Federal Acquisition Regulation; JWOD Subcontract Preference Under Service Contracts

AGENCIES:

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

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement changes relating to preferences for award of subcontracts under service contracts to nonprofit workshops designated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) (41 U.S.C. 48)).

DATES:

Interested parties should submit comments in writing on or before September 1, 2000, to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments to: General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVR), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, ATTN: Laurie Duarte, Washington, DC 20405.

Submit electronic comments via the Internet to: farcase.1999-017@gsa.gov.

Please submit comments only and cite FAR case 1999-017 in all correspondence related to this case.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The FAR Secretariat, Room 4035, GS Building, Washington, DC, 20405, at (202) 501-4755 for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of content, contact Mrs. Linda Nelson, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-1900. Please cite FAR case 1999-017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

The proposed rule amends—

• FAR Part 8 to extend the priority for award of service contracts that will satisfy agency requirements that are available from the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled to subcontracts when contractors purchase the services for Government use;
• FAR part 44 to add purchase from nonprofit workshops designated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled to the list of items a contracting officer must consider when reviewing a subcontract that is subject to the procedures at FAR Subpart 44.2, Consent to Subcontracts; and
• The clause at FAR 52.208-9, Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply, to inform offerors and contractors that certain services to be provided for use by the Government are required by law to be obtained from the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.

These amendments implement changes in the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled regulations (41 CFR 51-5.5(e)).

This rule was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The changes may 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 contains a priority for subcontracts under services contracts with nonprofit workshops designated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.

An Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) has been prepared and will be provided to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy for the Small Business Administration. The analysis is summarized as follows:

The rule implements 41 CFR 51-5.5(e) relating to preferences for award of subcontracts under service contracts to nonprofit workshops designated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (JWOD) (41 U.S.C. 48)). The proposed rule will apply to all large and small entities that seek award of a subcontract under a Government services contract. Although awards of subcontracts to certain small entities may decrease as a result of the rule, the decrease will be offset by an increase in awards to nonprofit workshops. Nonprofit workshops meet the size standards for most acquisitions. Therefore, we do not expect the total number of subcontract awards to small entities to change as a result of this rule.

A copy of the IRFA may be obtained from the FAR Secretariat. The Councils will consider comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR parts 8, 44, and 52 in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Comments must be submitted separately and should cite 5 U.S.C 601, et seq. (FAR case 1999-017), in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the proposed changes to the FAR do not impose 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 8, 44, and 52

• Government procurement

Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA propose that 48 CFR parts 8, 44, and 52 be amended as set forth below:

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 8, 44, and 52 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).

PART 8—REQUIRED SOURCES OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

2. Amend section 8.001 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:

PART 44—SUBCONTRACTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

4. In section 44.202-2, amend the introductory text of paragraph (a) by removing “shall” and adding “must” in its place; and revising paragraph (a)(4) to read as follows:

PART 52—SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

5. In section 52.208-9, revise the section and clause headings, paragraphs (a) and (b), and the second sentence in paragraph (c) to read as follows: