text:
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72231-72239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27824]
Defense Acquisition Regulations System
48 CFR Parts 204, 212, 213, and 252
[Docket DARS-2019-0063]
RIN 0750-AJ84
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Covered
Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services (DFARS Case 2018-D022)
AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense
(DoD).
ACTION: Interim rule.
SUMMARY: DoD is issuing an interim rule amending the Defense Federal
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement sections of the
National Defense Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019
[[Page 72232]]
the procurement of covered telecommunications equipment or services.
Specifically, the rule prohibits the procurement of any equipment,
system, or service to carry out the DoD nuclear deterrence or homeland
defense missions that uses covered telecommunications equipment or
services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as a
critical technology as a part of any system. Covered telecommunications
equipment or services includes telecommunications equipment or services
from certain Chinese entities, including their subsidiaries and
affiliates, and from any other entities that the Secretary of Defense
reasonably believes to be owned or controlled by or otherwise connected
to, the government of the People's Republic of China or the Russian
Federation.
Effective Date: December 31, 2019.
Applicability: Contracting officers shall include the provisions at
DFARS 252.204-7016, Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or
Services--Representation, and DFARS 252.204-7017, Prohibition on the
Acquisition of Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or
Services--Representation, as prescribed--
In solicitations issued on or after December 31, 2019; and
In solicitations issued before December 31, 2019, provided
the resulting award occurs on or after December 31, 2019.
Contracting officers shall include the clause at DFARS 252.204-
7018, Prohibition on the Acquisition of Covered Defense
Telecommunications Equipment or Services, as prescribed, in all awards
made on or after December 31, 2019.
Contracting officers shall modify, in accordance with Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 1.108(d), existing indefinite-delivery
contracts, blanket purchase agreements, or basic ordering agreements to
include the DFARS clause for future orders or calls, prior to placing
any future orders or calls.
If modifying an existing contract, order, or call to extend the
period of performance, including exercising an option, contracting
officers shall include the DFARS clause in accordance with FAR
1.108(d).
Comment Date: Comments on the interim rule should be submitted in
writing to the address shown below on or before March 2, 2020, to be
considered in the formation of a final rule.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by DFARS Case 2018-D022, using
any of the following methods:
[cir] Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Search for ``DFARS Case 2018-D022''. Select ``Comment Now'' and follow
the instructions provided to submit a comment. Please include ``DFARS
Case 2018-D022'' on any attached documents.
[cir] Email: [email protected]. Include DFARS Case 2018-D022 in
the subject line of the message.
[cir] Fax: 571-372-6094.
[cir] Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Attn: Ms.
Heather Kitchens, OUSD(A&S)DPC/DARS, Room 3B941, 3060 Defense Pentagon,
Washington, DC 20301-3060.
Comments received generally will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. To
confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check www.regulations.gov,
approximately two to three days after submission to verify posting
(except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted by mail).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Heather Kitchens, telephone 571-
The Federal Acquisition Regulations System codifies and publishes
uniform policies and procedures for acquisition by all executive
agencies. The Federal Acquisition Regulations System consists of the
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which is the primary document,
and agency acquisition regulations that implement or supplement the
FAR. The DFARS is a supplement to the FAR that provides DoD-specific
acquisition regulations that DoD contracting officers--and those
contractors doing business with DoD--must follow in the procurement
process for supplies and services.
Section 1656 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 (Pub. L. 115-91) prohibited DoD from procuring or
obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain,
any equipment, system, or service to carry out the DoD nuclear
deterrence or homeland defense missions that uses covered
telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential
component of any system, or as a critical technology as a part of any
system. Covered telecommunications equipment or services includes
telecommunications equipment or services from certain Chinese entities,
including their subsidiaries and affiliates, and from any other
entities that the Secretary of Defense reasonably believes to be an
entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the
government of the People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation.
Likewise, section 889(a)(1)(A) of the NDAA for FY 2019 (Pub. L.
115-232) established a Governmentwide prohibition on procuring or
any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications
equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any
system, or as a critical technology as a part of any system. Covered
telecommunications equipment or services includes certain video
surveillance and telecommunications equipment or services from certain
Chinese entities, including their subsidiaries and affiliates, and from
any other entities that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with
the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or
controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of the
People's Republic of China.
The DoD prohibition under 1656 differs from the Governmentwide
prohibition under 889(a)(1)(A) in that it: Applies to equipment,
systems, or services to carry out the DoD nuclear deterrence or
homeland defense missions; includes different definitions of ``covered
telecommunications equipment or services'' and ``covered foreign
country''; does not include exceptions from the prohibition; and
provides independent waiver authority to the Secretary of Defense. This
interim DFARS rule implements the section 1656 prohibition for DoD, and
is structured to align with the FAR implementation of the section
889(a)(1)(A) Governmentwide prohibition.
To implement section 889(a)(1)(A) of the NDAA, DoD, the General
Services Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) published an interim rule in the Federal Register
at 84 FR 40216 on August 13, 2019, as amended by the interim rule
published at 84 FR 68314 on December 13, 2019 (reference FAR Case 2018-
017, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and
Video Surveillance Services or Equipment).
This interim DFARS rule implements the section 1656 and
889(a)(1)(A)
prohibitions for DoD, and is structured to align with the FAR
implementation of the section 889(a)(1)(A) Governmentwide prohibition.
The interim rule should increase security of systems and critical
technology that is part of any system used to carry out the nuclear
deterrence and homeland defense missions of DoD by prohibiting the use
of telecommunications equipment or services from certain Chinese
entities, including their subsidiaries and affiliates, and from any
other entities that the Secretary of Defense reasonably believes to be
owned or controlled by or otherwise connected to, the government of the
People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation.
II. Discussion and Analysis
To implement the section 1656 prohibition and the DoD-specific
procedures associated with the 889(a)(1)(A) prohibition in the FAR,
this rule adds: DFARS subpart 204.21, Prohibition on Contracting for
Certain telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or
Equipment; the provision at DFARS 252.204-7016, Covered Defense
Telecommunications Equipment or Services--Representation; the provision
at DFARS 252.204-7017, Prohibition on the Acquisition of Covered
Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services--Representation; and
the clause at DFARS 252.204-7018, Prohibition on the Acquisition of
Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services. The new DFARS
subpart, provisions, and clause mirror the FAR implementation of
section 889(a)(1)(A) at FAR subpart 4.21, the provisions at FAR 52.204-
24 and 52.204-26, and the clause at FAR 52.204-25, but the subpart
addresses the section 1656 prohibition. The section 889(a)(1)(A)
prohibition remains implemented in the FAR, except that the DoD-
specific procedures for handling representations from offerors and
reports from contractors contained in this rule apply to both the
section 1656 and 889 prohibitions.
The new DFARS subpart 204.21 notifies contracting officers of the
section 1656 prohibition, provides DoD-specific procedures for sections
1656 and 889(a)(1)(A), advises of the waiver process for section 1656,
and prescribes the two new solicitation provisions and the contract
clause associated with section 1656. To differentiate between the FAR
and DFARS prohibitions, this DFARS rule uses the term ``covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services'' instead of ``covered
telecommunications equipment or services,'' and provides a new
definition of ``covered foreign country'' for the DFARS coverage of the
section 1656 prohibition. These differences reflect the additional
requirements in section 1656, which only apply to the DFARS rule.
This interim DFARS rule provides a two-tier representation
structure to ensure contracting officers comply with the section 1656
prohibition. The DFARS provision 252.204-7016 requires offerors to
represent in the System for Award Management (SAM) at least annually
whether they provide covered defense telecommunications equipment or
services as part of their offerings to the Government. Only offerors
who represent that they do provide covered defense telecommunications
equipment or services in the annual representation will be required to
provide the offer-by-offer representation in the provision at DFARS
252.204-7017. If an offeror represents in its offer-by-offer
representation under 252.204-7017 that it will provide covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services as part of its offered
products or services to DoD in the performance of any award resulting
from the solicitation, then the offeror must provide certain
disclosures about the equipment or services. DoD will use the
information provided in the disclosure to determine whether the award
is prohibited or if a waiver request may be appropriate. Offerors
should note that annual representation in SAM is currently provided
under the number 252.204-70ZZ, which references the clause at 252.204-
YY; in the next release of updates to SAM, the provision will be
updated to reflect 252.204-7016 and the clause will be updated to
reflect 252.204-7018.
The FAR uses the same two-tier representation structure to
implement the section 889(a)(1)(A) prohibition, because it
significantly reduces the reporting burden on the public by allowing
for an annual representation, in lieu of an offer-by-offer
representation, if an offeror does not offer the prohibited products
and services to the Government. At FAR 4.2103(a), contracting officers
are directed to follow agency procedures when an offeror represents
that it will include covered telecommunications equipment or services
in its offer, or if the contracting officer has reason to question an
offeror's representations.
To implement the section 889(a)(1)(A) prohibition, in part, and the
section 1656 prohibition, this interim DFARS rule provides the agency
