[Federal Register: October 1, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 190)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56679-56680]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01oc03-20]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
48 CFR Part 4
[FAC 2001-16; FAR Case 2002-025; Item III]
RIN 9000-AJ70
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Unique Contract and Order
Identifier Numbers
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to issue an
interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to
require that Federal agencies assign a unique identifier for every
contract, purchase order, BOA, Basic Agreement, and BPA reported to the
Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). Agencies must be
[[Page 56680]]
in compliance with this requirement no later than October 1, 2003, when
the next generation of FPDS, ``FPDS-NG,'' becomes operational.
DATES: Effective Date: October 1, 2003.
Comment Date: Interested parties should submit comments to the FAR
Secretariat at the address shown below on or before October 31, 2003,
to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to--General Services Administration,
FAR Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Attn: Ms. Laurie
Duarte, Washington, DC 20405.
Submit electronic comments via the Internet to--farcase.2002-025@gsa.gov.
Please submit comments only and cite FAC 2001-16, FAR case 2002-
025, in all correspondence related to this case.
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. Gerald Zaffos, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 208-
6091. Please cite FAC 2001-16, FAR case 2002-025.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
The Federal Government is modernizing its procurement data
collection system, the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). As part
of this modernization process, agencies are being asked to establish
and use a unique contract and order identification number scheme for
the information reported to FPDS. These unique identifiers will help to
improve the quality of information FPDS makes available to agencies for
managing their programs and to the public for better understanding how
taxpayer funds are spent.
Therefore, the FAR is being amended at 4.602 to add a paragraph
requiring that each agency that reports to the FPDS have in place no
later than October 1, 2003, a process that will ensure that each
procurement instrument identifier reported to FPDS is unique,
Governmentwide, and will remain so for at least 20 years from the date
of contract award; and to require that agencies submit their proposed
identifier to the Federal Procurement Data Center, which will maintain
a registry of identifiers and validate their use in all transactions.
The agency's identifier must comply with the contract numbering
guidelines established by the Joint Financial Management Improvement
Project (JFMIP). Delivery orders, task orders, and call numbers must be
unique in combination with the basic reference contract vehicle
identifier. When the basic reference contract is available for multi-
agency use, an ordering agency must use the same agency identification
prefix for its delivery orders, task orders, and call numbers as it
uses for its contractual instruments. Agencies may submit their proposed identifier to john.cochran@gsa.gov. Agencies are encouraged to
submit their proposed identifier as soon as possible. If an agency is
not in compliance by October 1, 2003 (i.e., the date FPDS-NG becomes
operational), FPDS-NG will reject the agency's reports.
This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not
subject to 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 Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., does not
apply because the rule applies to the internal process of Federal
agencies. An Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has, therefore,
not been prepared.
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.
D. Determination To Issue an Interim Rule
There is no requirement to publish this rule for public comment, as
it is not a significant FAR revision. This rule simply requires that
agencies assign a unique identifier for contracts, purchase orders, and
agreements reported to the FPDS. Even though not required to do so, the
Councils would, nevertheless, like to obtain public comments and are
issuing this rule as an interim rule with request for comments.
Pursuant to Public Law 8-577 and FAR 1.501, the Councils will consider
public comments received in response to this interim rule in the
formation of the final rule.
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 4
Government procurement.
Dated: September 24, 2003.
Laura G. Auletta,
Director, Acquisition Policy Division.
0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR part 4 as set forth below:
PART 4--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 4 is revised to read as
follows:
Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42
U.S.C. 2473(c).
0
2. Amend section 4.602 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:
4.602 Federal Procurement Data System.
* * * * *
(e) Unique Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID). (1) The FPDS
requires that each reporting agency assign a unique identifier for
every contract, purchase order, BOA, Basic Agreement, and BPA reported
to FPDS. Such identifiers shall comply with the contract numbering
guidelines established by the Joint Financial Management Improvement
Project. The PIID shall consist of alpha characters in the first
positions to indicate the agency, followed by alphanumeric characters
identifying bureau, offices, or other administrative subdivisions. The
last portion of the PIID shall be numbered sequentially. The PIID may
include other elements, as appropriate, such as fiscal year. Delivery
orders, task orders, and call numbers must be unique in combination
with the basic reference contract vehicle identifier. When the basic
reference contract is available for multi-agency use (GWAC, Federal
Supply Schedule contract, etc.), an ordering agency shall use the same
agency identification prefix for its delivery orders, task orders, and
call numbers as it uses for its contractual instruments.
(2) Agencies are required to have in place, no later than October
1, 2003, a process that will ensure that each PIID reported to FPDS is
unique, Governmentwide, and will remain so for at least 20 years from
the date of contract award. To eliminate the possibility of duplication
between agencies, agencies must submit their proposed identifier to the
Federal Procurement Data Center, which will maintain a registry of the
identifiers on the FPDC website and validate their use in all
transactions.
[FR Doc. 03-24584 Filed 9-30-03; 8:45 am]