[Federal Register: January 15, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 10)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2745-2746]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ja09-49]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52

[FAC 2005-30; FAR Case 2007-016; Item VIII; Docket 2008-0001; Sequence
3]
RIN 9000-AK89


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2007-016, Trade
Agreements--New Thresholds

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 incorporate
increased thresholds for application of the World Trade Organization
Government Procurement Agreement and the Free Trade Agreements, as
determined by the United States Trade Representative.

DATES: Effective Date: January 15, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Meredith Murphy, Procurement
Analyst, at (202) 208-6925, for clarification of content. For
information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the
FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-30, FAR case
2007-016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA published an interim rule in the Federal
Register at 73 FR 10962 on February 28, 2008, to implement the biannual
changes specified by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to
the trade agreements thresholds. A correction was published in the
Federal Register at 73 FR 16747, March 28, 2008.
    No comments were received by the close of the public comment period
on April 28, 2008. Therefore, the Councils agreed to convert the
interim rule to a final rule without change.
    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 Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify 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 dollar threshold
changes are designed to keep pace with inflation and thus maintain the
status quo.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub. L. 104-13) applies because the
final rule contains information collection requirements that affect the
prescriptions for use of the certifications at FAR 52.225-4 (OMB
Control No. 9000-0130) and FAR 52.225-6 (OMB Control No. 9000-0025) and
the clauses at FAR 52.225-9 and 52.225-11 (OMB Control No. 9000-0141),
which contain information collection requirements approved under the
specified OMB control numbers by the Office of Management and Budget
under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. However, there is no impact on the
estimated burden hours, because the threshold changes are in

[[Page 2746]]

line with inflation and maintain the status quo.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 22, 25, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: December 24, 2008
Edward Loeb,
Acting Director, Office of Acquisition Policy.
    Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without Change
    Accordingly, the interim rule amending 48 CFR parts 22, 25, and 52,
which was published at 73 FR 10962 on February 28, 2008, and amended at
73 FR 16747 on March 28, 2008, is adopted as a final rule without
change.
[FR Doc. E9-547 Filed 1-14-09; 8:45 am]

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