[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 14, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 90228-90229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29951]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 1816, 1832, 1842, and 1852

RIN 2700-AE34


NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Revised Voucher 
Submission & Payment Process (NFS Case 2016-N025)

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NASA has adopted as final, without change, an interim rule 
amending the NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NFS) to 
implement revisions to the voucher submittal and payment process.

DATES: Effective: December 14, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John J. Lopez, telephone 202-358-
3740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background:

    NASA published an interim rule in the Federal Register at 81 FR 
63143 on September 14, 2016, to amend the NASA Federal Acquisition 
Regulation Supplement (NFS) to implement revisions to the voucher 
submittal and payment process.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    There were no public comments submitted in response to the interim 
rule. The interim rule has been converted to a final rule, without 
change.

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 E.O. 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

    NASA does not expect this final 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. A final 
regulatory flexibility analysis has been performed and is summarized as 
follows:
    The purpose of this rule is to implement revisions to the NASA 
voucher submittal and payment process. These revisions are necessary 
due to section 893 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2016 (Pub. L. 114-92) prohibiting DCAA from performing audit work 
for non-Defense Agencies. This rule removes an outdated NFS payment 
clause and its associated prescription relative to the NASA voucher 
submittal and payment process and replaces it with a new clause that 
revises NASA's current cost voucher submission and payment process to 
ensure the continued prompt payment to its suppliers.
    No comments were received in response to the initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis.
    This rule applies to contractors requesting payment under cost 
reimbursement contracts. An analysis of data in the Federal Procurement 
Data System (FPDS) revealed that cost reimbursement contracts are 
primarily awarded to large businesses. FPDS data compiled over the past 
three fiscal years (FY 2013 through FY 2015) showed an average of 311 
active cost reimbursement NASA contracts, of which 141 (approximately 
45%) were awarded to small businesses. However, there is no significant 
economic or administrative cost impact to small or

[[Page 90229]]

large businesses because the rule does not impose any additional burden 
and will have a positive benefit in the way of fewer voucher 
rejections, rework, and payment delays.
    There are no new reporting requirements or recordkeeping 
requirements associated with this rule. Further, there are no 
significant alternatives that could further minimize the already 
minimal impact on businesses, small or large.

V. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The rule contains 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); however, these changes to the NFS 
do not impose additional information collection requirements to the 
paperwork burden previously approved under OMB Control Number 9000-
0070, entitled Payments--FAR Sections Affected: 52.232-1 thru 52.232-4 
and 52.232-6 thru 52.232-11.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1816, 1832, 1842, and 1852

    Government procurement.

Manuel Quinones,
NASA FAR Supplement Manager.

0
Accordingly, the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 1816, 1832, 1842, 
and 1852, which was published at 81 FR 63143 on September 14, 2016, is 
adopted as a final rule without change.

[FR Doc. 2016-29951 Filed 12-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7510-13-P