[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 1997)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 64913-64914] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-31814] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 48 CFR Part 1 [FAC 97-03; FAR Case 97-014; Item I] RIN 9000-AH77 Federal Acquisition Regulation; Part 30 Deviations AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council have agreed on a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to remove the prohibition against authorizing deviations from certain sections pertinent to cost accounting standards administration. This regulatory action was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993, and is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804. EFFECTIVE DATE: February 9, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The FAR Secretariat, Room 4035, GS Building, Washington, DC 20405, (202) 501-4755, for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of content, contact Ms. Linda Nelson, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501- 1900. Please cite FAC 97-03, FAR case 97-014. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Background This final rule amends FAR 1.402, Policy, to remove the prohibition against authorizing deviations from FAR Part 30 (except for subsections 30.201-3 and 30.201-4, or the Cost Accounting Standards Board (CASB) rules and regulations). This prohibition was added to the FAR when the CASB rules and regulations were added to FAR part 30. Since only the CASB has authority to waive CAS, the FAR part 30 deviation prohibition at FAR 1.402 was added to preclude the granting of a CAS waiver by other than the CASB. The prohibition was intended to apply to the CASB rules and regulations, not to the administration of CAS. Accordingly, the prohibition with respect to certain portions of FAR part 30 is no longer necessary since the CASB rules and [[Page 64914]] regulations have been removed from FAR part 30 and promulgated separately by the CASB in 48 CFR Chapter 99. B. Regulatory Flexibility Act The final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision within the meaning of FAR 1.501 and Pub. L. 98-577, and publication for public comments is not required. However, comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR subpart will be considered in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Such comments must be submitted separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAC 97-03, FAR case 97-014), in correspondence. C. Paperwork Reduction Act The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the change to the FAR does not impose recordkeeping or information collection requirements, or collections of information from offerors, contractors, or members of the public which require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 1 Government procurement. Dated: December 1, 1997. Edward C. Loeb, Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division. Therefore, 48 CFR part 1 is amended as set forth below: PART 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION SYSTEM 1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 1 continues to read as follows: Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 U.S.C. 2473(c). 2. Section 1.402 is amended by revising the penultimate sentence to read as follows: 1.402 Policy. * * * Deviations are not authorized with respect to 30.201-3 and 30.201-4, or the requirements of the Cost Accounting Standards Board (CASB) rules and regulations (48 CFR Chapter 99 (FAR Appendix)). * * * [FR Doc. 97-31814 Filed 12-8-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P