DEFENSE FAR SUPPLEMENT (DFARS) Change Notice 20031215

 

DoD made the following changes to the DFARS on December 15, 2003: 

 

Final Rules:

 

Electronic Submission and Processing of Payment Requests (DFARS Case 2002-D001)

 

Finalizes an interim rule published on February 21, 2003 (DFARS Change Notice 20030301), to implement statutory requirements for contractors to submit, and DoD to process, payment requests in electronic form.  The final rule clarifies that scanned documents may be used to support electronic payment requests; and that the contract administration office will be involved in decisions to permit submission of payment requests in other than electronic form. 

 

Affected subparts/sections:  232.70; 252.212; 252.232

 

The Federal Register notice for this rule is available here.

 

A Microsoft Word format document showing all additions and deletions made by this rule is here.

 

Payment Withholding (DFARS Case 2002-D017)

 

Provides administrative contracting officers additional flexibility when determining the need to withhold payments under time-and-materials and labor-hour contracts.  Clarifies that, normally, there should be no need to withhold payment for a contractor with a record of timely submittal of a release discharging the Government from all liabilities, obligations, and claims under a contract.  Adds an alternate paragraph for use with the clause at FAR 52.232-7, Payments under Time-and-Materials and Labor-Hour Contracts, to implement this policy.

 

Affected subparts/sections:  Part 232 Table of Contents; 232.1; Part 252 Table of Contents; 252.232

 

The Federal Register notice for this rule is available here.

 

A Microsoft Word format document showing all additions and deletions made by this rule is here.

 

Purchase of Federal Prison Industries Products (DFARS Case 2002-D003) 

 

Updates and clarifies policy on purchasing products from Federal Prison Industries (FPI).  The changes—

 

     (1) Clarify requirements for conducting market research before purchasing a product listed in the FPI Schedule;

 

     (2) Clarify requirements for use of competitive procedures, to include the use of small business set-asides and multiple award schedules, if an FPI product is found to be noncomparable to products available from the private sector;

 

     (3) Specify that a contracting officer’s comparability determination is not subject to the arbitration procedures of FAR 8.605;

 

     (4) Specify that a DoD contractor may not be required to use FPI as a subcontractor; and

 

     (5) Prohibit the award of a contract to FPI that would allow an inmate worker access to classified or sensitive information. 

 

These changes were published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2003, with an effective date of December 15, 2003.  See DFARS Change Notice 20031114 for additional information on these changes.    

 

Affected subparts/sections:  Part 208 Table of Contents; 208.6; Part 219 Table of Contents; 219.5; Part 252 Table of Contents; 252.219

 

The Federal Register notice for this rule is available here.

 

A Microsoft Word format document showing all additions and deletions made by this rule is here.