83_FR_16073 83 FR 16001 - Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Competition for Religious-Related Services Contracts (DFARS Case 2016-D015)

83 FR 16001 - Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Competition for Religious-Related Services Contracts (DFARS Case 2016-D015)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Defense Acquisition Regulations System

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 72 (April 13, 2018)

Page Range16001-16003
FR Document2018-07731

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, clarifying the competition requirements for the acquisition of religious-related services contracts on a United States military installation.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 72 (Friday, April 13, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 72 (Friday, April 13, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16001-16003]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07731]



[[Page 16001]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Acquisition Regulations System

48 CFR Parts 212, 213, 219, 237, and 252

[Docket DARS-2016-0034]
RIN 0750-AJ06


Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Competition 
for Religious-Related Services Contracts (DFARS Case 2016-D015)

AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense 
(DoD).

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal 
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, clarifying the 
competition requirements for the acquisition of religious-related 
services contracts on a United States military installation.

DATES: Effective April 13, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carrie Moore, telephone 571-372-
6093.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    DoD published a proposed rule in the Federal Register at 81 FR 
93875 on December 22, 2016, recommending revisions to the DFARS to 
implement section 898 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 (Pub. L. 114-92). Section 898 requires that 
DoD not preclude a nonprofit organization from competing for a contract 
for religious-related services on a United States military 
installation. The proposed revisions set forth policy and procedures 
that allow nonprofit organizations to participate in small business 
set-asides and directed contracting officers not to use the sole source 
authorities at FAR 6.302-5(b)(4) through (7) when acquiring religious-
related services on a United States military installation. The proposed 
rule also contained a new provision to ensure that potential offerors 
are aware that a nonprofit organization will not be precluded from 
competing for a contract for religious-related services under a small 
business set-aside, notwithstanding that it is not one of the small 
business types identified in FAR 19.000(a)(3).
    The comment period for the proposed rule closed on February 21, 
2017. There were no public comments submitted in response to the 
proposed rule.

II. Discussion and Analysis

    There are no changes made in the final rule from the proposed rule.

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

    This rule applies the requirements of section 898 of the NDAA for 
FY 2016 to contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold 
(SAT), and to contracts for the acquisition of commercial items. The 
rule is not applicable to the contracts for the acquisition of 
commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items. Accordingly, the 
Director, DPAP, has signed a determination and finding to apply this 
rule to contracts or subcontracts in amounts not greater than the SAT 
and the acquisition of commercial items, excluding COTS items, for 
DFARS clause 252.219-7012, Competition for Religious-Related Services.

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 not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 
subject to review under section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning 
and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule 
under 5 U.S.C. 804.

V. Executive Order 13771

    This rule is not subject to E.O. 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 3, 
2017), because this rule is not a significant regulatory action.

VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    A final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) has been prepared 
consistent with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. 
The FRFA is summarized as follows:
    The objective of this final is to implement section 898 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. The rule does 
so by amending the DFARS to establish the policy and procedures 
necessary to ensure nonprofit entities, such as religious 
organizations, are not precluded from participating in acquisitions for 
religious related services on U.S. military installations. There were 
no public comments received in response to the initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis.
    This rule may have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small businesses that typically compete for contracts for the 
covered services, since most of the contracts awarded for religious-
related services fall within the dollar range reserved exclusively for 
small business participation (over the micro-purchase threshold, but no 
more than the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT)). The rule may 
also have a significant economic impact on nonprofit organizations, 
since these entities are normally precluded from competing for such 
acquisitions that are reserved for small business concerns. However, 
the impact is also bounded as this is a small sector in terms of the 
numbers of purchase orders DoD awards in a year for these requirements, 
and the dollar value of these orders is relatively low.
    According to data obtained from the Federal Procurement Data System 
(FPDS) for FY 2015, DoD awarded 290 contracts to 232 unique businesses 
for religious-related services under the product services code for 
Chaplain Services (G002), the majority of which (95 percent) are valued 
below the SAT. Of those 290 contracts, approximately 160 contracts were 
awarded to 130 unique small business concerns (56 percent). The FPDS 
data further indicates that of the 160 contracts awarded to small 
business, 137 of the contracts were awarded on the basis of a total 
small business set-aside, including one total set-aside to women-owned 
small business concerns. In addition, in order to carry out the 
Congressional mandate of section 898, this rule restricts the use of 
the sole source authorities at FAR 6.302-5(b)(4) through (7) when 
contracting for religious-related services on U.S. military 
installations; as a result, such solicitations would have to be 
competed in a manner that allows nonprofit organizations to 
participate. Analysis of FPDS data for FY 2015 reveals that four 
contracts were awarded to a HUBZone small business concern on a sole 
source basis.
    Additional FPDS data was obtained for FY 2016, which showed DoD 
awarded 256 contracts to 212 unique businesses for religious-related 
services under product service code G002, of which the majority (91 
percent) were

