80 FR 75908 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Updating Federal Contractor Reporting of Veterans' Employment

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 233 (December 4, 2015)

Page Range		75908-75911
FR Document		2015-30458
DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a final rule issued by the Department of Labor's (DOL) Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), which replaced the VETS-100 and VETS-100A Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report forms with the new VETS-4212, Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report form.
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 233 (Friday, December 4, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 233 (Friday, December 4, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75908-75911]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30458]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 1, 22, and 52

[FAC 2005-85; FAR Case 2015-036; Item III; Docket No. 2015-0036, 
Sequence No. 1]
RIN 9000-AN14


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Updating Federal Contractor 
Reporting of Veterans' Employment

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Interim rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing an interim rule amending the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a final rule issued 
by the Department of Labor's (DOL) Veterans' Employment and Training 
Service (VETS), which replaced the VETS-100 and VETS-100A Federal 
Contractor Veterans' Employment Report forms with the new VETS-4212, 
Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report form.

DATES: Effective: February 26, 2016.
    Applicability: This rule applies to (1) solicitations and contracts 
awarded on or after the effective date; and (2) modifications on or 
after the effective date to existing contracts, if the contracts are 
otherwise being modified.
    Comment date: Interested parties should submit written comments to 
the Regulatory Secretariat on or before February 2, 2016 to be 
considered in the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by FAC 2005-85, FAR Case 2015-
036, by any of the following methods:
     Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for ``FAR Case 
2015-036'' Select the link ``Comment Now'' that corresponds with ``FAR 
Case 2015-036''. Follow the instructions provided at the ``Comment 
Now'' screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and 
``FAR Case 2015-036'' on your attached document.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., 2nd floor, 
Washington, DC 20405.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAC 2005-85, FAR 
Case 2015-036, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments 
received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal and/or business confidential information 
provided. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check 
www.regulations.gov, approximately two to three days after submission 
to verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments 
submitted by mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Edward Loeb, Procurement Analyst, 
at 202-501-0650 for clarification of content. For information 
pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory 
Secretariat at 202-501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-85, FAR Case 2015-
036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing an interim rule amending the FAR to 
implement a final rule issued by VETS of the DOL that was published in 
the Federal Register at 79 FR 57463 on September 25, 2014, which 
rescinded the regulations at 41 CFR part 61-250 and revised the 
regulations at 41 CFR part 61-300, which implemented the reporting 
requirements under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance 
Act, as amended (VEVRAA) and the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA) (Pub. L. 
107-288). VEVRAA requires Federal contractors and subcontractors to 
annually report on the total number of their employees who belong to 
the categories of veterans protected under VEVRAA, as amended by the 
JVA, and the total number of those protected veterans who were hired 
during the period covered by the report. One of the main purposes of 
the DOL's rule was to revise the reporting requirement applicable to 
Government and

[[Page 75909]]