procedures for handling the offeror representations in response to the
FAR provisions at 52.204-26, 52.212-3(v), and 52.204-24, and the DFARS
provisions at 252.204-7016 and 252.204-7017. The agency procedures
require that, if the contracting officer has reason to question a
negative representation from an offeror, then the contracting officer
is instructed to consult with their requiring activity and legal
counsel. If the offeror discloses information about covered
telecommunications equipment or services to be included in its offer
(as required by paragraph (e) of FAR 52.204-24) or covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services (as required by paragraph (e)
of DFARS 252.204-7017), then the contracting officer is required to
forward the information to the requiring activity and may not award to
the offeror unless the requiring activity advises that they have
obtained one of the waivers described at FAR 4.2104 or DFARS 204.2104,
as appropriate.
Similar to the clause at FAR 52.204-25, the new DFARS clause
252.204-7018 prohibits contractors from providing equipment, system, or
services that use covered defense telecommunications equipment or
critical technology as a part of any system. However, unlike the FAR
clause, this prohibition only applies if the equipment, systems, or
services are to carry out the DoD nuclear deterrence or homeland
defense missions. The clause requires contractors and subcontractors to
report through https://dibnet.dod.mil any discovery of covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services during the course of contract
FAR 4.2103(b) directs contracting officers to follow agency
procedures when a contractor provides the report required under FAR
52.204-25. This interim DFARS rule provides the agency procedures at
DFARS 204.2103(b) for handling reports received under FAR 52.204-25 and
DFARS 252.204-7018. Specifically, contracting officers are advised that
they will be notified by Defense Cyber Crime Center regarding any
reports received and the contracting officer shall consult with the
requiring activity on how to proceed with the contract.
This interim rule also adds text in DFARS subpart 212.3,
Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses for the Acquisition of
Commercial Items, and DFARS subpart 213.2, Actions at or Below the
Micro-purchase Threshold, to address application of section 1656 to
commercial items and micro-purchases. This interim rule also amends
DFARS 252.204-7007, Alternate A, Annual
Representations and Certifications, by updating the list of annual
representations and certifications to include the new provision at
DFARS 252.204-7016.
III. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition
Threshold and for Commercial Items, Including Commercially Available
Off-the-Shelf Items
This rule creates two new provisions and a new clause, which apply
to contracts at or below the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) and
to commercial items (including commercially available off-the-shelf
(COTS) items). The following provisions and clause are created by this
interim rule:
The provision at DFARS 252.204-7016, Covered Defense
Telecommunications Equipment or Services--Representation.
The provision at DFARS 252.204-7017, Prohibition on
Services--Representation.
The clause at DFARS 252.204-7018, Prohibition on the
A. Applicability to Contracts at or Below the Simplified Acquisition
41 U.S.C. 1905 governs the applicability of laws to contracts or
subcontracts in amounts not greater than the simplified acquisition
threshold. It is intended to limit the applicability of laws to such
contracts or subcontracts. 41 U.S.C. 1905 provides that if a provision
of law contains criminal or civil penalties, or if the FAR Council
makes a written determination that it is not in the best interest of
the Federal Government to exempt contracts or subcontracts at or below
the SAT, the law will apply to them. The Principal Director, Defense
Pricing and Contracting (DPC), is the appropriate authority to make
comparable determinations for regulations to be published in the DFARS,
which is part of the FAR system of regulations. DoD has made that
determination to apply this rule at or below the simplified acquisition
threshold.
B. Applicability to Contracts for the Acquisition of Commercial Items,
Including COTS Items
10 U.S.C. 2375 governs the applicability of laws to contracts and
subcontracts for the acquisition of commercial items, including COTS
items, and is intended to limit the applicability of laws to contracts
and subcontracts for the acquisition of commercial items, including
COTS items. 10 U.S.C. 2375 provides that if a provision of law contains
criminal or civil penalties, or if the Under Secretary of Defense
(Acquisition and Sustainment) (USD(A&S)) makes a written determination
that it is not in the best interest of the Federal Government to exempt
commercial item contracts, the provision of law will apply to contracts
for the acquisition of commercial items. Based on delegations of
authority from USD(A&S), the Principal Director, DPC, is the
appropriate authority to make this determination. DoD has made that
determination to apply this rule to the acquisition of commercial
items, including COTS items.
C. Determinations
Consistent with the determinations that DoD has made with regard to
the application of the requirements of section 1656 of the NDAA for FY
2018, the two provisions and the clause apply to all solicitations and
contracts, including solicitations and contracts below the SAT and to
the acquisition of commercial items (including COTS items). It is
important to apply the statutory prohibitions to all acquisitions in
order to protect the security of nuclear command, control, and
communications systems and ballistic missile defense from commercial
dependencies on equipment and services from certain companies or
certain foreign countries that are considered to create a risk to our
national security.
IV. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess
all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O.
13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits,
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility.
This is a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was subject to
review under section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and
Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is not a major rule under 5
U.S.C. 804.
V. Executive Order 13771
This rule is not subject to the requirements of E.O. 13771, because
the rule is issued with respect to a national security function of the
VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act
This interim rule may have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. An initial regulatory
flexibility analysis has been performed and is summarized as follows:
This interim rule is necessary to implement section 1656 of the
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 and
section 889(a)(1)(A) of the NDAA for FY 2019.
The objective of this rule is to increase security of systems and
critical technology that is part of any system used to carry out the
nuclear deterrence and homeland defense missions of DoD by prohibiting
the use of telecommunications equipment or services from certain
any other entities that the Secretary of Defense reasonably believes to
be owned or controlled by or otherwise connected to, the government of
the People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation.
To implement the prohibition, this rule creates two new
representations and a new reporting requirement. Data from the Federal
Procurement Data System (FPDS) and the System for Award Management
(SAM) were used to estimate the number of small businesses that will be
affected by this rule:
DFARS provision 252.204-7016, Covered Defense
Telecommunications Equipment or Services--Representation, requires each
offeror to represent whether it provides covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services as a part of its offered
products or services to the Government in the performance of any
contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument. All offerors
will be required to complete this representation in the SAM at least
annually. As of July 31, 2019, there were 424,927 active registrants in
SAM. Approximately 49.78% (211,529) of the active SAM registrants
completed the DoD-specific representations and certifications, of which
approximately 158,647 (75 percent) are estimated to be registered as a
small entity for their primary NAICS code. These small entities would
be required to complete the representation under DFARS 252.204-7016.
DFARS 252.204-7017, Prohibition on the Acquisition of
Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services--
Representation, requires that if an offeror provides an affirmative
representation under the DFARS provision 252.204-7016, then that
offeror will be required to represent on every solicitation whether it
is including covered defense telecommunications equipment or services
as a part of its offer in response to the solicitation. If the offeror
responds affirmatively, the offeror is required to further disclose
information about the covered defense telecommunications equipment or
services. According to data in FPDS for fiscal years (FYs) 2016 through
2018, on average DoD makes awards each year to approximately 44,277
unique entities, of which 30,762 are unique small entities. DoD
estimates that approximately 3,076 (10 percent) of the unique small
entities that receive DoD awards each year may be required to submit
the additional offer-by-offer representation. DoD further estimates
that of the estimated 3,076 unique small entities that may be required
to represent on an offer-by-offer basis, it is estimated that 10
percent (308 unique small entities) may also be required to provide the
additional disclosure within the representation.
DFARS clause 252.204-7018, Prohibition on the Acquisition
of Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services, requires
contractors and subcontractors to report through https://dibnet.dod.mil, any discovery of covered defense telecommunications
equipment or services that is being used as a substantial or essential
component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any
system, during the course of contract performance. At this time, there
is no way for DoD to estimate how many contractors (small or otherwise)
may make such discovery and be required to submit a report; however,
DoD expects this number to be relatively low. DoD estimates that
approximately 1,538 entities (5 percent of the 30,762 unique small
entities that receive DoD awards annually) may be required to submit a
report to DIBNET.
The rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any other
Federal rules. This interim rule mirrors implementation of a similar
prohibition in the Federal Acquisition Regulation associated with
section 889(a)(1)(A) of the FY 2019 NDAA. It is necessary to create
additional representations and reporting requirements in the DFARS to
implement the section 1656 prohibition for DoD, because the statutory
definitions that form the basis of the prohibitions are not the same.
Section 889(a)(1)(A) includes certain types of video surveillance
equipment in the definition of covered telecommunications equipment or
services and defines ``covered foreign country'' as the People's
Republic of China. In section 1656, covered telecommunications
equipment and services includes only telecommunications equipment and
services (not video surveillance equipment or services); is limited to
equipment, system, or services used to carry out the nuclear deterrence
and homeland defense missions; and includes Russia in the definition of
``covered foreign country.''
DoD has been unable to identify any significant alternatives that
would accomplish the stated objectives of the statute and minimize any
significant economic impact of the rule. Because this rule is a matter
of national security, it must apply to acquisitions that do not exceed
