Federal Acquisition Regulation; Records of Plant Equipment

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

48 CFR Part 45

[FAC 90-20; FAR Case 91-73; Item XVI]

RIN 9000-AF02

Federal Acquisition Regulation; Records of Plant Equipment

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration

(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC) and the Defense

Acquisition Regulations Council (DARC) have agreed on a final rule to

amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) under Management of

Government Property in the Possession of Contractors, to add language

on the use of summary records and expand the use of summary records to

special tooling and special test equipment costing less than $5,000.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 9, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda Klein at (202) 501-3775 in

reference to this FAR case. For general information, contact the FAR

Secretariat, room 4037, GS Building, Washington, DC 20405 (202) 501-

4755. Please cite FAC 90-20, FAR case 91-73.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

The CAAC and the DARC have approved a final rule changing FAR

Subpart 45.5, originating from a proposal from industry, to expand the

use of summary records for recording and controlling plant equipment to

special tooling and special test equipment. A proposed rule was

published in the Federal Register at 57 FR 40891, September 8, 1992.

Under this rule, summary records are permitted to account for multiple

quantities of a line item of plant equipment, special tooling and

special test equipment costing less than $5,000, except when the

contracting officer determines that individual records are necessary

for effective control, calibration, or maintenance. Industry has

advised that control and recordkeeping burden is a problem on certain

items of individual equipment below $5,000, because of the need to

alter property records each time an item in this category is moved

within the contractor's facilities. This rule will permit listing only

a general location in the summary record for multiple quantities of

plant equipment, special tooling, and special test equipment costing

less than $5,000 per unit, provided the contractor can locate the

property within a reasonable period of time.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration certify that this

final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial

number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.

601, et seq., because the rule expands the use of summary records to

special tooling and special test equipment, thus reducing

administrative burden on contractors. We received no comments on the

Regulatory Flexibility Act statement in the proposed rule during the

public comment period.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

This rule reduces existing recordkeeping requirements or collection

of information from offerors, contractors, or members of the public

which require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. It reduces the information collection

hours by extending use of the summary records to special tooling and

special test equipment. Therefore, the Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub. L.

96-511) is deemed to apply because the final rule contains information

collection requirements. This reduction in burden has been reflected in

a revised clearance for Control Number 9000-0075 submitted under 44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq. on October 18, 1993, for approval. Public comments

concerning this request will be invited through a subsequent Federal

Register notice.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 45

Government procurement.

Dated: February 15, 1994.

Albert A. Vicchiolla,

Director, Office of Federal Acquisition Policy.

Therefore, 48 CFR part 45 is amended as set forth below:

PART 45--GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR part 45 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42

U.S.C. 2473(c).

2. Section 45.501 is amended by adding ``Summary record'' in

alphabetical order to read as follows:

Sec. 45.501 Defintions.

* * * * *

Summary record, as used in this subpart, means a separate card,

form, document or specific line(s) of computer data used to account for

multiple quantities of a line item of special tooling, special test

equipment, or plant equipment costing less than $5,000 per unit.

* * * * *

3. Section 45.505-1 is amended by designating the introductory

paragraph as paragraph (a); redesignating paragraphs (a) through (g) as

(1) through (7); amending the new paragraph (a) by removing the

reference ``45.505-5a(a)'' and inserting ``paragraph (b) of this

section''; and adding paragraph (b) to read as follows:

Sec. 45.505-1 Basic information.

* * * * *

(b) Summary records are normally adequate for special tooling,

special test equipment, and plant equipment costing less than $5,000

per unit, except where the contract administration office determines

that individual item records are necessary for effective control,

calibration, or maintenance. Summary records shall provide the

information listed in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(7) of this section,

but may reference a general location, provided the contractor can

locate the property within a reasonable period of time.

4. Section 45.505-4 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as

follows:

Sec. 45.505-4 Records of special tooling and special test equipment.

* * * * *

(a) Unless summary records are used as authorized under 45.505-

1(b), the contractor's property control system shall provide the basic

information listed in 45.505-1(a) regarding each item of Government-

owned special tooling and special test equipment, including any general

purpose test equipment incorporated as components in such a manner that

removal and reuse may be feasible and economical.

* * * * *

5. Section 45.505-5 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as

follows:

Sec. 45.505-5 Records of plant equipment.

(a) Unless summary records are used as authorized under 45.505-

1(b), the contractor shall maintain individual item records for each

item of plant equipment.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 94-4397 Filed 3-9-94; 8:45 am]

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