[[Page 16002]]

valued below the SAT. Of those 256 contracts, 158 contracts (62 
percent) were awarded to 130 unique small business concerns (63 
percent). 116 contracts were solicited using a total small business 
set-aside. Again, as a result of this rule, such solicitations could 
not preclude a nonprofit organization from submitting an offer and 
being considered for award. Six contracts were awarded on a sole source 
basis under the Small Business Act 8(a) Business Development Program 
(8(a) Program); however, this rule restricts DoD contracting officers 
from using the sole source authority at FAR 6.302-5(b)(4) for the 8(a) 
Program to procure religious-related services to be performed on a U.S. 
military installation. In order to comply with section 898, any 
requirements currently in the 8(a) program would be required, upon 
renewal, to be solicited in a manner that does not preclude a nonprofit 
organization from the competition.
    There are no reporting, recordkeeping, or compliance requirements 
associated with this rule.
    There are no significant alternative approaches to the rule that 
would minimize the impact on small entities and meet the stated 
objectives of the statute.

VII. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The 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 212, 213, 219, 237, and 252

    Government procurement.

Jennifer Lee Hawes,
Regulatory Control Officer, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.

    Therefore, 48 CFR parts 212, 213, 219, 237, and 252 are amended as 
follows:

0
1. The authority citation for parts 212, 213, 219, 237, and 252 
continues to read as follows:

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

PART 212--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS

0
2. Amend section 212.301 by adding new paragraph (f)(vii)(D) to read as 
follows:


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

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (vii) * * *
    (D) Use the provision at 252.219-7012, Competition for Religious-
Related Services, as prescribed in 219.270-3.
* * * * *

PART 213--SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES

0
3. Amend section 213.7001 by--
0
a. Redesignating paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) as paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and 
(ii), respectively;
0
b. Redesignating the introductory text as paragraph (a)(1);
0
c. Redesignating paragraph (b) as paragraph (a)(2); and
0
d. Adding a new paragraph (b).
    The addition reads as follows:


213.7001   Procedures.

* * * * *
    (b) To comply with section 898 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Pub. L. 114-92), contracting 
officers shall not use the sole source authority at FAR 6.302-5(b)(4) 
to purchase religious-related services to be performed on a U.S. 
military installation. For competitive purchases under the 8(a) 
program, contracting officers shall not exclude a nonprofit 
organization from the competition. See 219.270 for additional 
procedures.

PART 219--SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

0
4. Add sections 219.270, 219.270-1, 219.270-2, and 219.270-3 to subpart 
219.2 to read as follows:


219.270   Religious-related services--inclusion of nonprofit 
organizations.


219.270-1   Definition.

    As used in this section--
    Nonprofit organization means any organization that is--
    (1) Described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986; and
    (2) Exempt from tax under section 501(a) of that Code.


219.270-2   Procedures.

