[The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations]
[General Services Administration Regulatory Plan]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)

Statement of Regulatory Priorities
The General Services Administration (GSA) establishes policy for and 
provides economical and efficient management of Government property and 
records, including construction and operation of buildings; procurement 
and distribution of supplies; utilization and disposal of property; 
transportation, traffic, and communications management; and management 
of the Governmentwide automatic data processing resources program.
GSA's regulatory priorities for 1995 continue to reflect the 
President's commitment to reform the regulatory process.
GSA will change the Federal Information Resources Management Regulation 
policies on delegations of procurement authority from GSA for the 
acquisition of Federal information processing (FIP) resources. The 
change will establish $100 million as the regulatory threshold for 
agency acquisitions of FIP resources--a continuation of GSA's trend to 
place greater authority in the hands of operating agencies. The higher 
threshold will allow agencies to assume greater responsibility for 
their acquisitions, while allowing GSA to focus on larger, more complex 
acquisitions.
Federal Property Management Regulations, Temporary Regulation D-76, 
Assignment and Utilization of Space, will be codified in the Code of 
Federal Regulations. This permanent Governmentwide regulation will 
improve the space delivery process for Federal customer agencies by 
making the process more efficient, more timely, and better able to 
deliver quality space that supports customer-agency needs.
The General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) will 
be changed to implement Section 1555 of the Federal Acquisition 
Streamlining Act of 1994, which deals with cooperative purchasing. The 
change will provide for use of GSA's Federal Supply Schedules upon 
request from a State or local government, the government of an Indian 
tribe, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The ability of small 
governmental entities to order from the Federal Supply Schedules holds 
out the potential for significant cost savings for these organizations.
Also indicative of the agency's resolution to develop a regulatory 
system that improves the agency's mission to provide products and 
services quickly and economically, are GSA's continuing efforts to 
revise the entire GSAR.
GSA will continue to monitor and review regulations and use regulatory 
direction only when it offers the most effective means of carrying out 
GSA's mission and responsibilities.
_______________________________________________________________________
GSA

                              -----------

                          PROPOSED RULE STAGE

                              -----------

136. REISSUANCE OF THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ACQUISITION 
REGULATION (GSAR)
Priority:


Other Significant


Reinventing Government:


This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing Government effort. It will 
revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or duplication, or streamline 
requirements.


Legal Authority:


 40 USC 486(c)


CFR Citation:


 48 CFR 501; 48 CFR 502; 48 CFR 503; 48 CFR 504; 48 CFR 505; 48 CFR 
506; 48 CFR 507; 48 CFR 508; 48 CFR 509; 48 CFR 510; 48 CFR 511; 48 CFR 
512; 48 CFR 513; 48 CFR 514; 48 CFR 515; ...


Legal Deadline:


None


Abstract:


The General Services Administration (GSA) proposes to revise and 
reissue chapter 5, 48 CFR, in its entirety. The reissuance will 
represent the culmination of the Total Quality Management project to 
review GSA's acquisition regulation/directive system.


Statement of Need:


GSA plans to publish a proposal to revise the entire GSAR. The proposal 
will redefine the objectives of the procurement system and its 
regulatory base, establish very narrow standards for the scope and 
nature of the regulation, eliminate provisions that impede productivity 
or unnecessarily increase administrative costs, reduce rigid rules in 
favor of guiding principles, delegate authority and accountability to 
the lowest level consistent with competency, and reduce the overall 
volume of the regulation by at least 50 percent. After consideration of 
public comments, the entire regulation will be issued in final form.


Alternatives:


Alternatives considered include an approach that would continue to 
include nonregulatory internal guidance in the GSAR rather than putting 
the internal guidance in a separate internal directive to be 
distributed to contracting personnel within the agency.


Anticipated Costs and Benefits:


Issuance of the final regulation will facilitate GSA's ability to 
operate in a competitive environment by enabling GSA contracting 
offices to deliver services in a more timely, efficient, and cost-
effective manner. A specific dollar savings cannot be calculated.


Timetable:
_______________________________________________________________________
Action                                 DFR Cite

_______________________________________________________________________
NPRM                                                           01/00/96
Small Entities Affected:


Businesses, Organizations


Government Levels Affected:


None


Sectors Affected:


 All


Analysis:


Regulatory Flexibility Analysis


Procurement:


This is a procurement-related action for which there is no statutory 
requirement. There is a paperwork burden associated with this action.


Agency Contact:
Marjorie Ashby
Management Analyst
Office of Acquisition Policy (VP)
General Services Administration
Washington, DC 20405
Phone: 202 501-3822
Fax: 202 501-3341
RIN: 3090-AE90
_______________________________________________________________________
GSA
137. FEDERAL SUPPLY SCHEDULE CONTRACTS--COOPERATIVE PURCHASING
Priority:


Other Significant


Reinventing Government:


This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing Government effort. It will 
revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or duplication, or streamline 
requirements.


