81_FR_36615 81 FR 36506 - Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Food Services for Dining Facilities on Military Installations (DFARS Case 2015-D012)

81 FR 36506 - Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Food Services for Dining Facilities on Military Installations (DFARS Case 2015-D012)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Defense Acquisition Regulations System

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 109 (June 7, 2016)

Page Range36506-36511
FR Document2016-13257

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to provide policy and procedures for soliciting offers, evaluating proposals, and awarding contracts for the operation of a military dining facility pursuant to the Randolph- Sheppard Act; the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007; the Joint Report and Policy Statement issued pursuant to the NDAA for FY 2006; and the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled statute.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 109 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36506-36511]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13257]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Acquisition Regulations System

48 CFR Parts 202, 205, 212, 237, and 252

[Docket DARS-2015-0055]
RIN 0750-AI78


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Food Services 
for Dining Facilities on Military Installations (DFARS Case 2015-D012)

AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition 
Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to provide policy and procedures for 
soliciting offers, evaluating proposals, and awarding contracts for the 
operation of a military dining facility pursuant to the Randolph-
Sheppard Act; the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2007; the Joint Report and Policy Statement issued pursuant 
to the NDAA for FY 2006; and the Committee for Purchase from People Who 
Are Blind or Severely Disabled statute.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to 
the address shown below on or before August 8, 2016, to be considered 
in the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by DFARS case 2015-D012 by any of 
the following methods:
    [cir] Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments 
via the Federal eRulemaking portal by entering ``DFARS Case 2015-D012'' 
under the heading ``Enter keyword or ID'' and selecting ``Search.'' 
Select the link ``Submit a Comment'' that corresponds with ``DFARS Case 
2015-D012.'' Follow the instructions provided at the ``Submit a 
Comment'' screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and 
``DFARS Case 2015-D012'' on your attached document.
    [cir] Fax: 571-372-6094.
    [cir] Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Amy 
Williams, OUSD(AT&L)DPAP/DARS, Room 3B941, 3060 Defense Pentagon, 
Washington, DC 20301-3060.
    Comments received generally will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 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: Ms. Amy Williams, telephone 571-372-
6106.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In order to clarify the application of the Randolph-Shepard Act (R-
S Act) (20 U.S.C. 107, et seq.) and the Committee for Purchase from 
People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (CFP) statute (41 U.S.C. 
8501, et seq.) formerly known as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act, to 
the operation and management of military dining facilities, DoD is 
proposing to amend the DFARS to implement the provisions of the Joint 
Report and Policy Statement (Joint Policy Statement) issued by DoD, the 
Department of Education (DoED), and the CFP pursuant to section 848 of 
the NDAA for FY 2006.
    The Joint Explanatory Statement to Accompany the NDAA for FY 2015 
requested that DoD prescribe implementing regulations for the 
application of the R-S Act and the CFP statute to contracts awarded for 
the operation of military dining facilities, and that the regulations 
address DoD contracts not covered by section 856 of the NDAA for FY 
2007.
    Pursuant to the Joint Policy Statement, the R-S Act applies to 
contracts for the operation of a military dining facility, also known 
as full food services, while the CFP statute applies to contracts and 
subcontracts for dining support services (including mess attendant 
services).
    The CFP statute, implemented in FAR subpart 8.7, requires Federal 
agencies to acquire from participating nonprofit agencies all supplies 
or services on the Procurement List established by the CFP. The purpose 
of the CFP statute is to provide employment opportunities for people 
who are blind or have other severe disabilities. If a product or 
service is on the Procurement List, 41 U.S.C. 8504(a)requires the 
procuring agency to procure that product or service either from a 
qualified nonprofit agency for the blind or a qualified nonprofit 
agency for the severely disabled in accordance with CFP regulations. 
However, 41 U.S.C. 8504(b) provides an exception to section 8504(a) for 
a product that is available from an industry established under 18 
U.S.C. 307 (Federal Prison Industries) and shall be procured from that 
industry pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 4124.
    Section 107(b) of the R-S Act establishes a priority authorizing 
blind persons, licensed by a State licensing agency (SLA) to operate 
one or more vending facilities, wherever feasible, on Federal 
properties. Section 107d-3(e) of the R-S Act requires the Secretary of 
Education (the Secretary) to promulgate regulations (see 34 CFR 395.33) 
establishing a priority for the operation of cafeterias when the 
Secretary determines on an individual basis and after consultation with 
the head of the appropriate installation, that such operation can be 
provided at a reasonable cost with food of high quality comparable to 
that currently provided employees.
    Pursuant to 34 CFR 395.33(a), the priority is afforded to the SLA 
when the Secretary determines, in consultation with the contracting 
officer, that the operation can be provided at a reasonable cost, with 
food of a high quality that is comparable to the food currently 
provided to employees. 34 CFR 395.33(b) requires Federal contracting 
officers to consult with the Secretary (see 395.33(a)) when the 
contracting officer has determined that an SLA's response to a 
solicitation for

[[Page 36507]]

the operation of a cafeteria is within a competitive range and has been 
ranked among those proposals which have a reasonable chance of being 
selected for final award. The evaluation criteria established in a 
solicitation may include sanitation practices, personnel, staffing, 
menu pricing, and portion sizes, menu variety, budget, and accounting 
practices.
    During the 1990s, confusion arose as to whether contracts for food 
services at military dining facilities should be subject to the CFP 
statute or the R-S Act. There was also confusion as to whether the SLA 
must be awarded a contract if its proposal is within the competitive 
range. In order for an SLA's proposal to be selected, the proposal must 
not only be in the competitive range, but also be ranked among those 
proposals which have a reasonable chance of being selected for final 
award. Placement in the competitive range alone does not mean an offer 
has been found competitive, comparable, acceptable, or reasonable for 
final award.
    In order to resolve the confusion, section 848 of the NDAA for FY 
2006 required DoD, DoED, and the CFP to issue the Joint Policy 
Statement, discussed below in section II.A. Since issuance of the Joint 
Policy Statement in 2006, the definition of ``operation of a military 
dining facility'' has been interpreted inconsistently. This rule 
proposes to implement the Joint Policy Statement which defines 
``operation of a military dining facility'' to mean ``the exercise of 
management responsibility and day-to-day decision-making authority by a 
contractor for the overall functioning of a military dining facility, 
including responsibility for its staff and subcontractors, where the 
DoD role is generally limited to contract administration functions 
described in FAR part 42.'' We invite comments on the interpretation of 
this definition.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    The rule proposes to locate the DFARS guidance for food services in 
DFARS part 237, Service Contracting, along with the current guidance 
for contracting for various types of services such as educational 
services, laundry and dry cleaning, and mortuary services. Because the 
food services policy emphasizes the R-S Act requirement for competition 
and potentially affects more than one category of contract source, the 
new guidance is more appropriately placed in the section on services. 
The proposed rule amends the DFARS to clarify the application of the R-
S Act and the CFP statute to contracts for the operation and management 
of military dining facilities.

