[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 164 (Thursday, August 24, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50011-50012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7126]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 7, 12, and 39

[FAR Case 2005-041; Docket 2006-0020; Sequence 7]
RIN 9000-AK57


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2005-041, Internet 
Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)

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

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require Internet Protocol 
Version 6 (IPv6) capable products be included in information technology 
procurements to the maximum extent practicable.

DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments to the FAR 
Secretariat on or before October 23, 2006 to be considered in the 
formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by FAR case 2005-041 by any of 
the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Search for this document at the ``Federal Acquisition Regulation'' 
agency and review the ``Document Title'' column; click on the Document 
ID number. Click on ``add comments''.
    You may also search for any document using the ``Advanced search/
document search'' tab, selecting from the agency field ``Federal 
Acquisition Regulation'', and typing the FAR case number in the keyword 
field.
     Fax: 202-501-4067.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat (VIR), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, ATTN: Laurieann 
Duarte, Washington, DC 20405.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAR case 2005-
041 in all correspondence related to this case. All comments received 
will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal and/or business confidential information provided.

[[Page 50012]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT For clarification of content, contact 
Ms. Cecelia Davis, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 219-0202. The TTY 
Federal Relay Number for further information is 1-800-877-8973. For 
information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the 
FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755. Please cite FAR case 2005-041.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The internet protocol is one of the primary mechanisms that define 
how and where information moves across networks, e.g., voice, video, 
and text. Currently Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) is the industry 
standard used and has about 4.3 billion address spaces. Key 
characteristics of IPv6 are designed to significantly increase internet 
address space, promote flexibility and functionality, and enhance 
security. Agencies can reduce costly upgrades and the complexity of 
transitioning to IPv6 by proactively integrating IPv6 requirements into 
Federal contracts.
    On August 2, 2005, OMB issued a memo (Memorandum M-05-22, 
Transition Planning for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)) giving 
guidance to agencies to transition from IPv4 to IPv6, and required 
agencies to implement full use of IPv6 in network backbones by June 
2008. OMB further requires, to the maximum extent practicable, all new 
IT procurements include IPv6 capable products and systems. Any 
exceptions to the use of IPv6 will require advance written approval 
from the agency CIO.
    This rule proposes amending the FAR by--
    1. Adding a new paragraph (A)(2) in FAR 7.105 (b)(4)(ii) to ensure 
agency planners comply with the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) 
capability requirements as a part of acquisition planning;
    2. Adding paragraph (e) to FAR 12.202 to state that requirements 
documents for information technology shall include Internet Protocol 
Version 6 (IPv6) capable products and services; and
    3. Adding paragraph (e) to FAR 39.101 to state when acquiring 
information technology, agencies shall include the appropriate 
requirements for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) capable products 
and services, and for agencies to establish procedures for granting 
exceptions.
    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 Councils do not expect this proposed 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 IPv6 requires use of commercially available products, and no 
new standards or testing is required. An Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis has, therefore, not been performed. We invite comments from 
small businesses and other interested parties. The Councils will 
consider comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR Parts 
7, 12, and 39 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. 
(FAR case 2005-041), in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the proposed 
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 7, 12, and 39

    Government procurement.

    Dated: August 16, 2006.
Ralph De Stefano,
Director, Contract Policy Division.

    Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA propose amending 48 CFR parts 7, 12, 
and 39 as set forth below:
    1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 7, 12, and 39 continues 
to read as follows:

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

PART 7--ACQUISITION PLANNING

    2. Amend section 7.105 by revising paragraph (b)(4)(ii)(A) to read 
as follows:


7.105   Contents of written acquisition plans.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) For information technology acquisitions--
    (1) How the capital planning and investment control requirements of 
40 U.S.C. 11312 and OMB Circular A-130 will be met (see 7.103(t) and 
Part 39); and
    (2) How the acquisition will comply with the Internet Protocol 
Version 6 (IPv6) capability requirements as outlined in OMB Memorandum 
M-05-22, Transition Planning for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), 
and additional requirements for IPv6 at http://www.cio.gov.
* * * * *

PART 12--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS

    3. Amend section 12.202 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


12.202   Market research and description of agency need.

* * * * *
    (e) Requirements documents for information technology solutions 
must include Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) capability as outlined 
in the OMB Memorandum M-05-22, Transition Planning for Internet 
Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), and additional requirements for IPv6 at 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy2005/m05-22.pdf.

PART 39--ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

    4. Amend section 39.101 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


39.101   Policy.

* * * * *
    (e) In acquiring information technology solutions, agencies must 
include the appropriate Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) capability 
requirements as outlined in the OMB Memorandum M-05-22, Transition 
Planning for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6). Agencies must 
establish procedures for exceptions.
[FR Doc. 06-7126 Filed 8-23-06; 8:45 am]
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