the simplified acquisition threshold (including micro-purchases), and
acquisitions of commercial items (including commercially available off-
the-shelf items). Small entities cannot be exempted from coverage
without increased risk to national security. The rule is not expected
to have significant economic impact, except on entities that currently
or plan to include covered defense telecommunications equipment or
services as part of their offered products and services to the
DoD invites comments from small business concerns and other
interested parties on the expected impact of this rule on small
DoD will also consider comments from small entities concerning the
existing regulations in subparts affected by this rule in accordance
with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such comments
separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 610 (DFARS Case 2018-D022), in
VII. Paperwork Reduction Act
DoD has requested and the Office of Management and Budget has
approved an emergency clearance of information collection requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). DoD is
soliciting comments on this emergency clearance 0750-0002, titled
``Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services.''
A. Estimate of Public Reporting Burden
The annual public reporting burden is estimated as follows:
DFARS 252.204-7016 Representation
Respondents: 211,529.
Responses per respondent: 1.
Total annual responses: 211,529.
Hours per response: 0.08333.
Total Burden Hours: 17,627.
Respondents: 4,428.
Responses per respondent: 45.
DFARS 252.204-7017 Disclosure
Respondents: 443.
Total annual responses: 19,935.
Hours per response: 3.
DFARS 252.204-7018 Reporting
Total annual responses: 2,215.
Hours per response: 1.5.
Total burden hours: 3,323.
Total Public Responses and Hours
B. Request for Comments Regarding Paperwork Burden
Written comments and recommendations on the information collection,
including suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to Ms.
Jasmeet Seehra at the Office of Management and Budget, Desk Officer for
DoD, Room 10236, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503,
or email [email protected], with a copy to the Defense
Acquisition Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Heather Kitchens,
OUSD(A&S)DPC/DARS, Room 3B941, 3060 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC
20301-3060. Comments can be received from 30 to 60 days after the date
of this notice, but comments to OMB will be most useful if received by
OMB within 30 days after the date of this notice.
Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
functions of the DFARS, and will have practical utility; whether our
estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is
accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use
of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
To request more information on this proposed information collection
or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection
instruments, please write to the Defense Acquisition Regulations
System, Attn: Ms. Heather
Kitchens, OUSD(A&S)DPC/DARS, Room 3B941, 3060 Defense Pentagon,
Washington, DC 20301-3060, or email [email protected]. Include DFARS
Case 2018-D022 in the subject line of the message.
VIII. Determination To Issue an Interim Rule
A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary
of Defense that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this
interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. It is
critical that the DFARS is immediately revised to include the
requirements of this statute for the reason described below.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 (Pub. L. 115-91) provides that DoD may not
procure or obtain, or extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain,
deterrence or homeland defense missions that uses covered defense
component of any system or as a critical technology as a part of any
system. The section 1656 prohibition is similar to the Government-wide
prohibition enacted under section 889 of the NDAA for FY 2019 (Pub. L.
115-232) on the procurement of equipment, systems, or services that use
covered telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services
as a substantial or essential component of any system or as a critical
technology as a part of any system. The rule also implements DoD-
specific procedures associated with the section 889(a)(1)(A)
prohibition in the FAR.
While DoD worked closely with GSA, NASA, and the Office of Federal
Procurement Policy to develop the framework for these types of
prohibitions in the FAR rule implementing section 889, DoD issued
internal guidance to establish an approval process for the procurement
of certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or
equipment. However, codification of this prohibition in the DFARS and
the procedures contained in this rule are urgent, because the rule
aligns with the rollout of the annual representation from offerors in
the System for Award Management. The representations from offerors
required by this rule will give the Department the assurances it needs
that it is not violating the statutory prohibition and that it can rely
on the integrity and security of equipment that is critical to the DoD
nuclear deterrence mission of DoD and the homeland defense mission. It
is essential that DoD be able to protect against entities that may
intentionally try to deliver products or services that could infiltrate
and exploit our military communications and jeopardize our national
security network.
DoD's highest priority missions (to include nuclear command,
control, and communications, continuity of Government; and ballistic
missile defense) must be executed with complete confidence on the
security, reliability, and resiliency to operate in a cyber-contested
environment. DoD must take immediate action to eliminate
vulnerabilities in the supply chain that would undermine the security
of our nation. However, pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 1707 and FAR 1.501-3(b),
DoD will consider public comments received in response to this interim
rule in the formation of the final rule.
List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 204, 212, 213, and 252
Government procurement.
Jennifer Lee Hawes,
Regulatory Control Officer, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.
Therefore, 48 CFR parts 204, 212, 213, and 252 are amended as
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 204, 212, 213, and 252
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 41 U.S.C. 1303 and 48 CFR chapter 1.
PART 204--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
2. Amend section 204.1202 by--
a. Redesignating paragraphs (2)(i) through (xiii) as paragraphs (2)(ii)
through (xix); and
b. Adding paragraph (2)(i).
The addition reads as follows:
204.1202  Solicitation provision.
(2) * * *
(i) 252.204-7016, Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or
3. Add subpart 204.21, consisting of 204.2100 through 204.2105, to read
SUBPART 204.21--PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING FOR CERTAIN
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT
204.2100 Scope of subpart.
204.2101 Definitions.
204.2102 Prohibition.
204.2103 Procedures.
204.2104 Waivers.
204.2105 Solicitation provisions and contract clause.
204.2100  Scope of subpart.
This subpart implements section 1656 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Pub. L. 115-91) and section
889(a)(1)(A) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2019 (Pub. L. 115-232).
204.2101  Definitions.
As used in this subpart--
Covered defense telecommunications equipment or services means--
(1) Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies
Company or ZTE Corporation, or any subsidiary or affiliate of such
entities;
(2) Telecommunications services provided by such entities or using
such equipment; or
(3) Telecommunications equipment or services produced or provided
by an entity that the Secretary of Defense reasonably believes to be an
government of a covered foreign country.
Covered foreign country means--
(1) The People's Republic of China; or
(2) The Russian Federation.
Covered missions means--
(1) The nuclear deterrence mission of DoD, including with respect
to nuclear command, control, and communications, integrated tactical
warning and attack assessment, and continuity of Government; or
(2) The homeland defense mission of DoD, including with respect to
ballistic missile defense.
204.2102  Prohibition.
(a) Prohibited equipment, systems, or services. In addition to the
prohibition at FAR 4.2102(a), unless the covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services are subject to a waiver
described in 204.2104, the contracting officer shall not procure or
obtain, or extend or renew a contract (e.g., exercise an option) to
procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service to carry out
covered missions that uses covered defense telecommunications equipment
or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or
as critical technology as part of any system.
204.2103  Procedures.
(a) Representations.
(1)(i) If the offeror selects ``does not'' in response to the
provision at DFARS
252.204-7016, the contracting officer may rely on the representation,
unless the contracting officer has an independent reason to question
the representation. If the contracting officer has a reason to question
the ``does not'' representation in FAR 52.204-26, FAR 52.212-3(v), or
252.204-7016, then the contracting officer shall consult with the
requiring activity and legal counsel.
(ii) If the offeror selects ``does'' in paragraph (c) of the
provision at DFARS 252.204-7016, the offeror must complete the
representation at DFARS 252.204-7017.
(2)(i) If the offeror selects ``will not'' in paragraph (d) of the
provision at DFARS 252.204-7017, the contracting officer may rely on
the representation, unless the contracting officer has an independent
reason to question the representation. If the contracting officer has a
reason to question the ``will not'' representation in FAR 52.204-24 or
DFARS 252.204-7017, then the contracting officer shall consult with the
(ii) If an offeror selects ``will'' in paragraph (d) of the
provision at DFARS 252.204-7017, the offeror must provide the
information required by paragraph (e) of the provision. When an offeror
completes paragraph (e) of either of the provisions at FAR 52.204-24 or
DFARS 252.204-7017, the contracting officer shall--
(A) Forward the offeror's representation and disclosure information
to the requiring activity; and
(B) Not award to the offeror unless the requiring activity
advises--
(1) For equipment, systems, or services that use covered
system, that a waiver as described at FAR 4.2104 has been granted; or
(2) For equipment, systems, or services to be used to carry out
covered missions that use covered defense telecommunications equipment
as critical technology as part of any system, that a waiver as
described at DFARS 204.2104 has been granted.
(b) Reporting. If a contractor reports information to https://dibnet.dod.mil in accordance with the clause at FAR 52.204-25 or DFARS
252.204-7018, the Defense Cyber Crime Center will notify the
contracting officer, who will consult with the requiring activity on
how to proceed with the contract.
204.2104  Waivers.
The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition in 204.2102(a)
on a case-by-case basis for a single, one-year period, if the
Secretary--
(a) Determines such waiver to be in the national security interests
of the United States; and
(b) Certifies to the Congressional defense committees that--
(1) There are sufficient mitigations in place to guarantee the
ability of the Secretary to carry out the covered missions; and
(2) The Secretary is removing the use of covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services in carrying out such missions.
204.2105  Solicitation provisions and contract clause.
(a) Use the provision at 252.204-7016, Covered Defense
Telecommunications Equipment or Services--Representation, in all
