Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Pollution Control and Clean Air and Water

AGENCY:

Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Director of Defense Procurement has issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to revise and relocate policy on the level of approval required to except a contract from certain restrictions of the Clean Air Act or the Clean Water Act. The policy is moved from the Pollution Control and Clean Air and Water subpart to the Debarment, Suspension, and Ineligibility subpart of the DFARS, because the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart on Pollution Control and Clean Air and Water has been removed.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

August 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Sandra G. Haberlin, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, OUSD(AT&L)DP(DAR), IMD 3D139, 3062 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3062. Telephone (703) 602-0289; telefax (703) 602-0350. Please cite DFARS Case 2000-D004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

On December 27, 1999, Item I of Federal Acquisition Circular 97-15 (64 FR 72415) removed Subpart 23.1, Pollution Control and Clean Air and Water, from the FAR. Subpart 23.1 contained policy pertaining to entities that are ineligible for contract award due to a violation of the Clean Air Act or the Clean Water Act. The FAR text was deemed unnecessary, because contracting officers can use the General Services Administration List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs to ensure that they do not award contracts to ineligible entities. In accordance with Environmental Protection Agency regulations at 40 CFR 32.215(b), FAR Subpart 23.1 permitted an agency head to except a contract from the prohibition on award to a Clean Air Act or Clean Water Act violator if it was in the paramount interest of the United States to do so. DFARS Subpart 223.1 limited delegation of this exception authority to a level no lower than an official who is appointed by and with the advice of the Senate.

This final rule—

1. Removes the text from DFARS Subpart 223.1, since FAR Subpart 23.1 no longer exists; and relocates the text to DFARS 209.405(b), since the corresponding text at FAR 9.405(b) addresses matters relating to entities on the List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs;

2. Retains a limitation on delegation of the exception authority, but lowers the permitted level of delegation to a level no lower than a general or flag officer or a member of the Senior Executive Service; and

3. Designates the text already located at DFARS 209.405 as 209.405(a), and amends the text to clarify that the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 2393 regarding a “compelling reason” determination apply only to the conduct of business with entities that are debarred or suspended.

DoD published a proposed rule at 65 FR 32065 on May 22, 2000. DoD received no public comments on the proposed rule. The proposed rule is converted to a final rule without change.

This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

DoD certifies that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., because the rule pertains only to the exceptional situations where there is a need to conduct business with entities that are debarred or suspended or, because of a violation of the Clean Air Act or the Clean Water Act, are ineligible for award.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the rule does not impose any information collection requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 209 and 223

• Government procurement

Therefore, 48 CFR Parts 209 and 223 are amended as follows:

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Parts 209 and 223 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 41 U.S.C. 421 and 48 CFR Chapter 1.

PART 209—CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

2. Section 209.405 is revised to read as follows:

PART 223—ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY, AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

Subpart 223.1_[Removed]

3. Subpart 223.1 is removed.