[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 148 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46782-46783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18454]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 4, 25, and 52

[FAC 2005-69; FAR Case 2012-030; Item II; Docket 2012-0030, Sequence 1]
RIN 9000-AM44


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Iran Threat Reduction

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA have adopted as final, with minor changes, 
the interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to 
require certifications that implement the expansion of sanctions 
relating to the energy sector of Iran and sanctions with respect to 
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, as contained in titles II and III of 
the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012.

DATES: Effective: August 1, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cecelia L. Davis, Procurement 
Analyst, at 202-219-0202, for clarification of content. For information 
pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory 
Secretariat at 202-501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-69, FAR Case 2012-
030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule in the Federal 
Register at 77 FR 73516, on December 10, 2012, to implement sections of 
titles II and III of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights 
Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-158), enacted August 10, 2012.
    The public comment period closed on February 8, 2013. One 
respondent submitted a comment.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition 
Regulations Council (the Councils) reviewed the comment in the 
development of the final rule. A discussion of the comment and the 
changes made to the rule as a result of the comment is provided as 
follows:

A. Summary of Significant Changes

    There are no significant changes to the FAR as a result of this 
final rule.

B. Analysis of Public Comment

    Comment: One respondent commented that boycotts rarely work. The 
respondent supported military action against Iran to destroy their 
nuclear arms program.
    Response: This rule implements the expansion of sanctions relating 
to the energy sector of Iran and sanctions with respect to Iran's 
Revolutionary Guard Corps, as contained in titles II and III of the 
Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012. The 
respondent's recommendation is outside the scope of the rule and the 
authority of the FAR and acquisition community.

C. Other Changes

    The final rule corrects the title of the Act at FAR 25.700(c) to 
read ``Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012''. The 
final rule also corrects the Web site address at FAR 25.703-3 and 
52.213-3 to read http://www.acquisition.gov.

III. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders (E.O.s) 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). E.O. 
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.

[[Page 46783]]

IV. 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 this rule will only 
have significant impact on an offeror that is engaging in an activity 
for which sanctions may be imposed under section 5 of the Iran 
Sanctions Act or certain transactions with Iran's Revolutionary Guard 
Corps. Domestic entities generally do not engage in activity that would 
cause them to be subject to the procurement bans described in this rule 
due to current restrictions on trade with Iran (see, e.g., Department 
of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations at 31 CFR 
560). Accordingly, it is expected that the number of domestic entities 
significantly impacted by this rule will be minimal, if any. The 
Regulatory Flexibility Act is for the protection of United States small 
entities, not foreign entities.

V. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The final rule does not contain any information collection 
requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and 
Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 4, 25, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: July 26, 2013.
William Clark,
Acting Director, Office of Government-wide Acquisition Policy, Office 
of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy.

Interim Rule Adopted as Final With Changes

    Accordingly, the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 4, 25, and 52, 
which was published in the Federal Register at 77 FR 73516, December 
10, 2012, is adopted as final with the following changes:

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 25 and 52 continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 
U.S.C. 20113.

PART 25--FOREIGN ACQUISITION


25.700  [Amended]

0
2. Amend section 25.700 by removing from paragraph (c) ``Reduction 
Act'' and adding ``Reduction'' in its place.


25.703-3  [Amended]

0
3. Amend section 25.703-3 by removing from paragraph (a) ``https://www.acquisition.gov'' and adding ``http://www.acquisition.gov'' in its 
place.

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
4. Amend section 52.212-3 by revising the date of the provision and by 
removing from the introductory text and paragraph (b)(2) ``https://www.acquisition.gov'' and adding ``http://www.acquisition.gov'' in its 
place.
    The revision reads as follows:


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

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Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items (AUG 2013)

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[FR Doc. 2013-18454 Filed 7-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P