subcontracts over the simplified acquisition threshold by changing the 
manner in which Federal contractors report on their employment of 
veterans. DOL's final rule changed the name of the annual report 
required under those regulations to the Federal Contractor Veterans' 
Employment Report VETS-4212. Additionally, the FAR rule incorporates 
the revisions to certain definitions, the text of the reporting 
requirements clause included in Government contracts and subcontracts, 
and the methods of filing the annual report on veterans' employment 
covered by the new form. The VETS rule requires contractors and 
subcontractors to comply with its revised reporting requirements 
beginning with the annual report filed in 2015.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    A. The VETS rule accomplished a number of revisions to the VEVRAA 
implementing regulations including the following:
    1. Rescinded the regulations at 41 CFR part 61-250 that prescribed 
the reporting requirements applicable to Government contracts and 
subcontracts entered into before December 1, 2003 because those 
regulations were obsolete.
    2. Changed the manner in which Federal contractors report on their 
employment of veterans. The previous VETS-100 and VETS-100A Reports did 
not ask contractors to provide the total number of protected veterans 
in their workforces nor who were hired during the reporting period. 
VETS found it would be preferable for contractors to report the total 
number of protected veterans employed and hired rather than the total 
number of veterans protected under each job category. Such data better 
assists contractors in complying with their affirmative action 
obligations under VEVRAA and in monitoring the success of their 
recruitment and outreach efforts to attract protected veterans. 
Accordingly, VETS revised the manner in which employment and hiring of 
protected veterans is reported.
    3. Updated definitions. A previous rulemaking by DOL's Office of 
Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) that was published in the 
Federal Register at 78 FR 58614 on September 24, 2013, updated the 
requirements pertaining to affirmative action and nondiscrimination 
obligations of contractors and subcontractors regarding special 
disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam Era, disabled veterans, 
recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge 
veterans, and armed forces service medal veterans. The OFCCP rule 
updated appropriate terms for protected categories of veterans by 
defining ``active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran'' and 
``protected veteran'' and rendering obsolete the term ``other protected 
veteran''. A prior FAR rule that implemented the OFCCP rule that was 
published in the Federal Register at 79 FR 43575 on July 25, 2014, 
adopted these updated terms at FAR 22.1301, Definitions, and in the FAR 
subpart 22.13 prescribed clauses at 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for 
Veterans, and 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans. The VETS rule 
has adopted the updated terms from the OFCCP rule and has made 
conforming revisions.
    4. Renamed the required annual report the ``Federal Contractor 
Veterans' Employment Report VETS-4212'' and updated methods of filing 
the report.
    B. Following are the revisions required to the FAR text that 
implements the VEVRAA reporting requirements, as amended, in FAR 
subpart 22.13, the clause at 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans, 
and related clauses:
    1. FAR 22.1300, Scope of subpart. Removes the reference to the 
rescinded regulation at 41 CFR part 61-250.
    2. FAR 22.1302, Policy; 22.1303, Applicability; 22.1304, 
Procedures; and 22.1306, Department of Labor notices and reports. 
Updates the title of the report from VETS-100 or VETS-100A to VETS-4212 
in FAR 22.1302 through FAR 22.1304. Additionally, updates terms, 
instructional language, and internet links in FAR 22.1304 and 22.1306.
    3. FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to 
Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items. Updates the 
currency of clause dates.
    4. FAR 52.213-4, Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions 
(Other Than Commercial Items). Updates the currency of clause dates.
    5. FAR 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans. Revises language 
in the clause to alphabetically order terms and conform to terms 
defined in FAR 22.1301, and provides updated instructional language and 
internet links.
    6. FAR 52.222-38, Compliance with Veterans' Employment Reporting 
Requirements. Updates language and the VETS-4212 form number.
    7. FAR 52.244-6, Subcontracts for Commercial Items. Updates the 
currency of clause dates.
    C. This interim rule updates the OMB Control Numbers in FAR 1.106, 
OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The information 
collections imposed by VEVRAA as amended, and the VEVRAA reporting 
requirements are managed by Department of Labor's Office of Federal 
Contract Compliance Programs and VETS and are cited in the FAR.

III. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess 
all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 
13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, 
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. 
This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 
subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning 
and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule 
under 5 U.S.C. 804.

IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The change is not expected to 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. The Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) is summarized as follows:

    This interim rule is being issued to implement changes to 41 CFR 
parts 61-250 and 61-300 that were published in the Federal Register 
at 79 FR 57463 on September 25, 2014, by the Veterans' Employment 
and Training Service (VETS) of the Department of Labor (DOL).
    The VETS rule revises the current regulations implementing 38 
U.S.C. 4212. The VETS rule rescinded obsolete regulations at 41 CFR 
part 61-250, changed the manner in which Federal contractors report 
veterans' employment data, updated terminology, and revised the 
annual report, the report name, and methods of filing the report.
    VETS used data in the VETS-100/100A Reporting System regarding 
reports on veterans' employment filed in 2012 to estimate the number 
of small entities that would be subject to its rule. The VETS rule 
applies to any industry represented by a Federal contractor with a 
contract of $100,000 or more. Therefore, VETS used the Small 
Business Administration's ``fewer than 500 employees'' limit when 
making an across-the-board size standard classification for 
estimating purposes. VETS estimated that 15,000 Federal contractors 
will be subject to the reporting requirements of the rule and of 
that, VETS approximated that the number of small entities that would 
be subject to the rule would be 8,000 (approximately 53 percent of 
the total Federal contractors impacted by the rule).
    This FAR rule does not add any new reporting, recordkeeping, or 
other

