[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19039-19041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7093]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

48 CFR Parts 211, 223, and 252

[DFARS Case 2003-D039]


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Environment, 
Occupational Safety, and Drug-Free Workplace

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 
environment, occupational safety, and a drug-free workplace. 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 June 13, 2005, to be considered in 
the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by DFARS Case 2003-D039, 
using any of the following methods:
    [cir] Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    [cir] Defense Acquisition Regulations Web site: http://emissary.acq.osd.mil/dar/dfars.nsf/pubcomm. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
    [cir] E-mail: [email protected]. Include DFARS Case 2003-D039 in the 
subject line of the message.
    [cir] Fax: (703) 602-0350.

[[Page 19040]]

    [cir] Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, Attn: Mr. Bill 
Sain, OUSD (AT&L) DPAP (DAR), IMD 3C132, 3062 Defense Pentagon, 
Washington, DC 20301-3062.
    [cir] 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) 602-4245.

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 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/dp/dars/transf.htm.
    This proposed rule is a result of the DFARS Transformation 
Initiative. The proposed changes include--
    [cir] Deletion of redundant or unncessary text at DFARS 223.300, 
223.302, 223.370-3(a), 223.570-1, and 223.570-3.
    [cir] Deletion of text at DFARS 223.370-4 and 223.405 containing 
internal DoD procedures relating to safety precautions for ammunitions 
and explosives and use of recovered materials. This text will be 
relocated to the new DFARS companion resource, Procedures, Guidance, 
and Information (PGI), available at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/pgi.
    [cir] Relocation of text on ozone-depleting substances, from DFARS 
Subpart 211.2 to Subpart 223.8, with retention of a cross-reference in 
Subpart 211.2.
    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 rule 
removes DFARS text that is unnecessary or internal to DoD, but makes no 
significant change to DoD contracting policy. 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 subparts in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Such comments should be 
submitted separately and should cite DFARS Case 2003-D039.

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 Parts 211, 223, and 252

    Government procurement.

Michele P. Peterson,
Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.
    Therefore, DoD proposes to amend 48 CFR Parts 211, 223, and 252 as 
follows:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Parts 211, 223, and 252 
continues to read as follows:

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

PART 211--DESCRIBING AGENCY NEEDS

    2. Section 211.271 is revised to read as follows:


211.271  Elimination of use of class I ozone-depleting substances.

    See Subpart 223.8 for restrictions on contracting for ozone-
depleting substances.

PART 223--ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY, RENEWABLE 
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

    3. The heading of Part 223 is revised to read as set forth above.


223.300  [Removed]

    4. Section 223.300 is removed.
    5. Section 223.302 is revised to read as follows:


223.302  Policy.

    (e) The contracting officer shall also provide hazard warning 
labels, that are received from apparent successful offerors, to the 
cognizant safety officer.
    6. Section 223.370-3 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read 
as follows:


223.370-3  Policy.

    (a) DoD policy is to ensure that its contractors take reasonable 
precautions in handling ammunition and explosives so as to minimize the 
potential for mishaps.
* * * * *
    7. Section 223.370-4 is revised to read as follows:


223.370-4  Procedures.

    Follow the procedures at PGI 223.370-4.
    8. Section 223.405 is revised to read as follows:


223.405  Procedures.

    Follow the procedures at PGI 223.405.


223.570-1  [Removed]

    9. Section 223.570-1 is removed.


223.570-2  [Redesignated as 223.570-1]

    10. Section 223.570-2 is redesignated as section 223.570-1.


223.570-3  [Removed]

    11. Section 223.570-3 is removed.


223.570-4  [Redesignated as 223.570-2]

    12. Section 223.570-4 is redesignated as section 223.570-2.
    13. Section 223.803 is revised to read as follows:


223.803  Policy.

    (1) Contracts. No DoD contract may include a specification or 
standard that requires the use of a class I ozone-depleting substance 
or that can be met only through the use of such a substance unless the 
inclusion of the specification or standard is specifically authorized 
at a level no lower than a general or flag officer or a member of the 
Senior Executive Service of the requiring activity in accordance with 
Section 326, Public Law 102-484 (10 U.S.C. 2301 (repealed) note). This 
restriction is in addition to any imposed by the Clean Air Act and 
applies after June 1, 1993, to all DoD contracts, regardless of place 
of performance.
    (2) Modifications.
    (i) Contracts awarded before June 1, 1993, with a value in excess 
of $10 million, that are modified or extended (including option 
exercise) and, as a result of the modification or extension, will 
expire more than one year after the effective date of the modification 
or extension, must be evaluated in accordance with agency procedures 
for the elimination of ozone-depleting substances.
    (A) The evaluation must be carried out within 60 days after the 
first modification or extension.

[[Page 19041]]

    (B) No further modification or extension may be made to the 
contract until the evaluation is complete.
    (ii) If, as a result of this evaluation, it is determined that an 
economically feasible substitute substance or alternative technology is 
available, the contracting officer shall modify the contract to require 
the use of the substitute substance or alternative technology.
    (iii) If a substitute substance or alternative technology is not 
available, a written determination shall be made to that effect at a 
level no lower than a general or flag officer or a member of the Senior 
Executive Service of the requiring activity.

PART 252--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES


252.223-7004  [Amended]

    14. Section 252.223-7004 is amended in the introductory text by 
removing ``223.570-4'' and adding in its place ``223.570-2''.

[FR Doc. 05-7093 Filed 4-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-08-P