Federal Acquisition Regulation; Application of Special Simplified Procedures to Certain Commercial Items

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council have agreed on a final rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement Section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-106). Section 4202 requires revisions to the FAR to incorporate special simplified procedures for the acquisition of certain commercial items with a value greater than the simplified acquisition threshold ($100,000) but not greater than $5 million. The purpose of this revision is to vest contracting officers with additional procedural discretion, so that commercial item acquisitions in this dollar range may be solicited, offered, evaluated, and awarded in a simplified manner that maximizes efficiency and economy and minimizes burden and administrative costs for both the Government and industry. This regulatory action was not subject to Office of Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866, dated September 30, 1993. This is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.