[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 30, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24887-24888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11340]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Acquisition Regulations System

48 CFR Parts 204, 212, 222, and 252

[Docket DARS-2018-0016]
RIN 0750-AJ67


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Repeal of 
DFARS Provision ``Representation Regarding Combating Trafficking in 
Persons'' (DFARS Case 2018-D003)

AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense 
(DoD).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal 
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to remove a provision that is 
no longer necessary and duplicative of an existing Federal Acquisition 
Regulation (FAR) clause.

DATES: Effective May 30, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carrie Moore, telephone 571-372-
6093.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    DoD is amending the DFARS to remove the DFARS provision 252.222-
7007, Representation Regarding Combating Trafficking in Persons, the 
associated provision prescription at DFARS 222.1771, and cross 
references to the provision at DFARS 204.1202 and 212.301. The DFARS 
provision notified offerors that, by submitting their offer to the 
Government, they certify that they will not engage in trafficking in 
persons in performance of the contract, will have policies in place to 
protect the rights of its employees, and have notified employees and 
subcontractors of their responsibility to report trafficking in persons 
violations and their protection from reprisal for reporting any such 
violation.
    However, the United States Government has laws that prohibit 
trafficking in persons at 22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and Executive Order 
13627, Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in 
Federal Contracts. In addition, FAR clause, 52.222-50, Combating 
Trafficking in Persons, provides comprehensive guidance to contractors 
to ensure their compliance with the Government's laws and policies on 
trafficking in persons when performing under a Federal contract. 
Specifically, the FAR clause prohibits contractors from engaging in 
trafficking in persons during the performance of the contract, requires 
contractors to notify its employees and subcontractors of the 
Government's policy on trafficking in persons, and requires the 
contractor to have a compliance plan in place to ensure agreement with 
Federal law and policy. The purpose of the DFARS provision was to 
simply affirm that the contractor will comply with Federal trafficking 
in persons laws and policies. The provision contained no guidance or 
policy unique to DoD. As such, this DFARS provision is unnecessary and 
can be removed.
    The removal of this DFARS text supports a recommendation from the 
DoD Regulatory Reform Task Force. On February 24, 2017, the President 
signed Executive Order (E.O.) 13777, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform 
Agenda,'' which established a Federal policy ``to alleviate unnecessary 
regulatory burdens'' on the American people. In accordance with E.O. 
13777, DoD established a Regulatory Reform Task Force to review and 
validate DoD regulations, including the DFARS. A public notice of the 
establishment of the DFARS Subgroup to the DoD Regulatory Reform Task 
Force, for the purpose of reviewing DFARS provisions and clauses, was 
published in the Federal Register at 82 FR 35741 on August 1, 2017, and 
requested public input. Two public comments were received on this 
provision. Both comments recommended elimination of the provision, as 
it is unnecessary. Subsequently, the DoD Task Force reviewed the 
requirements of DFARS provision 252.222-7007, Representation Regarding 
Combating Trafficking in Persons, and determined that the DFARS 
coverage was unnecessary and recommended removal.

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

    This rule does not add any new provisions or clauses or impact 
existing provisions or clauses. The rule merely removes DFARS provision 
252.222-7007, Representation Regarding Combating Trafficking in Persons 
that is redundant to FAR clause, 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in 
Persons.

III. Publication of This Final Rule for Public Comment is not Required 
by Statute

    The statute that applies to the publication of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the Office of Federal Procurement 
Policy statute (codified at title 41 of the United States Code). 
Specifically, 41 U.S.C. 1707(a)(1) requires that a procurement policy, 
regulation, procedure or form (including an amendment or modification 
thereof) must be published for public comment if it relates to the 
expenditure of appropriated funds, and has either a significant effect 
beyond the internal operating procedures of the agency issuing the 
policy, regulation, procedure, or form, or has a significant cost or 
administrative impact on contractors or offerors. This final rule is 
not required to be published for public comment, because DoD is not 
issuing a new regulation; rather, this rule merely removes an obsolete 
provision from the DFARS.

IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review; and 
E.O. 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, 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

[[Page 24888]]

equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs 
and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. The Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), has determined that this is not a 
significant regulatory action as defined under section 3(f) of E.O. 
12866 and, therefore, was not subject to review under section 6(b). 
This rule is not a major rule as defined at 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

V. Exe This rule is not an E.O. 13771, Reducing and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs, regulatory action, because this rule is not 
significant under E.O. 12866.cutive Order 13771

    This rule is not an E.O. 13771, Reducting and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs, regulatory action, because this rule is not 
significant under EO 12866.

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for 
public comment are not required to be given for this rule under 41 
U.S.C. 1707(a)(1) (see section III. of this preamble), the analytical 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
are not applicable. Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is 
required and none has been prepared.

VII. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The 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 204, 212, 222, and 252

    Government procurement.

Amy G. Williams,
Deputy, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.

PART 204--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

    Therefore, 48 CFR parts 204, 212, 222, and 252 are amended as 
follows:

0
1. The authority citation for parts 204, 212, 222, and 252 continues to 
read as follows:

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

PART 204--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS


204.1202   [Amended]

0
2. Amend section 204.1202 by--
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a. Removing paragraph (2)(iv); and
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b. Redesignating paragraphs (2)(v) through (xiv) as paragraphs (iv) 
through (xiii), respectively.

PART 212--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS


212.301   [Amended]

0
3. Amend section 212.301 by--
0
a. Removing paragraph (f)(viii); and
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b. Redesignating paragraphs (f)(ix) through (xx) as paragraphs 
(f)(viii) through (xix), respectively.

PART 222--APPLICATION OF LABOR LAWS TO GOVERNMENT ACQUISITIONS


222.1771   [Removed]

0
4. Remove section 222.1771.

PART 252--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES


252.222-7007   [Removed]

0
5. Remove section 252.222-7007.

[FR Doc. 2018-11340 Filed 5-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P