A. Joint Policy Statement

    Paragraph 1 of the Joint Policy Statement provides that defense 
appropriations shall be used to accomplish the defense mission. This 
mission shall be carried out by providing value and accountability to 
the taxpayers as well as supporting socioeconomic programs to the 
maximum extent practicable under the law. DoD has a military mission to 
maintain some level of in-house food service and military dining 
facility managerial capabilities to enable forward deployment 
operations, training, rotation, and career progression for military 
members. Contract services must enable DoD to feed the troops high 
quality food at a cost effective price.
    Paragraph 2 states that ``the Secretaries of the Military 
Departments concerned, as defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(9), shall have 
the discretion to define requirements (e.g., contract statements of 
work, assignment of tasks and functions among workers in a facility) 
and make procurement decisions concerning contracting for military 
dining support services and the operation of a military dining facility 
and shall ensure that procurement decisions support the readiness of 
the Armed Forces.''
    Paragraph 3 recommends the enactment of legislation to create a 
``no-poaching'' provision that would maintain contract opportunities 
current at that time. Section 856 of the NDAA for FY 2007 established 
the recommended ``no-poaching'' rule for contracts in effect at the 
date of enactment of section 856 (October 16, 2006).
    Paragraph 4 establishes rules for new contract awards that were not 
covered by the ``no-poaching'' rule. Pursuant to subparagraph 4.a., new 
contracts will be competed under the R-S Act when ``the [DoD] solicits 
a contractor to exercise management responsibility and day-to-day 
decision making for the overall functioning of a military dining 
facility, including responsibility for its staff and subcontractors, 
where the DoD role is generally limited to contract administration 
functions described in FAR part 42.''
    Subparagraph 4.b. provides that ``[i]n all other cases, the 
contracts will be set aside for JWOD performance (or small businesses 
if there is no JWOD nonprofit agency capable or interested) when [DoD] 
needs dining support services (e.g., food preparation services, food 
serving, ordering and inventory of food, meal planning, cashiers, mess 
attendants, or other services that support the operation of a dining 
facility) where [DoD] food service specialists exercise management 
responsibility over and above those contract administration functions 
described in FAR part 42.''
    Subparagraph 4.c. provides that ``[t]he presence of military 
personnel performing dining facility functions does not necessarily 
establish the inference that the Government is exercising management 
responsibility over that particular dining facility.''
    Paragraph 5 provides that ``[i]n accordance with FAR part 8, if 
dining support services are on or will be placed on the Procurement 
List, any State licensing agency that is awarded a contract for 
operation of that military dining facility under the [R-S Act] shall 
award a subcontract for those services.'' DoD has implemented this 
requirement consistent with FAR clause 52.208-9, Contractor Use of 
Mandatory Sources of Supply or Services.
    Paragraph 6 provides that ``[i]n order to promote economic 
opportunities for blind vendors and to increase the number of blind 
persons who are self-supporting, the [R-S Act] requires that State 
licensing agencies provide blind persons with education, training, 
equipment and initial inventory suitable for carrying out their 
licenses to operate vending facilities in Federal buildings. 
Accordingly, through its rule-making procedures, [DoED] will encourage 
State licensing agencies who assert the [R-S Act] `priority' for a 
multi-facility contract for operation of military dining facilities to 
assign at least one blind person per military dining facility in a 
management role.''
    Paragraph 7 provides that ``[t]he DOD shall continue to be able to 
use the `Marine Corps model' for regional contracts for operation of 
military dining facilities at several installations or across State 
lines. In this model, the DoD may designate individual dining 
facilities for subcontract opportunities under the Small Business Act, 
the CFP statute, or other preferential procurement programs, and may 
designate some facilities in which military food service specialists 
may train or perform cooking or other dining support services in 
conjunction with contractor functions. State licensing agencies are 
eligible under the [R-S Act] to bid on contracts based upon this 
model.''
    Paragraph 8 provides guidance for affording the R-S Act priority. 
DoD contracts for operation of a military dining facility shall be 
awarded as the result of full and open competition,

[[Page 36508]]

unless there is a basis for a non-competitive award to a single source 
and resulting direct negotiations with that source. When competing such 
contracts, DoD contracting officers shall give SLAs priority when: (1) 
The SLA has demonstrated it can provide such operation with food of 
high quality and at a fair and reasonable price and with food of high 
quality comparable to that available from other providers of cafeteria 
services and comparable to the quality and price of food currently 
provided to military service members; and (2) the SLAs final proposal 
revision, or initial proposal if award is made without discussions, is 
among the highly ranked final proposal revisions with a reasonable 
chance of being selected for award.
    Paragraph 8 also provides that ``[t]he term `fair and reasonable 
price' means that the State licensing agency's final proposal revision 
does not exceed the offer that represents the best value (as determined 
by the contracting officer after applying the evaluation criteria set 
forth in the solicitation) by more than five percent of that offer, or 
one million dollars, whichever is less, over all of the performance 
periods required by the solicitation.'' For the reasons explained in 
section II.B. below, this dollar limitation is not included in the 
DFARS.
    Paragraph 9 provides that ``[t]he contracting officer may award to 
other than the State licensing agency when the head of the contracting 
activity determines that award to the State licensing agency would 
adversely affect the interests of the United States, and the Secretary 
of Education approves the determination in accordance with the [R-S 
Act].'' DoED has implemented this policy in its regulations (see 34 CFR 
395.30).
    Paragraph 10 committed the signatory parties to implementing the 
Joint Policy Statement in complementary regulations.

B. Proposed Changes to DFARS.

    The proposed rule proposes to amend DFARS 205.207(a) to require 
that the advertisement of a solicitation for the operation of a 
military dining facility in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American 
Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands shall state that the 
solicitation is subject to the R-S Act.
    The rule proposes to amend DFARS 212.301 to add a new paragraph 
(c)(ii) to state that when issuing a solicitation for the operation of 
a military dining facility, as defined in 202.101, include in the 
evaluation criteria, factors or subfactors for determining if the SLA 
proposal is comparable to the quality and price available from other 
providers.
    The proposed rule adds a new DFARS subpart 237.7X to address 
contracts for services that support military dining facility operation 
and contracts for the operation of military dining facilities. The 
``scope'' statement in DFARS 237.7X00 explains that subpart 237.7X 
provides policy and procedures for soliciting and awarding contracts 
consistent with the R-S Act, the CFP statute, section 856 of the NDAA 
for FY 2007, and the Joint Policy Statement.
    The definitions in DFARS 202.101 implement the Joint Policy 
Statement paragraphs 4.a. and 4.b., which identified when a contract is 
for the operation of a military dining facility as distinguished from 
``dining support services.'' ``Mess attendant services'' (also known as 
``dining facility attendant services'') are a subset of ``dining 
support services.'' Specifically, the definition of ``military dining 
facility'' that was enacted in section 856 of the NDAA for FY 2007 and 
the definition of ``State licensing agency'' described in the R-S Act 
regulations at 34 CFR 395.1(v) are incorporated in the DFARS at 202.101 
and 237.7X01, respectively. The proposed rule also defines ``operation 
of a military dining facility,'' which is added to DFARS 202.101.
    DFARS 237.7X02(a) implements paragraph 4.a. of the Joint Policy 
Statement by stating that all contracts for the operation of a military 
dining facility in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, 
Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands are subject to the R-S Act. By use of 
the word ``all,'' DFARS 237.7X02(a) means these contracts are subject 
to the R-S Act even if the State licensing agency does not submit a 
proposal. DFARS 237.7X02(a) also implements paragraph 8 of the Joint 
Policy Statement and states the contracts for operation of a military 
dining facility shall be awarded using full and open competition (see 
10 U.S.C. 2305). DFARS 237.7X02(b) states that contracts for dining 
support services are subject to the CFP statute, which is exempt from 
the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), and provides a cross 
reference to the implementing procedures at FAR subpart 8.7.
    DFARS 237.7X03 provides guidelines for developing evaluation 
criteria for determining if the State licensing agency proposal is 
comparable to the quality and price available from other providers.
    DFARS 237.7X04 adds a prescription for the proposed solicitation 
provision at DFARS 252.237-70XX, Operation of a Military Dining 
Facility. The prescription states that the provision will apply to 
solicitations, including solicitations using FAR part 12 procedures, 
for the acquisition of commercial items for operation of a military 
dining facility within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, 
Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    The solicitation provision at DFARS 252.237-70XX, Operation of a 
Military Dining Facility, notifies offerors when a solicitation is 
subject to the R-S Act. The solicitation provision defines ``operation 
of a military dining facility'' and other terms necessary for notifying 
offerors about the applicability of the R-S Act to the solicitation. A 
State licensing agency will be given priority for award of the contract 
if it submits an offer that: (1) Demonstrates it can provide the 
operation with food of high quality and at a fair and reasonable price 
comparable to that available from other providers, and (2) has been 
judged to have a reasonable chance of being selected for award pursuant 
to the evaluation criteria in the solicitation.
    In order for a SLA to receive the priority for operation of a 
cafeteria, 34 CFR 395.33(b) requires that: (1) The SLA's proposal must 
be within the ``competitive range,'' and (2) must be ranked among those 
proposals that have a reasonable chance of being selected for final 
award.
    Under FAR 15.306(c), the ``competitive range'' is established for 
the purpose of identifying those offerors with whom the procuring 
agency will open discussions. If discussions are to be conducted, CICA 
(see 10 U.S.C. 2305) requires that the procuring agency shall conduct 
discussions with all responsible offerors who submitted proposals 
determined to be in the competitive range, but as previously stated, 
inclusion in the competitive range is not sufficient to trigger the R-S 
Act priority for an SLA proposal. The SLA's proposal must also have a 
reasonable chance of selection for final award.
    As a result, and as required by CICA and 34 CFR 395.33, each DoD 
solicitation for operation of a military dining facility must state its 
own evaluation criteria and basis for award independently derived for 
that individual location and acquisition. The solicitation will specify 
the means by which the statutory priority will be afforded to the SLA's 
proposal, if it

[[Page 36509]]

satisfies the evaluation criteria, the statement of work, and the 
requirements of the solicitation. Because each solicitation must be 
developed independently, the DFARS will not arbitrarily establish a 
price limitation that would apply to all solicitations.

III. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition 
Threshold and for Commercial Items, Including Commercially Available 
Off-the-Shelf Items

    This rule proposes to create a new provision, DFARS 252.237-70XX, 
Operation of a Military Dining Facility, to notify offerors when a 
solicitation is subject to the R-S Act. The R-S Act is not a covered 
law under 41 U.S.C. 1905-1907, because it was enacted prior to October 
13, 1994. Therefore, 41 U.S.C. 1905-1907 do not exempt solicitations 
and contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold and for 
the acquisition of commercial items from the provisions of the R-S Act.

