[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36506-36511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13257]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Acquisition Regulations System

48 CFR Parts 202, 205, 212, 237, and 252

[Docket DARS-2015-0055]
RIN 0750-AI78


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Food Services 
for Dining Facilities on Military Installations (DFARS Case 2015-D012)

AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition 
Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to provide policy and procedures for 
soliciting offers, evaluating proposals, and awarding contracts for the 
operation of a military dining facility pursuant to the Randolph-
Sheppard Act; the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2007; the Joint Report and Policy Statement issued pursuant 
to the NDAA for FY 2006; and the Committee for Purchase from People Who 
Are Blind or Severely Disabled statute.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to 
the address shown below on or before August 8, 2016, to be considered 
in the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by DFARS case 2015-D012 by any of 
the following methods:
    [cir] Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments 
via the Federal eRulemaking portal by entering ``DFARS Case 2015-D012'' 
under the heading ``Enter keyword or ID'' and selecting ``Search.'' 
Select the link ``Submit a Comment'' that corresponds with ``DFARS Case 
2015-D012.'' Follow the instructions provided at the ``Submit a 
Comment'' screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and 
``DFARS Case 2015-D012'' on your attached document.
    [cir] Fax: 571-372-6094.
    [cir] Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Amy 
Williams, OUSD(AT&L)DPAP/DARS, Room 3B941, 3060 Defense Pentagon, 
Washington, DC 20301-3060.
    Comments received generally will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. To 
confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check www.regulations.gov, 
approximately two to three days after submission to verify posting 
(except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted by mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Amy Williams, telephone 571-372-
6106.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In order to clarify the application of the Randolph-Shepard Act (R-
S Act) (20 U.S.C. 107, et seq.) and the Committee for Purchase from 
People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (CFP) statute (41 U.S.C. 
8501, et seq.) formerly known as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act, to 
the operation and management of military dining facilities, DoD is 
proposing to amend the DFARS to implement the provisions of the Joint 
Report and Policy Statement (Joint Policy Statement) issued by DoD, the 
Department of Education (DoED), and the CFP pursuant to section 848 of 
the NDAA for FY 2006.
    The Joint Explanatory Statement to Accompany the NDAA for FY 2015 
requested that DoD prescribe implementing regulations for the 
application of the R-S Act and the CFP statute to contracts awarded for 
the operation of military dining facilities, and that the regulations 
address DoD contracts not covered by section 856 of the NDAA for FY 
2007.
    Pursuant to the Joint Policy Statement, the R-S Act applies to 
contracts for the operation of a military dining facility, also known 
as full food services, while the CFP statute applies to contracts and 
subcontracts for dining support services (including mess attendant 
services).
    The CFP statute, implemented in FAR subpart 8.7, requires Federal 
agencies to acquire from participating nonprofit agencies all supplies 
or services on the Procurement List established by the CFP. The purpose 
of the CFP statute is to provide employment opportunities for people 
who are blind or have other severe disabilities. If a product or 
service is on the Procurement List, 41 U.S.C. 8504(a)requires the 
procuring agency to procure that product or service either from a 
qualified nonprofit agency for the blind or a qualified nonprofit 
agency for the severely disabled in accordance with CFP regulations. 
However, 41 U.S.C. 8504(b) provides an exception to section 8504(a) for 
a product that is available from an industry established under 18 
U.S.C. 307 (Federal Prison Industries) and shall be procured from that 
industry pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 4124.
    Section 107(b) of the R-S Act establishes a priority authorizing 
blind persons, licensed by a State licensing agency (SLA) to operate 
one or more vending facilities, wherever feasible, on Federal 
properties. Section 107d-3(e) of the R-S Act requires the Secretary of 
Education (the Secretary) to promulgate regulations (see 34 CFR 395.33) 
establishing a priority for the operation of cafeterias when the 
Secretary determines on an individual basis and after consultation with 
the head of the appropriate installation, that such operation can be 
provided at a reasonable cost with food of high quality comparable to 
that currently provided employees.
    Pursuant to 34 CFR 395.33(a), the priority is afforded to the SLA 
when the Secretary determines, in consultation with the contracting 
officer, that the operation can be provided at a reasonable cost, with 
food of a high quality that is comparable to the food currently 
provided to employees. 34 CFR 395.33(b) requires Federal contracting 
officers to consult with the Secretary (see 395.33(a)) when the 
contracting officer has determined that an SLA's response to a 
solicitation for

