[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 251 (Tuesday, December 31, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 80379-80381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31151]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52
[FAC 2005-72; FAR Case 2013-021; Item IV; Docket No. 2013-0021,
Sequence No. 1]
RIN 9000-AM67
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Trade Agreements Thresholds
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to incorporate revised thresholds
for application of the World Trade Organization Government Procurement
Agreement and the Free Trade Agreements, as determined by the United
States Trade Representative.
DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cecelia L. Davis, Procurement
Analyst, at 202-219-0202 for clarification of content. For information
pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory
Secretariat at 202-501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-72, FAR case 2013-
021.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Every two years, the trade agreements thresholds are adjusted
according to a pre-determined formula under the agreements. These
thresholds become effective on January 1, 2014. On December 18, 2013
(78 FR 76700), the United States Trade Representative published new
procurement thresholds. The United States Trade Representative has
specified the following new thresholds:
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Supply contract Service contract Construction
Trade agreement (equal to or (equal to or contract (equal
exceeding) exceeding) to or exceeding)
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WTO GPA................................................ $204,000 $204,000 $7,864,000
FTAs:
Australia FTA...................................... 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Bahrain FTA........................................ 204,000 204,000 10,335,931
CAFTA-DR (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua).....
Chile FTA.......................................... 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Colombia FTA....................................... 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Korea FTA.......................................... 100,000 100,000 7,864,000
Morocco FTA........................................ 204,000 204,000 7,864,000
NAFTA:
--Canada........................................... 25,000 79,507 10,335,931
--Mexico........................................... 79,507 79,507 10,335,931
Oman FTA........................................... 204,000 204,000 10,335,931
Panama FTA......................................... 204,000 204,000 7,864,000
Peru FTA........................................... 204,000 204,000 7,864,000
Singapore FTA...................................... 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Israeli Trade Act...................................... 50,000 ................. .................
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II. Discussion and Analysis
This final rule implements the new thresholds in FAR subpart 25.4,
Trade Agreements, and other sections in the FAR that include trade
agreements thresholds (i.e., 22.1503, 25.202, 25.603, 25.1101, and
25.1102).
In addition, changes are required to the clauses 52.204-8, Annual
Representations and Certifications, and 52.222-19, Child Labor--
Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies, with conforming changes to
the clause dates in 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to
Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items, and 52.213-4,
Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial
Items).
III. Publication of This Final Rule for Public Comment Is Not Required
by Statute
``Publication of proposed regulations,'' 41 U.S.C. 1707, is the
statute which applies to the publication of the Federal Acquisition
Regulation. 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 adjusts the thresholds according to pre-determined
formula to adjust for changes in economic conditions, thus maintaining
the status quo, without significant effect beyond the internal
operating procedures of the Government.
[[Page 80380]]
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. This rule is not a major rule
under 5 U.S.C. 804.
V. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to this rule because
this final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision and 41
U.S.C. 1707 does not require publication for public comment.
VI. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) does apply,
because the final rule affects the prescriptions for use of the
certification and information collection requirements in the provisions
at 52.225-4 (OMB Control No. 9000-0130, Buy American Act--Free Trade
Agreement--Israeli Trade Certificate), and 52.225-6 (OMB Control No.
9000-0025, Trade Agreements Certificate), and the clauses at 52.225-9,
52.225-11, 52.225-21, and 52.225-23 (OMB Control No. 9000-0141, Buy
American--Construction) respectively. However, there is no impact on
the estimated burden hours, because the threshold changes are in line
with inflation and maintain the status quo.
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52
Government procurement.
Dated: December 19, 2013.
William Clark,
Acting 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 22, 25, and 52 as
set forth below:
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 22, 25, 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 22--APPLICATION OF LABOR LAWS TO GOVERNMENT ACQUISITIONS
22.1503 [Amended]
0
2. Amend section 22.1503 by removing from paragraph (b)(1) ``Subpart''
and adding ``subpart'' in its place.
0
3. Amend section 22.1503 by removing from paragraph (b)(3) ``$77,494''
and ``Subpart'', and adding ``$79,507'' and ``subpart'' in its place,
respectively.
0
4. Amend section 22.1503 by removing from paragraph (b)(4) ``$202,000''
and adding ``$204,000'' in its place.
PART 25--FOREIGN ACQUISITION
25.202 [Amended]
0
5. Amend section 25.202 by removing from paragraph (c) ``$7,777,000''
and ``Subpart'', and adding ``$7,864,000'' and ``subpart'' in its
place, respectively.
