Federal Register: July 21, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 141)
DOCID: FR Doc 00-18388
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
CFR Citation: 48 CFR Parts 1827, 1835 and 1852
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Acquisition regulations:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Final rule.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Submission of Final Reports under NASA Research and Development Contracts
EFFECTIVE DATES: July 21, 2000. [[Page 45307]]
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
This final rule revises the report submission requirements under NASA research and development (R&D) contracts and clarifies that contractors cannot release these final reports until NASA has completed its Document Availability Authorization (DAA) review and the availability of the report has been determined.
SUMMARY:
Research and development contracts; final reports submission,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
A. Background
A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2000 (65 FR 2079192). No comments were received. This final rule adopts the proposed rule without change. NASA's Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI) serves as a repository of NASA scientific and technical information (STI). This includes information developed under NASAsponsored research and development efforts. The NFS currently requires that copies of the final report and other progress reports under R&D contracts be submitted to CASI. The need for other progress reports no longer exists. Copies of only the final report required under an R&D contract must be submitted to CASI. Before NASA STI is made available, it is subject to a NASA Document Availability Authorization (DAA) review and release determination. Contractors cannot release final reports resulting from NASA R&D contracts until NASA has completed its Document Availability Authorization (DAA) review (NASA Form 1676).
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
NASA certifies that this final rule will not 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.) because it only affects small business entities whose R&D contracts required progress reporting.
C. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to
the NFS do not impose any new record keeping or information collection
requirements which require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 1827, 1835 and 1852
Government procurement.
Tom Luedtke,
Associate Administrator for Procurement.
Accordingly, 48 CFR Parts 1827, 1835, and 1852 are amended as follows:
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Parts 1827, 1835, and 1852 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2473 (c)(1).
PART 1827PATENTS, DATA, AND COPYRIGHTS
2. Revise section 1827.40670 to read as follows: 1827.40670 Reports of work.
(a) When considered necessary for monitoring contract performance,
contracting officers must require contractors to furnish reports of
work performed under research and development contracts (fixedprice
and cost reimbursement), interagency agreements, or in cost
reimbursement supply contracts. This purpose may be achieved by
including the following general requirements, modified as needed to
meet the particular requirements of the contract, in the section of the contract specifying data delivery requirements:
(1) Monthly progress reports. Reports should be in narrative form,
brief, and informal. They should include a quantitative description of
progress, an indication of any current problems that may impede
performance, proposed corrective action, and a discussion of the work
to be performed during the next monthly reporting period. (Normally,
this requirement should not be used in contracts with nonprofit organizations.)
(2) Quarterly progress reports. In addition to factual data, these
reports should include a separate analysis section interpreting the
results obtained, recommending further action, and relating occurrences
to the ultimate objectives of the contract. Sufficient diagrams,
sketches, curves, photographs, and drawings should be included to convey the intended meaning.
(3) Final report. This report should summarize the results of the
entire contract, including recommendations and conclusions based on the
experience and results obtained. The final report should include
tables, graphs, diagrams, curves, sketches, photographs, and drawings
in sufficient detail to explain comprehensively the results achieved
under the contract. The final report must comply with NPG 2200.2A,
Guidelines for Documentation, Approval, and Dissemination of NASA Scientific and Technical Information.
(4) Report Documentation Page. The final report must include a
completed Report Documentation Page, Standard Form (SF) 298 as the final page of the report.
(b) The contracting officer must consider the desirability of
providing reports on the completion of significant units or phases of
work, in addition to periodic reports and reports on the completion of the contract.
(c) Submission of final report. In addition to the original of the
final report submitted to the contracting officer, contracts containing
the clause at 1852.23570, Center for AeroSpace InformationFinal
Scientific and Technical Reports (see 1835.070(a)), must require the
concurrent submission of a reproducible copy and a printed or
reproduced copy of the final report to the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI).
(d) NASA review of final report. When required by the contract,
final reports submitted to NASA for review, shall be reviewed for
technical accuracy, conformance with applicable law, policy and
publication standards, and to determine the availability and
distribution of NASAfunded documents containing scientific and
technical information (STI) (NASA Form 1676, NASA Scientific and
Technical Document Availability Authorization (DAA)). The final report
must not be released outside of NASA until NASA's DAA review has been
completed and the availability of the document has been determined. The
document is considered available when it is accessible through CASI. PART 1835RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTING
3. In section 1835.070, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:
1835.070 NASA contract clauses and solicitation provision.
(a) The contracting officer must insert the clause at 1852.23570,
Center for AeroSpace InformationFinal Scientific and Technical
Reports, in all research and development contracts, interagency
agreements, and in costreimbursement supply contracts involving research and development work.
* * * * *
PART 1852SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
4. Revise section 1852.23570 to read as follows: 1852.23570 Center for AeroSpace InformationFinal Scientific and Technical Reports.
As prescribed in 1835.070(a), insert the following clause:
Center for Aerospace InformationFinal Scientific and Technical Reports July 2000
(a) The Contractor should register with and avail itself of the
services provided by the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information [[Page 45308]]
(CASI) (http://www.sti.nasa.gov) for the conduct of research or
research and development required under this contract. CASI provides
a variety of services and products as a central NASA repository of
research information, which may enhance contract performance. The address is set out in paragraph (d) of this clause.
(b) Should the CASI information or service requested by the
Contractor be unavailable or not in the exact form necessary by the
Contractor, neither CASI nor NASA is obligated to search for or
change the format of the information. A failure to furnish
information shall not entitle the Contractor to an equitable
adjustment under the terms and conditions of this contract.
(c) In addition to the final report, as defined at 1827.406
70(a)(3), submitted to the contracting officer, a reproducible copy
and a printed or reproduced copy of the final report or data shall
be concurrently submitted to: Center for AeroSpace Information
(CASI), Attn: Document Processing Section, 7121 Standard Drive,
Hanover, Maryland 210761320, Phone: 3016210390, FAX: 301621 0134.
(d) The last page of the final report submitted to CASI shall be
a completed Standard Form (SF) 298, Report Documentation Page. In
addition to the copy of the final report, the contractor shall
provide, to CASI, a copy of the letter transmitting the final report
to NASA for its Document Availability Authorization (DAA) review.
(e) The contractor shall not release the final report, outside
of NASA, until the DAA review has been completed by NASA and availability of the report has been determined.
(End of clause)
[FR Doc. 0018388 Filed 72000; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 751001P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Celeste Dalton, NASA Headquarters Office of Procurement, Contract Management Division (Code HK), Washington, DC, 20546, (202) 3581645.