IV. 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 a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was 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.

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    DoD does not expect this proposed rule 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. 
However, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis has been performed 
and is summarized as follows:
    The proposed rule will provide policy and procedures for soliciting 
and awarding contracts for the operation of a dining facility on a 
military installation pursuant to: (1) The Randolph-Sheppard Act (R-S 
Act); (2) the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2007; (3) the Joint Report and Policy Statement issued pursuant to 
the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 
2006; and (4) the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or 
Severely Disabled (CFP) statute (41 U.S.C. 8501, et seq.).
    The objective of the proposed rule is to amend the Defense Federal 
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to clarify the application of 
the R-S Act and the CFP statute, formerly known as the Javits-Wagner-
O'Day (JWOD) Act, to the operation and management of military dining 
facilities.
    The R-S Act and the CFP statute have priority over the Small 
Business Act; therefore, the proposed rule has the potential to impact 
small businesses that provide these services. A review of contract 
awards and purchase orders in the Federal Procurement Data System for 
the period fiscal year 2011 through June 1, 2015, revealed that DoD 
made five new awards, including one purchase order, for dining services 
to five unique vendors. Of those awards, one award was made to a small 
business concern. Therefore, this proposed rule is not anticipated to 
impact a significant number of small entities.
    The proposed rule does not impose any new reporting, recordkeeping, 
or other information collection requirements. The proposed rule is 
consistent with the DoED regulations that implement the R-S Act (see 34 
CFR 395.1, et seq.).
    Concerning dining support services (including mess attendant 
services), contracting officers shall follow the standard Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 8.7 and DFARS subpart 208.7 
procedures for procuring dining support services pursuant to the CFP 
statute and, if applicable, the FAR part 19 and DFARS part 219 rules 
for small business set-asides.
    Concerning the R-S Act priority for operation of a military dining 
facility, the proposed rule requires full and open competition. 
Competition is the best alternative for minimizing the impact on small 
entities.
    DoD will consider comments from small entities concerning the 
existing regulations in subparts affected by this proposed rule in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such 
comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (DFARS Case 2015-
D012), in correspondence.

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The proposed rule does not contain any information collection 
requirements that require the approval of the Office of Management and 
Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 202, 205, 212, 237, and 252

    Government procurement.

Jennifer L. Hawes,
Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.

    Therefore, 48 CFR parts 202, 205, 212, 237, and 252 are proposed to 
be amended as follows:

0
1. The authority citation for parts 202, 205, 212, 237, and 252 
continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  41 U.S.C. 1303 and 48 CFR chapter 1.

PART 202--DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND TERMS

0
2. Amend section 202.101 by adding, in alphabetical order, the 
definitions of ``Military dining facility'' and ``Operation of a 
military dining facility'' to read as follows:


202.101  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Military dining facility means a facility owned, operated, leased, 
or wholly controlled by DoD and used to provide dining services to 
members of the Armed Forces, including a cafeteria, military mess hall, 
military troop dining facility, or similar dining facility operated 
with appropriated funds for the purpose of providing meals to members 
of the Armed Forces.
* * * * *
    Operation of a military dining facility means the exercise of 
management responsibility and day-to-day decision-making authority by a 
contractor for the overall functioning of a military dining facility, 
including responsibility for its staff and subcontractors, where the 
DoD role is generally limited to contract administration functions 
described in FAR part 42.
* * * * *

PART 205--PUBLICIZING CONTRACT ACTIONS

0
3. Amend section 205.207 by adding paragraph (a)(ii) to read as 
follows:


205.207  Preparation and transmittal of synopses.

    (a) * * *
    (ii) When advertising for the operation of a military dining 
facility, as defined in 202.101, within the 50 States, the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, the synopsis 
shall state that the solicitation is subject to

[[Page 36510]]

the Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107, et seq.) (see 237.7X03).
* * * * *

PART 212--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS

0
4. Amend section 212.301 by--
0
a. Redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph (c)(i);
0
b. Adding paragraph (c)(ii);
0
c. Adding paragraph (f)(xv)(C).
    The additions read as follows:


212.301  Solicitation provisions and contract clauses for acquisition 
of commercial items.

    (c)(i) * * *
    (ii) When issuing a solicitation for the operation of a military 
dining facility, as defined in 202.101, include in the evaluation 
criteria factors or subfactors for determining if the State licensing 
agency proposal is comparable to the quality and price available from 
other providers (see 237.7X03).
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (xv) * * *
    (C) Use the provision at 252.237-70XX, Operation of a Military 
Dining Facility, as prescribed in 237.7X04.
* * * * *

PART 237--SERVICE CONTRACTING

0
5. Add subpart 237.7X to read as follows:
Subpart 237.7X--Services for Military Dining Facilities
Sec.
237.7X00 Scope.
237.7X01 Definitions.
237.7X02 Policy.
237.7X03 Procedures for Randolph-Sheppard Act contracts.
237.7X04 Solicitation provision.

Subpart 237.7X--Services for Military Dining Facilities


237.7X00  Scope.

    This subpart provides policy and procedures for soliciting and 
awarding contracts pursuant to--
    (a) The Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107, et seq.);
    (b) The Committee for Purchase from People Who are Blind or 
Severely Disabled statute (41 U.S.C. 8501, et seq.);
    (c) Section 856 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2007 (Pub. L. 109-364); and
    (d) The Joint Report and Policy Statement to Congress issued 
pursuant to section 848 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2006 (Pub. L. 109-163).


237.7X01  Definitions.

    As used in this subpart--
    Dining support services means food preparation services, food 
serving, ordering and inventory of food, meal planning, cashiers, mess 
attendant services, or any and all other services that are encompassed 
by, are included in, or otherwise support the operation of a military 
dining facility, other than the exercise of management responsibility 
and day-to-day decision-making authority by a contractor for the 
overall functioning of a military dining facility.
    Mess attendant services (or ``dining facility attendant services'') 
means those activities required to perform food line support such as 
setting up the serving lines, serving food and tearing down the serving 
line, preserving food for subsequent meals, and performing janitorial 
and custodial duties within dining facilities, including sweeping, 
mopping, scrubbing, trash removal, pot and pan cleaning, dishwashing, 
waxing, stripping, buffing, window washing, and other sanitation-
related functions.
    State licensing agency means the State agency designated by the 
Secretary of Education under 34 CFR part 395 to issue licenses to blind 
persons for the operation of vending facilities on Federal and other 
property.


237.7X02  Policy.

    (a) Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107 et seq.). (1) All 
contracts for the ``operation of military dining facilities'' (as 
defined at 202.101) within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American 
Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands are subject to the Randolph-
Sheppard Act. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, 
follow the procedures at 237.7X03.
    (2) The procedures at 237.7X03 do not apply to any food services or 
related services that are identified on the Procurement List maintained 
by the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled.
    (b) Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely 
Disabled statute (41 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.). Contracts for dining support 
services (including mess attendant services) in a military dining 
facility where DoD food services specialists exercise management 
responsibility over and above those contract administration functions 
described in FAR part 42 are subject to the Committee for Purchase from 
People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled statute. See FAR subpart 8.7.


237.7X03  Procedures for Randolph-Sheppard Act contracts.

    (a) When issuing a solicitation for the operation of a military 
dining facility, include in the evaluation criteria factors or 
subfactors for determining if the State licensing agency proposal is 
comparable to the quality and price available from other providers.
    (b) A State licensing agency shall be afforded priority for award 
of the contract if the State licensing agency has submitted a proposal 
that--
    (1) Demonstrates that the operation of the military dining facility 
can be provided with food of a high quality and at a fair and 
reasonable price comparable to that available from other providers; and
    (2) Has a reasonable chance of being selected for award as 
determined by the contracting officer after applying the evaluation 
criteria contained in the solicitation.


237.7X04  Solicitation provision.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, use the 
provision at 252.237-70XX, Operation of a Military Dining Facility, in 
all solicitations, including solicitations using FAR part 12 procedures 
for the acquisition of commercial items, that are for operation of a 
military dining facility within the 50 States, the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    (b) Do not use the provision at 252.237-70XX in solicitations for 
any food services or related services that are identified on the 
Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase from People 
Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.

PART 252--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
6. Add section 252.237-70XX to read as follows:


252.237-70XX  Operation of a Military Dining Facility.