[[Page 36507]]

the operation of a cafeteria is within a competitive range and has been 
ranked among those proposals which have a reasonable chance of being 
selected for final award. The evaluation criteria established in a 
solicitation may include sanitation practices, personnel, staffing, 
menu pricing, and portion sizes, menu variety, budget, and accounting 
practices.
    During the 1990s, confusion arose as to whether contracts for food 
services at military dining facilities should be subject to the CFP 
statute or the R-S Act. There was also confusion as to whether the SLA 
must be awarded a contract if its proposal is within the competitive 
range. In order for an SLA's proposal to be selected, the proposal must 
not only be in the competitive range, but also be ranked among those 
proposals which have a reasonable chance of being selected for final 
award. Placement in the competitive range alone does not mean an offer 
has been found competitive, comparable, acceptable, or reasonable for 
final award.
    In order to resolve the confusion, section 848 of the NDAA for FY 
2006 required DoD, DoED, and the CFP to issue the Joint Policy 
Statement, discussed below in section II.A. Since issuance of the Joint 
Policy Statement in 2006, the definition of ``operation of a military 
dining facility'' has been interpreted inconsistently. This rule 
proposes to implement the Joint Policy Statement which defines 
``operation of a military dining facility'' to mean ``the exercise of 
management responsibility and day-to-day decision-making authority by a 
contractor for the overall functioning of a military dining facility, 
including responsibility for its staff and subcontractors, where the 
DoD role is generally limited to contract administration functions 
described in FAR part 42.'' We invite comments on the interpretation of 
this definition.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    The rule proposes to locate the DFARS guidance for food services in 
DFARS part 237, Service Contracting, along with the current guidance 
for contracting for various types of services such as educational 
services, laundry and dry cleaning, and mortuary services. Because the 
food services policy emphasizes the R-S Act requirement for competition 
and potentially affects more than one category of contract source, the 
new guidance is more appropriately placed in the section on services. 
The proposed rule amends the DFARS to clarify the application of the R-
S Act and the CFP statute to contracts for the operation and management 
of military dining facilities.

