Rule would require federal contractors to register in central database

A proposed rule published Thursday in the Federal Register would require all federal contractors to register in the Central Contractor Registration database before they are awarded any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement or blanket purchase agreement.

The CCR is the primary repository for contractor information required conducting business with the federal government.

The rule, proposed by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council, also requires vendors with existing contracts to register in the CCR database by Sept. 30.

According to the acquisition councils, the proposed rule will help form a basic foundation for migration to a total electronic commerce environment.

Some agencies, in particular the Department of Defense, already require contractors to register in the CCR database.

In other agencies, contractors submit the same information held in the CCR database to various contracting and payment offices. The proposed rule will change procedures so information such as a contractor's Taxpayer Identification Number and Electronic Funds Transfer information must be entered only once into a common, governmentwide data source.

Other projects, such as FedBizOpps, a Web site that lists federal contract opportunities, will also become part of the total electronic commerce initiative.

Comments on the proposed rule may be submitted by June 2 to General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F St., NW, Room 4035, ATTN: Laurie Duarte, Washington, DC 20405. Comments may also be submitted via e-mail to farcase.2002-018@gsa.gov. FAR case 2002-018 should be cited in all correspondence.