    As prescribed in 237.7X04, use the following provision:

OPERATION OF A MILITARY DINING FACILITY (DATE)

    This solicitation is for the operation of a military dining 
facility.
    (a) Definitions. As used in this provision--
    Military dining facility means a facility owned, operated, 
leased, or wholly controlled by DoD and used to provide dining 
services to members of the Armed Forces, including a cafeteria, 
military mess hall, military troop dining facility, or similar 
dining facility operated with appropriated

[[Page 36511]]

funds for the purpose of providing meals to members of the Armed 
Forces.
    Operation of a military dining facility means the exercise of 
management responsibility and day-to-day decision-making authority 
by a contractor for the overall functioning of a military dining 
facility, including responsibility for its staff and subcontractors, 
where the DoD role is generally limited to contract administration 
functions described in FAR part 42.
    State licensing agency means the State agency designated by the 
Secretary of Education under 34 CFR part 395 to issue licenses to 
blind persons for the operation of vending facilities on Federal and 
other property.
    (b) A State licensing agency will be afforded priority for award 
of the contract if the State licensing agency has submitted a 
proposal that--
    (1) Demonstrates the operation of the military dining facility 
can be provided with food of a high quality and at a fair and 
reasonable price comparable to that available from other providers; 
and
    (2) Is judged to have a reasonable chance of being selected for 
award as determined by the contracting officer after applying the 
evaluation criteria contained in the solicitation.


(End of provision)

[FR Doc. 2016-13257 Filed 6-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-ep-P



                                                      36506                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      in the NPRM and alternative proposals                   (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007; the                  implementing regulations for the
                                                      submitted into the record of this                       Joint Report and Policy Statement                      application of the R–S Act and the CFP
                                                      proceeding. We request supplemental                     issued pursuant to the NDAA for FY                     statute to contracts awarded for the
                                                      comments on the IRFA in light of the                    2006; and the Committee for Purchase                   operation of military dining facilities,
                                                      details and issues raised in this                       from People Who Are Blind or Severely                  and that the regulations address DoD
                                                      document. These comments must be                        Disabled statute.                                      contracts not covered by section 856 of
                                                      filed in accordance with the same filing                DATES: Comments on the proposed rule                   the NDAA for FY 2007.
                                                      deadlines as comments filed in response                 should be submitted in writing to the                     Pursuant to the Joint Policy
                                                      to this document as set forth on the first              address shown below on or before                       Statement, the R–S Act applies to
                                                      page of this document and have a                        August 8, 2016, to be considered in the                contracts for the operation of a military
                                                      separate and distinct heading                           formation of the final rule.                           dining facility, also known as full food
                                                      designating them as responses to the                    ADDRESSES: Submit comments
                                                                                                                                                                     services, while the CFP statute applies
                                                      IRFA.                                                                                                          to contracts and subcontracts for dining
                                                                                                              identified by DFARS case 2015–D012 by
                                                                                                                                                                     support services (including mess
                                                      Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis                        any of the following methods:
                                                                                                                 Æ Regulations.gov: http://                          attendant services).
                                                        The NPRM included a separate                                                                                    The CFP statute, implemented in FAR
                                                                                                              www.regulations.gov. Submit comments
                                                      request for comment from the general                                                                           subpart 8.7, requires Federal agencies to
                                                                                                              via the Federal eRulemaking portal by
                                                      public and the Office of Management                                                                            acquire from participating nonprofit
                                                                                                              entering ‘‘DFARS Case 2015–D012’’
                                                      and Budget on the information                                                                                  agencies all supplies or services on the
                                                                                                              under the heading ‘‘Enter keyword or
                                                      collection requirements contained                                                                              Procurement List established by the
                                                                                                              ID’’ and selecting ‘‘Search.’’ Select the
                                                      therein, as required by the Paperwork                                                                          CFP. The purpose of the CFP statute is
                                                                                                              link ‘‘Submit a Comment’’ that
                                                      Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–                                                                         to provide employment opportunities
                                                                                                              corresponds with ‘‘DFARS Case 2015–                    for people who are blind or have other
                                                      13, and the Small Business Paperwork                    D012.’’ Follow the instructions provided
                                                      Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107–198.                                                                        severe disabilities. If a product or
                                                                                                              at the ‘‘Submit a Comment’’ screen.                    service is on the Procurement List, 41
                                                      As noted above, this document seeks                     Please include your name, company
                                                      further comment on some proposals and                                                                          U.S.C. 8504(a)requires the procuring
                                                                                                              name (if any), and ‘‘DFARS Case 2015–                  agency to procure that product or
                                                      alternatives initially raised in the                    D012’’ on your attached document.
                                                      NPRM. We invite supplemental                                                                                   service either from a qualified nonprofit
                                                                                                                 Æ Fax: 571–372–6094.
                                                      comment on these requirements in light                                                                         agency for the blind or a qualified
                                                                                                                 Æ Mail: Defense Acquisition
                                                      of the details and issues raised in this                                                                       nonprofit agency for the severely
                                                                                                              Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Amy
                                                      document.                                                                                                      disabled in accordance with CFP
                                                                                                              Williams, OUSD(AT&L)DPAP/DARS,
                                                                                                                                                                     regulations. However, 41 U.S.C. 8504(b)
                                                      Federal Communications Commission.                      Room 3B941, 3060 Defense Pentagon,
                                                                                                                                                                     provides an exception to section 8504(a)
                                                      Gloria J. Miles,                                        Washington, DC 20301–3060.
                                                                                                                 Comments received generally will be                 for a product that is available from an
                                                      Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the                                                                industry established under 18 U.S.C.
                                                      Secretary.                                              posted without change to http://
                                                                                                                                                                     307 (Federal Prison Industries) and shall
                                                      [FR Doc. 2016–13510 Filed 6–6–16; 8:45 am]              www.regulations.gov, including any
                                                                                                                                                                     be procured from that industry pursuant
                                                                                                              personal information provided. To
                                                      BILLING CODE 6712–01–P                                                                                         to 18 U.S.C. 4124.
                                                                                                              confirm receipt of your comment(s),                       Section 107(b) of the R–S Act
                                                                                                              please check www.regulations.gov,                      establishes a priority authorizing blind
                                                                                                              approximately two to three days after                  persons, licensed by a State licensing
                                                      DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
                                                                                                              submission to verify posting (except                   agency (SLA) to operate one or more
                                                      Defense Acquisition Regulations                         allow 30 days for posting of comments                  vending facilities, wherever feasible, on
                                                      System                                                  submitted by mail).                                    Federal properties. Section 107d–3(e) of
                                                                                                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.                   the R–S Act requires the Secretary of
                                                      48 CFR Parts 202, 205, 212, 237, and                    Amy Williams, telephone 571–372–                       Education (the Secretary) to promulgate
                                                      252                                                     6106.                                                  regulations (see 34 CFR 395.33)
                                                      [Docket DARS–2015–0055]                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             establishing a priority for the operation
                                                                                                                                                                     of cafeterias when the Secretary
                                                      RIN 0750–AI78                                           I. Background                                          determines on an individual basis and
                                                                                                                 In order to clarify the application of              after consultation with the head of the
                                                      Defense Federal Acquisition                             the Randolph-Shepard Act (R–S Act) (20                 appropriate installation, that such
                                                      Regulation Supplement: Food Services                    U.S.C. 107, et seq.) and the Committee                 operation can be provided at a
                                                      for Dining Facilities on Military                       for Purchase from People Who Are                       reasonable cost with food of high
                                                      Installations (DFARS Case 2015–D012)                    Blind or Severely Disabled (CFP) statute               quality comparable to that currently
                                                      AGENCY:  Defense Acquisition                            (41 U.S.C. 8501, et seq.) formerly known               provided employees.
                                                      Regulations System, Department of                       as the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act,                    Pursuant to 34 CFR 395.33(a), the
                                                      Defense.                                                to the operation and management of                     priority is afforded to the SLA when the
                                                      ACTION: Proposed rule.                                  military dining facilities, DoD is                     Secretary determines, in consultation
                                                                                                              proposing to amend the DFARS to                        with the contracting officer, that the
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                                                      SUMMARY:   DoD is proposing to amend                    implement the provisions of the Joint                  operation can be provided at a
                                                      the Defense Federal Acquisition                         Report and Policy Statement (Joint                     reasonable cost, with food of a high
                                                      Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to                        Policy Statement) issued by DoD, the                   quality that is comparable to the food
                                                      provide policy and procedures for                       Department of Education (DoED), and                    currently provided to employees. 34
                                                      soliciting offers, evaluating proposals,                the CFP pursuant to section 848 of the                 CFR 395.33(b) requires Federal
                                                      and awarding contracts for the operation                NDAA for FY 2006.                                      contracting officers to consult with the
                                                      of a military dining facility pursuant to                  The Joint Explanatory Statement to                  Secretary (see 395.33(a)) when the
                                                      the Randolph-Sheppard Act; the                          Accompany the NDAA for FY 2015                         contracting officer has determined that
                                                      National Defense Authorization Act                      requested that DoD prescribe                           an SLA’s response to a solicitation for


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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           36507