A. Joint Policy Statement

    Paragraph 1 of the Joint Policy Statement provides that defense 
appropriations shall be used to accomplish the defense mission. This 
mission shall be carried out by providing value and accountability to 
the taxpayers as well as supporting socioeconomic programs to the 
maximum extent practicable under the law. DoD has a military mission to 
maintain some level of in-house food service and military dining 
facility managerial capabilities to enable forward deployment 
operations, training, rotation, and career progression for military 
members. Contract services must enable DoD to feed the troops high 
quality food at a cost effective price.
    Paragraph 2 states that ``the Secretaries of the Military 
Departments concerned, as defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(9), shall have 
the discretion to define requirements (e.g., contract statements of 
work, assignment of tasks and functions among workers in a facility) 
and make procurement decisions concerning contracting for military 
dining support services and the operation of a military dining facility 
and shall ensure that procurement decisions support the readiness of 
the Armed Forces.''
    Paragraph 3 recommends the enactment of legislation to create a 
``no-poaching'' provision that would maintain contract opportunities 
current at that time. Section 856 of the NDAA for FY 2007 established 
the recommended ``no-poaching'' rule for contracts in effect at the 
date of enactment of section 856 (October 16, 2006).
    Paragraph 4 establishes rules for new contract awards that were not 
covered by the ``no-poaching'' rule. Pursuant to subparagraph 4.a., new 
contracts will be competed under the R-S Act when ``the [DoD] solicits 
a contractor to exercise management responsibility and day-to-day 
decision making for the overall functioning of a military dining 
facility, including responsibility for its staff and subcontractors, 
where the DoD role is generally limited to contract administration 
functions described in FAR part 42.''
    Subparagraph 4.b. provides that ``[i]n all other cases, the 
contracts will be set aside for JWOD performance (or small businesses 
if there is no JWOD nonprofit agency capable or interested) when [DoD] 
needs dining support services (e.g., food preparation services, food 
serving, ordering and inventory of food, meal planning, cashiers, mess 
attendants, or other services that support the operation of a dining 
facility) where [DoD] food service specialists exercise management 
responsibility over and above those contract administration functions 
described in FAR part 42.''
    Subparagraph 4.c. provides that ``[t]he presence of military 
personnel performing dining facility functions does not necessarily 
establish the inference that the Government is exercising management 
responsibility over that particular dining facility.''
    Paragraph 5 provides that ``[i]n accordance with FAR part 8, if 
dining support services are on or will be placed on the Procurement 
List, any State licensing agency that is awarded a contract for 
operation of that military dining facility under the [R-S Act] shall 
award a subcontract for those services.'' DoD has implemented this 
requirement consistent with FAR clause 52.208-9, Contractor Use of 
Mandatory Sources of Supply or Services.
    Paragraph 6 provides that ``[i]n order to promote economic 
opportunities for blind vendors and to increase the number of blind 
persons who are self-supporting, the [R-S Act] requires that State 
licensing agencies provide blind persons with education, training, 
equipment and initial inventory suitable for carrying out their 
licenses to operate vending facilities in Federal buildings. 
Accordingly, through its rule-making procedures, [DoED] will encourage 
State licensing agencies who assert the [R-S Act] `priority' for a 
multi-facility contract for operation of military dining facilities to 
assign at least one blind person per military dining facility in a 
management role.''
    Paragraph 7 provides that ``[t]he DOD shall continue to be able to 
use the `Marine Corps model' for regional contracts for operation of 
military dining facilities at several installations or across State 
lines. In this model, the DoD may designate individual dining 
facilities for subcontract opportunities under the Small Business Act, 
the CFP statute, or other preferential procurement programs, and may 
designate some facilities in which military food service specialists 
may train or perform cooking or other dining support services in 
conjunction with contractor functions. State licensing agencies are 
eligible under the [R-S Act] to bid on contracts based upon this 
model.''
    Paragraph 8 provides guidance for affording the R-S Act priority. 
DoD contracts for operation of a military dining facility shall be 
awarded as the result of full and open competition,

[[Page 36508]]

unless there is a basis for a non-competitive award to a single source 
and resulting direct negotiations with that source. When competing such 
contracts, DoD contracting officers shall give SLAs priority when: (1) 
The SLA has demonstrated it can provide such operation with food of 
high quality and at a fair and reasonable price and with food of high 
quality comparable to that available from other providers of cafeteria 
services and comparable to the quality and price of food currently 
provided to military service members; and (2) the SLAs final proposal 
revision, or initial proposal if award is made without discussions, is 
among the highly ranked final proposal revisions with a reasonable 
chance of being selected for award.
    Paragraph 8 also provides that ``[t]he term `fair and reasonable 
price' means that the State licensing agency's final proposal revision 
does not exceed the offer that represents the best value (as determined 
by the contracting officer after applying the evaluation criteria set 
forth in the solicitation) by more than five percent of that offer, or 
one million dollars, whichever is less, over all of the performance 
periods required by the solicitation.'' For the reasons explained in 
section II.B. below, this dollar limitation is not included in the 
DFARS.
    Paragraph 9 provides that ``[t]he contracting officer may award to 
other than the State licensing agency when the head of the contracting 
activity determines that award to the State licensing agency would 
adversely affect the interests of the United States, and the Secretary 
of Education approves the determination in accordance with the [R-S 
Act].'' DoED has implemented this policy in its regulations (see 34 CFR 
395.30).
    Paragraph 10 committed the signatory parties to implementing the 
Joint Policy Statement in complementary regulations.