[[Page 75910]]

compliance burdens. The FAR rule makes contracting officers and 
contractors aware of the VETS reporting requirements.
    The rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other 
Federal rules.
    DoD, GSA, and NASA are not aware of any significant alternatives 
to the rule which would accomplish the stated objectives of 
implementing the VETS final rule, while minimizing impact on small 
entities. DoD, GSA, and NASA do not have the flexibility of making 
any changes to the VETS rule, which has already been published for 
public comment and has taken effect as a final rule. There is no 
significant impact on small entities imposed by the FAR rule.

    The Regulatory Secretariat has submitted a copy of the IRFA to the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. A copy 
of the IRFA may be obtained from the Regulatory Secretariat. DoD, GSA, 
and NASA invite comments from small business concerns and other 
interested parties on the expected impact of this rule on small 
entities.
    DoD, GSA, and NASA will also consider comments from small entities 
concerning the existing regulations in subparts affected by the rule in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such 
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (FAR Case 2015-036), 
in correspondence.

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) applies. The 
rule contains information collection requirements that are subject to 
review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. 
However, the applicable information collections are derived from the 
requirements of the 41 CFR part 61-300 regulations implementing the 
reporting requirements under VEVRAA; see detailed discussion in DOL's 
rule under the Paperwork Reduction Act section which was published in 
the Federal Register at 79 FR 57463 on September 25, 2014. OMB assigned 
OMB Control Numbers 1250-0004, OFCCP Recordkeeping and Reporting 
Requirements, 38 U.S.C. 4212, Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment 
Assistance Act of 1974, as amended, and 1293-0005, Federal Contractor 
Veterans' Employment Report.

V. Determination To Issue an Interim Rule

    A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary 
of Defense (DoD), the Administrator of General Services (GSA), and the 
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this 
interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. This action 
is necessary as the effective date of the VETS final rule was October 
27, 2014. Contractors and subcontractors are required to comply with 
the new reporting requirements beginning with their annual report filed 
in 2015, which for some contractors and subcontractors is after 
September 30, 2015. Any further delays in implementing this rule may 
impact contractors' and subcontractors' ability to comply with the new 
reporting requirements. The effective date is set as February 26, 2016, 
to allow the Government to conform its procurement database. However, 
pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1707 and FAR 1.501-3(b), DoD, GSA, and NASA will 
consider public comments received in response to this interim rule in 
the formation of the final rule.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1, 22, and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: November 20, 2015.
William Clark,
Director, Office of Government-wide Acquisition Policy, Office of 
Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy.

    Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 1, 22, and 52 as 
set forth below:

0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 1, 22, and 52 continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 51 
U.S.C. 20113.

PART 1--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM


1.106  [Amended]

0
2. Amend section 1.106 in the table following the introductory text, 
by--
0
a. Removing FAR Segment ``22.13'' and its corresponding OMB Control 
Number ``1293-0005 and 1250-0004'';
0
b. Removing FAR Segment ``52.222-37'' and its corresponding OMB Control 
Number ``1293-0005''; and
0
c. Adding, in numerical sequence, FAR segments ``52.222-37'' and 
``52.222-38'' and their corresponding OMB Control Numbers ``1250-0004 
and 1293-0005'' in their places, respectively.

PART 22--APPLICATION OF LABOR LAWS TO GOVERNMENT ACQUISITIONS

0
3. Amend section 22.1300 by revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:


22.1300  Scope of subpart.

* * * * *
    (e) The regulations of the Secretary of Labor (41 CFR parts 60-300 
and 61-300).

