[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 59799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24173]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
48 CFR Chapters 1, 2, and 5
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Federal Acquisition Regulation
Supplements; Contract Closeout
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense
Acquisition Regulations Council are requesting comments from both
Government and industry on how the Federal Acquisition Regulation
(FAR), Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS), and General Services
Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) can be revised to
facilitate timely contract closeout.
DATES: Comments are due on or before November 25, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments to:
General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F Street,
NW., Room 4035, ATTN: Laurie Duarte, Washington, DC 20405.
Address e-mail comments submitted via the Internet to:
[email protected].
Please cite ANPR Contract Closeout in all correspondence related to
this issue.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rick Layser at (703) 602-0293.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Although the vast majority of contracts are
generally closed timely, there is a backlog of contracts that have not
been closed out within the timeframes required by FAR 4.804, Closeout
of contract files. The Department of Defense has analyzed the contract
closeout process to identify obstacles to timely contract closeout.
Many causes of the backlog have been identified and are being focused
upon. Some of the causes include process related delays like late
submittal of final vouchers, final price redetermination proposals,
royalty/patents submittals and approvals, final audits, overhead rate
negotiations, disposition of Government property and classified
materials; other causes include lack of contract funding and agency
resources.
In this advance notice of proposed rulemaking we are seeking input
on whether any FAR, DFARS, or GSAR requirements can be considered for
change to help facilitate the contract closeout process. In order to
ensure that the FAR, DFARS, and GSAR do not unduly impede timely
closeout of contracts, an interagency team has been established that
will review the FAR, DFARS, and GSAR relating to contract closeout to
determine what changes, if any, can be made to facilitate timely
contract closeout. FAR, DFARS, and GSAR requirements relating to
contract closeout that are not required by statute, not needed to
ensure adequately standardized Government business practices, or not
needed to protect the public interest will be considered for revision
or elimination.
Dated: September 18, 2002.
Al Matera,
Director, Acquisition Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 02-24173 Filed 9-23-02; 8:45 am]
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