B. Proposed Changes to DFARS.

    The proposed rule proposes to amend DFARS 205.207(a) to require 
that the advertisement of a solicitation for the operation of a 
military dining facility in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American 
Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands shall state that the 
solicitation is subject to the R-S Act.
    The rule proposes to amend DFARS 212.301 to add a new paragraph 
(c)(ii) to state that when issuing a solicitation for the operation of 
a military dining facility, as defined in 202.101, include in the 
evaluation criteria, factors or subfactors for determining if the SLA 
proposal is comparable to the quality and price available from other 
providers.
    The proposed rule adds a new DFARS subpart 237.7X to address 
contracts for services that support military dining facility operation 
and contracts for the operation of military dining facilities. The 
``scope'' statement in DFARS 237.7X00 explains that subpart 237.7X 
provides policy and procedures for soliciting and awarding contracts 
consistent with the R-S Act, the CFP statute, section 856 of the NDAA 
for FY 2007, and the Joint Policy Statement.
    The definitions in DFARS 202.101 implement the Joint Policy 
Statement paragraphs 4.a. and 4.b., which identified when a contract is 
for the operation of a military dining facility as distinguished from 
``dining support services.'' ``Mess attendant services'' (also known as 
``dining facility attendant services'') are a subset of ``dining 
support services.'' Specifically, the definition of ``military dining 
facility'' that was enacted in section 856 of the NDAA for FY 2007 and 
the definition of ``State licensing agency'' described in the R-S Act 
regulations at 34 CFR 395.1(v) are incorporated in the DFARS at 202.101 
and 237.7X01, respectively. The proposed rule also defines ``operation 
of a military dining facility,'' which is added to DFARS 202.101.
    DFARS 237.7X02(a) implements paragraph 4.a. of the Joint Policy 
Statement by stating that all contracts for the operation of a military 
dining facility in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, 
Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands are subject to the R-S Act. By use of 
the word ``all,'' DFARS 237.7X02(a) means these contracts are subject 
to the R-S Act even if the State licensing agency does not submit a 
proposal. DFARS 237.7X02(a) also implements paragraph 8 of the Joint 
Policy Statement and states the contracts for operation of a military 
dining facility shall be awarded using full and open competition (see 
10 U.S.C. 2305). DFARS 237.7X02(b) states that contracts for dining 
support services are subject to the CFP statute, which is exempt from 
the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), and provides a cross 
reference to the implementing procedures at FAR subpart 8.7.
    DFARS 237.7X03 provides guidelines for developing evaluation 
criteria for determining if the State licensing agency proposal is 
comparable to the quality and price available from other providers.
    DFARS 237.7X04 adds a prescription for the proposed solicitation 
provision at DFARS 252.237-70XX, Operation of a Military Dining 
Facility. The prescription states that the provision will apply to 
solicitations, including solicitations using FAR part 12 procedures, 
for the acquisition of commercial items for operation of a military 
dining facility within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, 
Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    The solicitation provision at DFARS 252.237-70XX, Operation of a 
Military Dining Facility, notifies offerors when a solicitation is 
subject to the R-S Act. The solicitation provision defines ``operation 
of a military dining facility'' and other terms necessary for notifying 
offerors about the applicability of the R-S Act to the solicitation. A 
State licensing agency will be given priority for award of the contract 
if it submits an offer that: (1) Demonstrates it can provide the 
operation with food of high quality and at a fair and reasonable price 
comparable to that available from other providers, and (2) has been 
judged to have a reasonable chance of being selected for award pursuant 
to the evaluation criteria in the solicitation.
    In order for a SLA to receive the priority for operation of a 
cafeteria, 34 CFR 395.33(b) requires that: (1) The SLA's proposal must 
be within the ``competitive range,'' and (2) must be ranked among those 
proposals that have a reasonable chance of being selected for final 
award.
    Under FAR 15.306(c), the ``competitive range'' is established for 
the purpose of identifying those offerors with whom the procuring 
agency will open discussions. If discussions are to be conducted, CICA 
(see 10 U.S.C. 2305) requires that the procuring agency shall conduct 
discussions with all responsible offerors who submitted proposals 
determined to be in the competitive range, but as previously stated, 
inclusion in the competitive range is not sufficient to trigger the R-S 
Act priority for an SLA proposal. The SLA's proposal must also have a 
reasonable chance of selection for final award.
    As a result, and as required by CICA and 34 CFR 395.33, each DoD 
solicitation for operation of a military dining facility must state its 
own evaluation criteria and basis for award independently derived for 
that individual location and acquisition. The solicitation will specify 
the means by which the statutory priority will be afforded to the SLA's 
proposal, if it

