[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 108 (Monday, June 6, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36423-36425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13114]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 501, 515, and 552

[Change 72; GSAR Case 2008-G506; Docket 2008-0007; Sequence 14]
RIN 3090-AI76


General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR); 
Rewrite of GSAR Part 515, Contracting by Negotiation

AGENCY: Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy, 
General Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is issuing a final 
rule to amend the General Services Administration Acquisition 
Regulation (GSAR) to clarify and update the contracting by negotiation 
GSAR section. The rule updates GSAR part 515 by eliminating out of date 
references and reorganizes the text to align with the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The final rule incorporates many of the 
changes of the proposed rule and makes additional modifications to the 
text.

DATES: Effective: July 6, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification about content, 
contact Ms. Dana Munson at 202-357-9652. For information pertaining to 
the status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat 
Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20405, (202) 501-
4755. Please cite GSAR Case 2008-G506.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    GSA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register at 73 FR 
57580 on October 3, 2008 (https://Federal Register.gov/a/E8-22745) 
revising GSAR Part 515 as part of the General Services Administration 
Acquisition Manual (GSAM) Rewrite initiative undertaken by GSA to 
update the GSAM to maintain consistency with the Federal Acquisition 
Regulation (FAR).
    The final rule updates the text addressing GSAR part 501, General 
Services Administration Acquisition Regulation System, part 515, 
Contracting by Negotiation, and corresponding provisions and clauses in 
GSAR part 552, Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses. 
Streamlined and innovative acquisition procedures that contractors, 
offerors, and GSA contracting personnel can utilize when entering into 
and administering contractual relationships are also implemented with 
this final rule.
    The GSAM incorporates the General Services Administration 
Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) as well as internal agency acquisition 
policy. Five comments were received in response to the Federal Register 
notice and were considered in crafting the final rule. Comments 
received in response to the 2008 Federal Register publication along 
with collaborative input from both Federal Acquisition Services (FAS) 
and Public Buildings Services (PBS) Offices of Acquisition Management 
were considered in drafting the final rule.

II. Discussion and Analysis

A. Summary of Significant Changes

    The proposed rule published in October, 2008 moved clauses 
associated with GSA's Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts to GSAR 
part 538, Federal Supply Schedule Contracting, as part of the Rewrite 
initiative. However, only GSAR 515.209-70(c) and (d) and its associated 
clause 552.215-71 have been moved to part 538 through GSAR Case 2013-
G502, Administrative Changes. Therefore, the remaining MAS provisions 
and clauses will be retained in GSAM part 515 per the final rule until 
addressed in separate GSAR 538 cases.
    The proposed rule also transferred requirements from the regulatory 
GSAR part 515 to the non-regulatory GSAM as the requirements apply 
internally to GSA and not the public. These changes are reflected in 
the final rule.
    The final rule makes additional changes based upon the comments 
received in response to the proposed rule and further edits existing 
GSAR 515 text. The specific changes to GSAR part 515 are as follows:
     GSAR 501.106--Aligned Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) Control Number 3090-0163 with GSAR Clause 552.215-73, Notice.
     GSAR 515.204--Moved the text from subsection 515.204-1 to 
section 515.204 to parallel FAR section 15.204, identifying in 
paragraph (a) that the uniform contract format is not required for 
leasing. Added paragraph (b)

[[Page 36424]]

