[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72139-72140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-28192]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Fiscal Service


Prompt Payment Interest Rate; Contract Disputes Act

AGENCY: Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of prompt payment interest rate; Contract Disputes Act.

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SUMMARY: For the period beginning January 1, 2020, and ending on June 
30, 2020, the prompt payment interest rate is 2\1/8\ per centum per 
annum.

DATES: Effective January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments or inquiries may be mailed to: E-Commerce Division, 
Bureau of the Fiscal Service, 401 14th Street SW, Room 306F, 
Washington, DC 20227. Comments or inquiries may also be emailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas M. Burnum, E-Commerce Division, 
(202) 874-6430; or Thomas Kearns, Attorney-Advisor, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, (202) 874-7036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An agency that has acquired property or 
service from a business concern and has failed to pay for the complete 
delivery of property or service by the required payment date shall pay 
the business concern an interest penalty. 31 U.S.C. 3902(a). The 
Contract Disputes Act of 1978, Sec. 12, Public Law 95-563, 92 Stat. 
2389, and the Prompt Payment Act, 31 U.S.C. 3902(a), provide for the 
calculation of interest due on claims at the rate established by the 
Secretary of the Treasury.
    The Secretary of the Treasury has the authority to specify the rate 
by which the interest shall be computed for interest payments under 
section 12 of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 and under the Prompt 
Payment Act. Under the Prompt Payment Act, if an interest penalty is 
owed to a business concern, the penalty shall be paid regardless of 
whether the business concern requested payment of such penalty. 31 
U.S.C. 3902(c)(1). Agencies must pay the interest penalty calculated 
with the interest rate, which is in effect at the time the agency 
accrues the obligation to pay a late payment interest penalty.

[[Page 72140]]

31 U.S.C. 3902(a). ``The interest penalty shall be paid for the period 
beginning on the day after the required payment date and ending on the 
date on which payment is made.'' 31 U.S.C. 3902(b).
    Therefore, notice is given that the Secretary of the Treasury has 
determined that the rate of interest applicable for the period 
beginning January 1, 2020, and ending on June 30, 2020, is 2\1/8\ per 
centum per annum.

Timothy E. Gribben,
Commissioner, Bureau of the Fiscal Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-28192 Filed 12-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-AS-P