Notice2025-04494
Conclusion of the Renewal of a Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement With the Government of the Italian Republic
Primary source
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Published
March 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentDefense Acquisition Regulations System
Abstract
On behalf of the U.S. Government, DoD is contemplating concluding the renewal of a Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement with the Government of the Italian Republic. DoD had a similar agreement with Italy, signed on October 20, 2008. DoD is requesting industry feedback regarding its experience in public defense procurements conducted by or on behalf of the Ministry of Defense of the Italian Republic or Armed Forces.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 52 (Wednesday, March 19, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12712-12713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04494]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Defense Acquisition Regulations System
Conclusion of the Renewal of a Reciprocal Defense Procurement
Agreement With the Government of the Italian Republic
AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense
(DoD).
ACTION: Notice and request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: On behalf of the U.S. Government, DoD is contemplating
concluding the renewal of a Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement
with the Government of the Italian Republic. DoD had a similar
agreement with Italy, signed on October 20, 2008. DoD is requesting
industry feedback regarding its experience in public defense
procurements conducted by or on behalf of the Ministry of Defense of
the Italian Republic or Armed Forces.
DATES: Comments must be received April 18, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0dad5d6d6c2d5c99ed39ed7c2dfc6d5c29ed3d9c6f0ddd1d9dc9eddd9dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdd7d8dbdbcfd8c493de93dacfd2cbd8cf93ded4cbfdd0dcd4d193d0d4d1">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeff Grover, telephone 703-380-
9783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DoD has concluded Reciprocal Defense
Procurement (RDP) Agreements with 28 qualifying countries, as defined
in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
225.003, at the level of the Secretary of Defense and his counterpart.
The purpose of an RDP Agreement is to promote rationalization,
standardization, interchangeability, and interoperability of
conventional defense equipment with allies and other friendly
governments. These Agreements provide a framework for ongoing
communication regarding market access and procurement matters that
enhance effective defense cooperation.
RDP Agreements generally include language by which the Parties
agree that their defense procurements will be conducted in accordance
with certain implementing procedures. These procedures relate to--
<bullet> Publication of notices of proposed purchases;
<bullet> The content and availability of solicitations for proposed
purchases;
<bullet> Notification to each unsuccessful offeror;
<bullet> Feedback, upon request, to unsuccessful offerors
concerning the reasons they were not allowed to participate in a
procurement or were not awarded a contract; and
<bullet> Provision for the hearing and review of complaints arising
in connection with any phase of the procurement process to ensure that,
to the extent possible, complaints are equitably and expeditiously
resolved.
Based on the Agreement, each country affords the other country
certain benefits on a reciprocal basis consistent with national laws
and regulations. The benefits that the United States accords to the
products of qualifying countries include--
<bullet> Offers of qualifying country end products are evaluated
without applying the price differentials otherwise required by the Buy
American statute and the Balance of Payments Program;
<bullet> The chemical warfare protection clothing restrictions in
10 U.S.C. 4862 and the specialty metals restriction in 10 U.S.C. 4863
do not apply to products manufactured in a qualifying country; and
<bullet> Customs, taxes, and duties are waived for qualifying
country end
[[Page 12713]]
products and components of defense procurements.
If DoD (for the U.S. Government) concludes the renewal of an RDP
Agreement with the Government of the Italian Republic and DoD executes
a blanket public interest determination, as being considered, the
Italian Republic will continue to be listed as one of the qualifying
countries at DFARS 225.872-1(a).
While DoD has discussed and evaluated with the Government of the
Italian Republic its laws and regulations in this area during an
extended negotiation period since October 2018, DoD would benefit from
U.S. industry's experience in participating in Italian public defense
procurements. DoD is, therefore, asking U.S. firms that have
participated or attempted to participate in procurements by or on
behalf of the Italian Republic Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces to
let DoD know if the procurements were conducted with transparency,
integrity, fairness, and due process in accordance with published
procedures, and if not, the nature of the problems encountered.
DoD is also interested in comments relating to the degree of
reciprocity that exists between the United States and the Italian
Republic when it comes to the openness of defense procurements to
offers of products from the other country. Further, DoD would like to
understand the degree to which U.S. industry feels that it would have
equal and proportional access to the Italian Republic defense markets
as Italian Republic industry would have in the United States under an
RDP Agreement.
In addition, DoD will benefit from information provided by the
public on anticipated impacts to defense programs and its supply chain
if Italy no longer qualifies for a waiver to the Buy American statute
and Balance of Payments Program. Not concluding this agreement would
necessitate the removal of Italy from the list of qualifying countries
in the DFARS.
Jennifer D. Johnson,
Editor/Publisher, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.
[FR Doc. 2025-04494 Filed 3-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
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