identifying the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) as the designee per 
FAR 15.204(e).
     GSAR 515.204-1--Deleted paragraphs (a) and (b) were moved 
to other sections of GSAR Part 515.
     GSAR 515.205--Deleted. When a contracting officer uses the 
government-wide point of entry, such as FedBizOpps, the contracting 
officer need not specifically send a solicitation to anyone, including 
the incumbent.
     GSAR 515.209--Added paragraphs (a) through (c) to align 
all GSAM part 515, Solicitation provisions and contract clauses, with 
FAR 15.209.
    [cir] Paragraph (a) is the prescription for clause 552.215-70, 
Examination of Records by GSA. Edits made to the text include deleting 
the subtitle ``Clause for other than multiple award schedules.'' 
Replaced ``$100,000'' with ``simplified acquisition threshold'' and the 
word ``you'' with ``contracting officer''. Eliminated the dashes in the 
titles, ``Assistant Inspector General-Auditing'' and ``Regional 
Inspector General-Auditing, replacing each dash with ``for''.
    [cir] Paragraph (b) is the prescription for clause 552.215-73, 
Notice, moved from GSAM 515.204-1(b)(1) and (2), notifying the public 
of the assignment of OMB Control Number 3090-0163 to the information 
collection requirements contained in the solicitation and contract, and 
of GSA's hours of operation for requests of pre- or post-award 
debriefings.
    [cir] Paragraph (c) is the new prescription to use GSAR clause 
552.215-74, Notice about Releasing Proposals, when using non-government 
evaluators.
    [cir] Paragraph (d) Clause for Multiple Award Schedules changes 
``Multiple Award Schedules (MAS)'' to ``Federal Supply Schedules 
(FSS);'' Clause should be used in all FSS solicitations and contracts.
     GSAR 515.305--Moved from the regulatory to the non-
regulatory as it is only applicable internally to GSA.
     GSAR 515.305-70--Deleted paragraph (a) was made non-
regulatory, the solicitation notice in paragraph (c) was moved to 
515.209-70(c) and the ``Notice'' itself was converted into clause 
552.215-74.
     GSAR 515.70--The subpart, ``Use of Bid Samples'', is 
deleted in its entirety as it is duplicative of FAR 14.202-4.
     GSAR 552.215-70--Replaced ``$100,000'' with ``simplified 
acquisition threshold''.
     GSAR 552.215-73--Added a new clause, notifying the public 
of OMB Control Number assigned to information collection requirements 
contained in the solicitation and contract, and GSA's hours of 
operations.
     GSAR 552-215-74--Added a new clause for inclusion in 
solicitations when non-government evaluators will be used.

B. Analysis of Public Comments

    The public comment period for GSAR Part 515 closed on December 2, 
2008, five comments were received from two respondents. A discussion of 
these comments is provided below:
    Comment 1: The respondent recommended consideration be given to 
providing guidance on which section of the Uniform Contract Format 
(UCF) the mandated paragraphs should be incorporated. GSAR 515.210-70 
provides guidance to include this on GSA Form 1602 if it is used, but 
what if it is not used?
    Response: Guidance will be added to the GSAM to clarify that the 
information should be placed in Section L of the solicitation.
    Comment 2: GSAR 515.205: The respondent strongly recommended 
deleting this entire section, which requires contracting officers to 
issue solicitations to potential sources. The respondent stated that 
there is little value added, especially since we no longer maintain 
mailing lists. Potential offerors download the solicitations from 
FedBizOpps, so there is rarely written interest expressed, positive or 
negative. The guidance provided doesn't appear to add any real value as 
any contracting officer should know to do this without having it 
spelled out. Even if the section is not deleted, paragraph (a) needs to 
be deleted. This paragraph causes a problem when the follow-on 
acquisition strategy differs from the current and historical.
    Response: Concur. This section is deleted. The GSAR text of the 
final rule is amended as a result of this comment.
    Comment 3: GSAR 515.209-70(c): The respondent stated that this 
section, which requires the contracting officer to insert the clause at 
552.215-71 Examination of Records by GSA (Multiple Award Schedule) in 
solicitations and contracts for MAS contracts, does not appear to 
relate to the Examination of Records clauses. The respondent 
recommended clearly identifying when this notice should be included. 
Not all solicitations will be reviewed by nongovernment evaluators, yet 
as currently written it appears to state this notice should always be 
included. The following revision was recommended:
    ``(c) Solicitation notice. When nongovernment evaluators will be 
used, include in the solicitation a notice substantially as follows:''
    Response: Concur. Clause 552.215-74, Notice about Releasing 
Proposals is amended to include nongovernment evaluators. The 
prescription at 515.209-70(c) is amended to clarify that the clause is 
only applicable when nongovernment evaluators are used. The GSAR text 
of the final rule is amended as a result of this comment.
    Comment 4: GSAR 515.7002(b)(1): The respondent stated that the 
actual prescription for use of GSAR clause 515.70 Use of Bid Samples 
needs to be added. Currently it just states ``use the clause.''
    Response: Non-concur. GSAR subpart 515.70, Use of Bid Samples, is 
deleted in the final rule of the GSAR text as it unnecessarily 
duplicates the FAR. No changes were made to the GSAR text of the final 
rule as a result of this comment.
    Comment 5: The respondent stated, both the current GSAR 515.204-1 
and the proposed revision indicate that the paragraph regarding 
debriefing requests does not apply to leasehold interests in real 
property. The respondent was curious as to why this is so: are there no 
debriefings under leasehold acquisitions? If so, then there could be a 
separate Part 570 clause addressing only the OMB and Nondisclosure/
Conflict of Interest requirements.
    Response: Non-concur. GSAR 570.309 addresses debriefings under 
leasehold acquisitions. No changes were made to the GSAR text of the 
final rule as a result of this comment.