Legal Authority:


 40 USC 486(c)


CFR Citation:


 48 CFR 510; 48 CFR 532; 48 CFR 538; 48 CFR 552


Legal Deadline:


None


Abstract:


The General Services Administration (GSA) proposes to make changes to 
the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) that 
would implement Section 1555 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining 
Act of 1994 (PL 103-355) which deals with cooperative purchasing.


Statement of Need:


Section 1555 amends subsection (b) of section 201 of the Federal 
Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 USC 481) to 
authorize the Administrator of General Services to provide for use of 
Federal Supply Schedules of the GSA upon request from a State or local 
government, the government of an Indian tribe, or the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico.
GSA plans to publish a proposal to add Subpart 538.70 to provide the 
policies and procedures for cooperative purchasing and to add to or 
revise the prescription for use of, or text of several solicitation 
provisions and contract clauses in other parts of the regulation, 
including Parts 510, 532, and 552, in order to accommodate use of the 
schedule contracts by State, local, and Indian tribal governments, and 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. After consideration of public 
comments, the regulation will be issued in final form.


Alternatives:


Alternatives were considered regarding different aspects of the 
proposed change. With respect to the process for identifying entities 
eligible to use GSA sources of supply including Federal Supply 
Schedules, GSA considered and rejected the idea of using a contract 
clause to provide a blanket authorization to eligible entities, with 
provisions for governmental entities to provide evidence to support 
their eligibility at the request of schedule contractors. The idea was 
rejected for several reasons. First, it placed a greater burden on both 
contractors and eligible governmental entities. Instead of a one-time 
application to GSA, governmental entities would be required to provide 
evidence of eligibility with virtually every order placed against 
schedule contracts. In addition, schedule contractors would be unable 
to gauge the level of interest on the part of State, local, and Indian 
tribal governments in participating in the schedule contracts. In 
addition, every contractor would be faced with determining whether the 
evidence of eligibility provided by governmental entities was adequate. 
In addition, such an approach limits GSA's ability to control the 
program in order to ensure that service to executive agencies of the 
Federal Government is maintained. Instead, a one-time application 
process was determined to be the best approach. The proposal also 
encourages electronic submission (rather than paper copies) of the 
application form, as that is deemed the most cost-effective mechanism. 
The list of entities authorized to use GSA sources of supply will also 
be available electronically for use by schedule contractors.
Some consideration was given to requiring Federal Supply Schedule 
contractors to accept orders from State and local governments, Indian 
tribes, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but that approach was 
ultimately rejected. The foremost consideration of GSA in implementing 
cooperative purchasing is to ensure that the Federal Supply Schedule 
Program continues to be an efficient and cost-effective acquisition 
mechanism for executive agencies of the Federal Government, and it was 
felt that mandating contractor participation in cooperative purchasing 
could, in some instances, negatively impact the program. For that 
reason, it was decided to allow contractors to decide individually 
whether they want to open their contracts to cooperative purchasing, or 
to allow them not to do so. Similarly, GSA will look at each schedule 
and make a case-by-case determination that the schedule should be 
opened for ordering by State and local governments, Indian tribes, and 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This will allow GSA to exclude 
individual or classes of schedules from the program.
To militate against the potential adverse impact on dealers/ 
distributors, the proposal also provides for schedule contractors to 
maintain their dealer/distributor networks by allowing for their 
participation in the performance of schedule contracts.


Anticipated Costs and Benefits:


The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 authorizes the 
Administrator of GSA to require the authorized non-Federal users of the 
Federal Supply Schedules to reimburse GSA for any administrative costs 
for using the schedules. GSA is in the process of concerting the 
Federal Supply Schedule Program, which is currently funded through 
congressional appropriations, to an industrially funded operation. Non-
Federal users will be assessed the same user charge as Federal users. 
Schedule contract prices will be included in the administrative fee.
Federal Supply Schedule contracts are negotiated as volume purchase 
agreements, with generally favorable pricing. The ability of small 
governmental entities to order from the Federal Supply Schedules holds 
out the potential for significant cost savings for those organizations.


Risks:


None


Timetable:
_______________________________________________________________________
Action                                 DFR Cite

_______________________________________________________________________
ANPRM           60 FR 17764                                    04/07/95
ANPRM Comment Pe60 FR 17764                                    06/06/95
NPRM                                                           10/00/95
Final Action                                                   01/00/96
Small Entities Affected:


Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions


Government Levels Affected:


State, Local, Tribal


Procurement:


This is a procurement-related action for which there is a statutory 
requirement. There is a paperwork burden associated with this action.


