[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39994-39996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17210]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 102-82

[FMR Case 2016-102-3; Docket 2016-0019; Sequence No. 1]
RIN 3090-AJ76


Federal Management Regulation (FMR); Utility Services

AGENCY: Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP), General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: GSA is proposing to amend the Federal Management Regulation 
part regarding utility services. The rule clarifies the authority an 
agency must have in order to procure utility services and describes in 
detail agencies' responsibilities concerning the procurement of such 
services. To better direct agencies that operate under a utility 
service delegation from GSA, the rule adds a reference to the section 
of the Federal Acquisition Regulation that addresses the acquisition of 
utility services and other procurement guidance. Additionally, the rule 
clarifies responsibilities for the Department of Defense and the 
Department of Energy for compliance.

DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments to the 
Regulatory Secretariat Division at one of the addresses shown below on 
or before October 15, 2019 to be considered in the formation of the 
final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in response to FMR Case 2016-102-3 by any of 
the following methods:

[[Page 39995]]

     Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
comments via the Federal Rulemaking Portal by entering ``FMR Case 2016-
102-3.'' under the heading ``Enter Keyword or ID'' and select 
``Search''. Select the link ``Submit a Comment'' that corresponds with 
``FMR Case 2016-102-3'' and follow the instructions provided at the 
``Comment Now'' screen. Please include your name, company name (if 
any), and ``FMR Case 2016-102-3'' on your attached document.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat Division (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Lois Mandell, 1800 F Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20405.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FMR Case 2016-
102-3, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments 
received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal and/or business confidential information 
provided. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check http://www.regulations.gov approximately two to three days after submission to 
verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted 
by mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact 
Mr. Chris Coneeney, Director, Real Property, Office of Government-wide 
Policy, at 202-208-2956, or email at [email protected]. For 
information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the 
Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20405, 202-501-4755. Please cite FMR Case 2016-102-3.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    This part was last revised and published in the Federal Register on 
November 8, 2005 (70 FR 67785). The currently proposed rule includes 
the following changes:
     Updating the regulation to both clarify the authority an 
agency must have and point the reader to the appropriate parts of the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation that relate to the acquisition of 
utility services;
     Clarifying agency, the Department of Defense, and the 
Department of Energy responsibilities regarding utility services.

B. 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 rule is a significant regulatory action and was subject to review 
under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866. GSA has determined that this proposed 
rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

C. Executive Order 13771

    This proposed rule is not expected to be subject to the 
requirements of E.O. 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 3, 2017) because this 
proposed rule is expected to be related to agency organization, 
management, or personnel.

D. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule will not 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. This proposed rule is 
also exempt from the Regulatory Flexibility Act pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(a)(2) because it applies to agency management.

E. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the FMR do not impose any information collection requirements that 
require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 
U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

F. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This proposed rule is exempt from Congressional review under 5 
U.S.C. 801 since it relates solely to agency management and personnel.

List of Subjects in 41 CFR Part 102-82-Utilities

    Federal buildings and facilities, Government property management, 
Rates and fares, Utilities.

Jessica Salmoiraghi,
Associate Administrator, Office of Government-wide Policy.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, GSA is proposing to revise 
41 CFR part 102-82 to read as follows:

PART 102-82--UTILITY SERVICES

Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec.
102-82.5 What does this part cover?
102-82.10 What are the governing authorities for this part?
102-82.15 Who must comply with these provisions?
102-82.20 To whom do ``we,'' ``you,'' and their variants refer?
102-82.25 How do we request a deviation from the provisions of this 
part?
Subpart B--Utility Services
102-82.30 What authority must my agency have in order to procure 
utility service(s)?
102-82.35 Can Executive agencies enter into contracts for utility 
services?
102-82.40 What are Executive agencies' rate intervention 
responsibilities?

    Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c) and 40 U.S.C. 501.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  102-82.5  What does this part cover?

    This part covers the procurement and management of public utility 
services. It does not cover utilities that are provided as part of a 
lease. For more information on the procurement of utility services, 
refer to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 41, Acquisition of 
Utility Services. For more information on the management of Utility 
Services, refer to 40 U.S.C. 501.


Sec.  102-82.10  What are the governing authorities for this part?

    The authorities for this regulation are:
    (a) 40 U.S.C. 121(c);
    (b) 40 U.S.C. 501.


Sec.  102-82.15  Who must comply with these provisions?

    All Executive agencies procuring, managing or supplying utility 
services under Title 40 of the United States Code, including GSA's 
Public Buildings Service (PBS), Department of Defense, Department of 
Energy, and those agencies operating under, or subject to, the 
authorities of the Administrator of General Services must comply with 
these provisions. For information on a utility services delegation of 
authority, refer to part 102-72.100 of this chapter.


Sec.  102-82.20  To whom do ``we,'' ``you,'' and their variants refer?

    Unless otherwise indicated, use of pronouns ``we,'' ``you,'' and 
their variants throughout this part refer to an Executive agency. Refer 
to part 102-71, General, of this chapter, for the definition of 
Executive agency.


Sec.  102-82.25  How do we request a deviation from the provisions of 
this part?

    Refer to sections 102-2.60 through 102-2.110 of this chapter for 
information on how to obtain a deviation from this part.

[[Page 39996]]

Subpart B--Utility Services


Sec.  102-82.30  What authority must my agency have in order to procure 
utility service(s)?

    If you do not have a delegation of authority issued by GSA to 
procure utility services, or independent authority for such 
procurements, you cannot procure utility services. The Secretary of 
Defense is independently authorized to take such actions without a 
delegation from GSA, when the Secretary determines such actions to be 
in the best interests of national security. For more information on a 
utility services delegation of authority refer to parts 102-72.100 and 
102-72.105 of this chapter.


Sec.  102-82.35  Can Executive agencies enter into contracts for 
utility services?

    Executive agencies, operating under a utility services delegation 
from GSA, or the Secretary of Defense, when the Secretary determines it 
to be in the best interests of national security, may enter into 
contracts for utility services (such as commodities and utility rebate 
programs), pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in the 
delegation and in accordance with FAR Part 41, Acquisition of Utility 
Services. FAR Part 41 requires that agencies provide or procure from 
sources of supply that are the most advantageous to the Federal 
Government in terms of economy, efficiency, reliability, or quality of 
service; while 40 U.S.C. 501(c) requires that agencies provide or 
procure such services with due regard to the mission responsibilities 
of the agencies concerned. For information on utility services 
delegation of authority refer to part 102-72 of this chapter, 
Delegation of Authority. For additional information on contracts for 
utility services search on the topics Utility or Energy on the 
Acquisition Gateway, http://www.gsa.gov.


Sec.  102-82.40  What are Executive agencies' rate intervention 
responsibilities?

    Unless otherwise authorized by law, absent a delegation from GSA, 
Executive agencies must not engage in the types of representation 
referenced at 40 U.S.C. 501(c), Services for Executive agencies. The 
Secretary of Defense is independently authorized to take such actions 
without a delegation from GSA, when the Secretary determines such 
actions to be in the best interests of national security. Refer to part 
102-71, General, for definitions of Executive agencies and state. For 
information on delegation of authority refer to part 102-72, Delegation 
of Authority.

[FR Doc. 2019-17210 Filed 8-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-14-P