    (a) To comply with section 898 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Pub. L. 114-92), when acquiring 
religious-related services to be performed on a U.S. military 
installation--
    (1) Do not preclude a nonprofit organization from competing, even 
when the acquisition is set aside for small businesses as identified in 
FAR 19.000(a)(3); and
    (2) Do not use any of the sole source exceptions at FAR 6.302-
5(b)(4) through (7) for such acquisitions.
    (b) If the apparently successful offeror has not represented in its 
quotation or offer that it is one of the small business concerns 
identified in FAR 19.000(a)(3), the contracting officer shall verify 
that the offeror is registered in the System for Award Management 
database as a nonprofit organization.


219.270-3   Solicitation provision.

    Use the provision 252.219-7012, Competition for Religious-Related 
Services, in solicitations, including solicitations using FAR part 12 
procedures for the acquisition of commercial items, for the acquisition 
of religious-related services to be performed on U.S. military 
installations, when the acquisition is set aside for any of the small 
business concerns identified in FAR 19.000(a)(3).

PART 237--SERVICE CONTRACTING

0
5. Add new subpart 237.77 to read as follows:
Subpart 237.77--Competition for Religious-Related Services
Sec.
237.7700 Scope of subpart.
237.7701 Definition.
237.7702 Policy.

Subpart 237.77--Competition for Religious-Related Services


237.7700   Scope of subpart.

    This subpart provides policy and guidance for the acquisition of 
religious-related services to be performed on a U.S. military 
installation in accordance with section 898 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Pub. L. 114-92).


237.7701   Definition.

    As used in this subpart--
    Nonprofit organization means any organization that is--
    (1) Described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986; and
    (2) Exempt from tax under section 501(a) of that Code.


237.7702   Policy.

    (a) A nonprofit organization shall not be precluded from competing 
for a contract for religious-related services to be performed on a U.S. 
military installation.
    (b) See 219.270 when an acquisition for religious-related services 
to be performed on a U.S. military installation is set aside for any of 
the small business concerns identified in FAR 19.000(a)(3).

[[Page 16003]]

PART 252--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
6. Add section 252.219-7012 to read as follows:


252.219-7012   Competition for Religious-Related Services.

    As prescribed in 219.270-3, use the following provision:

Competition for Religious-Related Services (APR 2018)

    (a) Definition. As used in this provision--
    Nonprofit organization means any organization that is--
    (1) Described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986; and
    (2) Exempt from tax under section 501(a) of that Code.
    (b) A nonprofit organization is not precluded from competing for 
a contract for religious-related services to be performed on a U.S. 
military installation notwithstanding that a nonprofit organization 
is not a small business concern as identified in FAR 19.000(a)(3).
    (c) If the apparently successful offeror has not represented in 
its offer or quotation that it is a small business concern 
identified in FAR 19.000(a)(3), as appropriate to the solicitation, 
the Contracting Officer will verify that the offeror is registered 
in the System for Award Management (SAM) database as a nonprofit 
organization.

(End of provision)

[FR Doc. 2018-07731 Filed 4-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P



                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 72 / Friday, April 13, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                       16001

