Office of Procurement and Property Management; Agriculture Acquisition Regulation, Labor Law Violations; Withdrawal

Due to the receipt of an adverse comment, the Office of Procurement and Property Management (OPPM) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing the December 1, 2011, (76 FR 74722) direct final rule adding a new clause to the Agriculture Acquisition Regulation at subpart 422.70 entitled "Labor Law Violations" that would have a contractor certify upon accepting a contract that it is in compliance with all applicable labor laws and that, to the best of its knowledge, its subcontractors of any tier, and suppliers, are also in compliance with all applicable labor laws. The Department stated that in the event of an adverse comment being received by January 30, 2012, the direct final rule would be withdrawn in part or in whole. On January 27, 2012, USDA received a comment. USDA interprets this comment as adverse and, therefore, USDA is withdrawing the direct final rule.