DATE:         March 6, 2015

TO:              Procurement Directors/Contracting Officers

FROM:        Director

                    Contract and Financial Assistance Policy Division

                    Office of Policy

                   Office of Acquisition and Project Management

SUBJECT: Class Deviation from the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

13.5, Test Program for Certain Commercial Items

SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC) issued CAAC Letter 2015-01, encouraging covered agencies to authorize the issuance of a Class Deviation to extend permanently the Commercial Item Test Program in FAR 13.5, until such time as the FAR is formally amended. Section 815 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, Public Law 113-291, extended permanently the authority for the test program. This Policy Flash forwards the approved DOE class deviation and provides a copy of the CAAC letter.

Questions concerning this policy flash should be directed to Richard Bonnell, of the Contract and Financial Assistance Policy Division at (202) 287-1747 or at richard.bonnell@hq.doe.gov.

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