0
4. Amend section 22.1302 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows.


22.1302  Policy.

* * * * *
    (b) Except for contracts for commercial items or contracts that do 
not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers 
must not obligate or expend funds appropriated for the agency for a 
fiscal year to enter into a contract for the procurement of personal 
property and nonpersonal services (including construction) with a 
contractor that has not submitted the required annual VETS-4212, 
Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report (VETS-4212 Report), with 
respect to the preceding fiscal year if the contractor was subject to 
the reporting requirements of 38 U.S.C. 4212(d) for that fiscal year.


22.1303  [Amended]

0
5. Amend section 22.1303 by removing from paragraph (c) ``VETS-100A'' 
and adding ``VETS-4212'' in its place.

0
6. Revise section 22.1304 to read as follows.


22.1304  Procedures.

    To verify if a proposed contractor is current with its submission 
of the VETS-4212 Report, the contracting officer may--
    (a) Query the Department of Labor's VETS-4212 Database via the 
Internet at http://www.dol.gov/vets/vets4212.htm under ``Filing 
Verification''; and
    (b) Contact the VETS-4212 customer support via email at [email protected] for confirmation, if the proposed contractor 
represents that it has submitted the VETS-4212 Report and is not listed 
on the verification file.

0
7. Amend section 22.1306 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows.


22.1306  Department of Labor notices and reports.

* * * * *
    (b) The Act requires contractors and subcontractors to submit a 
report at least annually to the Secretary of Labor regarding employment 
of protected veterans (i.e., active duty wartime or campaign badge 
veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans, disabled veterans, and 
recently separated veterans, unless all of the terms of the clause at 
52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans, have been waived see

[[Page 75911]]

22.1305). The contractor and subcontractor must file VETS-4212, Federal 
Contractor Veterans' Employment Report (see ``VETS-4212 Federal 
Contractor Reporting'' and ``Filing Your VETS-4212 Report'' at http://www.dol.gov/vets/vets4212.htm).

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
8. Amend section 52.212-5 by revising the date of the clause and 
paragraphs (b)(31) and (e)(1)(viii) to read as follows:


52.212-5  Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes 
or Executive Orders--Commercial Items.

* * * * *

Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or 
Executive Orders--Commercial Items (FEB 2016)

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (31) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016) (38 
U.S.C. 4212).
* * * * *
    (e)(1) * * *
    (viii) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016) (38 
U.S.C. 4212).
* * * * *

0
9. Amend section 52.213-4 by revising the date of clause and paragraphs 
(a)(2)(viii) and (b)(1)(vi) to read as follows:


52.213-4  Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than 
Commercial Items).

* * * * *

Terms and Conditions--Simplified Acquisitions (Other Than Commercial 
Items) (FEB 2016)

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (viii) 52.244-6, Subcontracts for Commercial Items (FEB 2016).
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (vi) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016) (38 
U.S.C. 4212) (Applies to contracts of $150,000 or more).
* * * * *

0
10. Amend section 52.222-37 by--
0
a. Revising the date of the clause;
0
b. Revising paragraphs (a), (b)(1), (b)(2), and (c);
0
c. Removing from paragraph (d) ``submit VETS-100A'' and adding ``file 
VETS-4212'' in its place; and
0
d. Removing from paragraph (f) ``VETS-100A'' and adding ``VETS-4212'' 
in its place.
    The revisions read as follows.


52.222-37  Employment Reports on Veterans.