Agency Contact:
Marjorie Ashby
Management Analyst
Office of Acquisition Policy (VP)
General Services Administration
Washington, DC 20405
Phone: 202 501-3822
Fax: 202 501-3341
RIN: 3090-AF68
_______________________________________________________________________
GSA

                              -----------

                            FINAL RULE STAGE

                              -----------

138. IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL ACQUISITION STREAMLINING ACT
Priority:


Other Significant


Reinventing Government:


This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing Government effort. It will 
revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or duplication, or streamline 
requirements.


Legal Authority:


 40 USC 486(c)


CFR Citation:


 48 CFR ch 5


Legal Deadline:


 Final, Statutory, October 1, 1995.


Abstract:


The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (PL 103-355) was 
enacted October 13, 1995. The Act made major changes in the laws that 
impact the Federal procurement process in order to streamline 
procedures. Primarily implementation of the Act was affected at the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) level. However, the Act contains 
certain GSA-unique provisions which require implementation in the GSA 
Acquisition Regulation (GSAR). In addition, other changes in the GSAR 
were needed to conform agency regulation to Governmentwide regulations 
that were revised to implement the Act.


Statement of Need:


Certain provisions in PL 103-355 apply to GSA only and have been or 
will be implemented in the GSAR. For example, the authorization for GSA 
to establish simplified procedures for small leases of real property 
(see RIN 3090-AF67) and the provision in section 1555 on cooperative 
purchasing (see RIN 3090-AF68) which allows GSA to open Federal Supply 
Schedule contracts for use by State, local and Indian tribal 
governments and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. As a result of changes 
in the FAR, GSA also needs to revise the GSAR to conform to the FAR as 
revised to implement the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994. 
(See RINs 3090-AF76, AF80, AF85, AF86 and AF87).


Summary of the Legal Basis:


PL 103-355


Alternatives:


Alternatives are outlined in the individual regulatory items.


Anticipated Costs and Benefits:


The rules issued implementing the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act 
of 1994 facilitate GSA's ability to operate in a competitive 
environment by enabling GSA contracting offices to deliver services in 
a more timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner. A specific dollar 
savings cannot be calculated.


Risks:


Cannot be established at this time.


Timetable:
_______________________________________________________________________
Action                                 DFR Cite

_______________________________________________________________________
Final Action                                                   10/00/95
Small Entities Affected:


Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions


Government Levels Affected:


State, Local, Federal


Procurement:


This is a procurement-related action for which there is no statutory 
requirement. There is a paperwork burden associated with this action.


Agency Contact:
Marjorie Ashby
Management Analyst
Office of Acquisition Policy
General Services Administration
Washington, DC 20405
Phone: 202 501-3822
Fax: 202 501-3341
RIN: 3090-AF51
_______________________________________________________________________
GSA
139. AMENDMENT OF THE FIRMR PROVISIONS TO MODIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR 
OBTAINING DELEGATIONS OF PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY
Priority:


Other Significant


Reinventing Government:


This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing Government effort. It will 
revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or duplication, or streamline 
requirements.


Legal Authority:


 40 USC 486(c); 40 USC 751(f)


CFR Citation:


 41 CFR 201


Legal Deadline:


None


Abstract:


Users of the Federal Information Resources Management Regulation 
(FIRMR) have mentioned some confusion regarding the interpretations of 
provisions regarding delegation of procurement authority thresholds. 
Specific concerns involve the applicability of the thresholds to 
certain General Services Administration (GSA) programs. This rule 
addresses these issues by establishing new delegations thresholds for 
all agencies and clarifying which GSA programs do not require 
delegations of procurement authority.


Statement of Need:


The FIRMR currently contains regulatory thresholds that are 
inconsistent with Governmentwide specific agency thresholds granted by 
GSA. This rule will correct this inconsistency.


Summary of the Legal Basis:


GSA has statutory authority and responsibility for issuing 
Governmentwide guidance and regulations to ensure economy and 
efficiency in the acquisition, management, and use of Federal 
information processing (FIP) resources.


Alternatives:


GSA examined FIRMR provisions dealing with delegations thresholds to 
determine their adequacy. GSA also reviewed agency acquisition actions 
to determine the impact of FIRMR provisions. Based on the results of 
this review, GSA wrote to each agency in July 1995 delegating them 
procurement authority for FIP resources of $100,000,000. This 
supplement to FIRMR Interim Rule 2 of October 1994 was developed to 
codify $100,000,000 as the regulatory threshold for FIP resources, to 
be consistent with GSA's July 1995 action.


