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🌍Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is finalizing a general applicability public interest waiver of the requirements of section 70914(a) of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) and related domestic preference statutes administered by DOT and its Operating Administrations (OAs) for federal financial assistance awarded for infrastructure projects located in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and American Samoa, collectively referred to as the Pacific Island territories. The waiver would also apply to discretionary grant assistance provided by DOT to the Freely Associated States (the Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Federated States of Micronesia) in the Pacific that is subject to a domestic preference statute (which does not include BABA, as that statute only applies to the United States and its territories). The waiver will remain in effect for five years after the effective date of the final waiver. This action also terminates the previously issued temporary general applicability waiver for this region.

📜NIST Requests Comments on AI Misuse Risk Management Guidelines

The U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AISI), housed within NIST at the Department of Commerce, requests comments on an updated draft document responsive to Section 4.1(a)(ii) and Section 4.1(a)(ii)(A) of Executive Order 14110 on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) issued on October 30, 2023 (E.O. 14110). This draft document, NIST AI 800-1, Managing Misuse Risk for Dual-Use Foundation Models, can be found at https:// nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ai/NIST.AI.800-1.ipd2.pdf. This document is an update to an initial public draft and includes changes based on the previous round of public comment, as well as two new appendices that apply these guidelines to (1) chemical and biological misuse risk and (2) cyber misuse risk.

✈️Notice of NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Meeting in 2025

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces a forthcoming meeting of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP). The ASAP will hold its First Quarterly Meeting for 2025. This discussion is pursuant to carrying out its statutory duties for which the Panel reviews, identifies, evaluates, and advises on those program activities, systems, procedures, and management activities that can contribute to program risk. Priority is given to those programs that involve the safety of human flight.

💳CFPB Proposes New Rules for Electronic Fund Transfers and Compliance

In light of interest by electronic fund transfer system market participants to offer new types of products to transfer funds and make purchases through accounts established primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is proposing this interpretive rule to assist companies, investors, and other market participants evaluating existing statutory and regulatory requirements governing electronic fund transfers (EFTs).

📑Proposed FAR Amendment Boosts Small Business Contract Participation

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to issue policy on small business participation on certain multiple-award contracts.

⚖️FMC Complaint Against Ocean Carriers

📦Updates to Federal Travel Regulation on Relocation Allowances

The United States (U.S.) General Services Administration (GSA) is issuing a final rule amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to remove the relocation miscellaneous expenses allowance (MEA) lump sum amounts from the FTR. These lump sum amounts will be published in FTR Bulletins on an intermittent basis, much like what is done for per diem and mileage rates. The relocation MEA actual expense (as opposed to lump sum) amounts are unchanged and will remain in the FTR. This final rule also updates the types of expenses that may or may not be reimbursed by relocation MEA when employees itemize under actual expense. Additionally, this final rule updates and clarifies other relocation MEA regulatory sections and rearranges them into a more sequential order.

⚖️New FAR Changes Address Organizational Conflicts for Contractors

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act. The statute requires the FAR to provide and update definitions, guidance, and examples related to organizational conflicts of interest, including the creation of solicitation provisions and contract clauses to avoid or mitigate organizational conflicts of interest. The statute also requires the FAR to permit contracting officers to consider professional standards and procedures to prevent organizational conflicts of interest to which an offeror or contractor is subject.

📦USPS Announces New Shipping Service Agreement for Businesses

The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List.

📦USPS Notice on Priority Mail and Ground Advantage Contract Changes

The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List.