[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 159 (Friday, August 17, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46357-46359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3799]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52

[FAC 2005-19; FAR Case 2006-028; Item VIII; Docket 2007-0001, Sequence 
01]
RIN 9000-AK77


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2006-028, New Designated 
Countries--Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, and Romania

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

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on an interim 
rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the 
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement 
with respect to the Dominican Republic. The rule also adds Bulgaria and 
Romania to the list of World Trade Organization Government Procurement 
Agreement countries.

DATES: Effective Date: August 17, 2007.
    Comment Date: Interested parties should submit written comments to 
the FAR Secretariat on or before October 16, 2007 to be considered in 
the formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by FAC 2005-19, FAR case 2006-
028, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Search for any document by first selecting the proper document types 
and selecting ``Federal Acquisition Regulation'' as the agency of 
choice. At the ``Keyword'' prompt, type in the FAR case number (for 
example, FAR case 2006-028) and click on the ``Submit'' button. Please 
include your name and company name (if any) inside the document.
    You may also search for any document by clicking on the ``Advanced 
search/document search'' tab at the top of the screen, selecting from 
the agency field ``Federal Acquisition Regulation'', and typing the FAR 
case number in the keyword field. Select the ``Submit'' button.
     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 FAC 2005-19, FAR 
case 2006-028, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Meredith Murphy, Procurement 
Analyst, at (202) 208-6925 for clarification of content. Please cite 
FAC 2005-19, FAR case 2006-028. For information pertaining to status or 
publication schedules, contact the FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    This rule amends FAR Part 25 and the corresponding clauses in Part 
52 to implement the Dominican Republic--Central America--United States 
Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) with respect to the Dominican Republic. 
Congress approved this trade agreement in the Dominican Republic--
Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act 
(Public Law 109-53). This trade agreement waives the applicability of 
the Buy American Act for some foreign supplies and construction 
materials from the Dominican Republic and specifies procurement 
procedures designed to ensure fairness in the acquisition of supplies 
and services.
    This interim rule adds the Dominican Republic to the definition of 
``Free Trade Agreement country.'' The rule also deletes the Dominican 
Republic from the definition of ``Caribbean Basin country'' because, in 
accordance with Section 201(a)(3) of Pub. L. 109-53, when the CAFTA-DR 
agreement enters into force with respect to a country, that country is 
no longer designated as a beneficiary country for purposes of the 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act.
    The Councils changed the heading for excluded service on line 6 of 
the table at 25.401(b) to read ``Transportation, travel, and relocation 
services. . .'' as being reflective of the wording of the majority of 
the Free Trade Agreements, including the CAFTA-DR.
    The Dominican Republic has the same thresholds as the other CAFTA-
DR countries ($64,786 for supply and service contracts, $7,407,000 for 
construction contracts).
    This rule also adds Bulgaria and Romania to the list of World Trade 
Organization Government Procurement Agreement countries in wherever it 
appears, whether as a separate definition, part of the definition of 
designated countries, or as part of the list of countries exempt from 
the prohibition of acquisition of products produced by forced or 
indentured child labor (22.1503, 25.003, 52.222-19, 52.225-5, and 
52.225-11).
    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 interim rule is not expected 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. Although the rule 
opens up Government procurement to the goods and services of Bulgaria, 
the Dominican Republic, and Romania, the Councils do not anticipate any 
significant economic impact on U.S. small businesses. The Department of 
Defense only applies the trade agreements to the non-defense items 
listed at DFARS 225.401-70, and acquisitions that are set aside for 
small businesses are exempt. Therefore, an Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis has not been performed. The Councils will consider 
comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR Parts 22, 25, 
and 52 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. (FAC 
2005-19, FAR case 2006-028), in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does apply; however, these changes to 
the FAR do not impose additional information collection requirements to 
the paperwork burden previously approved under OMB Control Numbers 
9000-0025, 9000-0130, 9000-0136, and 9000-0141 respectively. The 
interim 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.

D. Determination to Issue an Interim Rule

    A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary 
of Defense

[[Page 46358]]

(DoD), the Administrator of General Services (GSA), and the 
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this 
interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. This action 
is necessary because the CAFTA-DR took effect with respect to the 
Dominican Republic on March 1, 2007. Bulgaria and Romania became 
parties to the WTO GPA on January 1, 2007.
    However, pursuant to Public Law 98-577 and FAR 1.501, the Councils 
will consider public comments received in response to this interim rule 
in the formation of the final rule.

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

    Government procurement.

    Dated: July 30, 2007.
Al Matera,
Acting Director, Contract Policy Division.

0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 22, 25, and 52 as set 
forth below:
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 22, 25, and 52 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 22--APPLICATION OF LABOR LAWS TO GOVERNMENT ACQUISITIONS


22.1503   [Amended]

0
2. Amend section 22.1503 in paragraph (b)(4) by adding ``Bulgaria,'' 
and ``Romania,'' in alphabetical order.

PART 25--FOREIGN ACQUISITION


25.003   [Amended]

0
3. Amend section 25.003 by--
0
a. Removing from the definition ``Caribbean Basin country'', 
``Dominican Republic,'';
0
b. Amending the definition ``Designated country'' by--
0
1. Adding to paragraph (1) ``Bulgaria,'' and ``Romania,'' in 
alphabetical order;
0
2. Adding to paragraph (2) ``Dominican Republic,'' in alphabetical 
order; and
0
3. Removing from paragraph (4) ``Dominican Republic,'';
0
c. Amending the definition ``Free Trade Agreement country'', by adding 
``Dominican Republic,'' in alphabetical order; and
0
d. Amending the definition ``World Trade Organization Government 
Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA) country'', by adding ``Bulgaria,'' and 
``Romania,'' in alphabetical order.


