PART 1801

PART 1801
FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM

1801.000 Scope of part.

SUBPART            1801.1       PURPOSE, AUTHORITY, ISSUANCE
1801.103                                 Authority.
1801.104                                 Applicability.
1801.105                                 Issuance.
1801.105-1                              Publication and code arrangement.
1801.105-2                              Arrangement of regulations.
1801.106                                 OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

SUBPART            1801.2       ADMINISTRATION
1801.270                                 Amendment of the NFS.
1801.271                                 NASA procedures for FAR and NFS changes.
1801.272                                 Procurement Information Circulars.

SUBPART            1801.3       AGENCY ACQUISITION REGULATIONS
1801.301                                 Policy.
1801.303                                 Publication and codification.

SUBPART            1801.4       DEVIATIONS FROM THE FAR
1801.400                                 Scope of subpart.
1801.471                                 Procedure for requesting deviations.

SUBPART            1801.6       CAREER DEVELOPMENT, CONTRACTING AUTHORITY,AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1801.601                                 General.
1801.602-3                              Ratification of unauthorized commitments.
1801.603                                 Selection, appointment, and termination of appointment.
1801.603-2                              Selection.
1801.670                                 Delegations to contracting officer's technical representatives (COTRs).

SUBPART            1801.7       DETERMINATIONS AND FINDINGS
1801.707                                 Signatory authority.
1801.770                                 Legal review.

PART 1801
FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM

1801.000 Scope of part.
This part sets forth general information about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Supplement, also referred to as the NFS.

Subpart 1801.1--Purpose, Authority, Issuance

1801.103 Authority.
(a) Under the following authorities, the Administrator has delegated to the Assistant Administrator for Procurement authority to prepare, issue, and maintain the NFS:
(i) The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (Pub. L. 85-568; 42 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.).
(ii) 10 U.S.C. chapter 137.
(iii) Other statutory authority.
(iv) FAR Subpart 1.3.

1801.104 Applicability.
The NFS applies to all acquisitions as defined in FAR Part 2 except those expressly excluded by the FAR or this regulation.

1801.105 Issuance.

1801.105-1 Publication and code arrangement.
(b)(i) The NFS is an integrated document that contains both acquisition regulations that require public comment and internal Agency guidance and procedures that do not require public comment. NASA personnel must comply with all regulatory and internal guidance and procedures contained in the NFS.

(ii) NFS regulations that require public comment are issued as Chapter 18 of Title 48, CFR.

(iii) The single official NASA-maintained version of the NFS is on the Internet (http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/nfstoc.htm).

1801.105-2 Arrangement of regulations.
(b)(1)(A) Numbering of NFS text implementing the FAR shall be the same as that of the related FAR text, except when the NFS coverage exceeds one paragraph. In such case the NFS text is numbered by skipping a unit in the FAR 1.105-2(b)(2) prescribed numbering sequence. For example, two paragraphs implementing FAR 1.105-2(b)(1) are numbered 1801.105-2(b)(1)(A) and (B), rather than (1)(i) and (ii). Further subdivision of the NFS implementing paragraphs would follow the prescribed sequence in FAR 1.105(b)(2).
(B) NFS text that supplements the FAR part is numbered the same as its FAR counterpart with the addition of a number 70 and up. For example, NFS supplement of FAR subsection 1.105-3 is numbered 1801.105-370. Supplemental text exceeding one paragraph is numbered using the FAR 1.105-2(b)(2) prescribed numbering sequence without skipping a unit.
(2) Subdivision numbering below the fourth level repeats the numbering sequence using italicized letters and numbers.