solicitations, including solicitations using FAR part 12 procedures for
the acquisition of commercial items and, solicitations for task and
delivery orders, basic ordering agreements (BOAs), orders against BOAs,
blanket purchase agreements (BPAs), and calls against BPAs.
(b) Use the provision at 252.204-7017, Prohibition on the
Services--Representation, in all solicitations, including solicitations
using FAR part 12 procedures for the acquisition of commercial items,
and solicitations for task and delivery orders, BOAs, orders against
BOAs, BPAs, and calls against BPAs.
(c) Use the clause at 252.204-7018, Prohibition on the Acquisition
of Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services, in all
solicitations and resultant awards, including solicitations and
contracts using FAR part 12 procedures for the acquisition of
commercial items, and solicitations and awards for task and delivery
orders, BOAs, orders against BOAs, BPAs, and calls against BPAs.
PART 212--ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL ITEMS
4. Amend section 212.301 by adding paragraphs (f)(ii)(H), (I), and (J)
to read as follows:
212.301  Solicitation provisions and contract clauses for the
acquisition of commercial items.
(f) * * *
(ii) * * *
(H) Use the provision at 252.204-7016, Covered Defense
Telecommunications Equipment or Services--Representation, as prescribed
in 204.2105(a), to comply with section 1656 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Pub. L. 115-91).
(I) Use the provision at 252.204-7017, Prohibition on the
Services--Representation, as prescribed in 204.2105(b), to comply with
section 1656 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2018 (Pub. L. 115-91).
(J) Use the clause at 252.204-7018, Prohibition on the Acquisition
of Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services, as
prescribed in 204.2105(c), to comply with section 1656 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Pub. L. 115-91).
PART 213--SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES
5. Amend section 213.201 by adding a new paragraph (j) to read as
213.201  General.
(j) Do not procure or obtain, or extend or renew a contract to
as critical technology as part of any system, unless a waiver is
granted. (See subpart 204.21.)
PART 252--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
6. Amend section 252.204-7007 by--
a. Removing the clause date ``JUN 2019'' and adding ``DEC 2019'' in its
place;
b. Redesignate paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (viii) as paragraphs
(d)(1)(ii) through (ix), respectively; and
c. Adding paragraph (d)(1)(i).
252.204-7007  Alternate A, Annual Representations and Certifications.
(d)(1) * * *
Services--Representation. Applies to all solicitations.
7. Add sections 252.204-7016, 252.204-7017, and 252.204-7018 to read as
252.204-7016  Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or
As prescribed in 204.2105(a), use the following provision:
Representation (Dec 2019)
(a) Definitions. As used in this provision, covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services has the meaning provided in
the clause 252.204-7018, Prohibition on the Acquisition of Covered
Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services.
(b) Procedures. The Offeror shall review the list of excluded
parties in the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) for entities excluded from receiving federal awards for
``covered defense telecommunications equipment or services''.
(c) Representation. The Offeror represents that it [ ] does, [ ]
does not provide covered defense telecommunications equipment or
services as a part of its offered products or services to the
Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract, or other
contractual instrument.
(End of provision)
252.204-7017  Prohibition on the Acquisition of Covered Defense
As prescribed in 204.2105(b), use the following provision:
Prohibition on the Acquisiton of Covered Defense Telecommunications
Equipment or Services--Representation (Dec 2019)
The Offeror is not required to complete the representation in
this provision if the Offeror has represented in the provision at
252.204-7016, Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or
Services--Representation, that it ``does not provide covered defense
contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument.''
(a) Definitions. Covered defense telecommunications equipment or
services, covered mission, critical technology, and substantial or
essential component, as used in this provision, have the meanings
given in the 252.204-7018 clause, Prohibition on the Acquisition of
Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services, of this
solicitation.
(b) Prohibition. Section 1656 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Pub. L. 115-91) prohibits
agencies from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a
contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service to
carry out covered missions that uses covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or
essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part
of any system.
(c) Procedures. The Offeror shall review the list of excluded
parties in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov for entities that are excluded when providing any
equipment, system, or service to carry out covered missions that
uses covered defense telecommunications equipment or services as a
substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical
technology as part of any system, unless a waiver is granted.
(d) Representation. If in its annual representations and
certifications in SAM the Offeror has represented in paragraph (c)
of the provision at 252.204-7016, Covered Defense Telecommunications
Equipment or Services--Representation, that it ``does'' provide
covered defense telecommunications equipment or services as a part
of its offered products or services to the Government in the
performance of any contract, subcontract, or other contractual
instrument, then the Offeror shall complete the following additional
representation:
The Offeror represents that it [ ] will [ ] will not provide
of its offered products or services to DoD in the performance of any
award resulting from this solicitation.
(e) Disclosures. If the Offeror has represented in paragraph (d)
of this provision that it ``will provide covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services,'' the Offeror shall
provide the following information as part of the offer:
(1) A description of all covered defense telecommunications
equipment and services offered (include brand or manufacturer;
product, such as model number, original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler number; and item
description, as applicable).
(2) An explanation of the proposed use of covered defense
telecommunications equipment and services and any factors relevant
to determining if such use would be permissible under the
prohibition referenced in paragraph (b) of this provision.
(3) For services, the entity providing the covered defense
telecommunications services (include entity name, unique entity
identifier, and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, if
known).
(4) For equipment, the entity that produced or provided the
covered defense telecommunications equipment (include entity name,
unique entity identifier, CAGE code, and whether the entity was the
OEM or a distributor, if known).
Telecommunications Equipment or Services.
As prescribed in 204.2105(c), use the following clause:
Prohibition on the Acquisition of Covered Defense Telecommunications
Equipment or Services (Dec 2019)
(a) Definitions. As used in this clause--
(2) Telecommunications services provided by such entities or
using such equipment; or
(3) Telecommunications equipment or services produced or
provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense reasonably
believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise
connected to, the government of a covered foreign country.
(1) The nuclear deterrence mission of DoD, including with
respect to nuclear command, control, and communications, integrated
tactical warning and attack assessment, and continuity of
Government; or
(2) The homeland defense mission of DoD, including with respect
to ballistic missile defense.
``Critical technology'' means--
(1) Defense articles or defense services included on the United
States Munitions List set forth in the International Traffic in Arms
Regulations under subchapter M of chapter I of title 22, Code of
Federal Regulations;
(2) Items included on the Commerce Control List set forth in
Supplement No. 1 to part 774 of the Export Administration
Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code of
Federal Regulations, and controlled--
(i) Pursuant to multilateral regimes, including for reasons
relating to national security, chemical and biological weapons
proliferation, nuclear nonproliferation, or missile technology; or
(ii) For reasons relating to regional stability or surreptitious
listening;
(3) Specially designed and prepared nuclear equipment, parts and
components, materials, software, and technology covered by part 810
of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to assistance to
foreign atomic energy activities);
(4) Nuclear facilities, equipment, and material covered by part
110 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to export and
import of nuclear equipment and material);
(5) Select agents and toxins covered by part 331 of title 7,
Code of Federal Regulations, part 121 of title 9 of such Code, or
part 73 of title 42 of such Code; or
(6) Emerging and foundational technologies controlled pursuant
to section 1758 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C.
Substantial or essential component means any component necessary
for the proper function or performance of a piece of equipment,
system, or service.
(b) Prohibition. In accordance with section 1656 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Pub. L. 115-91), the
contractor shall not provide to the Government any equipment,
system, or service to carry out covered missions that uses covered
defense telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or
of any system, unless the covered defense telecommunication
equipment or services are covered by a waiver described in Defense
Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 204.2104.
(c) Procedures. The Contractor shall review the list of excluded
equipment, system, or service, to carry out covered missions, that
(d) Reporting.
(1) In the event the Contractor identifies covered defense
telecommunications equipment or services used as a substantial or
of any system, during contract performance, the Contractor shall
report at https://dibnet.dod.mil the information in paragraph (d)(2)
of this clause.
(2) The Contractor shall report the following information
pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this clause:
(i) Within one business day from the date of such identification
or notification: The contract number; the order number(s), if
applicable; supplier name; brand; model number (original equipment
manufacturer number, manufacturer part number, or wholesaler
number); item description; and any readily available information
about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended.
(ii) Within 10 business days of submitting the information in
paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this clause: Any further available
information about mitigation actions undertaken or recommended. In
addition, the Contractor shall describe the efforts it undertook to
prevent use or submission of a covered defense telecommunications
equipment or services, and any additional efforts that will be
incorporated to prevent future use or submission of covered
(e) Subcontracts. The Contractor shall insert the substance of
this clause, including this paragraph (e), in all subcontracts and
other contractual instruments, including subcontracts for the
(End of clause)
[FR Doc. 2019-27824 Filed 12-30-19; 8:45 am]