0
6. Amend section 25.402 by revising the table in paragraph (b) to read
as follows:
25.402 General.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
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Supply contract Service contract Construction
Trade agreement (equal to or (equal to or contract (equal
exceeding) exceeding) to or exceeding)
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WTO GPA................................................ $204,000 $204,000 $7,864,000
FTAs:
Australia FTA...................................... 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Bahrain FTA........................................ 204,000 204,000 10,335,931
CAFTA-DR (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua).....
Chile FTA.......................................... 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Colombia FTA....................................... 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Korea FTA.......................................... 100,000 100,000 7,864,000
Morocco FTA........................................ 204,000 204,000 7,864,000
NAFTA:
--Canada........................................... 25,000 79,507 10,335,931
--Mexico........................................... 79,507 79,507 10,335,931
Oman FTA........................................... 204,000 204,000 10,335,931
Panama FTA......................................... 204,000 204,000 7,864,000
Peru FTA........................................... 204,000 204,000 7,864,000
Singapore FTA...................................... 79,507 79,507 7,864,000
Israeli Trade Act...................................... 50,000 ................. .................
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25.603 [Amended]
0
7. Amend section 25.603 by removing from paragraph (c)(1)
``$7,777,000'' and adding ``$7,864,000'' in its place.
25.1101 [Amended]
0
8. Amend section 25.1101 by--
0
a. Removing from paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) ``$202,000'' and adding
``$204,000'' in its place;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (b)(1)(iii) ``$77,494'' and adding
``$79,507'' in its place;
0
c. Removing from paragraph (b)(1)(iv) ``$77,494'' and adding
``$79,507'' in its place;
0
d. Removing from paragraph (b)(2)(iii) ``$77,494'' and adding
``$79,507'' in its place;
0
e. Removing from paragraph (b)(2)(iv) ``$77,494'' and adding
``$79,507'' in its place;
0
f. Removing from paragraph (c)(1) ``$202,000'' and ``Subpart'', and
adding
[[Page 80381]]
``$204,000'' and ``subpart'' in its place, respectively; and
0
g. Removing from paragraph (d) ``$202,000'' and adding ``$204,000'' in
its place.
25.1102 [Amended]
0
9. Amend section 25.1102 by--
0
a. Removing from the introductory text of paragraph (a) ``$7,777,000''
and adding ``$7,864,000'' in its place;
0
b. Removing from the introductory text of paragraph (c) ``$7,777,000''
and adding ``$7,864,000'' in its place;
0
c. Removing from paragraph (c)(3) ``$7,777,000'' and ``$10,074,262'',
and adding ``$7,864,000'' and ``$10,335,931'' in its place,
respectively; and
0
d. Removing from paragraph (d)(3) ``$7,777,000'' and ``$10,074,262'',
and adding ``$7,864,000'' and ``$10,335,931'' in its place,
respectively.
PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
0
10. Amend section 52.204-8 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (c)(1)(xvii)(C) ``$77,494'' and adding
``$79,507 in its place; and
0
c. Removing from (c)(1)(xvii)(D) ``$77,494'' and adding ``$79,507'' in
its place.
The revised text reads as follows:
52.204-8 Annual Representations and Certifications.
* * * * *
Annual Representations and Certifications (DEC 2013)
* * * * *
0
11. Amend section 52.212-5 by revising the date of the clause and
paragraph (b)(27) to read as follows:
52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes
or Executive Orders--Commercial Items.
* * * * *
Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or
Executive Orders--Commercial Items (DEC 2013)
* * * * *
(b) * * *
--(27) 52.222-19, Child Labor--Cooperation with Authorities and
Remedies (DEC 2013) ERT Abbreviated Month and Year of Publication in
the Federal Register]) (E.O. 13126).
* * * * *
0
12. Amend section 52.213-4 by revising the date of the clause and
paragraph (b)(1)(ii) to read as follows:
52.213-4 Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than
Commercial Items).
* * * * *
Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial
Items) (DEC 2013)
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(ii) 52.222-19, Child Labor--Cooperation with Authorities and
Remedies (DEC 2013) (E.O. 13126). (Applies to contracts for supplies
exceeding the micro-purchase threshold.)
* * * * *
0
13. Amend section 52.222-19 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (a)(3) ``$77,494'' and adding ``$79,507'' in
its place; and
0
c. Removing from paragraph (a)(4) ``$202,000'' and adding ``$204,000''
in its place.
The revised text reads as follows:
52.222-19 Child Labor--Cooperation With Authorities and Remedies.
* * * * *
Child Labor--Cooperation With Authorities and Remedies (DEC 2013)
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2013-31151 Filed 12-30-13; 8:45 am]
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