                                             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                   were no public comments submitted in                  policy and procedures necessary to
                                                                                                     response to the proposed rule.                        ensure nonprofit entities, such as
                                             Defense Acquisition Regulations                                                                               religious organizations, are not
                                             System                                                  II. Discussion and Analysis
                                                                                                                                                           precluded from participating in
                                                                                                        There are no changes made in the                   acquisitions for religious related
                                             48 CFR Parts 212, 213, 219, 237, and                    final rule from the proposed rule.                    services on U.S. military installations.
                                             252                                                     III. Applicability to Contracts at or                 There were no public comments
                                                                                                     Below the Simplified Acquisition                      received in response to the initial
                                             [Docket DARS–2016–0034]                                                                                       regulatory flexibility analysis.
                                                                                                     Threshold and for Commercial Items,
                                             RIN 0750–AJ06                                                                                                    This rule may have a significant
                                                                                                     Including Commercially Available Off-
                                                                                                                                                           economic impact on a substantial
                                                                                                     the-Shelf Items
                                             Defense Federal Acquisition                                                                                   number of small businesses that
                                             Regulation Supplement: Competition                         This rule applies the requirements of              typically compete for contracts for the
                                             for Religious-Related Services                          section 898 of the NDAA for FY 2016 to                covered services, since most of the
                                             Contracts (DFARS Case 2016–D015)                        contracts at or below the simplified                  contracts awarded for religious-related
                                                                                                     acquisition threshold (SAT), and to                   services fall within the dollar range
                                             AGENCY:  Defense Acquisition                            contracts for the acquisition of                      reserved exclusively for small business
                                             Regulations System, Department of                       commercial items. The rule is not                     participation (over the micro-purchase
                                             Defense (DoD).                                          applicable to the contracts for the                   threshold, but no more than the
                                             ACTION: Final rule.                                     acquisition of commercially available                 simplified acquisition threshold (SAT)).
                                                                                                     off-the-shelf (COTS) items. Accordingly,              The rule may also have a significant
                                             SUMMARY:   DoD is issuing a final rule                  the Director, DPAP, has signed a                      economic impact on nonprofit
                                             amending the Defense Federal                            determination and finding to apply this               organizations, since these entities are
                                             Acquisition Regulation Supplement                       rule to contracts or subcontracts in                  normally precluded from competing for
                                             (DFARS) to implement a section of the                   amounts not greater than the SAT and                  such acquisitions that are reserved for
                                             National Defense Authorization Act for                  the acquisition of commercial items,                  small business concerns. However, the
                                             Fiscal Year 2016, clarifying the                        excluding COTS items, for DFARS                       impact is also bounded as this is a small
                                             competition requirements for the                        clause 252.219–7012, Competition for                  sector in terms of the numbers of
                                             acquisition of religious-related services               Religious-Related Services.                           purchase orders DoD awards in a year
                                             contracts on a United States military                                                                         for these requirements, and the dollar
                                             installation.                                           IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563                  value of these orders is relatively low.
                                             DATES:   Effective April 13, 2018.                         Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and                    According to data obtained from the
                                                                                                     13563 direct agencies to assess all costs             Federal Procurement Data System
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.                    and benefits of available regulatory                  (FPDS) for FY 2015, DoD awarded 290