text:
const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');

const meow = require('meow');

const spawn = require('../utils/spawn');
const resolve = require('../utils/resolve');
const write = require('../utils/write');

// The jest config file must be a json file.  We write this file as jon into
// the .cache folder of the `react-dev-config` from where we can address it.
const jest = require(resolve('jest.js'));
const configPath = write.toCache('jest.json', JSON.stringify(jest));

// Proxy is enabled in Node.js v6.* by default; if you are not on Node v6.*
// yet, make sure you invoke Jest using node --harmony_proxies
// https://facebook.github.io/jest/docs/tutorial-webpack.html
const version = parseInt(process.version.match(/\d/)[0], 10);
const harmony = version < 6 ? ['--harmony_proxies'] : [];

// Jest needs a `.babelrc` in the root of your package folder, so we write it.
const babelrc = require(resolve('babelrc.js'));
const babelrcPath = path.join(process.cwd(), '.babelrc');
fs.writeFileSync(babelrcPath, JSON.stringify(babelrc));

const cli = meow(`
Usage
  test [options]

Options
  --help   This help text.
  --watch  Watch files for changes and rerun tests related to changed files.
`);

const args = [
  '--config', configPath,
].concat(cli.flags.watch ? ['--watch'] : []);

// Run jest for testing.
const result = spawn('jest', args, harmony);

// Delete created `.babelrc`.
fs.unlinkSync(babelrcPath);

process.exitCode = result.status;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences organized a Guest Lecture on 'Women Empowerment and Gender Equality' on 1st February, 2019. The Guest Speakers for the event were Ms. Ismeet Kaur (Consultant WHO) and Ms. Himani Prajapati (Associate PvPI, IPC). Speaking on the occasion the experts said that organizing such programmes in college will help women overcome misconceptions prevalent in the society. As women are described as power, hence women are already empowered. Women must be aware of their rights. We are all aware that ensuring women safety is one big move taken into consideration by most nations and men are and should be an equal part of it. Gender equality isn't only about women but men too.
All the students and Faculty Members of Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences attended the lecture.
Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences organized a Guest Lecture on 'Women Empowerment and Gender Equality' on 1st February, 2019.


OTP BANK JSC has increased the multicurrency credit line limit for TH "NOVAAGRO" LLC up to UAH 200 million. These funds will be used to finance the company's working capital, namely, to purchase agricultural products in Ukraine and their subsequent export to international markets.
"Our successful experience of cooperation with OTP BANK JSC allowed us to increase the limit of financing from 125 up to UAH 200 million. Signing this agreement is the most important step for our further cooperation with one of the leaders in the Ukrainian financial market. This new agreement opens up new opportunities for TH "NOVAAGRO" and is an additional support for our plans' implementation", comments Maksym Pylypenko, director of TH "NOVAAGRO".
According to Alla Biniashvili, Member of the Board of OTP BANK JSC: "The credit line extension for TH "NOVAAGRO" is a natural prolongation of our partnership. We highly appreciate the cooperation with this group and we are ready to contribute to its growth within the framework of the implementation of OTP Bank's strategy for increasing credit granting for successful Ukrainian medium and large businesses".


text:
Q: What is this series called: $\sum_{i=0}^n \frac{x}{y^i}$ $$\sum_{i=0}^n \frac{x}{y^i} = x + \frac{x}{y} + \frac{x}{y^2}+...$$
And when does it converge?
The bottom part seems to produce $\frac{n}{n-1}$ from this wikipedia here. If so, can it be combined to produce: $\frac{xn}{n-1}$?