                                                      the operation of a cafeteria is within a                management of military dining                          meal planning, cashiers, mess
                                                      competitive range and has been ranked                   facilities.                                            attendants, or other services that
                                                      among those proposals which have a                                                                             support the operation of a dining
                                                                                                              A. Joint Policy Statement
                                                      reasonable chance of being selected for                                                                        facility) where [DoD] food service
                                                      final award. The evaluation criteria                       Paragraph 1 of the Joint Policy                     specialists exercise management
                                                      established in a solicitation may include               Statement provides that defense                        responsibility over and above those
                                                      sanitation practices, personnel, staffing,              appropriations shall be used to                        contract administration functions
                                                      menu pricing, and portion sizes, menu                   accomplish the defense mission. This                   described in FAR part 42.’’
                                                      variety, budget, and accounting                         mission shall be carried out by                           Subparagraph 4.c. provides that ‘‘[t]he
                                                      practices.                                              providing value and accountability to                  presence of military personnel
                                                         During the 1990s, confusion arose as                 the taxpayers as well as supporting                    performing dining facility functions
                                                      to whether contracts for food services at               socioeconomic programs to the                          does not necessarily establish the
                                                      military dining facilities should be                    maximum extent practicable under the                   inference that the Government is
                                                      subject to the CFP statute or the R–S                   law. DoD has a military mission to                     exercising management responsibility
                                                      Act. There was also confusion as to                     maintain some level of in-house food                   over that particular dining facility.’’
                                                      whether the SLA must be awarded a                       service and military dining facility                      Paragraph 5 provides that ‘‘[i]n
                                                      contract if its proposal is within the                  managerial capabilities to enable                      accordance with FAR part 8, if dining
                                                      competitive range. In order for an SLA’s                forward deployment operations,                         support services are on or will be placed
                                                      proposal to be selected, the proposal                   training, rotation, and career                         on the Procurement List, any State
                                                      must not only be in the competitive                     progression for military members.                      licensing agency that is awarded a
                                                      range, but also be ranked among those                   Contract services must enable DoD to                   contract for operation of that military
                                                      proposals which have a reasonable                       feed the troops high quality food at a                 dining facility under the [R–S Act] shall
                                                      chance of being selected for final award.               cost effective price.                                  award a subcontract for those services.’’
                                                      Placement in the competitive range                         Paragraph 2 states that ‘‘the                       DoD has implemented this requirement
                                                      alone does not mean an offer has been                   Secretaries of the Military Departments                consistent with FAR clause 52.208–9,
                                                      found competitive, comparable,                          concerned, as defined in 10 U.S.C.                     Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of
                                                      acceptable, or reasonable for final                     101(a)(9), shall have the discretion to                Supply or Services.
                                                      award.                                                  define requirements (e.g., contract                       Paragraph 6 provides that ‘‘[i]n order
                                                         In order to resolve the confusion,                   statements of work, assignment of tasks                to promote economic opportunities for
                                                      section 848 of the NDAA for FY 2006                     and functions among workers in a                       blind vendors and to increase the
                                                      required DoD, DoED, and the CFP to                      facility) and make procurement                         number of blind persons who are self-
                                                      issue the Joint Policy Statement,                       decisions concerning contracting for                   supporting, the [R–S Act] requires that
                                                      discussed below in section II.A. Since                  military dining support services and the               State licensing agencies provide blind
                                                      issuance of the Joint Policy Statement in               operation of a military dining facility                persons with education, training,
                                                      2006, the definition of ‘‘operation of a                and shall ensure that procurement                      equipment and initial inventory suitable
                                                      military dining facility’’ has been                     decisions support the readiness of the                 for carrying out their licenses to operate
                                                      interpreted inconsistently. This rule                   Armed Forces.’’                                        vending facilities in Federal buildings.
                                                      proposes to implement the Joint Policy                     Paragraph 3 recommends the                          Accordingly, through its rule-making
                                                      Statement which defines ‘‘operation of a                enactment of legislation to create a ‘‘no-             procedures, [DoED] will encourage State
                                                      military dining facility’’ to mean ‘‘the                poaching’’ provision that would                        licensing agencies who assert the [R–S
                                                      exercise of management responsibility                   maintain contract opportunities current                Act] ‘priority’ for a multi-facility
                                                      and day-to-day decision-making                          at that time. Section 856 of the NDAA                  contract for operation of military dining
                                                      authority by a contractor for the overall               for FY 2007 established the                            facilities to assign at least one blind
                                                      functioning of a military dining facility,              recommended ‘‘no-poaching’’ rule for                   person per military dining facility in a
                                                      including responsibility for its staff and              contracts in effect at the date of                     management role.’’
                                                      subcontractors, where the DoD role is                   enactment of section 856 (October 16,                     Paragraph 7 provides that ‘‘[t]he DOD
                                                      generally limited to contract                           2006).                                                 shall continue to be able to use the
                                                      administration functions described in                      Paragraph 4 establishes rules for new               ‘Marine Corps model’ for regional
                                                      FAR part 42.’’ We invite comments on                    contract awards that were not covered                  contracts for operation of military
                                                      the interpretation of this definition.                  by the ‘‘no-poaching’’ rule. Pursuant to               dining facilities at several installations
                                                                                                              subparagraph 4.a., new contracts will be               or across State lines. In this model, the
                                                      II. Discussion and Analysis                             competed under the R–S Act when ‘‘the                  DoD may designate individual dining
                                                         The rule proposes to locate the                      [DoD] solicits a contractor to exercise                facilities for subcontract opportunities
                                                      DFARS guidance for food services in                     management responsibility and day-to-                  under the Small Business Act, the CFP
                                                      DFARS part 237, Service Contracting,                    day decision making for the overall                    statute, or other preferential
                                                      along with the current guidance for                     functioning of a military dining facility,             procurement programs, and may
                                                      contracting for various types of services               including responsibility for its staff and             designate some facilities in which
                                                      such as educational services, laundry                   subcontractors, where the DoD role is                  military food service specialists may
                                                      and dry cleaning, and mortuary                          generally limited to contract                          train or perform cooking or other dining
                                                      services. Because the food services                     administration functions described in                  support services in conjunction with
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                                                      policy emphasizes the R–S Act                           FAR part 42.’’                                         contractor functions. State licensing
                                                      requirement for competition and                            Subparagraph 4.b. provides that ‘‘[i]n              agencies are eligible under the [R–S Act]
                                                      potentially affects more than one                       all other cases, the contracts will be set             to bid on contracts based upon this
                                                      category of contract source, the new                    aside for JWOD performance (or small                   model.’’
                                                      guidance is more appropriately placed                   businesses if there is no JWOD nonprofit                  Paragraph 8 provides guidance for
                                                      in the section on services. The proposed                agency capable or interested) when                     affording the R–S Act priority. DoD
                                                      rule amends the DFARS to clarify the                    [DoD] needs dining support services                    contracts for operation of a military
                                                      application of the R–S Act and the CFP                  (e.g., food preparation services, food                 dining facility shall be awarded as the
                                                      statute to contracts for the operation and              serving, ordering and inventory of food,               result of full and open competition,