                                             Carrie Moore, telephone 571–372–6093.                   alternatives and, if regulation is                    contracts to 232 unique businesses for
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              necessary, to select regulatory                       religious-related services under the
                                             I. Background                                           approaches that maximize net benefits                 product services code for Chaplain
                                                                                                     (including potential economic,                        Services (G002), the majority of which
                                               DoD published a proposed rule in the                  environmental, public health and safety               (95 percent) are valued below the SAT.
                                             Federal Register at 81 FR 93875 on                      effects, distributive impacts, and                    Of those 290 contracts, approximately
                                             December 22, 2016, recommending                         equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the                    160 contracts were awarded to 130
                                             revisions to the DFARS to implement                     importance of quantifying both costs                  unique small business concerns (56
                                             section 898 of the National Defense                     and benefits, of reducing costs, of                   percent). The FPDS data further
                                             Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal                     harmonizing rules, and of promoting                   indicates that of the 160 contracts
                                             Year (FY) 2016 (Pub. L. 114–92). Section                flexibility. This is a not a significant              awarded to small business, 137 of the
                                             898 requires that DoD not preclude a                    regulatory action and, therefore, was not             contracts were awarded on the basis of
                                             nonprofit organization from competing                   subject to review under section 6(b) of               a total small business set-aside,
                                             for a contract for religious-related                    E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and                   including one total set-aside to women-
                                             services on a United States military                    Review, dated September 30, 1993. This                owned small business concerns. In
                                             installation. The proposed revisions set                rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C.               addition, in order to carry out the
                                             forth policy and procedures that allow                  804.                                                  Congressional mandate of section 898,
                                             nonprofit organizations to participate in                                                                     this rule restricts the use of the sole
                                             small business set-asides and directed                  V. Executive Order 13771                              source authorities at FAR 6.302–5(b)(4)
                                             contracting officers not to use the sole                  This rule is not subject to E.O. 13771              through (7) when contracting for
                                             source authorities at FAR 6.302–5(b)(4)                 (82 FR 9339, February 3, 2017), because               religious-related services on U.S.
                                             through (7) when acquiring religious-                   this rule is not a significant regulatory             military installations; as a result, such
                                             related services on a United States                     action.                                               solicitations would have to be competed
                                             military installation. The proposed rule                                                                      in a manner that allows nonprofit
                                             also contained a new provision to                       VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act                        organizations to participate. Analysis of
                                             ensure that potential offerors are aware                  A final regulatory flexibility analysis             FPDS data for FY 2015 reveals that four
                                             that a nonprofit organization will not be               (FRFA) has been prepared consistent                   contracts were awarded to a HUBZone
                                             precluded from competing for a contract                 with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5                small business concern on a sole source
                                             for religious-related services under a
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                                                                                                     U.S.C. 601, et seq. The FRFA is                       basis.
                                             small business set-aside,                               summarized as follows:                                   Additional FPDS data was obtained
                                             notwithstanding that it is not one of the                 The objective of this final is to                   for FY 2016, which showed DoD
                                             small business types identified in FAR                  implement section 898 of the National                 awarded 256 contracts to 212 unique
                                             19.000(a)(3).                                           Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal                  businesses for religious-related services
                                               The comment period for the proposed                   Year 2016. The rule does so by                        under product service code G002, of
                                             rule closed on February 21, 2017. There                 amending the DFARS to establish the                   which the majority (91 percent) were


