New Free Trade Agreement With Colombia (DFARS Case 2012-D032)

Summary:

DCN 20120522 includes an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement the United States--Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. This Trade Promotion Agreement is a free trade agreement that provides for mutually non-discriminatory treatment of eligible products and services from Columbia.

Supplementary Information:

I.  Background

This interim rule adds Colombia to the definition of "Free Trade Agreement country" in multiple locations in the DFARS. The Colombia FTA covers acquisition of supplies and services equal to or exceeding $77,494. The threshold for the Columbia FTA is $7,777,000 for construction.

Because the Colombia FTA construction threshold of $7,777,000 is the same as the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement threshold, no new clause alternates are required for the Balance of Payments Program--Construction Material under the Trade Agreements clause (DFARS 252.225-7045).

There are also conforming changes to the clause at DFARS 252.212-7001, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Applicable to Defense Acquisitions of Commercial Items.

Dates:

Effective Date:  The Effective Date for this interim rule is 22 May 2012.

Comment Date: Comments on the interim rule should be submitted in writing on or before 23 July 2012 to be considered in the formulation of a final rule.

Click here to read the entire Federal Register notice for this rule.

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