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                                                      36508                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      unless there is a basis for a non-                      proposal is comparable to the quality                     DFARS 237.7X04 adds a prescription
                                                      competitive award to a single source                    and price available from other                         for the proposed solicitation provision
                                                      and resulting direct negotiations with                  providers.                                             at DFARS 252.237–70XX, Operation of
                                                      that source. When competing such                           The proposed rule adds a new DFARS                  a Military Dining Facility. The
                                                      contracts, DoD contracting officers shall               subpart 237.7X to address contracts for                prescription states that the provision
                                                      give SLAs priority when: (1) The SLA                    services that support military dining                  will apply to solicitations, including
                                                      has demonstrated it can provide such                    facility operation and contracts for the               solicitations using FAR part 12
                                                      operation with food of high quality and                 operation of military dining facilities.               procedures, for the acquisition of
                                                      at a fair and reasonable price and with                 The ‘‘scope’’ statement in DFARS                       commercial items for operation of a
                                                      food of high quality comparable to that                 237.7X00 explains that subpart 237.7X                  military dining facility within the 50
                                                      available from other providers of                       provides policy and procedures for                     states, the District of Columbia, Puerto
                                                      cafeteria services and comparable to the                soliciting and awarding contracts                      Rico, the Commonwealth of the
                                                      quality and price of food currently                     consistent with the R–S Act, the CFP                   Northern Mariana Islands, American
                                                      provided to military service members;                   statute, section 856 of the NDAA for FY                Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin
                                                      and (2) the SLAs final proposal revision,               2007, and the Joint Policy Statement.                  Islands.
                                                      or initial proposal if award is made                       The definitions in DFARS 202.101                       The solicitation provision at DFARS
                                                      without discussions, is among the                       implement the Joint Policy Statement                   252.237–70XX, Operation of a Military
                                                      highly ranked final proposal revisions                  paragraphs 4.a. and 4.b., which                        Dining Facility, notifies offerors when a
                                                      with a reasonable chance of being                       identified when a contract is for the                  solicitation is subject to the R–S Act.
                                                      selected for award.                                     operation of a military dining facility as             The solicitation provision defines
                                                         Paragraph 8 also provides that ‘‘[t]he               distinguished from ‘‘dining support                    ‘‘operation of a military dining facility’’
                                                      term ‘fair and reasonable price’ means                  services.’’ ‘‘Mess attendant services’’                and other terms necessary for notifying
                                                      that the State licensing agency’s final                 (also known as ‘‘dining facility                       offerors about the applicability of the R–
                                                      proposal revision does not exceed the                   attendant services’’) are a subset of                  S Act to the solicitation. A State
                                                      offer that represents the best value (as                ‘‘dining support services.’’ Specifically,             licensing agency will be given priority
                                                      determined by the contracting officer                   the definition of ‘‘military dining                    for award of the contract if it submits an
                                                      after applying the evaluation criteria set              facility’’ that was enacted in section 856             offer that: (1) Demonstrates it can
                                                      forth in the solicitation) by more than                 of the NDAA for FY 2007 and the                        provide the operation with food of high
                                                      five percent of that offer, or one million                                                                     quality and at a fair and reasonable
                                                                                                              definition of ‘‘State licensing agency’’
                                                      dollars, whichever is less, over all of the                                                                    price comparable to that available from
                                                                                                              described in the R–S Act regulations at
                                                      performance periods required by the                                                                            other providers, and (2) has been judged
                                                                                                              34 CFR 395.1(v) are incorporated in the
                                                      solicitation.’’ For the reasons explained                                                                      to have a reasonable chance of being
                                                                                                              DFARS at 202.101 and 237.7X01,
                                                      in section II.B. below, this dollar                                                                            selected for award pursuant to the
                                                                                                              respectively. The proposed rule also
                                                      limitation is not included in the DFARS.                                                                       evaluation criteria in the solicitation.
                                                                                                              defines ‘‘operation of a military dining                  In order for a SLA to receive the
                                                         Paragraph 9 provides that ‘‘[t]he
                                                                                                              facility,’’ which is added to DFARS                    priority for operation of a cafeteria, 34
                                                      contracting officer may award to other
                                                                                                              202.101.                                               CFR 395.33(b) requires that: (1) The
                                                      than the State licensing agency when
                                                      the head of the contracting activity                       DFARS 237.7X02(a) implements                        SLA’s proposal must be within the
                                                      determines that award to the State                      paragraph 4.a. of the Joint Policy                     ‘‘competitive range,’’ and (2) must be
                                                      licensing agency would adversely affect                 Statement by stating that all contracts                ranked among those proposals that have
                                                      the interests of the United States, and                 for the operation of a military dining                 a reasonable chance of being selected for
                                                      the Secretary of Education approves the                 facility in the 50 States, the District of             final award.
                                                      determination in accordance with the                    Columbia, Puerto Rico, the                                Under FAR 15.306(c), the
                                                      [R–S Act].’’ DoED has implemented this                  Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana                   ‘‘competitive range’’ is established for
                                                      policy in its regulations (see 34 CFR                   Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the                  the purpose of identifying those offerors
                                                      395.30).                                                U.S. Virgin Islands are subject to the R–              with whom the procuring agency will
                                                         Paragraph 10 committed the signatory                 S Act. By use of the word ‘‘all,’’ DFARS               open discussions. If discussions are to
                                                      parties to implementing the Joint Policy                237.7X02(a) means these contracts are                  be conducted, CICA (see 10 U.S.C. 2305)
                                                      Statement in complementary                              subject to the R–S Act even if the State               requires that the procuring agency shall
                                                      regulations.                                            licensing agency does not submit a                     conduct discussions with all
                                                                                                              proposal. DFARS 237.7X02(a) also                       responsible offerors who submitted
                                                      B. Proposed Changes to DFARS.                           implements paragraph 8 of the Joint                    proposals determined to be in the
                                                        The proposed rule proposes to amend                   Policy Statement and states the                        competitive range, but as previously
                                                      DFARS 205.207(a) to require that the                    contracts for operation of a military                  stated, inclusion in the competitive
                                                      advertisement of a solicitation for the                 dining facility shall be awarded using                 range is not sufficient to trigger the R–
                                                      operation of a military dining facility in              full and open competition (see 10 U.S.C.               S Act priority for an SLA proposal. The
                                                      the 50 States, the District of Columbia,                2305). DFARS 237.7X02(b) states that                   SLA’s proposal must also have a
                                                      Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the                    contracts for dining support services are              reasonable chance of selection for final
                                                      Northern Mariana Islands, American                      subject to the CFP statute, which is                   award.
                                                      Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands                 exempt from the Competition in                            As a result, and as required by CICA
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                                                      shall state that the solicitation is subject            Contracting Act (CICA), and provides a                 and 34 CFR 395.33, each DoD
                                                      to the R–S Act.                                         cross reference to the implementing                    solicitation for operation of a military
                                                        The rule proposes to amend DFARS                      procedures at FAR subpart 8.7.                         dining facility must state its own
                                                      212.301 to add a new paragraph (c)(ii)                     DFARS 237.7X03 provides guidelines                  evaluation criteria and basis for award
                                                      to state that when issuing a solicitation               for developing evaluation criteria for                 independently derived for that
                                                      for the operation of a military dining                  determining if the State licensing                     individual location and acquisition. The
                                                      facility, as defined in 202.101, include                agency proposal is comparable to the                   solicitation will specify the means by
                                                      in the evaluation criteria, factors or                  quality and price available from other                 which the statutory priority will be
                                                      subfactors for determining if the SLA                   providers.                                             afforded to the SLA’s proposal, if it


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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                              36509

                                                      satisfies the evaluation criteria, the                  Year (FY) 2006; and (4) the Committee                  List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 202,
                                                      statement of work, and the requirements                 for Purchase from People Who Are                       205, 212, 237, and 252
                                                      of the solicitation. Because each                       Blind or Severely Disabled (CFP) statute
                                                      solicitation must be developed                          (41 U.S.C. 8501, et seq.).                                 Government procurement.
                                                      independently, the DFARS will not                          The objective of the proposed rule is               Jennifer L. Hawes,
                                                      arbitrarily establish a price limitation                to amend the Defense Federal                           Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations
                                                      that would apply to all solicitations.                  Acquisition Regulation Supplement                      System.
                                                      III. Applicability to Contracts at or                   (DFARS) to clarify the application of the
                                                                                                              R–S Act and the CFP statute, formerly                    Therefore, 48 CFR parts 202, 205, 212,
                                                      Below the Simplified Acquisition                                                                               237, and 252 are proposed to be
                                                      Threshold and for Commercial Items,                     known as the Javits-Wagner-O’Day
                                                                                                              (JWOD) Act, to the operation and                       amended as follows:
                                                      Including Commercially Available Off-
                                                      the-Shelf Items                                         management of military dining                          ■ 1. The authority citation for parts 202,
                                                                                                              facilities.                                            205, 212, 237, and 252 continues to read
                                                         This rule proposes to create a new                      The R–S Act and the CFP statute have                as follows:
                                                      provision, DFARS 252.237–70XX,                          priority over the Small Business Act;
                                                      Operation of a Military Dining Facility,                                                                         Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1303 and 48 CFR
                                                                                                              therefore, the proposed rule has the                   chapter 1.
                                                      to notify offerors when a solicitation is               potential to impact small businesses
                                                      subject to the R–S Act. The R–S Act is                  that provide these services. A review of               PART 202—DEFINITIONS OF WORDS
                                                      not a covered law under 41 U.S.C.                       contract awards and purchase orders in                 AND TERMS
                                                      1905–1907, because it was enacted prior                 the Federal Procurement Data System
                                                      to October 13, 1994. Therefore, 41                      for the period fiscal year 2011 through                ■ 2. Amend section 202.101 by adding,
                                                      U.S.C. 1905–1907 do not exempt                          June 1, 2015, revealed that DoD made                   in alphabetical order, the definitions of
                                                      solicitations and contracts at or below                 five new awards, including one                         ‘‘Military dining facility’’ and
                                                      the simplified acquisition threshold and                purchase order, for dining services to                 ‘‘Operation of a military dining facility’’
                                                      for the acquisition of commercial items                 five unique vendors. Of those awards,                  to read as follows:
                                                      from the provisions of the R–S Act.                     one award was made to a small business                 202.101    Definitions.
                                                      IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563                    concern. Therefore, this proposed rule is
                                                                                                              not anticipated to impact a significant                *      *     *     *    *
                                                         Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and                                                                            Military dining facility means a
                                                      13563 direct agencies to assess all costs               number of small entities.
                                                                                                                 The proposed rule does not impose                   facility owned, operated, leased, or
                                                      and benefits of available regulatory                                                                           wholly controlled by DoD and used to
                                                      alternatives and, if regulation is                      any new reporting, recordkeeping, or
                                                                                                              other information collection                           provide dining services to members of
                                                      necessary, to select regulatory                                                                                the Armed Forces, including a cafeteria,
                                                      approaches that maximize net benefits                   requirements. The proposed rule is
                                                                                                              consistent with the DoED regulations                   military mess hall, military troop dining
                                                      (including potential economic,                                                                                 facility, or similar dining facility
                                                      environmental, public health and safety                 that implement the R–S Act (see 34 CFR
                                                                                                              395.1, et seq.).                                       operated with appropriated funds for
                                                      effects, distributive impacts, and                                                                             the purpose of providing meals to
                                                      equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the                         Concerning dining support services
                                                                                                              (including mess attendant services),                   members of the Armed Forces.
                                                      importance of quantifying both costs
                                                      and benefits, of reducing costs, of                     contracting officers shall follow the                  *      *     *     *    *
                                                      harmonizing rules, and of promoting                     standard Federal Acquisition Regulation                  Operation of a military dining facility
                                                      flexibility. This is a significant                      (FAR) subpart 8.7 and DFARS subpart                    means the exercise of management
                                                      regulatory action and, therefore, was                   208.7 procedures for procuring dining                  responsibility and day-to-day decision-
                                                      subject to review under section 6(b) of                 support services pursuant to the CFP                   making authority by a contractor for the
                                                      E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and                     statute and, if applicable, the FAR part               overall functioning of a military dining
                                                      Review, dated September 30, 1993. This                  19 and DFARS part 219 rules for small                  facility, including responsibility for its
                                                      rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C.                 business set-asides.                                   staff and subcontractors, where the DoD
                                                      804.                                                       Concerning the R–S Act priority for                 role is generally limited to contract
                                                                                                              operation of a military dining facility,               administration functions described in
                                                      V. Regulatory Flexibility Act                           the proposed rule requires full and open               FAR part 42.
                                                         DoD does not expect this proposed                    competition. Competition is the best                   *      *     *     *    *
                                                      rule to have a significant economic                     alternative for minimizing the impact on
                                                      impact on a substantial number of small                 small entities.                                        PART 205—PUBLICIZING CONTRACT
                                                      entities within the meaning of the                         DoD will consider comments from                     ACTIONS
                                                      Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601                small entities concerning the existing
                                                      et seq. However, an initial regulatory                  regulations in subparts affected by this               ■ 3. Amend section 205.207 by adding
                                                      flexibility analysis has been performed                 proposed rule in accordance with 5                     paragraph (a)(ii) to read as follows:
                                                      and is summarized as follows:                           U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must                    205.207 Preparation and transmittal of
                                                         The proposed rule will provide policy                submit such comments separately and                    synopses.
                                                      and procedures for soliciting and                       should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (DFARS Case
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                                                      awarding contracts for the operation of                 2015–D012), in correspondence.                            (a) * * *
                                                      a dining facility on a military                                                                                   (ii) When advertising for the operation
                                                      installation pursuant to: (1) The                       VI. Paperwork Reduction Act                            of a military dining facility, as defined
                                                      Randolph-Sheppard Act (R–S Act); (2)                      The proposed rule does not contain                   in 202.101, within the 50 States, the
                                                      the National Defense Authorization Act                  any information collection requirements                District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the
                                                      (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007; (3)                   that require the approval of the Office of             Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
                                                      the Joint Report and Policy Statement                   Management and Budget under the                        Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the
                                                      issued pursuant to the National Defense                 Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.                     U.S. Virgin Islands, the synopsis shall
                                                      Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal                     chapter 35).                                           state that the solicitation is subject to