A: This is a special case of a power series written in an "unusual way". It converges for any $y>1$ when you sum terms up to infinity. The sum of the $n$ first terms is, of course, always finite.
The sum can be calculated with the geometric series formula, according to which:
$$\sum_{k=0}^{n} xr^k = x \frac{1-r^{n+1}}{1-r}$$
Of course, you can take limits and see that, if $|r| < 1$
$$\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} xr^k = \frac{x}{1-r}$$
In your particular case, you are just replacing $r$ for $\frac{1}{y}$, but the same applies
$$\sum_{k=0}^{n} x\frac{1}{y^k} = x \frac{1-\frac{1}{y^{n+1}}}{1-\frac{1}{y}} \ \to \frac{x}{1-\frac{1}{y}}$$
In all of these cases, the $x$ could be simply taken out of the $\Sigma$ symbol, so the important part of the problem here is the geometric sum $$\sum_{k=0}^{n} r^k$$

A: It is just a geometric series with common ratio $\frac 1 y$.For $x \neq 0$ it diverges if $0<|y|\leq 1$, converges for $|y|> 1$; for $x=0$ it converges for all $y$. Just use the formula for the sum of a geometric series too find the sum. [$ \sum\limits_{k=0}^{\infty} xr^{k}=\frac x {1-r}$ if $|r|<1$].

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home > Primate's World Relief…
We do all we can to be part of the church's outreach to the wider community locally, nationally and internationally. We have an informal partnership with Semiahmoo House Society, a nearby facility for individuals with developmental challenges. We support the Food Bank, the Interchurch Refugee Unit, the Mission to Seafarers, the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, and many others.
2018 PRIMATE'S WORLD RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT FUND REPORT
With your support in 2018 these are some of the updates on the impact of your generous
support to PWRDF in Canada and around the world:
is celebrating 60 years of a journey that Anglicans have undertaken in partnership with communities in Canada and throughout the world in seeking to build a just, peaceful and healthy world.
continued to respond to sudden onset emergencies – the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Central Sulawesi in Indonesia and the aftermath of the Super Typhoon Mangkhut which tore through the island of Luzon in the Philippines.
distributed food items and provided health services to several thousand households in Indonesia and the Philippines to people affected by the above mentioned earthquakes and typhoon.
provided relief funding to the Friendship Centre at St. Timothy's Anglican Church to support 2,000 residents as a result of wildfires in B.C. in July, 2018.
provided funds to set up suicide prevention training for community leaders and those in helping professions in northern B.C. communities which were at risk due to the high indigenous population and added stresses following the wildfires.
collaborated with Partners in Health to improve health care in Rwanda: reducing infant malnutrition and illness, providing in-home medical support and training for volunteers and medical staff.
supported the Social Worker Home Visit Program in Rwanda. This program allows social workers to observe potential causes of malnutrition that may not be obvious during hospital visits.
supported the addition of a neonatal wing to the Kigutu Hospital in Burundi. The neonatal wing was funded by PWRDF with a 6:1 match from Global Affairs Canada.
supported the work of Dr. Denis Mukwege, the co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and founder of Panzi Foundation and Maison Dorcas in the Democratic Republic of Congo – helping to provide medical care to women who are victims of sexual assault.
responded with a $20,000 donation to support the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza – provided medical care to people-particularly children – who have been injured and traumatized by recent violence in the region.
Rita Buchy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Are you looking for a change after the half term?
Would you like to work at an 11-16 school where you can progress your career in a friendly environment where staff work collaboratively?
If so, Randstad Education would like to speak with you!
Set in the Borough of Newham, this oversubscribed school are looking to appoint a teacher of Spanish who is skilled, passionate and able to inspire students for the future. The school were accredited by Ofsted as 'Good' in their last inspection and have been identified as one of the leading schools in the borough.
The successful candidate must be a qualified Spanish Teacher and will be expected to teach up to KS4, ensuring the curriculum is being taught effectively that and pupils are encouraged to learn every step of the way. This is a full-time role that starts on the 25th February 2019.
If this seems like something that would interest you, please apply within.


text:
Halipteris  è un genere di ottocoralli dell'ordine Pennatulacea. È l'unico genere della famiglia Halipteridae

Descrizione
Sono coralli coloniali a forma di frusta, che presentano polipi autozooidi disposti in file oblique lungo due serie longitudinali, spesso formando creste rialzate.

Distribuzione e habitat
Il genere ha una distribuzione cosmopolita.

Tassonomia
Comprende le seguenti specie:
Halipteris africana ()
Halipteris californica ()
Halipteris christii ()
Halipteris finmarchica ()
Halipteris willemoesi ()

Note

Altri progetti

Pennatulacea

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Bet on the NFLSteelers hit the road for a 3 game series, starting at Miami, where the Steelers try to shut down Brown and Williams to defeat the Dolphins and prove the sportsbook odds wrong.
Although this Sunday's game vs. the Miami Dolphins may be the first of 3 road games for the Steelers, game one isn't looking so bad as the Dolphins have an unfortunate record of 0-2 at home, and the Steelers just so happen to have a record of 2-0 on the road. Pittsburgh's focus will be to hault the running team of Brown and Williams and put the game in the hands of quarterback Chadd Henne.
This is a big game for the Steelers as they try to hold on to one of the top spots in the AFC. Linebacker James Harrison was recently fined $75,000 by the NFL for a hard helmet-to-helmet hit on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi. Harrison was so fired up by the fine that he threatened to retire a day later, but recently announced he will not be retiring after all. Pittsburgh's offense was looking good with Roethlisberger back on the field last week.
As for the Dolphins, first round draft pick rookie defensive end Jared Ordick is hurt for the second time this season and just may be sidelined for the reast of the year. Coach Sparano says he will be out for a long time. He was just about to return from a broken right lieg injurty when he hurt his left foot at the end of a practice this week. But according to Sportsbook the Dolphins are still the 3 point home faves for this game with the over under listed at 41.


text:
Contacts and Complaints »
Contact NCDOI
For questions about your insurance call: 855-408-1212 (toll free)
Albemarle Building
NC Department of Insurance
The Consumer Services Division can answer your questions about insurance-related issues involving auto, homeowners/renters, liability, life/annuities, disability, Medicare supplement, long-term care, dental, vision, hospital, accident, specified disease and other coverages.
Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)
SHIIP can help you with questions about Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Supplement Insurance and long-term care insurance.
ncshiip@ncdoi.gov
Commissioner's Office
commissioner@ncdoi.gov
Office of State Fire Marshal
A Section Within the North Carolina Department of Insurance
Many people may not realize that the Commissioner of Insurance also serves as the State Fire Marshal in North Carolina. This has been the law since the late 1940s, when the General Assembly passed legislation that joined the two positions. Prior to that, the insurance commissioner was required to collect monies for a state-mandated "firemen's relief fund," a version of which is still ongoing today. Establishment of the state fire marshal position laid the groundwork for the much more comprehensive office operating now.
The Agent Services Division regulates all licensed agents, brokers, limited representatives, appraisers, adjusters, premium finance companies, collection agencies, motor clubs, bail bondsman, surety bondsman, and bail bond runners authorized to do business in North Carolina. This includes prelicensing education, continuing education, agency examinations and administrative actions.
ASD@ncdoi.gov
The Actuarial Services Division assists in the review of rate, form and statistical filings; and conducts actuarial studies for financial analysis and financial evaluation of regulated companies.
BBRDinbox@ncdoi.gov
Captive Insurance Companies Division
This is an exciting time in North Carolina as we continue to grow the captive industry in our state. We would welcome the opportunity to work with you, if you are interested in forming a captive insurer in North Carolina, or if you have any questions about captive insurance. Please feel free to contact a member of our dedicated captive staff.
Investigative personnel are sworn, state law enforcement officers having statewide jurisdiction.
reportfraud@ncdoi.gov
Financial Analysis & Receivership
Financial Analysis & Receivership Division is comprised of the Financial Analysis, Regulatory Actions and Special Entities Sections.
The Financial Examination Division regulates all authorized insurers, managing general agents, accredited reinsurers, for compliance with the solvency laws of this state. The ultimate objective of this regulation is to reduce the likelihood of any of these entities failing or to mitigate the effect of any of these entities' insolvency on the insurance consumers of this state.
The Legislative Services Office acts on behalf of the Commissioner in the General Assembly with respect to all legislative matters. The Office serves as liaison to the members of the General Assembly on insurance-related issues, and provides oversight in rule-making procedures for the Department.
The Life & Health Division is primarily responsible for the regulation, review, approval and disapproval of all life, health, credit insurance, annuity, long-term care, and Medicare Supplement policy forms and rates to be used in North Carolina. The division is also responsible for the registering of charitable or educational organizations that issue annuities;, the licensing of Third Party Administrators, Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements, Viatical Settlement Providers; and compliance review of non-financial operational policies and procedures for HMO and PPO plans.
L&Hinbox@ncdoi.gov
The Market Regulation Division regularly monitors the business of DOI-regulated companies to identify general market disruptions and to eliminate or limit harm to consumers, policyholders and/or claimants through market analysis investigations and market conduct examinations.
The Property & Casualty Division is responsible for reviewing rates, forms and rules insurance companies wish to use for commercial and personal lines of property and liability coverage in North Carolina. This division also regulates surplus lines.
P&Cinbox@ncdoi.gov
Regional Offices and Directors
The purpose of the Regional Offices and the role served by our Regional Directors is to serve the citizens and governmental officials of North Carolina in any and all matters related to any and all divisions of the Department of Insurance. This includes the fielding and handling of questions or inquiries about various aspects of insurance and questions regarding Manufactured Building, Risk Management, Agent Services Division, Consumer Services Division, Investigations Division, Bail Bondsmen, Premium Finance Companies, Building Codes, SHIIP, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Regional Offices also provide staffing facilities for field personnel within the Department including Investigations, Agent Services, Manufactured Housing, SHIIP, OSFM and others while also providing a facility for all consumers utilizing the services of the Department.
List of Regional Offices and Directors
The Public Information Office assists members of the news media with requests for information or public records from the Department of Insurance and Office of State Fire Marshal.
Contacts and Complaints
Jobs at NCDOI
Consumers Assistance or File a Complaint
Bail Bondsmen and Runners Online Complaint Form
Provider Complaint Against Health Plans
Self Insured Health Plans Complaint


