[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50926-50928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20874]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 6101, 6103, 6104, and 6105

[GSA BCA Amendment 2011-01, BCA Case 2011-61-1; Docket Number 2011-001, 
Sequence 1]
RIN 3090-AJ16


Civilian Board of Contract Appeals; Rules of Procedure of the 
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals--Electronic Filing of Documents

AGENCY: Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document revises the rules governing proceedings before 
the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (Board). The rules are amended 
to provide procedures for the electronic filing of documents in 
proceedings before the Board. Electronic filing is increasingly 
available in judicial and administrative tribunals to provide parties 
with a faster, more efficient, and less costly way to submit their 
documents. In addition, although electronically filed documents will be 
docketed as received only during Board working hours, they may be 
transmitted at any time from any location with Internet access. This 
amendment is a non-substantive change to the Rules that is intended to 
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Board's programs by 
providing parties with an additional option for filing their documents 
with the Board. It does not affect any of the other methods currently 
available, including the delivery of documents in person, by courier or 
United States Postal Service, or by facsimile transmission.

DATES: Effective Date: August 17, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. J. Gregory Parks, Chief Counsel, 
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, telephone (202) 606-8800, e-mail 
address [email protected] for clarification of content. For 
information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact

[[Page 50927]]

the Regulatory Secretariat at (202) 501-4755. Please cite BCA Case 
2011-61-01.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Regulatory Information

    The Board is issuing this final rule without prior notice and 
opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This provision 
authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and 
opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those 
procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public 
interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Board finds that good cause 
exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with 
respect to this rule because publishing a NPRM would be unnecessary. 
This amendment is a non-substantive change to the Rules, intended to 
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Board's programs by 
providing parties with an additional option for filing their documents. 
This option of electronic filing does not affect any of the other 
methods currently available to parties for the delivery of documents, 
including in person, by United States Postal Service or other courier 
service, or by facsimile transmission.

B. Background

    The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals was established within the 
General Services Administration (GSA) by Section 847 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, Public Law 109-163 (now 
codified at 41 U.S.C. 7105(b)). In March 2011, the Civilian Board of 
Contract Appeals began accepting filings submitted by electronic mail 
(e-mail) under Section 6101.1(b)(5) of the Board's Rules of Procedure. 
However, appeal files submitted pursuant to Section 6101.4 of the 
Board's Rules of Procedure may not be submitted by electronic mail due 
to the size and complexity of these filings, and classified documents 
and files submitted in camera or under protective order pursuant to 
Section 6101.9(c) of the Board's Rules of Procedure may not be 
submitted by electronic mail due to the need to ensure their security. 
This final rule updates section 6101.1(b)(5) to include information 
regarding the filing of documents by e-mail and to provide direction 
concerning requirements for their submittal. Sections 6101.1(f), 
6101.2(a)(1)(ii)(C), 6101.2(a)(1)(ii)(D), 6101.2(a)(2)(ii)(C), 
6101.5(c), 6103.302(a)(1), 6103.302(b), 6104.402(a)(1)(i), 
6104.402(a)(1)(ii), 6104.402(a)(3), 6105.502(a)(2)(iii)(A), 
6105.502(a)(2)(iii)(B), and 6105.502(a)(2)(iv) are also amended to 
provide the e-mail address for receipt of filings for the Clerk of the 
Board and to request additional contact information for parties and 
their agents or representatives. Sections 6101.25(a)(1), 6103.306, 
6104.406, and 6105.505 are amended to provide the current Internet 
address for the Board. In addition, section 6101.5(c) is amended to 
correct an error in printing by the Code of Federal Regulations.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The General Services Administration certifies 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 rule does not impose any additional 
costs on large or small businesses.

D. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. 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.

E. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes do 
not impose recordkeeping or information collection requirements, or 
otherwise collect information from offerors, contractors, or members of 
the public that require approval of the Office of Management and Budget 
under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 6101, 6103, 6104, and 6105

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agriculture, Freight 
forwarders, Government procurement, Travel and relocation expenses.

    Dated: August 4, 2011.
Stephen M. Daniels,
Chairman, Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, General Services 
Administration.

    Therefore, GSA amends 48 CFR parts 6101, 6103, 6104, and 6105 as 
set forth below:

PART 6101--CONTRACT DISPUTE CASES

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 6101 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  41 U.S.C. 7101-7109.


0
2. Amend section 6101.1 by adding paragraph (b)(5)(iii); and by adding 
a new sentence at the end of paragraph (f) to read as follows:


6101.1  Scope of rules; definitions; construction; rulings, orders, and 
directions; panels; location and address [Rule 1].

