[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 22, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8564-8565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3207]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

48 CFR Part 239

[DFARS Case 2003-D055]


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Acquisition of 
Telecommunications Services

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition 
Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update text pertaining to the 
acquisition of telecommunications services. This proposed rule is a 
result of a transformation initiative undertaken by DoD to dramatically 
change the purpose and content of the DFARS.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to 
the address shown below on or before April 25, 2005, to be considered 
in the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by DFARS Case 2003-D055, 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Defense Acquisition Regulations Web Site: http://emissary.acq.osd.mil/dar/dfars.nsf/pubcomm. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include DFARS Case 2003-D055 in the 
subject line of the message.
     Fax: (703) 602-0350.
     Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, Attn: Mr. 
Bill Sain, OUSD(AT&L)DPAP(DAR), IMD 3C132, 3062 Defense Pentagon, 
Washington, DC 20301-3062.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Defense Acquisition Regulations 
Council, Crystal Square 4, Suite 200A, 241 18th Street, Arlington, VA 
22202-3402.
    All comments received will be posted to http://emissary.acq.osd.mil/dar/dfars.nsf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bill Sain, (703) 602-0293.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background

    DFARS Transformation is a major DoD initiative to dramatically 
change the purpose and content of the DFARS. The objective is to 
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the acquisition process, 
while allowing the acquisition workforce the flexibility to innovate. 
The transformed DFARS will contain only requirements of law, DoD-wide 
policies, delegations of FAR

[[Page 8565]]

authorities, deviations from FAR requirements, and policies/procedures 
that have a significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures 
of DoD or a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or 
offerors. Additional information on the DFARS Transformation initiative 
is available at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dfars/transf.htm.
    This proposed rule is a result of the DFARS Transformation 
initiative. The proposed changes--
     Amend DFARS 239.7401 to update terminology for consistency 
with the terminology used in the clause at DFARS 252.239-7016; and
     Revise DFARS 239.7405 to delete obsolete text and to add 
text addressing DoD's authority to enter into contracts for 
telecommunications services.
    This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review 
under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    DoD does not expect this rule to 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 the proposed 
rule makes no significant change to policy for the acquisition of 
telecommunications services. Therefore, DoD has not performed an 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis. DoD invites comments from 
small businesses and other interested parties. DoD also will consider 
comments from small entities concerning the affected DFARS subpart in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Such comments should be submitted 
separately and should cite DFARS Case 2003-D055.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the rule does 
not impose any 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 Part 239

    Government procurement.

Michele P. Peterson,
Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.

    Therefore, DoD proposes to amend 48 CFR part 239 as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 239 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 41 U.S.C. 421 and 48 CFR chapter 1.

PART 239--ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY


239.7401  [Amended]

    2. Section 239.7401 is amended in paragraph (e) by removing 
``Security,'' and adding in its place ``Securing,.''
    3. Section 239.7405 is revised to read as follows:


239.7405  Delegated authority for telecommunications resources.

    The contracting officer may enter into a telecommunications service 
contract on a month-to-month basis or for any longer period or series 
of periods, not to exceed a total of 10 years. See PGI 239.7405 for 
documents relating to this contracting authority, which the General 
Services Administration has delegated to DoD.

[FR Doc. 05-3207 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am]
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