[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30946-30947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13745]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Acquisition Regulations System

48 CFR Parts 204 and 252

[Docket DARS-2019-0027]
RIN 0750-AK69


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Annual 
Representations and Certifications--Alternate A (DFARS Case 2019-D030)

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 correct paragraph 
references in the DFARS provision on annual representations and 
certifications and also correct the structure of the prescription for 
that provision.

DATES: Effective June 28, 2019.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    This final rule amends the provision at DFARS 252.204-7007, Annual 
Representations and Certifications--Alternate A, and the prescription 
for this provision at DFARS 204.1202. DFARS 252.204-7007 provides 
alternate paragraphs (d) and (e), to replace paragraph (d) of the 
provision at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-8, Annual 
Representations and Certifications, in order to include DoD-unique 
representations and certifications.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    Paragraph (b) of FAR provision 52.204-8 includes a reference to 
paragraph (d) of the FAR provision. When the DFARS alternate is used, 
this reference to paragraph (d) creates an inconsistency. To correct 
the inconsistency, this final rule amends DFARS 252.204-7007 to include 
an alternate to paragraph (b) of FAR 52.204-8 that references paragraph 
(e) of the DFARS alternate, instead of paragraph (d) of FAR 52.204-8.
    In addition, the prescription at DFARS 204.1202(1) is restructured 
so that the lead-in tying the prescription to the use of FAR 52.204-8 
applies to both paragraphs (1) and (2), as originally intended. DFARS 
204.1202(1) previously stated that the DFARS provision 252.204-7007 is 
only used when using FAR 52.204-8, Annual Representations and 
Certification. FAR 52.204-8 is not used in solicitations for the 
acquisition of commercial items, so DFARS 252.204-7007 is also not used 
in solicitations for the acquisition of commercial items. Paragraph (2) 
of the prescription states that the following provisions listed in 
204.1202 do not need to be separately listed in the solicitation, 
because they are included in the provision at DFARS 252.204-7007. 
Although this prescription is in part 204, not part 212, and has 
probably been correctly interpreted to apply only to acquisition of 
noncommercial items, paragraph (2) could technically be misinterpreted 
in a way that could lead to an inconsistency. Since DFARS 252.204-7007 
only applies to noncommercial acquisitions, the provisions listed in 
204.1202 would only be included in the solicitation through inclusion 
of the provision at DFARS 252.204-7007 when acquiring noncommercial 
items. By restructuring the prescription, the limitation of paragraph 
(2) to noncommercial acquisitions is unambiguous.

II. Publication of This Final Rule for Public Comment Is Not Required 
by Statute

    The statute that applies to the publication of the FAR is 41 U.S.C. 
1707 entitled ``Publication of Proposed Regulations.'' Paragraph (a)(1) 
of the statute 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 it only makes 
minor administrative corrections. These requirements affect only the 
internal operating procedures of the Government.

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

    This rule makes a minor correction to an existing provision at 
DFARS 252.204-7007, Alternate A, Annual Representations and 
Certifications, and clarifies the prescription for use of the 
provision, which applies below the simplified acquisition threshold but 
does not apply to the acquisition of commercial items.

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 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.

V. Executive Order 13771

    This final rule is not subject to E.O. 13771, because this rule is 
not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 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).

[[Page 30947]]

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 204 and 252

    Government procurement.

Jennifer Lee Hawes,
Regulatory Control Officer, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.

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

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 204 and 252 continues to 
read as follows:

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

PART 204--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

0
2. Amend section 204.1202 by adding introductory text and revising 
paragraph (1) to read as follows:


204.1202   Solicitation provision.

    When using the provision at FAR 52.204-8, Annual Representations 
and Certifications--
    (1) Use the provision with 252.204-7007, Alternate A, Annual 
Representations and Certifications; and
* * * * *

PART 252--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
3. Amend section 252.204-7007 by--
0
a. Removing the clause date ``(APR 2019)'' and adding ``(JUN 2019)'' in 
its place;
0
b. Revising the provision introductory text;
0
c. Adding paragraph (b); and
0
d. In paragraph (d)(1) introductory text, removing ``System for Award 
Management (SAM)'' and adding ``SAM'' in its place.
    The revision and addition read as follows:


252.204-7007   Alternate A, Annual Representations and Certifications.

* * * * *
    Substitute the following paragraphs (b), (d), and (e) for 
paragraphs (b) and (d) of the provision at FAR 52.204-8:
    (b)(1) If the provision at FAR 52.204-7, System for Award 
Management, is included in this solicitation, paragraph (e) of this 
provision applies.
    (2) If the provision at FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management, 
is not included in this solicitation, and the Offeror has an active 
registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), the Offeror may 
choose to use paragraph (e) of this provision instead of completing the 
corresponding individual representations and certifications in the 
solicitation. The Offeror shall indicate which option applies by 
checking one of the following boxes:
    __ (i) Paragraph (e) applies.
    __ (ii) Paragraph (e) does not apply and the Offeror has completed 
the individual representations and certifications in the solicitation.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-13745 Filed 6-27-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P