Final Rule Amends GSAR Leasing Provisions


A final rule issued by the General Services Administration amends the GSA Acquisition Regulation to revise GSAR Part 570, Acquiring Leasehold Interests in Real Property, and related solicitation provisions and contract clauses. The GSAR Case 2006-G508 final rule updates regulatory provisions that apply to lease transactions and provides sustainability guidance on implementing Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, and the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings. Also, the rule deletes the dollar value of the simplified lease acquisition threshold and substitutes a reference to FAR 2.101 for information about the threshold. The rule moves advertising requirements from GSAR Part 505 to GSAR Part 570, since most of the guidance on advertising requirements contained in GSAR Part 505 relate to the leasing program, and it seeks to add clarity and improve readability.

New Provisions


Among the new provisions are GSAR Subpart 570.6, Contracting for Overtime Services and Utilities in Leases, which adds requirements on overtime services and utilities. The rule also adds three new clauses: GSAR 552.270-30, Price Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity, GSAR 552.270-31, Prompt Payment, and GSAR 552.270-32, Covenant Against Contingent Fees. Changes from the proposed version of the rule (¶70,033.63) amend a reference in GSAR 501.106 and move the advertising requirements to GSAR 570.106. A complete listing of the GSAR provisions impacted by the final rule appears in the regulation table below. The rule goes into effect June 27, 2011. For the text of the rule, see ¶70,030.153.























































































 






 

 

(The news featured above is a selection from the news covered in the Government Contracts Report Letter, which is published weekly and distributed to subscribers of the Government Contracts Reporter. )