[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39203-39204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16767]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Acquisition Regulations System

48 CFR Parts 212 and 237

[Docket DARS-2019-0033]
RIN 0750-AJ79


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Preference for 
Certain Commercial Services (DFARS Case 2018-D016)

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 partially implement a 
section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 
that provides a preference for the acquisition of certain commercial 
services in contracts that exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. 
The statute provides for a two-tier approval process, depending on 
value of the acquisition, if no commercial items are suitable.

DATES: Effective August 9, 2019.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    This final rule partially implements section 876 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 (Pub. L. 
114-328). Section 876 requires revision of the guidance issued pursuant 
to section 855 of the NDAA for FY 2016 (Pub. L. 114-92) (final DFARS 
rule published in the Federal Register under DFARS Case 2016-D006 on 
January 31, 2018 (83 FR 4431)) to provide a preference for certain 
commercial services, unless the appropriate official determines in 
writing that no commercial items are suitable to meet the agency's 
needs. Different approval levels are provided for contracts in excess 
of $10 million, and contracts that exceed the simplified acquisition 
threshold but do not exceed $10 million. This rule addresses 
facilities-related services, knowledge-based services (except 
engineering services), medical services, and transportation services. 
Construction services are being addressed under DFARS Case 2019-D034.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    The requirements of section 876 have been implemented by adding a 
new DFARS section 212.272, Preference for certain commercial products 
and services. A cross-reference to the new section has been added in 
part 237, Service Contracting, at DFARS 237.102. Also provided in the 
new DFARS section 212.272, is a cross-reference to the implementation 
of section 856 of the NDAA for FY 2016 at DFARS 239.101 related to the 
acquisition of information technology products and services.

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 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 specifies the approval process if acquiring certain 
noncommercial services. These requirements affect only the internal 
operating procedures of the Government.

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

    This final rule does not create any new DFARS provisions or clauses 
or modify any DFARS existing provision or clauses.

V. 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.

VI. 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.

VII. 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.

VIII. 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 39204]]

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 212 and 237

    Government procurement.

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

    Therefore, 48 CFR parts 212 and 237 are amended as follows:

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 212 and 237 continues to 
read as follows:

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

PART 212--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS

0
2. Add section 212.272 to subpart 212.2 to read as follows:


212.272   Preference for certain commercial products and services.

    (a) As required by section 855 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Pub. L. 114-92), for 
requirements relating to the acquisition of commercial information 
technology products and services, see 239.101.
    (b)(1) As required by section 876 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2017 (Pub. L. 114-328), a contracting 
officer may not enter into a contract above the simplified acquisition 
threshold for facilities-related services, knowledge-based services 
(except engineering services), medical services, or transportation 
services that are not commercial services, unless the appropriate 
official specified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section determines in 
writing that no commercial services are suitable to meet the agency's 
needs as provided in section 10 U.S.C. 2377(c)(2).
    (2) The following officials are authorized to make the 
determination specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section:
    (i) For contracts above $10 million, the head of the contracting 
activity, the combatant commander of the combatant command concerned, 
or the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (as 
applicable).
    (ii) For contracts in an amount above the simplified acquisition 
threshold and at or below $10 million, the contracting officer.

PART 237--SERVICE CONTRACTING

0
2. Amend section 237.102 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


237.102   Policy.

    (b)(1) Preference for certain commercial services. See 212.272 for 
procedures for implementation of the preference for commercial 
facilities-related services, knowledge-based services (except 
engineering services), medical services, or transportation services, as 
required by section 876 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2017 (Pub. L. 114-328).
    (2) Public-private competitions. See PGI 207.302 for information on 
the Governmentwide moratorium and restrictions on public-private 
competitions conducted pursuant to Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) Circular A-76.
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[FR Doc. 2019-16767 Filed 8-8-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P