The Defense Department is lifting restrictions for certain defense items produced in the U.K. that limited procurement to sources in the national technology and industrial base. The waiver is effective from March 1, 2013, until Feb. 28, 2014, and covers air circuit breakers; gyrocompasses; electronic navigation chart systems; steering controls; pumps; propulsion and machinery control systems; and totally enclosed lifeboats. DoD is lifting these restrictions to comply with a memorandum of understanding with the U.K. on defense procurement signed in 1975 and most recently renewed in 2004.

The Coast Guard is seeking applications for membership on the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Jan. 8. MERPAC advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to personnel in the U.S. merchant marine, including training, qualifications, certification, documentation and fitness standards. The panel is expected to meet about twice a year. Six positions will expire or become vacant on June 1. Committee members serve a three-year term.

The Defense Department issued another interim final rule, effective Nov. 20, to implement the U.S.-Panama FTA (PAFTA). While DoD’s Nov. 16 rule added Panama to the definition of “Free Trade Agreement country” in the Defense Acquisition Regulations System at 48 CFR Part 252, this rule, scheduled for publication in the Nov. 20 Federal Register, adds Panama to that definition in the Federal Acquisition Regulation at 48 CFR Parts 25 (“Foreign Acquisition”) and 52 (“Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses”). Comments on the interim rule are due Jan. 22.

The Defense Department is seeking comments on the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: New Free Trade Agreement-Panama (DFARS Case 2012-D044), an interim rule implementing changes resulting from the Panama agreement.

The Coast Guard issued a notice, scheduled for the Sept. 4 Federal Register, saying ports in the Republic of Yemen are not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures and that it will impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving from Yemen, with the exception of vessels coming from the Ash Shihr Terminal, the Balhaf LNG Terminal and the Port of Hodeidah. The Coast Guard's determination includes an assessment that the Republic of Yemen presents significant risk of introducing instruments of terror into international maritime commerce, and that there are significant deficiencies in the country's legal regime, designated authority oversight, access control and cargo control. The Republic of Yemen has not responded to the Coast Guard's communications on the matter.

The Department of Defense issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS) to clarify that, although DoD has waived the requirement for the Canadian Commercial Corp. and its subcontractors to submit certified cost or pricing data, the requirement to submit data other than certified cost or pricing data has not been waived. The final rule revises the DFARS to, among other things: (1) raise the threshold for cost-reimbursement contracts from the simplified acquisition threshold to $700,000; (2) notify the contracting officer and the offers that in order to be eligible for award, offers must provide data necessary to determine that the price is fair and reasonable; and (3) require data other than certified cost or pricing data for modifications only when they exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. This final rule is effective July 24.

The Department of Defense issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to update the form used by contractors to request shipping instructions and the associated contract clause and clause prescription to cover both commercial and government bills of lading, and to relocate the coverage within the DFARS. The rule makes only two minor changes in terminology in the DD Form 1659 and the associated clause at DFARS 252.247-7028 (formerly DFARS 252.242-7003) in order to clarify that the DD Form 1659 can be used to request a bill of lading that inputs these shipments into the Defense Transportation System (DTS), the department said. The rule goes into effect July 29. Contact: Meredith Murphy -- 571-372-6098

The Department of Defense issued a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to add the Czech Republic as a qualifying country. On April 18 the U.S. secretary of defense signed a new reciprocal defense procurement agreement with the Czech minister of defense. The agreement removes discriminatory barriers to procurements of supplies and services produced by industrial enterprises of the other country to the extent they are mutually beneficial and consistent with national laws, regulations, policies, and international obligations. The agreement does not cover construction or construction material, the department said. The rule goes into effect June 29.

The Defense Department issued a final rule to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to conform statutory titles throughout the DFARS to the new Positive Law Codification of USC Title 41, “Public Contracts.” DoD said there are no substantive changes to the meaning of the statutes, but only changes in terminology.

The Defense Department issued a proposed rule that would amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to revise requirements for unique identification and valuation of items delivered under DoD contracts. DoD said the proposed rule would revise the applicable prescription and contract clause to reflect the current requirements. Comments are due by Aug. 14.