DFARS Changes Announced The Defense Department has proposed 14 rule changes as part of its effort to streamline and simplify the 1,400 page Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. A departmental task force last year recommended chopping 40% of the DFARS text and revising an additional 22%. The group said the changes should speed up procurement and reduce administrative burdens. In announcing the initiative in February 2003, DOD said about 60% of the DFARS is not required by law or policy, but has grown up around the department’s practices. Much of the deleted text will be included in a new guidance document issued to agency acquisition offices. These proposed changes were published in the Feb. 23 Federal Register: •DFARS Case 2003-D011 DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to delete text pertaining to contractor qualification requirements. •DFARS Case 2003-D012 to streamline and clarify text pertaining to debarment, suspension, and improper business practices. •DFARS Case 2003-D016 to update text pertaining to publicizing contract actions. •DFARS Case 2003-D017 DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update text pertaining to competition requirements. •DFARS Case 2003-D018 to remove the Trade Agreements Act and the Buy American Act from the list of laws inapplicable to subcontracts for commercial items. •DFARS Case 2003-D030 to update text pertaining to major systems acquisition, earned value management systems, and cost/schedule status reporting. •DFARS Case 2003-D036 to update text pertaining to contract cost principles. •DFARS Case 2003-D037 to update text pertaining to insurance requirements. •DFARS Case 2003-D038 to delete text pertaining to the applicability of the Freedom of Information Act. •DFARS Case 2003-D045 to update text pertaining to contractor use of Government supply sources. •DFARS Case 2003-D058 to delete obsolete procedures for research and development contracting. •DFARS Case 2003-D067 to update text pertaining to research and development contracting. •DFARS Case 2003-D076 to update text pertaining to sealed bidding. •DFARS Case 2003-D090 to define a companion resource to the DFARS that will contain mandatory and non-mandatory internal DOD procedures, non-mandatory guidance, and supplemental information. This new resource is entitled Procedures, Guidance, and Information. The text of the proposed rules is available at www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dfars/changes.htm. Comments are due by April 23.