Federal Construction Magazine

Federal Register record

GSAR Implementation of Executive Order 14275, Acquisition of Utility Services

Published · by Federal Construction Magazine

Federal Register proposed rule 2026-20317, published 2026-10-05. Comments close 2026-11-04.

The Federal Register published General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; GSAR Implementation of Executive Order 14275, Acquisition of Utility Services on 2026-10-05. The document is a Proposed Rule from General Services Administration, filed as 2026-20317 under GSAR Case 2026-G502, Docket No. GSA-GSAR-2026-0595, and Sequence No. 1 and published at 91 FR 63243-63250.

Official summary

GSA is proposing to amend the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) part 541 which outlines procedures and guidance for the procurement of utility services. GSA guidance does not apply to agencies using their special authorities listed in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) section 41.103(a)(2) and (3). This proposed rule would align the GSAR with the FAR Council's proposed rule for FAR part 41.

What the document says

Quoted verbatim from the document.

I. Background

Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Department of Defense (DoD); General Services Administration (GSA); and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (collectively referred to as the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council or FAR Council) are working to amend the FAR to implement Executive Order (E.O.) 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement. The E.O. directs the elimination of excessive acquisition regulations to stop the inefficient use of American taxpayer dollars. In response to E.O. 14275, the Office of Management and Budget issued memorandum M-25-26, Overhauling the Federal Acquisition Regulation. The Memo directed the FAR Council to complete a ``revolutionary overhaul'' of the FAR (herein referred to as ``Revolutionary FAR Overhaul'' or ``RFO''). The FAR Council is issuing several proposed rules that collectively will streamline the FAR in its entirety. One of the FAR Council's RFO proposed rules (FAR case 2026-002) revises FAR part 41, acquisitions of utility services, to only include regulations applicable to the Department of Defense and Department of Energy when using their special statutory authorities (see FAR 41.103), and directs other agencies (and Department of Defense and Department of Energy when not using their special statutory authorities) to use the procedures and guidance provided by GSA. As a result, GSA is proposing to amend the GSAR to adopt relevant regulations in GSAR part 541.

II. Discussion and Analysis

This proposed change would simplify the acquisition process for agencies when ordering utility services, and further encourages the use of GSA's ``areawide'' contracts, which are governmentwide ordering vehicles, to ensure efficient and consolidated procurement to the maximum extent practicable.

A. General

The proposed revisions move the regulations governing utilities currently found in FAR part 41 to GSA's Federal Acquisition Supplement--the GSAR--which reflects the principles of the RFO and directs agencies to contact GSA prior to making any utility-related acquisition. This will allow GSA subject-matter experts to ensure the most efficient procurement strategy, typically use of GSA areawide contracts.

B. Summary of Changes

1. Statutory Requirements Statutory requirements and principles retained in the revised ordering procedures include 40 U.S.C. 501, Services for Executive Agencies. 2. Plain Language Requirements The revised utility services acquisition procedures align with the federal plain language guidelines as directed by the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-274). Plain language revisions include the following:

- Changes to active voice.

- Edits to improve readability and clarity.

- Reorganization to present information more logically.

- Replacing the term ``shall'' with ``must'' or ``will,'' as appropriate. 3. Harmonization With the RFO The proposed rule harmonizes utility services ordering requirements and moves them to the GSAR in support of the RFO. Revisions include moving requirements into the GSAR and directing agencies to follow GSA guidance and collaborate with GSA prior to making acquisitions. 4. Applicability to Agencies and GSA's Guidance The proposed rule directs agencies to first contact GSA for assistance prior to acquiring utility services (so that GSA can offer expert advice and direct agencies to the most efficient vehicles for acquiring utility services). Next, the proposed rule provides a mechanism for agencies to request GSA to delegate contracting authority and specific contracting assistance requests, specific to utilities-related acquisitions.

5. Transfer of Provisions and Clauses This proposed rule moves the provisions and clauses and their prescriptions from the FAR into the GSAR.

Key details

Read the document

The full record is at FederalRegister.gov. The raw text is the version quoted above.

Sources

  1. 2026-20317, General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; GSAR Implementation of Executive Order 14275, Acquisition of Utility Services (Federal Register) — Proposed Rule, published 2026-10-05. (checked 2026-10-18)
  2. Raw text of 2026-20317 (Federal Register) — Full text used for the verbatim excerpt. (checked 2026-10-18)

Researched and drafted by AI editorial desks working under a fixed desk brief and reviewed before publication by GCExperts LLC. Our writers are not natural persons and no persona is given a biography. General information, not legal advice.