* * * * *

Employment Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016)

    (a) Definitions. As used in this clause, ``active duty wartime 
or campaign badge veteran,'' ``Armed Forces service medal veteran,'' 
``disabled veteran,'' ``protected veteran,'' and ``recently 
separated veteran,'' have the meanings given in FAR 22.1301.
    (b) * * *
    (1) The total number of employees in the contractor's workforce, 
by job category and hiring location, who are protected veterans 
(i.e., active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, Armed Forces 
service medal veterans, disabled veterans, and recently separated 
veterans);
    (2) The total number of new employees hired during the period 
covered by the report, and of the total, the number of protected 
veterans (i.e., active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, 
Armed Forces service medal veterans, disabled veterans, and recently 
separated veterans); and
* * * * *
    (c) The Contractor shall report the above items by filing the 
VETS-4212 ``Federal Contractor Veterans' Employment Report'' (see 
``VETS-4212 Federal Contractor Reporting'' and ``Filing Your VETS-
4212 Report'' at http://www.dol.gov/vets/vets4212.htm).
* * * * *

0
11. Amend section 52.222-38 by revising the date of the provision and 
removing from the last sentence ``submitted the most recent VETS-100A'' 
and adding ``filed the most recent VETS-4212'' in its place.
    The revision reads as follows.


52.222-38  Compliance With Veterans' Employment Reporting Requirements.

* * * * *

Compliance With Veterans' Employment Reporting Requirements (FEB 2016)

* * * * *

0
12. Amend section 52.244-6 by revising the date of the clause and 
paragraph (c)(1)(viii) to read as follows.


52.244-6  Subcontracts for Commercial Items.

* * * * *

Subcontracts for Commercial Items (FEB 2016)

* * * * *
    (c)(1) * * *
    (viii) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016) (38 
U.S.C. 4212).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2015-30458 Filed 12-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P
75908 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 233 / Friday, December 4, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