1801.106 OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
(1) NFS requirements. The following OMB control numbers apply:

NFS Segment	OMB Control Number
1804.470	2700-0098
1804.74	2700-0097
1819	2700-0073
1819.72	2700-0078
1823.271	2700-0106
1827	2700-0052
1831	2700-0080
1843	2700-0054
1843.71	2700-0094
NF 533	2700-0003
NF 1018	2700-0017

(2) Solicitations and contracts. Various requirements in a solicitation or contract, generally in the statement of work, are not tied to specific paragraphs cleared in paragraph (1) of this section, yet require information collection or recordkeeping. The following OMB control numbers apply to these requirements: 2700-0086 (acquisitions up to $25,000), 2700-0087 (solicitations that may result in bids or proposals not exceeding $500,000), 2700-0085 (solicitations that may result in bids or proposals exceeding $500,000), 2700-0088 (contracts not exceeding $500,000), and 2700-0089 (contracts exceeding $500,000).

Subpart 1801.2--Administration

1801.270 Amendment of the NFS.
(a) The NFS is amended by publishing changes in the Federal Register. These changes are then incorporated into the NASA-maintained Internet version of the NFS through Procurement Notices (PNs). PNs are numbered consecutively, prefixed by the last two digits of the calendar year of issuance of the current edition of the NFS.
(b) Compliance with a revision to the NFS shall be in accordance with the PN containing the revision. Unless otherwise stated, solicitations that have been issued, and bilateral agreements for which negotiations have been completed, before the receipt of new or revised contract clauses need not be amended to include the new or revised clauses if including them would unduly delay the acquisition.

1801.271 NASA procedures for FAR and NFS changes.
(a) Informal suggestions for improving the NFS, including correction of errors, should be directed to the Headquarters Office of Procurement (Code HK).
(b)(1) Formal requests for changes to the FAR or the NFS should be written and contain (i) a description of the problem the suggested revision is designed to cure, (ii) the revision in the form of a marked-up copy of the current FAR or NFS language or the text of any additional language, (iii) the consequences of making no change and the benefits to be expected from a change, and (iv) any other information necessary for understanding the situation, such as relationship between FAR and NFS coverage, legal opinions, coordination with other offices, and existing agreements.
(2) Formal requests for FAR and NFS changes should be sent to Code HK. Requests from Headquarters offices should originate at the division level or higher, while installation requests should be signed at the procurement officer or higher level.

1801.272 Procurement Information Circulars.
(a) The Procurement Information Circular (PIC) is used for internal dissemination of procurement-related directives not suitable for inclusion in the NFS. Code HK is responsible for issuing PICs.
(b) PICs are numbered on a calendar year basis, beginning with number 1, prefixed by the last two digits of the year.

Subpart 1801.3--Agency Acquisition Regulations

1801.301 Policy.
(a)(2) Heads of NASA field installations may prescribe policies and procedures that do not have a significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures of their installations. All other policies, procedures, and solicitation and contract provisions and clauses must be forwarded to the Headquarters Office of Procurement (Code HK) for approval in accordance with 1801.271(b).
(b)(i) 41 U.S.C. 418b requires publication of NFS changes for public comment where there will be a significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures of the agency or a significant cost or administrative impact on contractors or offerors. However, it does not define significant effect beyond the internal operating procedures or significant cost or administrative impact. Examples of policies or procedures that fall in either of these categories are:
            (A) A contract clause requiring contractors to take precautions to avoid injury to Florida manatees, which have been designated as an endangered species, has a significant cost impact for contractors who must obtain protective devices for boat propellers and take other safety actions.
            (B) A contract clause requiring contractors to follow the Government's holiday schedule, thereby disallowing premium pay for work on contractor-designated holidays, will have an effect outside the internal operating procedures of the agency.
            (C) A contract clause requiring contractors to segregate costs by appropriations will affect the contractor's internal accounting system and have a significant impact.
            (D) Requiring contractor compliance with NASA's Space Transportation System Personnel Reliability Program will have an effect outside the internal operating procedures of the agency.
      (ii) In contrast, the following would not have to be publicized for public comment:
            (A) Security procedures for identifying and badging contractor personnel to obtain access at a NASA installation.
            (B) A one-time requirement in a construction contract for the contractor to develop a placement plan and for inspection prior to any concrete being placed. (This is part of the specification or statement of work.)
            (C) A policy that requires the NASA installation to maintain copies of unsuccessful offers.