[[Page 36509]]

satisfies the evaluation criteria, the statement of work, and the 
requirements of the solicitation. Because each solicitation must be 
developed independently, the DFARS will not arbitrarily establish a 
price limitation that would apply to all solicitations.

III. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition 
Threshold and for Commercial Items, Including Commercially Available 
Off-the-Shelf Items

    This rule proposes to create a new provision, DFARS 252.237-70XX, 
Operation of a Military Dining Facility, to notify offerors when a 
solicitation is subject to the R-S Act. The R-S Act is not a covered 
law under 41 U.S.C. 1905-1907, because it was enacted prior to October 
13, 1994. Therefore, 41 U.S.C. 1905-1907 do not exempt solicitations 
and contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold and for 
the acquisition of commercial items from the provisions of the R-S Act.

IV. 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 a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was subject to 
review under section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and 
Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 
U.S.C. 804.

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    DoD does not expect this proposed rule 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. 
However, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis has been performed 
and is summarized as follows:
    The proposed rule will provide policy and procedures for soliciting 
and awarding contracts for the operation of a dining facility on a 
military installation pursuant to: (1) The Randolph-Sheppard Act (R-S 
Act); (2) the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2007; (3) the Joint Report and Policy Statement issued pursuant to 
the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 
2006; and (4) the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or 
Severely Disabled (CFP) statute (41 U.S.C. 8501, et seq.).
    The objective of the proposed rule is to amend the Defense Federal 
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to clarify the application of 
the R-S Act and the CFP statute, formerly known as the Javits-Wagner-
O'Day (JWOD) Act, to the operation and management of military dining 
facilities.
    The R-S Act and the CFP statute have priority over the Small 
Business Act; therefore, the proposed rule has the potential to impact 
small businesses that provide these services. A review of contract 
awards and purchase orders in the Federal Procurement Data System for 
the period fiscal year 2011 through June 1, 2015, revealed that DoD 
made five new awards, including one purchase order, for dining services 
to five unique vendors. Of those awards, one award was made to a small 
business concern. Therefore, this proposed rule is not anticipated to 
impact a significant number of small entities.
    The proposed rule does not impose any new reporting, recordkeeping, 
or other information collection requirements. The proposed rule is 
consistent with the DoED regulations that implement the R-S Act (see 34 
CFR 395.1, et seq.).
    Concerning dining support services (including mess attendant 
services), contracting officers shall follow the standard Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 8.7 and DFARS subpart 208.7 
procedures for procuring dining support services pursuant to the CFP 
statute and, if applicable, the FAR part 19 and DFARS part 219 rules 
for small business set-asides.
    Concerning the R-S Act priority for operation of a military dining 
facility, the proposed rule requires full and open competition. 
Competition is the best alternative for minimizing the impact on small 
entities.
    DoD will consider comments from small entities concerning the 
existing regulations in subparts affected by this proposed rule in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such 
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (DFARS Case 2015-
D012), in correspondence.