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.

IV. 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

[[Page 36425]]

within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et 
seq., because the revisions are administrative in nature and only 
update and reorganize existing GSAR coverage.

V. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act applies; however, these changes to the 
GSAR do not impose additional information collection requirements to 
the paperwork burden previously approved under OMB Control Number 3090-
0163.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 501, 515, and 552

    Government procurement.

    Dated: May 26, 2016.
Jeffrey A. Koses,
Office of Acquisition Policy, Senior Procurement Executive, General 
Services Administration.
    Therefore, GSA is amending 48 CFR parts 501, 515 and 552 as set 
forth below:

PART 501--GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ACQUISITION REGULATION 
SYSTEM

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 501 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c).

501.106  [Amended]

0
2. Amend section 501.106 by adding to the table, in numerical sequence, 
GSAR Reference ``552.215-73'' and its corresponding OMB control number 
``3090-0163''.

PART 515--CONTRACTING BY NEGOTIATION

0
3. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 515 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c).


0
4. Revise section 515.204 to read as follows:


515.204  Contract format.

    (a) The uniform contract format is not required for leases of real 
property (See GSAM 570.116).
    (b) The Senior Procurement Executive is the agency head's designee 
for the purposes of granting exemptions to the use of the Uniform 
Contract Format (see FAR 15.204(e)).


515.204-1 and 515.205  [Removed]

0
5. Remove sections 515.204-1 and 515.205.
0
6. Amend section 515.209-70 by--
0
a. Revising the introductory text of paragraph (a);
0
b. Redesignating paragraph (b) as paragraph (a)(9) and revising newly 
redesignated paragraph (a)(9); and
0
c. Adding new paragraph (b).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


515.209-70  Examination of records by GSA clause.

* * * * *
    (a) Examination of records by GSA clause for other than multiple 
award schedule (MAS) contracts. Insert the clause at 552.215-70, 
Examination of Records by GSA, in all solicitations and contracts above 
the simplified acquisition threshold, including acquisitions of 
leasehold interests in real property, that meet any of the conditions 
listed below:
* * * * *
    (9) The contracting officer may modify the clause at 552.215-70 to 
define the specific area of audit (e.g., the use or disposition of 
Government-furnished property). Office of General Counsel or the Office 
of Regional Counsel and the Assistant Inspector General for Auditing or 
Regional Inspector General for Auditing, as appropriate, must concur in 
any modifications to the clause.
    (b) Insert the clause at 552.215-73, Notice, in all solicitations 
for negotiated procurements above the simplified acquisition threshold 
in accordance with FAR part 15.
* * * * *


515.5 and 515.70  [Removed]

0
7. Remove subparts 515.3 and 515.70.

PART 552--SOLICITATIONS AND PROVISIONS

0
8. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 552 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c).


0
9. Amend section 552.215-70 by revising the introductory text and the 
date of the clause, and removing ``exceeding $100,000'' and adding 
``exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold'' in its place.
    The revisions read as follows:


552.215-70  Examination of Records by GSA.

    As prescribed in 515.209-70(a), insert the following clause:

Examination of Records by GSA ([JUN 2016])

* * * * *

0
10. Add section 552.217-73 to read as follows:


552.215-73   Notice Regarding Information Collection Requirements.

    As prescribed in 515.209-70(b), insert the following clause:

Notice (JUN 2016)

    (a) The information collection requirements contained in this 
solicitation/contract are either required by regulation or approved 
by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act and assigned OMB Control No. 3090-0163.
    (b) GSA's hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. 
Requests for pre-award debriefings postmarked or otherwise submitted 
after 4:30 p.m. EST will be considered submitted the following 
business day. Requests for post-award debriefings delivered after 
4:30 p.m. EST will be considered received and filed the following 
business day.


(End of clause)
[FR Doc. 2016-13114 Filed 6-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-61-P