[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 15, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71323-71326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26802]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 22, 47, and 52

[FAC 2022-02; FAR Case 2021-003; Item I; Docket No. FAR-2021-0003; 
Sequence No. 1]
RIN 9000-AO21


Federal Acquisition Regulation: Update to Certain Online 
References in the FAR

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

[[Page 71324]]


ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to replace FAR references to 
Federal Business Opportunities (FBO.gov) and Wage Determinations Online 
(WDOL.gov) websites with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) 
website because of their integration with and the increased 
functionality of SAM.gov.

DATES: Effective January 14, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Curtis E. Glover, Sr., Procurement 
Analyst, at 202-501-1448 or by email at [email protected] for 
clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or 
publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division at 
202-501-4755 or [email protected]. Please cite FAC 2022-02, FAR Case 
2021-003.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA are amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation 
(FAR) to replace references to Federal Business Opportunities (FBO.gov) 
and Wage Determinations Online (WDOL.gov) websites with the System for 
Award Management (SAM.gov) website because of their integration with 
and the increased functionality of SAM.gov.
    The System for Award Management (SAM) is a Federal website that 
consolidates the capabilities of Central Contractor Registration (CCR), 
Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA), and the 
Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) and continues to evolve to 
incorporate the capabilities of other systems used in Federal 
procurement processes.
    On April 26, 2021, legacy SAM.gov functionality was integrated with 
beta.SAM.gov and renamed to SAM.gov. As a result of the integration, 
SAM.gov now includes the site for users to execute actions formerly 
accomplished on Federal Business Opportunities (FBO.gov) and Wage 
Determinations Online (WDOL.gov). In response, the FAR needs to be 
updated to remove obsolete names and URL references and incorporate in 
their place the new SAM.gov website.

II. 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. Subsection (a)(1) of 41 
U.S.C. 1707 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 does not 
have a significant effect or impose any new requirements on contractors 
or offerors. The rule simply replaces FAR references to Federal 
Business Opportunities (FBO.gov) and Wage Determinations Online 
(WDOL.gov) with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

III. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition 
Threshold (SAT) and for Commercial Products, Including Commercially 
Available Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Items, or for Commercial Services

    This rule simply replaces references to Federal Business 
Opportunities (FBO.gov) and Wage Determinations Online (WDOL.gov) with 
the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). This rule does not impose 
any new requirements on contracts at or below the SAT, or to 
acquisitions for commercial products (including COTS items) or for 
commercial services.

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.

V. Congressional Review Act

    As required by the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801-808) 
before an interim or final rule takes effect, DoD, GSA, and NASA will 
send the rule and the ``Submission of Federal Rules Under the 
Congressional Review Act'' form to each House of the Congress and to 
the Comptroller General of the United States. A major rule cannot take 
effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. The 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of 
Management and Budget has determined that this is not a major rule 
under 5 U.S.C. 804.

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) does not 
apply to this rule, 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). 
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. 3501-3521).

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 22, 47, and 52

    Government procurement.

William F. Clark,
Director, Office of Government-wide Acquisition Policy, Office of 
Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy.

    Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 
22, 47, and 52 as set forth below:

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 22, 47, 
and 52 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 
U.S.C. 20113.

PART 2--DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS


2.101   [Amended]

0
2. Amend section 2.101 in paragraph (b)(2), in the definition 
``Governmentwide point of entry (GPE)'' by removing ``https://www.fbo.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its place.

PART 5--PUBLICIZING CONTRACT ACTIONS


5.102   [Amended]

0
3. Amend section 5.102 by removing from paragraph (a)(1) ``https://www.fbo.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its place.


5.201   [Amended]

0
4. Amend section 5.201 by removing from paragraph (d) ``https://www.fbo.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its place.

[[Page 71325]]

5.207   [Amended]

0
5. Amend section 5.207 by--
0
a. Removing from paragraphs (b) and (c)(19) ``https://www.fbo.gov'' and 
adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in their places, respectively; and
0
b. Removing from paragraph (e) ``https://www.fbo.gov/'' and adding 
``https://www.sam.gov'' in its place.


5.704   [Amended]

0
6. Amend section 5.704 by removing from paragraph (b) introductory text 
``https://www.fbo.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its 
place.


5.705   [Amended]

0
7. Amend section 5.705 by removing from paragraphs (a)(2) introductory 
text and (c) ``https://www.fbo.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' 
in their places, respectively.

PART 6--COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS


6.305   [Amended]

0
8. Amend section 6.305 by removing from paragraph (d)(1) ``https://www.fbo.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its place.

PART 7--ACQUISITION PLANNING


7.105   [Amended]

0
9. Amend section 7.105 by removing from paragraph (b)(16) ``https://www.fbo.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its place.

PART 8--REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES


8.405-6   [Amended]

0
10. Amend section 8.405-6 by removing from paragraph (a)(2)(i)(B)(1) 
``https://www.fbo.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its 
place.


8.602   [Amended]

0
11. Amend section 8.602 by removing from paragraphs (a)(4)(ii)(A) and 
(B) ``FedBizOpps, also known as FBO'' and adding ``Contract 
Opportunities at SAM.gov'' in its place.

PART 16--TYPES OF CONTRACTS


16.505   [Amended]

0
12. Amend section 16.505 by removing from paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(D)(2)(i) 
``https://www.fbo.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its 
place.

PART 22--APPLICATION OF LABOR LAWS TO GOVERNMENT ACQUISITIONS

0
13. Amend section 22.001 by--
0
a. In the definition ``e98'' removing ``http://www.wdol.gov'' and 
adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its place; and
0
b. Removing the definition of ``Wage Determinations OnLine (WDOL)'' and 
adding a definition for ``Wage Determinations at SAM.gov'' in its 
places.
    The addition reads as follows:


22.001   Definitions.

* * * * *
    Wage Determinations at SAM.gov means the Government internet 
website for both Construction Wage Rate Requirements statute and 
Service Contract Labor Standards statute wage determinations available 
at https://www.sam.gov.