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The proposed 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 202, 205, 212, 237, and 252

    Government procurement.

Jennifer L. Hawes,
Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.

    Therefore, 48 CFR parts 202, 205, 212, 237, and 252 are proposed to 
be amended as follows:

0
1. The authority citation for parts 202, 205, 212, 237, and 252 
continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  41 U.S.C. 1303 and 48 CFR chapter 1.

PART 202--DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS

0
2. Amend section 202.101 by adding, in alphabetical order, the 
definitions of ``Military dining facility'' and ``Operation of a 
military dining facility'' to read as follows:


202.101  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Military dining facility means a facility owned, operated, leased, 
or wholly controlled by DoD and used to provide dining services to 
members of the Armed Forces, including a cafeteria, military mess hall, 
military troop dining facility, or similar dining facility operated 
with appropriated funds for the purpose of providing meals to members 
of the Armed Forces.
* * * * *
    Operation of a military dining facility means the exercise of 
management responsibility and day-to-day decision-making authority by a 
contractor for the overall functioning of a military dining facility, 
including responsibility for its staff and subcontractors, where the 
DoD role is generally limited to contract administration functions 
described in FAR part 42.
* * * * *

PART 205--PUBLICIZING CONTRACT ACTIONS

0
3. Amend section 205.207 by adding paragraph (a)(ii) to read as 
follows:


205.207  Preparation and transmittal of synopses.

    (a) * * *
    (ii) When advertising for the operation of a military dining 
facility, as defined in 202.101, within the 50 States, the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, the synopsis 
shall state that the solicitation is subject to

[[Page 36510]]

the Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107, et seq.) (see 237.7X03).
* * * * *

PART 212--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS

0
4. Amend section 212.301 by--
0
a. Redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph (c)(i);
0
b. Adding paragraph (c)(ii);
0
c. Adding paragraph (f)(xv)(C).
    The additions read as follows:


212.301  Solicitation provisions and contract clauses for acquisition 
of commercial items.

    (c)(i) * * *
    (ii) When issuing a solicitation for the operation of a military 
dining facility, as defined in 202.101, include in the evaluation 
criteria factors or subfactors for determining if the State licensing 
agency proposal is comparable to the quality and price available from 
other providers (see 237.7X03).
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (xv) * * *
    (C) Use the provision at 252.237-70XX, Operation of a Military 
Dining Facility, as prescribed in 237.7X04.
* * * * *

PART 237--SERVICE CONTRACTING

0
5. Add subpart 237.7X to read as follows:
Subpart 237.7X--Services for Military Dining Facilities
Sec.
237.7X00 Scope.
237.7X01 Definitions.
237.7X02 Policy.
237.7X03 Procedures for Randolph-Sheppard Act contracts.
237.7X04 Solicitation provision.

Subpart 237.7X--Services for Military Dining Facilities


237.7X00  Scope.

    This subpart provides policy and procedures for soliciting and 
awarding contracts pursuant to--
    (a) The Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107, et seq.);
    (b) The Committee for Purchase from People Who are Blind or 
Severely Disabled statute (41 U.S.C. 8501, et seq.);
    (c) Section 856 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2007 (Pub. L. 109-364); and
    (d) The Joint Report and Policy Statement to Congress issued 
pursuant to section 848 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2006 (Pub. L. 109-163).


237.7X01  Definitions.

