[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 106 (Monday, June 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25545-25546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11490]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-MVC-2019-01; Docket No. 2019-0009; Sequence No. 1]


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Prohibition on Contracting With 
Entities Using Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance 
Services or Equipment (FAR Case 2019-009), Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Announcement of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are hosting a public meeting to obtain 
views of experts and interested parties regarding implementation of 
section 889 of Title VII of the NDAA for FY 2019, with specific focus 
on the implementation of paragraph (a)(1)(B). This paragraph prohibits 
agencies from entering into a contract (or extending or renewing a 
contract) with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service 
that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a 
substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical 
technology as part of any system.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Friday, July 19, 2019, from 
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The meeting will 
end prior to 3:00 p.m. if all speakers have concluded their 
presentations and there are no further comments from the general 
public.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Department of Interior (DOI) 
Auditorium at 1849 C St. NW, Washington, DC 20240. Interested parties 
may also attend virtually through GSA's virtual meeting platform, 
hosted by Adobe Connect. DoD, GSA, and NASA cannot guarantee the 
reliability of the virtual meeting platform. Further details on the 
virtual meeting will be made available a few days before the meeting on 
the GSA Interact web page at https://interact.gsa.gov/FY19NDAASection889. Further information for the public meeting may be 
found under the heading SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kevin Funk, Procurement Analyst, 
202-357-5805.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background

    The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 
(Pub. L. 115-232), Title VII, Section 889, Prohibition on certain 
telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment, 
identifies sources of ``covered telecommunications equipment or 
services'' and, in paragraph (a)(1)(B), states that ``The head of an 
executive agency may not enter into a contract (or extend or renew a 
contract) with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service 
that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a 
substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical 
technology as part of any system.''
    DoD, GSA, and NASA are seeking feedback from stakeholders to inform 
effective implementation of the prohibition in paragraph (a)(1)(B). 
Paragraph (a)(1)(A) of section 889 will be implemented separately 
through FAR Case 2018-017.
    Given the focus of section 889, it is anticipated that the impact 
of implementation of paragraph (a)(1)(B) may vary across affected 
stakeholder communities, including information and communications 
technology vendors, security services vendors, and other vendors who 
provide unrelated goods and services but rely on information and 
communications technology and security services as incidental but 
essential components of their operations.
    As the Government considers implementation of section 889, DoD, 
GSA, and NASA especially welcome input on the following questions 
regarding anticipated impact on affected stakeholders:
     Beyond the statutory language of the prohibition, what 
additional information or guidance do you view as necessary to 
effectively comply with paragraph (a)(1)(B) of section 889?
     To what extent will compliance with the prohibition in 
paragraph (a)(1)(B) of section 889 incur additional cost or other 
burden in providing goods or services to the Federal government? Please 
be specific in describing the impact.
     To what extent do you currently have insight into existing 
systems and their components, sufficient to ensure compliance with 
paragraph (a)(1)(B) of section 889?
     To what extent do you currently have direct control over 
existing systems in use (e.g., physical security systems) and their 
components, as contrasted with contracting for services that are 
provided by a separate entity (e.g., landlords, subcontractors)?
     To the extent that there are gaps in insight or control 
described in response to the previous questions, how much time do you 
anticipate will be needed to establish the required insight or control 
to ensure compliance with paragraph (a)(1)(B) of section 889?
     Will the requirement to comply with the prohibition in 
paragraph (a)(1)(B) impact your willingness to offer goods and services 
to the Federal government as of the stated effective date? Please be 
specific in describing the impact (e.g., what types of products or 
services might no longer be offered, or offered in a modified form, and 
why).
     To what extent does your response to the above question 
change if you are given more time?
     What other challenges do you anticipate facing in 
effectively meeting the implementation date of August 13, 2020?

B. Registration

    To ensure adequate room accommodations and to facilitate security 
screening and entry to the DOI Auditorium, individuals wishing to 
attend the public meeting in-person must register by Friday, July 5, 
2019. To register, please visit the GSA Interact web page at https://interact.gsa.gov/FY19NDAASection889, and utilize the in-person 
registration link provided. Registration for in-person attendance is 
free and based on space availability. Early registration is recommended 
because, registration will close once the capacity for the DOI 
Auditorium has been reached. Members of the press must also RSVP to 
[email protected] by July 5, 2019.

C. In-Person Attendance

    Registration check-in will begin at 8 a.m., EDT, on July 19, 2019, 
with the meeting starting promptly at 9 a.m., EDT. Information on 
getting to the DOI building can be found on https://www.doi.gov/interiormuseum/Plan-a-Visit. Attendees must be prepared to present a 
valid form of government-issued photo identification. There is no food 
or drink allowed in the DOI Auditorium. There is no parking available 
at DOI; however, there is public parking available nearby.

D. Format

    DoD, GSA, and NASA intend to conduct a town-hall style discussion 
focused on implementation of paragraph (a)(1)(B) of section 889 of 
Title VII of the NDAA for FY 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232). In-person 
attendees will be provided an opportunity to provide prepared

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comments and presentations during the discussion as time allows. 
Attendees participating through the virtual platform will only be able 
to join the meeting in a ``listen only'' mode and will not be able to 
provide prepared remarks or presentations. A copy of the agenda will be 
posted prior to the date of the meeting on the GSA Interact web page at 
https://interact.gsa.gov/FY19NDAASection889.

E. Presentations

    If you wish to make a presentation, please submit an electronic 
copy of your presentation via email to [email protected] no later than 
Monday, July 8, 2019. Attendees providing presentations, including 
prepared comments, shall be limited to ten minutes. Each presentation 
should be in PowerPoint to facilitate projection during the public 
meeting and should include the presenter's name, organization 
affiliation, telephone number, and email address on the cover page.
    Please submit presentations only and cite ``Public Meeting, FAR 
Case 2019-009'' in all correspondence related to the public meeting. 
There will be no transcription of the meeting. The submitted 
presentations will be the only record of the public meeting and will be 
posted at the conclusion of the public meeting to the GSA Interact web 
page at https://interact.gsa.gov/FY19NDAASection889.

F. Special Accommodations

    The public meeting is physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Request for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to [email protected] by Monday, June 
24, 2019. Please see the GSA Interact web page at https://interact.gsa.gov/FY19NDAASection889 for additional information on 
public meeting content and for a posting of the agenda (to be made 
available a few days prior to the meeting).

    Dated: May 29, 2019.
Janet Fry,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, Office of Governmentwide 
Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of 
Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-11490 Filed 5-31-19; 8:45 am]
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