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                                             16002                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 72 / Friday, April 13, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                             valued below the SAT. Of those 256                        (f) * * *                                             (b) If the apparently successful offeror
                                             contracts, 158 contracts (62 percent)                     (vii) * * *                                         has not represented in its quotation or
                                             were awarded to 130 unique small                          (D) Use the provision at 252.219–                   offer that it is one of the small business
                                             business concerns (63 percent). 116                     7012, Competition for Religious-Related               concerns identified in FAR 19.000(a)(3),
                                             contracts were solicited using a total                  Services, as prescribed in 219.270–3.                 the contracting officer shall verify that
                                             small business set-aside. Again, as a                   *     *     *    *     *                              the offeror is registered in the System
                                             result of this rule, such solicitations                                                                       for Award Management database as a
                                             could not preclude a nonprofit                          PART 213—SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION                       nonprofit organization.
                                             organization from submitting an offer                   PROCEDURES
                                             and being considered for award. Six                                                                           219.270–3     Solicitation provision.
                                             contracts were awarded on a sole source                 ■ 3. Amend section 213.7001 by—
                                                                                                     ■ a. Redesignating paragraphs (a)(1) and                Use the provision 252.219–7012,
                                             basis under the Small Business Act 8(a)                                                                       Competition for Religious-Related
                                                                                                     (2) as paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (ii),
                                             Business Development Program (8(a)                                                                            Services, in solicitations, including
                                                                                                     respectively;
                                             Program); however, this rule restricts                                                                        solicitations using FAR part 12
                                                                                                     ■ b. Redesignating the introductory text
                                             DoD contracting officers from using the                                                                       procedures for the acquisition of
                                                                                                     as paragraph (a)(1);
                                             sole source authority at FAR 6.302–                     ■ c. Redesignating paragraph (b) as                   commercial items, for the acquisition of
                                             5(b)(4) for the 8(a) Program to procure                 paragraph (a)(2); and                                 religious-related services to be
                                             religious-related services to be                        ■ d. Adding a new paragraph (b).                      performed on U.S. military installations,
                                             performed on a U.S. military                              The addition reads as follows:                      when the acquisition is set aside for any
                                             installation. In order to comply with
                                                                                                     213.7001     Procedures.                              of the small business concerns
                                             section 898, any requirements currently
                                                                                                                                                           identified in FAR 19.000(a)(3).
                                             in the 8(a) program would be required,                  *     *     *     *     *
                                             upon renewal, to be solicited in a                        (b) To comply with section 898 of the               PART 237—SERVICE CONTRACTING
                                             manner that does not preclude a                         National Defense Authorization Act for
                                             nonprofit organization from the                         Fiscal Year 2016 (Pub. L. 114–92),
                                                                                                     contracting officers shall not use the                ■ 5. Add new subpart 237.77 to read as
                                             competition.
                                               There are no reporting, recordkeeping,                sole source authority at FAR 6.302–                   follows:
                                             or compliance requirements associated                   5(b)(4) to purchase religious-related                 Subpart 237.77—Competition for Religious-
                                             with this rule.                                         services to be performed on a U.S.                    Related Services
                                               There are no significant alternative                  military installation. For competitive                Sec.
                                             approaches to the rule that would                       purchases under the 8(a) program,                     237.7700    Scope of subpart.
                                             minimize the impact on small entities                   contracting officers shall not exclude a              237.7701    Definition.
                                             and meet the stated objectives of the                   nonprofit organization from the                       237.7702    Policy.
                                             statute.                                                competition. See 219.270 for additional
                                                                                                     procedures.                                           Subpart 237.77—Competition for
                                             VII. Paperwork Reduction Act
                                                                                                                                                           Religious-Related Services
                                               The rule does not contain any                         PART 219—SMALL BUSINESS
                                             information collection requirements that                PROGRAMS                                              237.7700    Scope of subpart.
                                             require the approval of the Office of
                                                                                                     ■ 4. Add sections 219.270, 219.270–1,                   This subpart provides policy and
                                             Management and Budget under the
                                                                                                     219.270–2, and 219.270–3 to subpart                   guidance for the acquisition of religious-
                                             Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
                                                                                                     219.2 to read as follows:                             related services to be performed on a
                                             chapter 35).
                                                                                                                                                           U.S. military installation in accordance
                                             List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 212,                   219.270 Religious-related services—                   with section 898 of the National Defense
                                             213, 219, 237, and 252                                  inclusion of nonprofit organizations.                 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016
                                                 Government procurement.                             219.270–1     Definition.                             (Pub. L. 114–92).
                                             Jennifer Lee Hawes,
                                                                                                       As used in this section—                            237.7701    Definition.
                                                                                                       Nonprofit organization means any
                                             Regulatory Control Officer, Defense                                                                             As used in this subpart—
                                                                                                     organization that is—
                                             Acquisition Regulations System.
                                                                                                       (1) Described in section 501(c) of the                Nonprofit organization means any
                                               Therefore, 48 CFR parts 212, 213, 219,                Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and                    organization that is—
                                             237, and 252 are amended as follows:                      (2) Exempt from tax under section
                                                                                                     501(a) of that Code.                                    (1) Described in section 501(c) of the
                                             ■ 1. The authority citation for parts 212,
                                                                                                                                                           Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
                                             213, 219, 237, and 252 continues to read                219.270–2     Procedures.
                                             as follows:                                                                                                     (2) Exempt from tax under section
                                                                                                       (a) To comply with section 898 of the               501(a) of that Code.
                                               Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1303 and 48 CFR                  National Defense Authorization Act for
                                             chapter 1.                                              Fiscal Year 2016 (Pub. L. 114–92), when               237.7702    Policy.
                                                                                                     acquiring religious-related services to be
                                             PART 212—ACQUISITION OF                                                                                          (a) A nonprofit organization shall not
                                                                                                     performed on a U.S. military
                                             COMMERCIAL ITEMS                                                                                              be precluded from competing for a
                                                                                                     installation—
                                                                                                       (1) Do not preclude a nonprofit                     contract for religious-related services to
                                             ■ 2. Amend section 212.301 by adding                                                                          be performed on a U.S. military
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES