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                                                      36510                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                                      the Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C.                    237.7X01     Definitions.                              237.7X03 Procedures for Randolph-
                                                      107, et seq.) (see 237.7X03).                                                                                  Sheppard Act contracts.
                                                                                                                 As used in this subpart—
                                                      *     *     *     *     *                                                                                         (a) When issuing a solicitation for the
                                                                                                                 Dining support services means food                  operation of a military dining facility,
                                                      PART 212—ACQUISITION OF                                 preparation services, food serving,                    include in the evaluation criteria factors
                                                      COMMERCIAL ITEMS                                        ordering and inventory of food, meal                   or subfactors for determining if the State
                                                                                                              planning, cashiers, mess attendant                     licensing agency proposal is comparable
                                                      ■ 4. Amend section 212.301 by—                          services, or any and all other services                to the quality and price available from
                                                      ■ a. Redesignating paragraph (c) as                     that are encompassed by, are included                  other providers.
                                                      paragraph (c)(i);                                       in, or otherwise support the operation of                 (b) A State licensing agency shall be
                                                      ■ b. Adding paragraph (c)(ii);                          a military dining facility, other than the             afforded priority for award of the
                                                      ■ c. Adding paragraph (f)(xv)(C).                       exercise of management responsibility                  contract if the State licensing agency has
                                                        The additions read as follows:                        and day-to-day decision-making                         submitted a proposal that—
                                                                                                              authority by a contractor for the overall                 (1) Demonstrates that the operation of
                                                      212.301 Solicitation provisions and                     functioning of a military dining facility.             the military dining facility can be
                                                      contract clauses for acquisition of
                                                                                                                 Mess attendant services (or ‘‘dining                provided with food of a high quality and
                                                      commercial items.
                                                                                                              facility attendant services’’) means those             at a fair and reasonable price
                                                        (c)(i) * * *                                                                                                 comparable to that available from other
                                                                                                              activities required to perform food line
                                                        (ii) When issuing a solicitation for the                                                                     providers; and
                                                                                                              support such as setting up the serving
                                                      operation of a military dining facility, as                                                                       (2) Has a reasonable chance of being
                                                                                                              lines, serving food and tearing down the
                                                      defined in 202.101, include in the                                                                             selected for award as determined by the
                                                                                                              serving line, preserving food for
                                                      evaluation criteria factors or subfactors                                                                      contracting officer after applying the
                                                                                                              subsequent meals, and performing
                                                      for determining if the State licensing                                                                         evaluation criteria contained in the
                                                                                                              janitorial and custodial duties within
                                                      agency proposal is comparable to the                                                                           solicitation.
                                                                                                              dining facilities, including sweeping,
                                                      quality and price available from other
                                                                                                              mopping, scrubbing, trash removal, pot                 237.7X04    Solicitation provision.
                                                      providers (see 237.7X03).
                                                                                                              and pan cleaning, dishwashing, waxing,                    (a) Except as provided in paragraph
                                                      *      *    *     *    *                                stripping, buffing, window washing,
                                                        (f) * * *                                                                                                    (b) of this section, use the provision at
                                                                                                              and other sanitation-related functions.                252.237–70XX, Operation of a Military
                                                        (xv) * * *
                                                                                                                 State licensing agency means the State              Dining Facility, in all solicitations,
                                                        (C) Use the provision at 252.237–
                                                                                                              agency designated by the Secretary of                  including solicitations using FAR part
                                                      70XX, Operation of a Military Dining
                                                                                                              Education under 34 CFR part 395 to                     12 procedures for the acquisition of
                                                      Facility, as prescribed in 237.7X04.
                                                                                                              issue licenses to blind persons for the                commercial items, that are for operation
                                                      *      *    *     *    *                                operation of vending facilities on                     of a military dining facility within the
                                                                                                              Federal and other property.                            50 States, the District of Columbia,
                                                      PART 237—SERVICE CONTRACTING
                                                                                                                                                                     Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the
                                                                                                              237.7X02     Policy.                                   Northern Mariana Islands, American
                                                      ■ 5. Add subpart 237.7X to read as
                                                      follows:                                                   (a) Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C.                Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin
                                                                                                              107 et seq.). (1) All contracts for the                Islands.
                                                      Subpart 237.7X—Services for Military
                                                                                                              ‘‘operation of military dining facilities’’               (b) Do not use the provision at
                                                      Dining Facilities
                                                                                                              (as defined at 202.101) within the 50                  252.237–70XX in solicitations for any
                                                      Sec.                                                                                                           food services or related services that are
                                                      237.7X00 Scope.                                         States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
                                                                                                              Rico, the Commonwealth of the                          identified on the Procurement List
                                                      237.7X01 Definitions.
                                                      237.7X02 Policy.                                        Northern Mariana Islands, American                     maintained by the Committee for
                                                      237.7X03 Procedures for Randolph-                       Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands                Purchase from People Who Are Blind or
                                                           Sheppard Act contracts.                            are subject to the Randolph-Sheppard                   Severely Disabled.
                                                      237.7X04 Solicitation provision.                        Act. Except as provided in paragraph
                                                                                                                                                                     PART 252—SOLICITATION
                                                                                                              (a)(2) of this section, follow the
                                                      Subpart 237.7X—Services for Military                                                                           PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT
                                                                                                              procedures at 237.7X03.
                                                      Dining Facilities                                                                                              CLAUSES
                                                                                                                 (2) The procedures at 237.7X03 do not
                                                      237.7X00    Scope.                                      apply to any food services or related                  ■ 6. Add section 252.237–70XX to read
                                                        This subpart provides policy and                      services that are identified on the                    as follows:
                                                      procedures for soliciting and awarding                  Procurement List maintained by the                     252.237–70XX Operation of a Military
                                                      contracts pursuant to—                                  Committee for Purchase from People                     Dining Facility.
                                                        (a) The Randolph-Sheppard Act (20                     Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.                      As prescribed in 237.7X04, use the
                                                      U.S.C. 107, et seq.);                                      (b) Committee for Purchase from                     following provision:
                                                        (b) The Committee for Purchase from                   People Who Are Blind or Severely
                                                      People Who are Blind or Severely                        Disabled statute (41 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.).             OPERATION OF A MILITARY DINING
                                                      Disabled statute (41 U.S.C. 8501, et                    Contracts for dining support services                  FACILITY (DATE)
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                                                      seq.);                                                  (including mess attendant services) in a                 This solicitation is for the operation of a
                                                        (c) Section 856 of the National                       military dining facility where DoD food                military dining facility.
                                                      Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal                    services specialists exercise                            (a) Definitions. As used in this provision—
                                                      Year 2007 (Pub. L. 109–364); and                        management responsibility over and                       Military dining facility means a facility
                                                                                                                                                                     owned, operated, leased, or wholly
                                                        (d) The Joint Report and Policy                       above those contract administration                    controlled by DoD and used to provide
                                                      Statement to Congress issued pursuant                   functions described in FAR part 42 are                 dining services to members of the Armed
                                                      to section 848 of the National Defense                  subject to the Committee for Purchase                  Forces, including a cafeteria, military mess
                                                      Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006                  from People Who Are Blind or Severely                  hall, military troop dining facility, or similar
                                                      (Pub. L. 109–163).                                      Disabled statute. See FAR subpart 8.7.                 dining facility operated with appropriated