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (5) * * *
    (iii) Filings submitted by electronic mail (e-mail) are permitted, 
with the exception of appeal files submitted pursuant to 6101.4 (Rule 
4), classified documents, and filings submitted in camera or under 
protective order pursuant to 6101.9(c) (Rule 9(c)). Filings by e-mail 
shall be submitted to: [email protected]. Filings must be in PDF 
format and may not exceed 18 megabytes (MB) total. Filings that are not 
in PDF format or over 18 MB will not be accepted. The filing of a 
document by e-mail occurs upon receipt by the Board on a working day, 
as defined in 6101.1(b)(9) (Rule 1(b)(9)). All e-mail filings received 
by 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on a working day will be considered to be 
filed on that day. E-mail filings received after that time will be 
considered to be filed on the next working day.
* * * * *
    (f) * * * The Clerk's e-mail address for receipt of filings is: 
[email protected].
0
3. Amend section 6101.2 by revising paragraphs (a)(1)(ii)(C), 
(a)(1)(ii)(D), and (a)(2)(ii)(C) to read as follows:


6101.2  Filing cases; time limits for filing; notice of docketing; 
consolidation [Rule 2].

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (C) The name, address, telephone number, facsimile machine number, 
and e-mail address, if available, of the contracting officer whose 
decision is appealed and the date of the decision;
    (D) If the appeal is from the failure of the contracting officer to 
decide a claim, the name, address, telephone number,

[[Page 50928]]

facsimile machine number, and e-mail address, if available, of the 
contracting officer who received the claim;
* * * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (C) The name, address, telephone number, facsimile machine number, 
and e-mail address, if available, of the contracting officer whose 
decision is sought.
* * * * *

0
4. Amend section 6101.5 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


6101.5  Appearances; notice of appearance [Rule 5].

* * * * *
    (c) Withdrawal of appearance. Any person who has filed a notice of 
appearance and who wishes to withdraw from a case must file a motion 
which includes the name, address, telephone number, facsimile machine 
number, and e-mail address, if available, of the person who will assume 
responsibility for representation of the party in question. The motion 
shall state the grounds for withdrawal unless it is accompanied by a 
representation from the successor representative or existing co-counsel 
that the established case schedule will be met.


0
5. Amend section 6101.25 by adding two new sentences at the end of 
paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:


6101.25  Decisions; settlements [Rule 25].

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * * In addition, all Board decisions are posted weekly on the 
Internet. The Board's Internet address is: http://www.cbca.gov.
* * * * *

PART 6103--TRANSPORTATION RATE CASES

0
6. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 6103 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  31 U.S.C. 3726(i)(1); 41 U.S.C. 7101-7109; Sec. 
201(o), Pub. L. 104-316, 110 Stat. 3826.


0
7. Amend section 6103.302 by revising paragraph (a)(1); and by adding a 
new sentence after the fifth sentence in paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


6103.302  Filing claims [Rule 302].

    (a) * * *
    (1) The name, address, telephone number, facsimile machine number, 
and e-mail address, if available, of the claimant;
* * * * *
    (b) * * * The Clerk's e-mail address for receipt of filings is: 
[email protected]. * * *
* * * * *
0
8. Amend section 6103.306 by revising the fourth sentence to read as 
follows:


6103.306  Decisions [Rule 306].

    * * * The Board's Internet address is: http://www.cbca.gov.

PART 6104--TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES CASES

0
9. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 6104 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  Secs. 202(n), 204, Pub. L. 104-316, 110 Stat. 3826; 
Sec. 211, Pub. L. 104-53, 109 Stat. 535; 31 U.S.C. 3702; 41 U.S.C. 
7101-7109.

0
10. Amend section 6104.402 by revising paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and 
(a)(1)(ii); and by adding a new sentence after the fifth sentence of 
paragraph (a)(3) to read as follows:


6104.402  Filing claims [Rule 402].

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) The name, address, telephone number, facsimile machine number, 
and e-mail address, if available, of the claimant;
    (ii) The name, address, telephone number, facsimile machine number, 
and e-mail address, if available, of the agency employee who denied the 
claim;
* * * * *
    (3) * * * The Clerk's e-mail address for receipt of filings is: 
[email protected]. * * *
* * * * *

0
11. Amend section 6104.406 by revising the fourth sentence to read as 
follows:


6104.406  Decisions [Rule 406].

    * * * The Board's Internet address is: http://www.cbca.gov.

PART 6105--DECISIONS AUTHORIZED UNDER 31 U.S.C. 3529

0
12. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 6105 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  31 U.S.C. 3529; 31 U.S.C. 3702; 41 U.S.C. 7101-7109; 
Secs. 202(n), 204, Pub. L. 104-316, 110 Stat. 3826; Sec. 211, Pub. 
L. 104-53, 109 Stat. 535.

0
13. Amend section 6105.502 by revising paragraphs (a)(2)(iii)(A) and 
(a)(2)(iii)(B); and adding a new sentence after the fifth sentence of 
paragraph (a)(2)(iv) to read as follows:


6105.502  Request for decision [Rule 502].

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (A) The name, address, telephone number, facsimile machine number, 
and e-mail address, if available, of the official making the request;
    (B) The name, address, telephone number, facsimile machine number, 
and e-mail address, if available, of the employee affected by the 
specific payment or voucher; and
* * * * *
    (iv) * * * The Clerk's e-mail address for receipt of filings is: 
[email protected]. * * *
* * * * *

0
14. Amend section 6105.505 by revising the fourth sentence to read as 
follows:


6105.505  Decisions [Rule 505].

    * * * The Board's Internet address is: http://www.cbca.gov.

[FR Doc. 2011-20874 Filed 8-16-11; 8:45 am]
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