text:
La lori de collar vermell o cotorra de collar roig (Trichoglossus rubritorquis) és una espècie d'ocell de la família dels psitàcids (Psittacidae) que habita els boscos d'Austràlia septentrional. Considerat tradicionalment una subespècie de Trichoglossus haematodus.

Referències

Trichoglossus


CampusBird, provider of an interactive campus map and virtual tour platform for education institutions, today welcomed Colorado State University (CSU) to its growing roster of clients.
Colorado State University in Fort Collins is one of the largest schools in Colorado, enrolling more than 32,000 students. With CampusBird, online visitors can now explore the campuses of CSU through a detailed 3D map and interactive media including video, images, interior layouts, wayfinding routes, and other media.
"We're very pleased to be working with Colorado State University and to see how their team is already finding innovative ways to use CampusBird for facilities, marketing, wayfinding, transit and other information-sharing needs," said Gordon Boyes, CEO of concept3D, the developer of CampusBird.
Colorado State University launched its CampusBird in preparation for the 2016/2017 academic year, and has used the interactive map software to create a "Move-In Day" map category, as well as to highlight ADA accessible routes and entrances, sustainability initiatives and bike routes. A link to the Move-In Day map was emailed to all students returning to the residence halls before they arrived. The university also has a number of new buildings and facilities under construction, and is using CampusBird to allow campus map visitors to explore the plans with 3D building renderings, flyovers and video.
Explore Colorado State University's CampusBird Interactive Campus Map at http://maps.colostate.edu.


Browse: Home / 2016 / April / 20 / Mahtomedi Go Round!
From Chautauqua Beach to Katherine Abbott to Wedgewood Park, our community has an abundance of outdoor recreational and historic resources — scattered like pearls here and there around Mahtomedi and Willernie.
Now, thanks to longtime resident and MAGI member Steve Wolgamot, those pearls have been strung together into a scenic 10-mile route that connects them using nearly every trail and path in the community. Known as Mahtomedi Go Round, the ad hoc biking and walking trail forms a Figure 8 with north and south loops of 5 miles each. Steve designed the route to minimize on-street travel and the need to cross main roads.
Steve will have maps of the route, along with information on landmarks and sights along the way, available at our community's RITE of Spring Earth Day celebration April 23. Weather permitting, volunteers will lead walking tours of the north loop and south loop and a bike tour of the entire route that afternoon. To learn more, stop by the Mahtomedi Go Round! Table at RITE of Spring. Meanwhile, feel free to try Mahtomedi Go Round on your own schedule using the Mahtomedi-Go-Round Map and Mahtomedi Go-Round Walking Guide.


text:
04-02-Noticia-CIMA-Fibrilación auricular
Rating: (1 Vote)
Colaboración público-privada para mejorar el abordaje clínico del paciente cardiaco y renal crónico
Identifican un biomarcador pronóstico no invasivo de la insuficiencia cardíaca
Ocho antiguas alumnas de la Universidad, en el Top 100 de mujeres líderes en España
Cecilia Payne, la mujer que descubrió la composición de las estrellas, protagonista en el Museo de Ciencias Universidad de Navarra
Una muestra de grabados de Ramón y Cajal, un nuevo clip de la mujer en la ciencia y visitas guiadas con motivo del Día de los Museos
Javier Díez
women for science and technology
New study identifies biomarkers to predict the risk of atrial fibrillation
Scientists at the University of Navarra link the alteration of three molecules with the prevalence, incidence, and recurrence of this cardiac ailment present in 33.5 million people in the world
From left: Gabriel Ballesteros, Susana Ravassa, Ignacio García-Bolao, Begoña López, Javier Díez, Arantxa González, Pablo Ramos, Jean Bragard y Ujué Moreno. FOTO: Manuel Castells
02/04/19 09:48 Miriam Salcedo
Scientists at the University of Navarra (Spain), in collaboration with clinicians from the University Hospital of Donostia, have identified two biomarkers associated with the risk of suffering atrial fibrillation, a cardiac ailment that affects more than 33.5 million people in the world. In the European Union, it is present in 8.8 million people over 55 years of age and, specifically in Spain, it affects more than 4% of the population over 40 years of age. The World Health Organization considers this disease as an epidemic due to its high morbidity and mortality, and a public health problem due to its high prevalence.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common alteration of the heart rhythm (arrhythmia). It happens when the heart pumps blood in an accelerated and irregular way, thus increasing the risk of suffering a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, or other complications related to this organ. Some common causes are heart disease or hormonal changes. It can be treated with medications and procedures, such as cardiac ablation, to correct irregular heart rhythms.
Researchers at Cima, Clínica Universidad de Navarra and the Faculty of Sciences, have discovered that, by analyzing a blood sample, it is possible to predict the appearance of this cardiac ailment. "The alteration of three molecules related to collagen metabolism (CITP, MMP-1, and PICP) determine the risk of suffering atrial fibrillation and the response to its treatment," explains Dr. Javier Díez, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Program at Cima, Head of Research of the Department of Cardiology and co-director of the Department of Nephrology at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra.
Advances toward precision medicine
The study was performed in 392 patients, 150 of them treated with cardiac ablation. "We have found that patients with low blood levels of the CITP/MMP-1 ratio and elevated levels of PICP have a high risk of developing atrial fibrillation and that it recurred after cardiac ablation. The confirmation of these findings can lay the foundations to precisely adjust the most optimal treatment and follow-up for each patient according to these two biomarkers," adds Dr. Díez, also from CIBERCV.
This research, led by Dr. Díez and Dr. Ignacio García-Bolao, director of the Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Department at Clínica Universidad de Navarra, has been published in the prestigious Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The same number of this manuscript contains an editorial that highlights the scientific advance that this study implies toward precision medicine.
Bibliographic reference:
Combination of Circulating Type I Collagen-Related Biomarkers Is Associated With Atrial Fibrillation
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.12.074


