-16, FAR case 2002-
025, in all correspondence related to this case.

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 Mr. Gerald Zaffos, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 208-
6091. Please cite FAC 2001-16, FAR case 2002-025.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background

    The Federal Government is modernizing its procurement data 
collection system, the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). As part 
of this modernization process, agencies are being asked to establish 
and use a unique contract and order identification number scheme for 
the information reported to FPDS. These unique identifiers will help to 
improve the quality of information FPDS makes available to agencies for 
managing their programs and to the public for better understanding how 
taxpayer funds are spent.
    Therefore, the FAR is being amended at 4.602 to add a paragraph 
requiring that each agency that reports to the FPDS have in place no 
later than October 1, 2003, a process that will ensure that each 
procurement instrument identifier reported to FPDS is unique, 
Governmentwide, and will remain so for at least 20 years from the date 
of contract award; and to require that agencies submit their proposed 
identifier to the Federal Procurement Data Center, which will maintain 
a registry of identifiers and validate their use in all transactions.
    The agency's identifier must comply with the contract numbering 
guidelines established by the Joint Financial Management Improvement 
Project (JFMIP). Delivery orders, task orders, and call numbers must be 
unique in combination with the basic reference contract vehicle 
identifier. When the basic reference contract is available for multi-
agency use, an ordering agency must use the same agency identification 
prefix for its delivery orders, task orders, and call numbers as it 
uses for its contractual instruments. Agencies may submit their 
proposed identifier to [email protected]. Agencies are encouraged to 
submit their proposed identifier as soon as possible. If an agency is 
not in compliance by October 1, 2003 (i.e., the date FPDS-NG becomes 
operational), FPDS-NG will reject the agency's reports.
    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 Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., does not 
apply because the rule applies to the internal process of Federal 
agencies. An Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has, therefore, 
not been prepared.

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.

D. Determination To Issue an Interim Rule

    There is no requirement to publish this rule for public comment, as 
it is not a significant FAR revision. This rule simply requires that 
agencies assign a unique identifier for contracts, purchase orders, and 
agreements reported to the FPDS. Even though not required to do so, the 
Councils would, nevertheless, like to obtain public comments and are 
issuing this rule as an interim rule with request for comments. 
Pursuant to Public Law 8-577 and FAR 1.501, the Councils will consider 
public comments received in response to this interim rule in the 
formation of the final rule.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 4

    Government procurement.

    Dated: September 24, 2003.
Laura G. Auletta,
Director, Acquisition Policy Division.

0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR part 4 as set forth below:

PART 4--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 4 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).

0
2. Amend section 4.602 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


4.602  Federal Procurement Data System.

* * * * *
    (e) Unique Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID). (1) The FPDS 
requires that each reporting agency assign a unique identifier for 
every contract, purchase order, BOA, Basic Agreement, and BPA reported 
to FPDS. Such identifiers shall comply with the contract numbering 
guidelines established by the Joint Financial Management Improvement 
Project. The PIID shall consist of alpha characters in the first 
positions to indicate the agency, followed by alphanumeric characters 
identifying bureau, offices, or other administrative subdivisions. The 
last portion of the PIID shall be numbered sequentially. The PIID may 
include other elements, as appropriate, such as fiscal year. Delivery 
orders, task orders, and call numbers must be unique in combination 
with the basic reference contract vehicle identifier. When the basic 
reference contract is available for multi-agency use (GWAC, Federal 
Supply Schedule contract, etc.), an ordering agency shall use the same 
agency identification prefix for its delivery orders, task orders, and 
call numbers as it uses for its contractual instruments.
    (2) Agencies are required to have in place, no later than October 
1, 2003, a process that will ensure that each PIID reported to FPDS is 
unique, Governmentwide, and will remain so for at least 20 years from 
the date of contract award. To eliminate the possibility of duplication 
between agencies, agencies must submit their proposed identifier to the 
Federal Procurement Data Center, which will maintain a registry of the 
identifiers on the FPDC website and validate their use in all 
transactions.

[FR Doc. 03-24584 Filed 9-30-03; 8:45 am]
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