II. Discussion and Analysis of the Public Comments

Comment: The first respondent commented that the rule would ensure their company had adequate cash flow to promptly pay its vendors.

Response: This positive endorsement of the rule is noted.

Comment: The second respondent stated that the wording of the rule is ambiguous. Rather than stating it is DoD policy to pay small business concerns "* * * as soon as possible * * *", the respondent recommended that the rule should specify the number of days for processing payments to small business.

Response: The authority for DoD's payment policy is the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) Prompt Payment Regulations at part 1315 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The phrase "* * * as quickly as possible * * *" was taken verbatim from those regulations.