    As used in this subpart--
    Dining support services means food preparation services, food 
serving, ordering and inventory of food, meal planning, cashiers, mess 
attendant services, or any and all other services that are encompassed 
by, are included in, or otherwise support the operation of a military 
dining facility, other than the exercise of management responsibility 
and day-to-day decision-making authority by a contractor for the 
overall functioning of a military dining facility.
    Mess attendant services (or ``dining facility attendant services'') 
means those activities required to perform food line support such as 
setting up the serving lines, serving food and tearing down the serving 
line, preserving food for subsequent meals, and performing janitorial 
and custodial duties within dining facilities, including sweeping, 
mopping, scrubbing, trash removal, pot and pan cleaning, dishwashing, 
waxing, stripping, buffing, window washing, and other sanitation-
related functions.
    State licensing agency means the State agency designated by the 
Secretary of Education under 34 CFR part 395 to issue licenses to blind 
persons for the operation of vending facilities on Federal and other 
property.


237.7X02  Policy.

    (a) Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107 et seq.). (1) All 
contracts for the ``operation of military dining facilities'' (as 
defined at 202.101) within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American 
Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands are subject to the Randolph-
Sheppard Act. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, 
follow the procedures at 237.7X03.
    (2) The procedures at 237.7X03 do not apply to any food services or 
related services that are identified on the Procurement List maintained 
by the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled.
    (b) Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled statute (41 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.). Contracts for dining support 
services (including mess attendant services) in a military dining 
facility where DoD food services specialists exercise management 
responsibility over and above those contract administration functions 
described in FAR part 42 are subject to the Committee for Purchase from 
People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled statute. See FAR subpart 8.7.


237.7X03  Procedures for Randolph-Sheppard Act contracts.

    (a) When issuing a solicitation for the operation of a military 
dining facility, include in the evaluation criteria factors or 
subfactors for determining if the State licensing agency proposal is 
comparable to the quality and price available from other providers.
    (b) A State licensing agency shall be afforded priority for award 
of the contract if the State licensing agency has submitted a proposal 
that--
    (1) Demonstrates that the operation of the military dining facility 
can be provided with food of a high quality and at a fair and 
reasonable price comparable to that available from other providers; and
    (2) Has a reasonable chance of being selected for award as 
determined by the contracting officer after applying the evaluation 
criteria contained in the solicitation.


237.7X04  Solicitation provision.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, use the 
provision at 252.237-70XX, Operation of a Military Dining Facility, in 
all solicitations, including solicitations using FAR part 12 procedures 
for the acquisition of commercial items, that are for operation of a 
military dining facility within the 50 States, the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    (b) Do not use the provision at 252.237-70XX in solicitations for 
any food services or related services that are identified on the 
Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase from People 
Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.

PART 252--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
6. Add section 252.237-70XX to read as follows:


252.237-70XX  Operation of a Military Dining Facility.

    As prescribed in 237.7X04, use the following provision:

OPERATION OF A MILITARY DINING FACILITY (DATE)

    This solicitation is for the operation of a military dining 
facility.
    (a) Definitions. As used in this provision--
    Military dining facility means a facility owned, operated, 
leased, or wholly controlled by DoD and used to provide dining 
services to members of the Armed Forces, including a cafeteria, 
military mess hall, military troop dining facility, or similar 
dining facility operated with appropriated

[[Page 36511]]

funds for the purpose of providing meals to members of the Armed 
Forces.
    Operation of a military dining facility means the exercise of 
management responsibility and day-to-day decision-making authority 
by a contractor for the overall functioning of a military dining 
facility, including responsibility for its staff and subcontractors, 
where the DoD role is generally limited to contract administration 
functions described in FAR part 42.
    State licensing agency means the State agency designated by the 
Secretary of Education under 34 CFR part 395 to issue licenses to 
blind persons for the operation of vending facilities on Federal and 
other property.
    (b) A State licensing agency will be afforded priority for award 
of the contract if the State licensing agency has submitted a 
proposal that--
    (1) Demonstrates the operation of the military dining facility 
can be provided with food of a high quality and at a fair and 
reasonable price comparable to that available from other providers; 
and
    (2) Is judged to have a reasonable chance of being selected for 
award as determined by the contracting officer after applying the 
evaluation criteria contained in the solicitation.


(End of provision)

[FR Doc. 2016-13257 Filed 6-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-ep-P