Anticipated Costs and Benefits:


The proposed amendment should streamline the acquisition process by 
clarifying FIRMR regulatory provisions. It was based on adequate 
information garnered from review and analysis of FIRMR provisions and 
their impact on agency procurement requests. The amendment will not 
have any effect on the economy.


Risks:


None


Timetable:
_______________________________________________________________________
Action                                 DFR Cite

_______________________________________________________________________
Interim Final Ru59 FR 53360                                    10/24/94
Final Action                                                   11/00/95
Small Entities Affected:


None


Government Levels Affected:


Federal


Agency Contact:
Margaret Truntich
Director, Center for IT Policy and
Regulations Management (KAR)
General Services Administration
Information Technology Service
Washington, DC 20405
Phone: 202 501-3194
TDD: 202 501-0652
Fax: 202 208-1757
RIN: 3090-AE71
_______________________________________________________________________
GSA
140. FEDERAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS PART 101-17, ASSIGNMENT 
AND UTILIZATION OF SPACE
Priority:


Other Significant


Legal Authority:


 40 USC 481; 40 USC 601; 7 USC 1924; 40 USC 490; 40 USC 531; 42 USC 
3601; 42 USC 4321; 42 USC 4201; EO 12072; EO 12411; EO 12512; PL 100-
678


CFR Citation:


 41 CFR 101-17


Legal Deadline:


None


Abstract:


Federal Property Management Regulation Temporary Regulation D-76, Part 
101-17, Assignment and Utilization of Space, was published in August 
1991. It is intended that this regulation will become permanent. Its 
purpose is to improve space delivery process for Federal agencies by 
making the process more efficient, more timely, and better able to 
deliver quality space that supports agency mission needs. The 
regulation does the following: implements a new space-assignment 
process that emphasizes client service; establishes a new comprehensive 
move policy that clarifies roles and responsibilities; revises the 
General Services Administration (GSA) location policy to be more 
responsive to agency mission needs; revises the standard alterations 
which agencies receive upon an initial move, to recognize modern office 
needs; and revises the space classification definitions to eliminate 
ambiguity. These changes will result in a more efficient space delivery 
process and improve the overall efficiency of Government operations.


Statement of Need:


The purpose of this regulation is to improve the space delivery process 
for Federal customer agencies by making the process more efficient, 
more timely, and better able to deliver quality space that supports 
customer agencies' mission needs.


Summary of the Legal Basis:


GSA has statutory authority and responsibility for issuing 
Governmentwide guidance and regulations to ensure economy and 
efficiency in the assignment and utilization of space for its customer 
agencies.


Alternatives:


GSA examined the Federal Property Management Regulations (FPMR) 
provisions dealing with assignment and utilization of space to its 
customer agencies. In order to remove ambiguity, GSA also examined the 
new space assignment process that emphasizes customer service; the new 
comprehensive move policy that clarifies roles and responsibilities; a 
more user-friendly location policy that is more responsive to customer 
agencies' mission needs; the level of standard level alterations that 
agencies receive upon initial move and also in recognition of modern 
office needs; and space classification standards. Based upon the 
results of this review, GSA determined that it was in the best interest 
of the Government to issue revised Governmentwide guidance and 
regulations to ensure economy and efficiency in the space delivery 
process to our customer agencies, and to improve the overall efficiency 
of Government operations.


Anticipated Costs and Benefits:


The proposed regulation should improve the space delivery process for 
Federal customer agencies by making the process more efficient, more 
timely, and better able to deliver quality space that supports customer 
agencies' needs; thereby improving the overall efficiency of Government 
operations. The regulation was based on adequate information gathered 
from review and analysis of FPMR provisions and their impact on 
customer agencies' space requests. The proposed regulation will not 
have any major impact on the economy.


Risks:


None


Timetable:
_______________________________________________________________________
Action                                 DFR Cite

_______________________________________________________________________
NPRM            54 FR 50251                                    12/05/89
NPRM Comment Period End                                        01/04/90
Extension of Exp60 FR 45085e of FPMR Amendment                 08/30/95
Final Action                                                   12/00/95
Small Entities Affected:


None


Government Levels Affected:


Federal


Additional Information:


At the request of OMB, GSA extended FPMR Temporary Regulation D-76 for 
a period of 90 days (from 08/26/95 through 11/26/95) during which time 
action will have been taken to either extend the temporary regulation 
or make it permanent. During this time period, GSA will be 
communicating with OMB regarding such action.


Agency Contact:
Stanley C. Langfeld
Director, Real Property Policy Div. (PGP)
Public Buildings Service
General Services Administration
18th & F Streets NW.
Washington, DC 20405
Phone: 202 501-1737
RIN: 3090-AD42
BILLING CODE 6820-34-F