25.402   [Amended]

0
4. Amend section 25.402(b), in the table, by adding after ``El 
Salvador,'' the entry ``Dominican Republic,''.

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
5. Amend section 52.212-3 by revising the date of the clause and the 
last sentence of paragraph (g)(1)(i) to read as follows:


52.212-3   Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial 
Items.

* * * * *
    OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS--COMMERCIAL ITEMS 
``(AUG 2007)''
* * * * *
    (g)(1) * * *
    (i) * * * The terms ``Bahrainian or Moroccan end product,'' 
``component,'' ``domestic end product,'' ``end product,'' ``foreign 
end product,'' ``Free Trade Agreement country,'' ``Free Trade 
Agreement country end product,'' ``Israeli end product,'' and 
``United States'' are defined in the clause of this solicitation 
entitled ``Buy American Act--Free Trade Agreements--Israeli Trade 
Act.''
* * * * *


52.212-5  [Amended]

0
6. Amend section 52.212-5 by--
0
a. Revising the date of clause to read ``(AUG 2007)'';
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(17) ``(JAN 2006)'' and adding ``(AUG 
2007)'' in its place; and
0
c. Removing from paragraphs (b)(27)(i) and (b)(28) ``(NOV 2006)'' and 
adding ``(AUG 2007)'' in its place.


52.222-19  [Amended]

0
7. Amend section 52.222-19 by revising the date of clause to read 
``(AUG 2007)''; and in paragraph (a)(4) by adding ``Bulgaria,'' and 
``Romania,'' in alphabetical order.
0
8. Amend section 52.225-3 by--
0
a. Revising the date of clause;
0
b. Revising the introductory text of the definition ``Bahrainian end 
product'', and adding to paragraphs (1) and (2) ``or Morocco'' after 
Bahrain;
0
c. Amending the definition ``Free Trade Agreement country'' by adding 
``Dominican Republic,'' in alphabetical order;
0
d. Removing the definition ``Moroccan end product''; and
0
e. Removing from paragraph (c) ``Morocco FTA'' and adding ``Morocco 
FTAs'' in its place.
    The revised text reads as follows:


52.225-3   Buy American Act--Free Trade Agreements--Israeli Trade Act.

* * * * *
    BUY AMERICAN ACT--FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS--ISRAELI TRADE ACT 
``(AUG 2007)''
* * * * *
    Bahrainian or Moroccan end product means an article that--
* * * * *


52.225-4  [Amended]

0
9. Amend section 52.225-4 by revising the date of clause to read ``(AUG 
2007)''; and adding to paragraph (a) ``or Moroccan'' after 
``Bahrainian'' and by removing the term ``Moroccan end product,''.


52.225-5  [Amended]

0
10. Amend section 52.225-5 by--
0
a. Revising the date of clause to read ``(AUG 2007)''; and
0
b. Amending, in paragraph (a), the definition ``Designated country'' 
by--
0
1. Adding to paragraph (1) ``Bulgaria,'' and ``Romania,'' in 
alphabetical order;
0
2. Adding to paragraph (2) ``Dominican Republic,'' in alphabetical 
order; and
0
3. Removing from paragraph (4) ``Dominican Republic,''.
0
11. Amend section 52.225-11 by--
0
a. Revising the date of clause;
0
b. Amending the definition ``Designated country'' by--
0
1. Adding to paragraph (1) ``Bulgaria,'' and ``Romania,'' in 
alphabetical order;
0
2. Adding to paragraph (2) ``Dominican Republic,'' in alphabetical 
order; and
0
3. Removing from paragraph (4) ``Dominican Republic,``; and
0
c. In Alternate I by revising the introductory text and the definition 
``Bahrainian construction material''; and by removing the definition 
``Mexican construction material''.
    The revised text reads as follows:


52.225-11   Buy American Act--Construction Materials under Trade 
Agreements.

* * * * *
    BUY AMERICAN ACT--CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS UNDER TRADE AGREEMENTS 
``(AUG 2007)''
* * * * *
    Alternate I ``(AUG 2007)''. As prescribed in 25.1102(c)(3), add 
the following definition of ``Bahrainian or Mexican construction 
material'' to paragraph (a) of the basic clause, and substitute the 
following paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) for paragraphs (b)(1) and 
(b)(2) of the basic clause:
    Bahrainian or Mexican construction material means a construction 
material that--
    (1) Is wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of Bahrain or 
Mexico; or
    (2) In the case of a construction material that consists in 
whole or in part of materials from another country, has been 
substantially transformed in Bahrain or Mexico into a new and 
different construction material distinct

[[Page 46359]]

from the materials from which it was transformed.
* * * * *
0
12. Amend section 52.225-12 by revising the introductory text of 
Alternate II to read as follows:


52.225-12   Notice of Buy American Act Requirement--Construction 
Materials under Trade Agreements.

* * * * *
    Alternate II ``(AUG 2007)''. As prescribed in 25.1102(d)(3), add 
the definition of ``Bahrainian or Mexican construction material'' to 
paragraph (a) and substitute the following paragraph (d) for 
paragraph (d) of the basic provision:
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 07-3799 Filed 8-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S