[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 3442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-683]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

7 CFR Part 1496

RIN 0560-AH39


Procurement of Commodities for Foreign Donation

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule: reopening and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is reopening and 
extending the comment period for the proposed rule, Procurement of 
Commodities for Foreign Donation. The original comment period for the 
proposed rule closed January 17, 2006, and CCC is reopening and 
extending it for 45 days from the date of this notice. CCC also will 
consider any comments received from January 17, 2006, to the date of 
this notice. This action responds to requests from the public to 
provide more time to comment on the proposed rule.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule published at 70 FR 74717, December 
16, 2005, must be submitted by March 9, 2006, to be assured 
consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to 
the extent practical. The deadline for comments on the information 
collections in the proposed rule remains February 14, 2006, as 
specified in the proposed rule.

ADDRESSES: CCC invites interested persons to submit comments. Comments 
may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     E-Mail: Send comments to [email protected].
     Fax: Submit comments by facsimile transmission to: (202) 
690-2221.
     Mail: Send comments to: Director, Commodity Procurement 
Policy & Analysis Division, Farm Service Agency, United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rm. 5755-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0512.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver comments to the above 
address.
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 16, 2005, CCC published a 
proposed rule, Procurement of Commodities for Foreign Donation, in the 
Federal Register (70 FR 74717). The proposed rule would adopt new 
procedures to be used by CCC in the evaluation of bids in connection 
with the procurement of commodities for donation overseas. In general, 
CCC proposes to amend the existing regulations to provide for the 
simultaneous review of commodity and ocean freight offers when 
evaluating lowest-landed cost options in connection with the 
procurement of commodities. This proposed rule would enhance bidding 
opportunities for potential vendors while allowing CCC to more 
efficiently acquire commodities.
    The Agency believes the request for additional time to comment on 
the proposed rule is reasonable and will allow the rulemaking to 
proceed in a timely manner. As a result of the reopening and extension, 
the comment period for the proposed rule will close on March 9, 2006.

    Signed in Washington, DC, January 13, 2006.
Teresa C. Lasseter,
Executive Vice-President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. E6-683 Filed 1-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P