[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56684-56685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24587]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 25 and 52

[FAC 2001-16; FAR Case 2003-006; Item VI]
RIN 9000-AJ71


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Caribbean Basin Country--
Dominican Republic

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 reinstate the 
treatment of the products of the Dominican Republic as eligible 
products under acquisitions subject to the Trade Agreements Act, as 
directed by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

DATES: Effective Date: October 31, 2003.

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. Cecelia Davis, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 219-
0202. Please cite FAC 2001-16, FAR case 2003-006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    This final rule amends FAR 25.003, 25.400, and the clauses at 
52.212-5 and 52.225-5 to implement the direction of the USTR to 
reinstate the treatment of certain products of the Dominican Republic 
as eligible products under acquisitions subject to the Trade Agreements 
Act (TAA), as published by the USTR in the Federal Register at 68 FR 
27883, May 21, 2003.
    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 does not apply to this rule. This 
final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision within the 
meaning of FAR 1.501 and Pub. L. 98-577, and publication for public 
comments is not required. However, the Councils will consider comments 
from small entities concerning the affected FAR Parts 25 and 52 in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such 
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAC 2001-16, 
FAR case 2003-006), in correspondence.

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 25 and 52

    Government procurement.

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

0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 25 and 52 as set forth 
below:
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 25 and 52 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).

[[Page 56685]]

PART 25--FOREIGN ACQUISITION


25.003  [Amended]

0
2. Amend section 25.003 in the definition ``Caribbean Basin country'' 
by adding ``Dominican Republic,'' after ``Dominica,''.


25.400  [Amended]

0
3. Amend section 25.400 in paragraph (a)(2) by removing ``the Dominican 
Republic and''.

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES


52.212-5  [Amended]

0
4. Amend section 52.212-5 by removing ``(June 2003)'' from the clause 
heading and in paragraph (b)(23) and adding ``(Oct 2003)'' in its 
place.


52.225-5  [Amended]

0
5. Amend section 52.225-5 by revising the date of the clause to read 
``(Oct 2003)''; and in paragraph (a) of the clause, in the definition 
``Caribbean Basin country,'' by adding ``Dominican Republic,'' after 
``Dominica,''.

[FR Doc. 03-24587 Filed 9-30-03; 8:45 am]
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