[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 188 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8207]



[[Page 57375]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52

[FAC 2005-13; FAR Case 2005-030; Item V;Docket 2006-0020, Sequence 15]
RIN 9000-AK40


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2005-030, Trade 
Agreements--Thresholds

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 adopted as final, 
without change, an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition 
Regulation (FAR) to implement the increased thresholds for the World 
Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade 
Agreements.

DATES: Effective Date: September 28, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact 
Ms. Jeritta Parnell, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-4082. Please 
cite FAC 2005-13, FAR case 2005-030. For information pertaining to 
status or publication schedules, contact the FAR Secretariat at (202) 
501-4755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The Councils published an interim rule in the Federal Register at 
71 FR 864, January 5, 2006, to implement the increased thresholds for 
the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free 
Trade Agreements. Every two years, the trade agreements thresholds are 
escalated according to a pre-determined formula set forth in the 
agreements. The United States Trade Representative published the new 
thresholds in the Federal Register at 70 FR 73510 to 73511, December 
12, 2005. No comments were received by the close of the public comment 
period on March 6, 2006, therefore, the Councils agreed to convert the 
interim rule to a final rule.
    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 Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify that this 
final rule will not 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 threshold changes 
are in line with inflation and only maintain the status quo.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does apply, because the final rule 
affects the certification and information collection requirements in 
the provisions at FAR 52.212-3, 52.225-4, 52.225-6, and 52.225-11 
currently approved under OMB clearances 9000-0136, 9000-0130, 9000-
0025, and 9000-0141 respectively. There is, however, no change to these 
clearances because the threshold changes are due to inflation and only 
maintain the status quo. As a result, these FAR changes do not impose 
additional information collection requirements.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: September 19, 2006
Ralph De Stefano,
Director,Contract Policy Division.

Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without Change

0
Accordingly, the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 22, 25 and 52, 
which was published at 71 FR 864, January 5, 2006, is adopted as a 
final rule without change.
[FR Doc. 06-8207 Filed 9-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S