0
14. Amend section 22.404-1 by revising paragraph (a)(2) to read as 
follows:


22.404-1   Types of wage determinations.

    (a) * * *
    (2) General wage determinations are published on the Wage 
Determinations at SAM.gov website. General wage determinations are 
effective on the publication date of the wage determination or upon 
receipt of the wage determination by the contracting agency, whichever 
occurs first. ``Publication'' within the meaning of this section shall 
occur on the first date the wage determination is published on the Wage 
Determinations at SAM.gov. Archived Construction Wage Rate Requirements 
statute general wage determinations that are no longer current may be 
accessed in the ``Archived DB WD'' database on Wage Determinations at 
SAM.gov website for information purposes only. Contracting officers may 
not use an archived wage determination in a contract action without 
obtaining prior approval of the Department of Labor. To obtain prior 
approval, contact the Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, 
using https://www.sam.gov, or contact the procurement agency labor 
advisor listed on https://www.sam.gov.
* * * * *


22.404-3   [Amended]

0
15. Amend section 22.404-3 by removing from paragraph (a) and paragraph 
(b) introductory text ``WDOL'' and adding ``Wage Determinations at 
SAM.gov'' in its place.


22.404-6   [Amended]

0
16. Amend section 22.404-6 by removing from paragraphs (a)(3), 
(b)(1)(i) and (ii), (b)(2) and (6), (c)(1), and (d)(1)(ii), ``WDOL'' 
and adding ``Wage Determinations at SAM.gov'' in its place, wherever it 
appears.


22.1008-1   [Amended]

0
17. Amend section 22.1008-1 by removing from paragraphs (a), (c), (d), 
and (e)(1), ``WDOL'' and adding ``Wage Determinations at SAM.gov'' in 
its place, wherever it appears.


22.1008-2   [Amended]

0
18. Amend section 22.1008-2 by removing from paragraphs (d)(2) and (3) 
and (g) introductory text ``WDOL'' and adding ``Wage Determinations at 
SAM.gov'' in its place.


22.1012-1   [Amended]

0
19. Amend section 22.1012-1 by removing from paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and 
(a)(2) ``WDOL'' and adding ``Wage Determinations at SAM.gov'' in its 
place.


22.1012-2   [Amended]

0
20. Amend section 22.1012-2 by removing from paragraph (d) ``WDOL'' and 
adding ``Wage Determinations at SAM.gov'' in its place.


22.1903   [Amended]

0
21. Amend section 22.1903 by removing from paragraph (c) ``http://www.wdol.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its place.


22.1904   [Amended]

0
22. Amend section 22.1904 by removing from paragraph (a)(2) ``Wage 
Determinations OnLine (WDOL), http://www.wdol.gov'' and adding ``Wage 
Determinations at SAM.gov, https://www.sam.gov'' in its place.

PART 47--TRANSPORTATION

0
23. Amend section 47.202 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


47.202   Presolicitation planning.

* * * * *
    (a) The Service Contract Labor Standards statute requirement to 
obtain a wage determination by accessing the Wage Determinations at 
SAM.gov website (https://www.sam.gov) using the Wage Determinations at 
SAM.gov process or by submitting a request directly to the Department 
of Labor on this website using the e98 process before the issuance of 
an invitation for bid, request for proposal, or commencement of 
negotiations for any contract exceeding $2,500 that may be subject to 
the Service Contract Labor Standards statute (see subpart 22.10);
* * * * *

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
24. Amend section 52.212-5 by--

[[Page 71326]]

0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (c)(7) ``(NOV 2020)'' and adding ``(JAN 
2022)'' in its place;
0
c. Removing from paragraph (e)(1)(xvii) ``(NOV 2020)'' and adding 
``(JAN 2022)'' in its place; and
0
d. In Alternate II--
0
i. Revising the date of the Alternate; and
0
ii. Removing from paragraph (e)(1)(ii)(P) ``(NOV 2020)'' and adding 
``(JAN 2022)'' in its place.
    The revisions read as follows:


52.212-5   Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes 
or Executive Orders--Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

* * * * *

Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or 
Executive Orders--Commercial Products and Commercial Services (JAN 
2022)

* * * * *
    Alternate II (JAN 2022). * * *
* * * * *

0
25. Amend section 52.213-4 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Revising paragraph (a)(2)(viii); and
0
c. Removing from paragraph (b)(1)(ix) ``(NOV 2020)'' and adding ``(JAN 
2022)'' in its place.
    The revisions read as follows:


52.213-4   Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other than 
Commercial Products and Commercial Services).

* * * * *

Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial 
Products and Commercial Services) (JAN 2022)

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (viii) 52.244-6 Subcontracts for Commercial Products and Commercial 
Items (JAN 2022).
* * * * *

0
26. Amend section 52.222-55 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause; and
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(2) ``www.wdol.gov'' and adding ``https://www.sam.gov'' in its place.
    The revision reads as follows:


52.222-55   Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658.

* * * * *

Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (JAN 2022)

* * * * *

0
27. Amend section 52.244-6 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause; and
0
b. Removing from paragraph (c)(1)(xv) ``(NOV 2020)'' and adding ``(JAN 
2022)'' in its place.
    The revision reads as follows:


52.244-6   Subcontracts for Commercial Products and Commercial 
Services.

* * * * *

Subcontracts for Commercial Products and Commercial Services (JAN 2022)

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2021-26802 Filed 12-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P