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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 7, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                          36511

                                                      funds for the purpose of providing meals to             Finally, the proposed rule would                       be publicly accessible. NMFS will
                                                      members of the Armed Forces.                            remove extraneous regulatory text about                accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/
                                                         Operation of a military dining facility              the percentage of the annual baseline                  A’’ in the required fields if you wish to
                                                      means the exercise of management                        quota allocation that may be carried                   remain anonymous).
                                                      responsibility and day-to-day decision-
                                                      making authority by a contractor for the
                                                                                                              over in a given year. This proposed rule                 Presentation materials and copies of
                                                      overall functioning of a military dining                could affect commercial and                            the supporting documents—including
                                                      facility, including responsibility for its staff        recreational fishing for swordfish in the              the 2012 Environmental Assessment
                                                      and subcontractors, where the DoD role is               Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean                (EA), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR),
                                                      generally limited to contract administration            Sea and Gulf of Mexico. This action                    and Final Regulatory Flexibility
                                                      functions described in FAR part 42.                     implements ICCAT recommendations,                      Analysis (FRFA) for North Atlantic
                                                         State licensing agency means the State               consistent with the Atlantic Tunas                     swordfish; the 2007 EA, RIR, and FRFA
                                                      agency designated by the Secretary of                   Convention Act (ATCA), and furthers                    for South Atlantic swordfish; and the
                                                      Education under 34 CFR part 395 to issue                domestic management objectives under                   2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly
                                                      licenses to blind persons for the operation of
                                                      vending facilities on Federal and other
                                                                                                              the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery                           Migratory Species Fishery Management
                                                      property.                                               Conservation and Management Act                        Plan and associated documents—are
                                                         (b) A State licensing agency will be                 (Magnuson-Stevens Act).                                available from the HMS Management
                                                      afforded priority for award of the contract if          DATES: Written comments must be                        Division Web site at http://
                                                      the State licensing agency has submitted a              received by July 7, 2016. An operator-                 www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or by
                                                      proposal that—                                          assisted, public conference call and                   contacting Steve Durkee by phone at
                                                         (1) Demonstrates the operation of the                webinar will be held on June 29, 2016,                 202–670–6637.
                                                      military dining facility can be provided with
                                                      food of a high quality and at a fair and
                                                                                                              from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., EST.                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                      reasonable price comparable to that available           ADDRESSES: The conference call                         Steve Durkee by phone at 202–670–6637
                                                      from other providers; and                               information is phone number 1 (888)                    or Karyl Brewster-Geisz by phone at
                                                         (2) Is judged to have a reasonable chance            469–1171; participant passcode                         301–427–8503.
                                                      of being selected for award as determined by            6508132. Participants are strongly                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                      the contracting officer after applying the              encouraged to log/dial in fifteen
                                                      evaluation criteria contained in the                    minutes prior to the meeting. NMFS                     Background
                                                      solicitation.
                                                                                                              will show a brief presentation via                        The U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery is
                                                      (End of provision)                                      webinar followed by public comment.                    managed under the 2006 Consolidated
                                                      [FR Doc. 2016–13257 Filed 6–6–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                              To join the webinar go to: https://noaa-               Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery
                                                                                                              meets.webex.com/noaa-meets/j.php                       Management Plan (FMP). Implementing
                                                      BILLING CODE 6820–ep–P
                                                                                                              ?MTID=mc0c72c596c13e8dde4e1d                           regulations at 50 CFR part 635 are
                                                                                                              2edf8d8ebd2, event password:                           issued under the authority of the
                                                                                                              swGMiC3d. Participants that have not                   Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801
                                                      DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  used WebEx before will be prompted to                  et seq., and ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.
                                                                                                              download and run a plug-in program                     ATCA authorizes the Secretary of
                                                      National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                                                                              that will enable them to view the                      Commerce (Secretary) to promulgate
                                                      Administration
                                                                                                              webinar.                                               regulations, as may be necessary and
                                                                                                                 You may submit comments on this                     appropriate, to implement ICCAT
                                                      50 CFR Part 635
                                                                                                              document, identified by NOAA–NMFS–                     recommendations.
                                                      [Docket No. 160412328–6446–01]                          2016–0051, by any of the following
                                                                                                                                                                     North Atlantic Swordfish Quota
                                                                                                              methods:
                                                      RIN 0648–BF97                                              • Electronic Submission: Submit all                    At the 2013 ICCAT annual meeting,
                                                                                                              electronic public comments via the                     Recommendation 13–02 was adopted,
                                                      Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
                                                                                                              Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to                     maintaining the North Atlantic
                                                      North and South Atlantic 2016
                                                                                                              www.regulations.gov/                                   swordfish total allowable catch (TAC) of
                                                      Commercial Swordfish Quotas
                                                                                                              #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-                       10,301 metric tons (mt) dressed weight
                                                      AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                      0051, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,                 (dw) (13,700 mt whole weight (ww))
                                                      Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                    complete the required fields, and enter                through 2016. Of this TAC, the United
                                                      Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                      or attach your comments.                               States’ baseline quota is 2,937.6 mt dw
                                                      Commerce.                                                  • Mail: Submit written comments to                  (3,907 mt ww) per year. ICCAT
                                                      ACTION: Proposed rule; request for                      Margo Schulze-Haugen, NMFS/SF1,                        Recommendation 13–02 also includes
                                                      comments.                                               1315 East-West Highway, National                       an 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) annual quota
                                                                                                              Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC3, Silver                transfer from the United States to
                                                      SUMMARY:   In this rule, NMFS proposes                  Spring, MD 20910.                                      Mauritania and limits underharvest
                                                      to adjust the 2016 fishing season quotas                   Instructions: Comments sent by any                  carryover to 15 percent of a contracting
                                                      for North and South Atlantic swordfish                  other method, to any other address or                  party’s baseline quota. Therefore, the
                                                      based upon 2015 commercial quota                        individual, or received after the end of               United States may carry over a
                                                      underharvests and international quota                   the comment period, may not be                         maximum of 440.6 mt dw (586.0 mt
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      transfers consistent with the                           considered by NMFS. All comments                       ww) of underharvest from 2015 to 2016.
                                                      International Commission for the                        received are a part of the public record               This proposed rule would establish the
                                                      Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)                  and will generally be posted for public                U.S. adjusted quota for the 2016 fishing
                                                      Recommendations 13–02 and 13–03.                        viewing on www.regulations.gov                         year to account for the annual quota
                                                      The rule also discusses our intent to                   without change. All personal identifying               transfer to Mauritania and the 2015
                                                      simplify the annual North and South                     information (e.g., name, address, etc.),               underharvest.
                                                      Atlantic quota adjustment process when                  confidential business information, or                     The preliminary estimate of North
                                                      the adjustment simply applies a                         otherwise sensitive information                        Atlantic swordfish underharvest for
                                                      previously-adopted formula or measure.                  submitted voluntarily by the sender will               2015 was 2,181.6 mt dw as of December


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Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:31:49
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:31:49
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesComments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to
ContactMs. Amy Williams, telephone 571-372- 6106.
FR Citation81 FR 36506 
RIN Number0750-AI78
CFR Citation48 CFR 202
48 CFR 205
48 CFR 212
48 CFR 237
48 CFR 252

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