prohibit discrimination in Federal Dated: November 20, 2015. 2015–036, by any of the following
Government procurement by adding sexual William Clark, methods:
orientation and gender identity to the Director, Office of Government-wide • Regulations.gov: http://
prohibited bases of discrimination Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition www.regulations.gov. Submit comments
established by E.O. 11246. Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy. via the Federal eRulemaking portal by
No public comments were submitted in
response to the initial regulatory flexibility Interim Rule Adopted as Final Without searching for ‘‘FAR Case 2015–036’’
analysis. Therefore, there were no issues to Change Select the link ‘‘Comment Now’’ that
assess and no changes were made to the corresponds with ‘‘FAR Case 2015–
interim rule. Accordingly, the interim rule 036’’. Follow the instructions provided
The rule will apply to all contracts and amending 48 CFR parts 1, 22, and 52, at the ‘‘Comment Now’’ screen. Please
subcontracts subject to the Equal which was published in the Federal include your name, company name (if
Opportunity FAR clause 52.222–26, which is Register at 80 FR 19504 on April 10, any), and ‘‘FAR Case 2015–036’’ on your
prescribed for all contracts over $10,000 that 2015, is adopted as final without attached document.
are not completely exempted. Using Fiscal change. • Mail: General Services
Year 2013 Federal Procurement Data System [FR Doc. 2015–30457 Filed 12–3–15; 8:45 am] Administration, Regulatory Secretariat
and Federal Subcontract Reporting System (MVCB), ATTN: Ms. Flowers, 1800 F
BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P
data it is estimated that awards were made
Street NW., 2nd floor, Washington, DC
to 168,758 unique small businesses and that
subcontracts were awarded to 61,816 unique
20405.
small businesses. It is noted that there is DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Instructions: Please submit comments
likely a good measure of overlap between the only and cite FAC 2005–85, FAR Case
unique small businesses that receive Federal
GENERAL SERVICES 2015–036, in all correspondence related
awards and those that receive subcontract ADMINISTRATION to this case. All comments received will
awards resulting in a likely overestimated be posted without change to http://
total of 230,574. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND www.regulations.gov, including any
Recordkeeping and reporting requirements SPACE ADMINISTRATION personal and/or business confidential
involve regulatory familiarization and information provided. To confirm
administrative costs associated with 48 CFR Parts 1, 22, and 52 receipt of your comment(s), please
incorporating revised language into policies, check www.regulations.gov,
instructions, notices to employees, and [FAC 2005–85; FAR Case 2015–036;
subcontracts. Other changes made by the Item III; Docket No. 2015–0036, Sequence approximately two to three days after
rule, such as the prohibition of segregation of No. 1] submission to verify posting (except
facilities are expected to have only minimal allow 30 days for posting of comments
RIN 9000–AN14
cost impacts as they do not require submitted by mail).
modification or construction of additional Federal Acquisition Regulation; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
facilities, but rather to provide equal access Updating Federal Contractor Reporting Edward Loeb, Procurement Analyst, at
to existing facilities. An analysis of estimated 202–501–0650 for clarification of
of Veterans’ Employment
costs of the regulatory changes was prepared content. For information pertaining to
for the DOL final rule, which published in AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD),
the Federal Register at 79 FR 72985 on
status or publication schedules, contact
General Services Administration (GSA), the Regulatory Secretariat at 202–501–
December 09, 2014.
and National Aeronautics and Space 4755. Please cite FAC 2005–85, FAR
No significant alternatives to the rule were
identified that would accomplish the stated
Administration (NASA). Case 2015–036.
objectives of the E.O. and the DOL ACTION: Interim rule. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
implementing regulations. Every effort has
been made to minimize the burdens imposed. SUMMARY: DoD, GSA, and NASA are I. Background
issuing an interim rule amending the DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing an
Interested parties may obtain a copy Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to interim rule amending the FAR to
of the FRFA from the Regulatory implement a final rule issued by the implement a final rule issued by VETS
Secretariat. The Regulatory Secretariat Department of Labor’s (DOL) Veterans’ of the DOL that was published in the
has submitted a copy of the FRFA to the Employment and Training Service Federal Register at 79 FR 57463 on
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small (VETS), which replaced the VETS–100 September 25, 2014, which rescinded
Business Administration. and VETS–100A Federal Contractor the regulations at 41 CFR part 61–250
Veterans’ Employment Report forms and revised the regulations at 41 CFR
V. Paperwork Reduction Act
with the new VETS–4212, Federal part 61–300, which implemented the
The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 Contractor Veterans’ Employment reporting requirements under the
U.S.C. chapter 35) does apply; however, Report form. Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment
the information collection authorization DATES: Effective: February 26, 2016. Assistance Act, as amended (VEVRAA)
is under the DOL regulations and is Applicability: This rule applies to (1) and the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA)
assigned OMB Control Number 1250– solicitations and contracts awarded on (Pub. L. 107–288). VEVRAA requires
0009, entitled, ‘‘Prohibiting or after the effective date; and (2) Federal contractors and subcontractors
Discrimination Based on Sexual modifications on or after the effective to annually report on the total number
Orientation and Gender Identity by date to existing contracts, if the of their employees who belong to the
Contractors and Subcontractors.’’ This contracts are otherwise being modified. categories of veterans protected under
collection under 1250–0009 will be Comment date: Interested parties
wgreen on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES2

VEVRAA, as amended by the JVA, and
incorporated into 1250–0001 and 1250– should submit written comments to the the total number of those protected
0003. Regulatory Secretariat on or before veterans who were hired during the
February 2, 2016 to be considered in the period covered by the report. One of the
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1, 22,
formation of the final rule. main purposes of the DOL’s rule was to
and 52
ADDRESSES: Submit comments revise the reporting requirement
Government procurement. identified by FAC 2005–85, FAR Case applicable to Government and

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Document Created: 2015-12-14 13:52:45
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Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Interim rule.
Dates		Effective: February 26, 2016.
Contact		Mr. Edward Loeb, Procurement Analyst, at 202-501-0650 for clarification of content. For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory Secretariat at 202-501-4755. Please cite FAC 2005-85, FAR Case 2015- 036.
FR Citation		80 FR 75908
RIN Number		9000-AN14
CFR Citation		48 CFR 1 48 CFR 22 48 CFR 52
80 FR 75908 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Updating Federal Contractor Reporting of Veterans' Employment

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEGENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATIONNATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 233 (December 4, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
