[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31688-31689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12316]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel; Notification of Public 
Advisory Panel Meetings

AGENCY: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award 
Schedule Advisory Panel (MAS Panel), a Federal Advisory Committee, will 
hold public meetings on the following dates: Monday, June 16, 2008; 
Tuesday, June 17 2008; Monday, July 21, 2008; and Monday, August 18, 
2008. GSA utilizes the Schedules program to establish long-term 
Governmentwide contracts with responsible firms to provide Federal, 
State, and local government customers with access to a wide variety of 
supplies (products) and services.
    The MAS Panel was established to develop advice and recommendations 
on MAS program pricing policies, provisions, and procedures in the 
context of current commercial pricing practices. For the next 3 to 4 
meeting dates, the Panel plans to focus on three areas: (1) STAKEHOLDER 
EXPECTATIONS--what are our stakeholder expectations of the MAS program; 
what should be the purpose of the MAS program; and is it structured to 
serve our stakeholder needs; (2) ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES--what 
should be the role and responsibilities of the GSA contracting officer 
and that of the ordering agency contracting

[[Page 31689]]

officer; the need to eliminate duplication at the task order level 
those pricing determinations made by the GSA contracting officer; and, 
the management and oversight responsibilities, such as training and 
assuring consistency in policy; and (3) FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE 
DETERMINATIONS--what are the stakeholder expectations for schedule 
prices; should the GSA contracting officer or the ordering agency 
contracting officer make the fair and reasonable price determination; 
the presumption that the schedule contract negations result in fair and 
reasonable prices; and orders issued in compliance with FAR 8.4 
ordering procedures result in best value.
    To that end, the Panel would like to hear from the many 
stakeholders of the MAS program. The MAS program stakeholders include, 
but not limited to, ordering agency contracting officers, customer 
agency contracting officer, GSA contracting officers, schedule contract 
holders, Congress, program managers, General Accountability Office, and 
agency Inspector General Offices. The panel is particularly interested 
in stakeholder views as to how the issues discussed above may relate 
differently to the purchase of goods, services, or goods and services 
that are configured to propose an integrated solution to an agency's 
needs.
    I. STAKEHOLDER EXPECTATIONS
    Discussions and presentations on STAKEHOLDER EXPECTATIONS will take 
place on Monday, June 16, 2008, and Tuesday, June 17, 2008. The meeting 
start time for each day is 9:00 a.m., and they will adjourn no later 
than 5:00 p.m.
    Monday, June 16, 2008 Location & Address: The meeting will be held 
at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Building, 2nd Floor, 1725 
New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The building is located at the 
corner of 18th Street and New York Avenue, NW. Entrance to the building 
is on either 18th Street, or New York Avenue. The AIA is within walking 
distance from the Farragut North Metro stop.
    Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Location & Address: The meeting will be held 
at the Jury's Washington Hotel, Westbury Room, 1500 New Hampshire 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The hotel is within walking distance from 
the Dupont Circle Metro stop.
    II. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
    Discussions and presentations on ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES will 
take place on Monday, July 21, 2008.
    Monday, July 21, 2008 Location and Address: The meeting will be 
held at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Building, 2nd Floor, 
1725 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The building is located at 
the corner of 18th Street and New York Avenue, NW. Entrance to the 
building is on either 18th Street, or New York Avenue. The meeting 
start time is 9:00 a.m., and it will adjourn no later than 5:00 p.m. 
The AIA is within walking distance from the Farragut North Metro stop.
    III. FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE DETERMINATIONS
    Discussions and presentations on FAIR AND REASONABLE PRICE 
DETERMINATIONS will take place on Monday, August 18, 2008.
    Monday, August 18, 2008 Location and Address: The meeting will be 
held at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Building, 2nd Floor, 
1725 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The building is at the 
corner of 18th Street and New York Avenue, NW. Entrance to the building 
is on either 18th Street, or New York Avenue. The meeting start time is 
9:00 a.m., and it will adjourn no later than 5:00 p.m. The AIA is 
within walking distance from the Farragut North Metro stop.
    For presentations before the Panel, the following guidance is 
provided:
    Oral comments: Requests to present oral comments at this meeting 
must be in writing (email or fax) and received by the Designated 
Federal Official, Pat Brooks, at the below address ten (10) business 
days prior to the meeting date. Each individual or group requesting an 
oral presentation will be limited to a total time of five minutes. 
Speakers should bring at least 50 copies of their comments for 
distribution to the reviewers and public at the meeting.
    Written Comments: Written comments must be received ten (10) 
business days prior to the meeting date so that the comments may be 
provided to the Panel for their consideration prior to the meeting. 
Comments should be supplied to Ms. Brooks at the address/contact 
information noted below in the following format: one hard copy with 
original signature and one electronic copy via email in Microsoft Word.
    Subsequent meeting dates, locations, and times will be published at 
least 15 days prior to the meeting date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Information on the Panel meetings, 
agendas, and other information can be obtained at www.gsa.gov/masadvisorypanel or you may contact Ms. Pat Brooks, Designated Federal 
Officer, Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel, U.S. General Services 
Administration, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 911, Arlington, VA 22205; 
telephone 703 605-3406, Fax 703 605-3454; or via email at 
[email protected].

 AVAILABILITY OF MATERIALS: All meeting materials, including meeting 
agendas, handouts, public comments, and meeting minutes will be posted 
on the MAS Panel Web site at www.gsa.gov/masadvisorypanel or 
www.gsa.gov/masap.
    MEETING ACCESS: Individuals requiring special accommodations at any 
of these meetings should contact Ms. Brooks at least ten (10) business 
days prior to the meeting date so that appropriate arrangements can be 
made.

    Dated: May 28, 2008.
David A. Drabkin,
Acting Chief Acquisition Officer, Office of the Chief Acquisition 
Officer, General Services Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-12316 Filed 6-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S