[Federal Register: April 25, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 80)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 24321-24322]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ap00-13]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
48 CFR Parts 25 and 52
[FAC 97-17; FAR Case 2000-003; Item III]
RIN 9000-AI73
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on a final rule
amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the
determination of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to renew
the treatment of Caribbean Basin country end products as eligible
products under the Trade Agreements Act, with the exception of end
products from the Dominican Republic and Honduras.
DATES: Effective Date: April 25, 2000. Applicability Date: The FAR, as
amended by this rule, is applicable to solicitations issued on or after
April 25, 2000.
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 Mr. Paul Linfield, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-
1757. Please cite FAC 97-17, FAR case 2000-003.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
The USTR published a notice in the Federal Register at 65 FR 9038,
February 23, 2000, renewing the treatment of Caribbean Basin country
[[Page 24322]]
end products as eligible products under the Trade Agreements Act, with
the exception of the end products from the Dominican Republic and
Honduras. This rule implements that determination. The prior
determination expired September 30, 1999, except that the determination
regarding the end products of Panama extended until September 30, 2000.
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 final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision
within the meaning of FAR 1.501 and Public Law 98-577, and publication
for public comments is not required. However, the Councils will
consider comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR parts
in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAC 97-17,
FAR case 2000-003), in correspondence.
C. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the 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 25 and 52
Government procurement.
Dated: April 13, 2000.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 25 and 52 as set
forth below:
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 25 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 25--FOREIGN ACQUISITION
2. Revise the definition ``Caribbean Basin country'' in section
25.003 to read as follows:
25.003 Definitions.
* * * * *
Caribbean Basin country means any of the following countries:
Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin
Islands, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama,
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
Trinidad and Tobago.
* * * * *
3. In section 25.400, revise paragraph (a)(2) to read as follows:
25.400 Scope of subpart.
(a) * * *
(2) The Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative (the determination of the
U.S. Trade Representative that end products granted duty-free entry
from countries designated by the President as beneficiaries under the
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2701, et seq.), with
the exception of the Dominican Republic and Honduras, must be treated
as eligible products under the Trade Agreements Act);
* * * * *
4. Revise section 25.404 to read as follows:
25.404 Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative.
Under the Caribbean Basin Trade Initiative, the United States Trade
Representative has determined that, for acquisitions subject to the
Trade Agreements Act, Caribbean Basin country end products must be
treated as eligible products. This determination is effective until
September 30, 2000. The U.S. Trade Representative may extend these
dates through a document in the Federal Register.
PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
52.225-5 [Amended]
5. Amend section 52.225-5 by revising the date of the clause to
read ``(APR 2000)''; and in paragraph (a), in the definition
``Caribbean Basin country'', by removing ``Dominican Republic,'' and
``Honduras,''.
[FR Doc. 00-10133 Filed 4-24-00; 8:45 am]
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