1801.303 Publication and codification.
(a) Part, subpart, and section numbers 70 through 89 are reserved for NFS supplementary material for which there is no FAR counterpart.

Subpart 1801.4--Deviations from the FAR

1801.400 Scope of subpart.
This subpart prescribes the policies and procedures for authorizing deviations from the FAR and the NFS.

1801.471 Procedure for requesting deviations.
(a) Requests for authority to deviate from the FAR or the NFS shall be submitted by the Procurement Officer to the Headquarters Office of Procurement (Code HS).
(b) Each request for a deviation shall contain, as a minimum --
      (1) Identification of the FAR or the NFS requirement from which a deviation is sought;
      (2) A full description of the deviation, the circumstances in which it will be used, and the specific contract action(s) to which it applies;
      (3) A description of its intended effect;
      (4) A statement as to whether the deviation has been requested previously and, if so, the circumstances of the previous request;
      (5) Identification of the contractor(s) and the contract(s) affected, including dollar value(s);
      (6) Detailed reasons supporting the request, including any pertinent background information; and
      (7) A copy of counsel's concurrence or comments.
(c) In addition to the information required by 1801.471(b), requests for individual deviations from FAR cost principles under FAR 31.101 should include a copy of the contractor's request for cost allowance.

Subpart 1801.6--Career Development, Contracting Authority, and Responsibilities

1801.601 General.
The authority to contract for authorized supplies and services is delegated to the Assistant Administrator for Procurement and installation officials by NPD 5101.32.

1801.602-3 Ratification of unauthorized commitments.
(b) Policy. Individuals making unauthorized commitments may be subject to disciplinary action, and the issue may be referred to the Office of Inspector General.
(c)(7) The authority in FAR 1.602-3 may be exercised only when --
            (A) The Government employee who made the unauthorized commitment, or his/her supervisor, if appropriate, initiates a procurement request in accordance with 1804.7301.
            (B) The procurement request and/or accompanying documentation identifies the individual who made the unauthorized commitment, and includes a statement signed by the individual that explains why normal acquisition procedures were not followed, explains why the firm was selected, lists other sources considered, describes the work, and estimates or states the agreed price. If the Government representative who made the unauthorized commitment is no longer available, appropriate program personnel shall provide the information described in this paragraph.
            (C) The procurement request is submitted through the director of the cognizant program office at the contracting activity, or comparable official. In the procurement request, the director shall describe measures taken to prevent the recurrence of the unauthorized commitment.

1801.603 Selection, appointment, and termination of appointment.

1801.603-2 Selection.
Normally, only GS-1102 and -1105 personnel with the proper training and experience may be appointed contracting officers and only when a valid organizational need can be demonstrated.

1801.670 Delegations to contracting officer's technical representatives (COTRs).
A COTR delegation may be made only by the contracting officer cognizant of that contract at the time the delegation is made. If the cognizant contracting officer is absent, the delegation letter may be signed by a warranted contracting officer at any level above the cognizant contracting officer. An individual COTR may have only the duties specifically identified in a written delegation to him or her by name (i.e., COTR duties may not be delegated to a position) and has no authority to exceed them. COTRs should be informed that they may be personally liable for unauthorized commitments. Contracting officer authority to sign or authorize contractual instruments shall not be delegated through a COTR designation or by any means other than a contracting officer warrant.

Subpart 1801.7--Determinations and Findings

1801.707 Signatory authority.
Signatory authority for determinations and findings (D&Fs) is specified in the FAR or the NFS text for the associated subject matter. The Administrator may make any of the D&Fs that may be made by the Assistant Administrator for Procurement or by a contracting officer.