                                             new paragraph (f)(vii)(D) to read as                    organization from competing, even
                                                                                                     when the acquisition is set aside for                 installation.
                                             follows:
                                                                                                     small businesses as identified in FAR                    (b) See 219.270 when an acquisition
                                             212.301 Solicitation provisions and                     19.000(a)(3); and                                     for religious-related services to be
                                             contract clauses for the acquisition of                   (2) Do not use any of the sole source               performed on a U.S. military installation
                                             commercial items.                                       exceptions at FAR 6.302–5(b)(4) through               is set aside for any of the small business
                                             *      *     *       *      *                           (7) for such acquisitions.                            concerns identified in FAR 19.000(a)(3).


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 72 / Friday, April 13, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                         16003

                                             PART 252—SOLICITATION                                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and
                                             PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT                                 Ms. Amy Williams, telephone 571–372–                  Review, dated September 30, 1993. This
                                             CLAUSES                                                 6106.                                                 rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C.
                                                                                                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            804.
                                             ■ 6. Add section 252.219–7012 to read
                                             as follows:                                             I. Background                                         V. Executive Order 13771
                                                                                                        DoD is amending the DFARS to
                                             252.219–7012 Competition for Religious-                                                                         This rule is not subject to E.O. 13771,
                                             Related Services.
                                                                                                     implement section 1216 of the National
                                                                                                     Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for                  Reducing Regulation and Controlling
                                               As prescribed in 219.270–3, use the                   Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 (Pub. L. 114–328).              Regulatory Costs, because the rule
                                             following provision:                                    Section 1216 requires that funding                    relates to agency organization,
                                             Competition for Religious-Related                       amounts available to the Department of                management, or personnel.
                                             Services (APR 2018)                                     Defense may not be obligated or                       VI. Publication of This Final Rule for
                                                                                                     expended for a construction or other                  Public Comment Is Not Required by
                                                (a) Definition. As used in this provision—
                                                Nonprofit organization means any                     infrastructure program or project of the              Statute
                                             organization that is—                                   Department in Afghanistan if military or
                                                (1) Described in section 501(c) of the               civilian personnel of the United States                  The statute that applies to the
                                             Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and                      Government, or their representatives                  publication of the Federal Acquisition
                                                (2) Exempt from tax under section 501(a)             with authority to conduct oversight of                Regulation is codified at Title 41 of the
                                             of that Code.                                           such program or project, cannot safely                United States Code (formerly known as
                                                (b) A nonprofit organization is not                  access such program or project. The
                                             precluded from competing for a contract for                                                                   the Office of Federal Procurement
                                                                                                     prohibition may be waived with an                     Policy Act). Specifically, 41 U.S.C
                                             religious-related services to be performed on
                                             a U.S. military installation notwithstanding
                                                                                                     approved determination.                               1707(a)(1) requires that a procurement
                                             that a nonprofit organization is not a small            II. Discussion and Analysis                           policy, regulation, procedure or form
                                             business concern as identified in FAR                                                                         (including an amendment or
                                             19.000(a)(3).                                              To implement section 1216, this rule
                                                                                                     adds a new DFARS section 225.7705,                    modification thereof) must be published
                                                (c) If the apparently successful offeror has
                                             not represented in its offer or quotation that          Prohibition on use of funds for contracts             for public comment if it relates to the
                                             it is a small business concern identified in            of certain programs and projects in                   expenditure of appropriated funds, and
                                             FAR 19.000(a)(3), as appropriate to the                 Afghanistan that cannot be safely                     has either a significant effect beyond the
                                             solicitation, the Contracting Officer will              accessed. The procedures provided in                  internal operating procedures of the
                                             verify that the offeror is registered in the            this new section are strictly internal to             agency issuing the policy, regulation,
                                             System for Award Management (SAM)                                                                             procedure or form, or has a significant
                                                                                                     the Government, in that they instruct
                                             database as a nonprofit organization.
                                                                                                     the contracting officer to not obligate               cost or administrative impact on
                                             (End of provision)
                                                                                                     funds on the covered contracts, unless                contractors or offerors. This final rule is
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–07731 Filed 4–12–18; 8:45 am]             (1) Government personnel can safely                   not required to be published for public
                                             BILLING CODE 5001–06–P                                  access the project, or (2) a determination            comment, because it only provides
                                                                                                     is approved by the appropriate authority              procedures for United States
                                                                                                     to waive this restriction, as outlined in             Government personnel to follow for
                                             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                   the statute.                                          certain programs and projects in
                                             Defense Acquisition Regulations                         III. Applicability to Contracts at or                 Afghanistan that cannot be safely
                                             System                                                  Below the Simplified Acquisition                      accessed. These requirements affect
                                                                                                     Threshold and for Commercial Items,                   only the internal operating procedures
                                             48 CFR Part 225                                         Including Commercially Available Off-                 of the Government.
                                                                                                     the-Shelf Items
                                             [Docket DARS–2018–D007]                                                                                       VII. Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                                                                        This rule does not add any new
                                             RIN 0750–AJ38                                                                                                   Because a notice of proposed
                                                                                                     burdens or impact applicability of
                                             Defense Federal Acquisition                             clauses and provisions at or below the                rulemaking and an opportunity for
                                             Regulation Supplement: Safe Access                      simplified acquisition threshold, or to               public comment are not required to be
                                             to Projects in Afghanistan (DFARS                       acquisition of commercial items.                      given for this rule under 41 U.S.C.
                                             Case 2017–D032)                                         IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563                  1707(a)(1) (see section VI. of this
                                                                                                                                                           preamble), the analytical requirements
                                             AGENCY:  Defense Acquisition                               Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and                 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                             Regulations System, Department of                       13563 direct agencies to assess all costs             (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are not applicable.
                                             Defense (DoD).                                          and benefits of available regulatory                  Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility
                                             ACTION: Final rule.                                     alternatives and, if regulation is
                                                                                                                                                           analysis is required and none has been
                                                                                                     necessary, to select regulatory
                                             SUMMARY:   DoD is amending the Defense                                                                        prepared.
                                                                                                     approaches that maximize net benefits
                                             Federal Acquisition Regulation                          (including potential economic,                        VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act
                                             Supplement (DFARS) to implement a                       environmental, public health and safety
                                             section of the National Defense                         effects, distributive impacts, and                      The rule does not contain any
                                             Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017                  equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the                    information collection requirements that
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES




                                             that prohibits use of funds for certain                 importance of quantifying both costs                  require the approval of the Office of
                                             programs and projects of the                            and benefits, of reducing costs, of                   Management and Budget under the
                                             Department of Defense in Afghanistan                    harmonizing rules, and of promoting                   Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
                                             that cannot be safely accessed by United                flexibility. This is a significant                    chapter 35).
                                             States Government personnel.                            regulatory action and, therefore, was
                                             DATES: Effective April 13, 2018.                        subject to review under section 6(b) of


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Document Created: 2018-04-13 00:18:16
Document Modified: 2018-04-13 00:18:16
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesEffective April 13, 2018.
ContactMs. Carrie Moore, telephone 571-372- 6093.
FR Citation83 FR 16001 
RIN Number0750-AJ06
CFR Citation48 CFR 212
48 CFR 213
48 CFR 219
48 CFR 237
48 CFR 252

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