OK, it may be the shortest element of most triathlons, but a good swim is critical for getting your race off on the right foot and decreasing the pressure you may feel later in the race. When energy levels are flagging during the run, it's far better to have a cushion gained in the early stages than needing to make up ground.
A good quality wetsuit can help you cut through the water, can ease your time through the transition to the bike, and provide that critical confidence boost as you start your ride. There are a myriad of wetsuits out there at all sorts of price ranges, even nudging into the thousands in the example of some ROKA suits. Here we have picked out four of the best.
Excellent choice for those whose swim technique is not as strong as they'd like. Incredible buoyancy while retaining flexibility of movement. Comes with a 2-year warranty but isn't cheap at approximately £380.
For beginners or less experienced triathletes, this would probably be my pick. It is comfortably the most forgiving wetsuit we tested, offering really good buoyancy and stability in the water – yet remaining extremely flexible. This is achieved via several panels across the suit including 5mm thick neoprene in the legs and lower back and 1.5mm neoprene in the arms.
The position in the water is really comfortable and movement felt really free. If your swimming technique is a little lacking right now, this suit could really make the difference in improving your finishing position. What's more, it comes with a 2-year warranty for peace of mind, so I have no hesitation in recommending this suit. At the £380 mark it's not cheap, but would be a worthy investment.
Really good buoyancy and stability.
Not cheap at around £380.
Brilliant spec for what is an entry level suit at the price point (around £170). Extra thickness in the legs provides a rock solid swim and good buoyancy in the water. Strong eco-credentials as it is made with recycled tyre rubber.
The price point of this suit (around the £170 mark) makes it an entry level wetsuit, but more experienced triathletes shouldn't let that put them off. This is a really strong product for the price. Like the P:2 shown above, this also features extra thickness around the legs, providing stability and buoyancy in the water – although the 4mm neoprene featured here is not quite as thick as the 5mm of the P:2.
The suit is really well fitted and the leg and cuff panels really help speed up transition. Interestingly, the Zone3 is made from recycled tyre rubber so it has strong eco-credentials if that is important to you (which it is for many of my triathlete friends).
4mm of neoprene thickness in the legs for buoyancy and stability.
Good all-rounder but more experienced triathletes may benefit from spending a little more.
A brilliant wetsuit for the money (just over £100) that gives a nice swim position and terrific freedom of movement. Colder waters may be a challenge as this suit is thin, so those competing in the autumn and winter months may want to look elsewhere, but hard to find fault at this price.
This suit retails at £125 RRP and it is absolutely astonishing how good a suit Speedo have created here for the cost. The fuse neck does a great job of keeping water out and body position regulators on the thighs give a welcome aid to the swimming position.
The legs have buoyancy panels to help lift the lower half, and the 1.5mm thickness in the chest and arms provide plenty of freedom of movement. The downside (and there had to be a downside at this price) is that the suit is fairly thin overall, and if you are in sub-10 degree water you are certainly going to feel it! But let's not let that detract from what is an otherwise remarkable wetsuit for the cash!
Good freedom of movement and a nice swim position.
Thin, so perhaps not suitable for colder swims.
A really good wetsuit that many swear by. 3mm of neoprene provides good warmth and added stability in the water, but at around the £380 mark is potentially a bit too expensive for my liking.
This suit from Selkie has a standard 3mm of neoprene around the chest and legs, and this gives added warmth and a good level of stability in the water. Around the arms and shoulders this drops to 2mm for that much needed swim freedom.
Out of the water it is nice and easy to adjust so makes for a seamless passage through transition, and the design is pleasingly different. But at around £380 it feels a bit expensive. This is the same price point as the 2XU P:2 Propel featured at the top of this article, and if pushed I'd plump for that suit over this Selkie. But there are plenty that swear by this wetsuit so it's definitely worth your attention.
3mm neoprene gives good levels of warmth and stability in the water.
Easily adjusted out of the water and excellent through transition.
Possibly a bit too expensive at ~£380.
Hopefully you found this article useful and have found your next wetsuit. Any comments or suggestions, please feel free to drop us a note in the comments section below.


text:
Chambers's miscellany of instructive & entertaining tracts, Bind 5
Af Chambers W. and R., ltd
a wrong to be redressed, or perhaps only an opinion to be advanced, it is thought quite fair and reasonable that they should use these violent and murderous means. What is forbidden to individuals in every state above the most savage, and hardly tolerated even there, is freely granted to civilised nations, which, accordingly, are every now and then seen falling into bloody fights about matters which, with private men, would be settled by a friendly arbitration, or at most a decision in a law-court. There is nearly perfect machinery for keeping individuals at peace; but scarcely any arrangement whatever for maintaining the same relations amongst states, though states are in no respect different, but in their being composed of a plurality of individuals.
Our being accustomed to see force resorted to by nations, and the enginery of it kept up as a great department of public service, blinds us very much to the real character of war. A father might be seen amongst us taking the greatest pains to repress in his sons the disposition to fight out any dispute that might arise respecting their rights, telling them that they ought to bring the case to him, and he would settle it for them, and make them friends again; and next hour it would not be surprising to hear this man asking one of these sons if he would like to go into the army; that is to say, become a part of the mechanism by which nations seek a bloody adjustment of exactly similar quarrels. He would with one breath say it was contrary to the laws of God and man for brothers to fight, and the next he would be heard gravely counselling his children to fight, with firmness and bravery, the precisely similar quarrels of a state.
A rural clergyman might in like manner be heard deploring the unholy contentions which occasionally take place amongst his flock. Suppose he had amongst them a number of working-people, who had fallen out about wages, and proscribed and maltreated each other, the minister would doubtless express the greatest grief at what was going on, and deem himself called upon by every tie of duty to seek to restore peace; but if, next day, a pair of new colours were to be bestowed upon a regiment, the same man would have no scruple to invoke a blessing upon them-to consecrate them, as it is called ; at least such ceremonies frequently take place, and no condemnation of the practice has ever been uttered in this country. Yet these colours are identified with operations of precisely the same nature as a village fight or the contentions regarding wages. They only differ in their taking place on a comparatively great scale, and involving infinitely more misery in their results.
Bewildered by this wonderful contrariety, some readers will be disposed to say: 'There surely is some difference; the mass of mankind cannot be so far wrong. This, we fear, is fallacious reasoning. What prevents national war from being seen in the same light as private war, is the difficulty of getting a similar point of view from which to see it. We look coolly down upon a pair, or other small number of combatants, and deplore their rage and its consequences. As to national war, we are perhaps involved in it as parties, and therefore cannot look upon it from without. Or even though it be taking place between nations apart from us, we still are far from being able to take a wide and contemplative survey of it. To see it in exactly the same light, we should almost require to see it as inhabitants of a different and more happy planet.
If we be right in thus regarding war, it follows that everything connected with it is liable to exactly the same reprobation as private outrages of whatever kind. To wreak out a quarrel with another nation by sending armaments against it, is precisely the same thing as to go to a neighbour who had injured or otherwise offended us, and break down his fences, fire his house, and slay himself and his servants. Two rude men may fight with, and bite and scratch each other at a fair, quite as justifiably. There may be less ready access in the one case than in the other to a tribunal which would settle the dispute without violence ; but this does not alter the character of the action. Supposing that private persons had no law-courts to which to refer their quarrels, would they not be grievously wrong in bringing them to the law of the strongest? Say, then, that there is nothing analogous to a law-court for national disputes, surely nations are fearfully wrong to put these to the arbitrament of the sword, which will decide without the least regard to right. But, in reality, even nations are not without some resource for peaceably adjusting their differences. An arbitration may always be obtained from some third party, if there be a sincere wish for it on both sides. And any want in this respect might easily be remedied if nations were to come, as they ought to do, into greater union with each other, and act more in a harmonious concert. There might then be a public opinion amongst, as there is at present within, nations, to which any refractory member of the set would be obliged to submit.
Some of the evils of war are so manifest, as to need only to be mentioned. Such is the destruction of life which it occasions, always followed, of course, by misery to many survivors. Such is the devastation it often introduces into a country which is its seat. The injury it does by misapplying the national energies and funds, is less apt to be understood. Yet this is one of its greatest evils. War destroys—it never creates or produces. All it does is in the way of subtraction-nothing in the way of addition. The men who become soldiers are laid idle from useful employment ; the money spent in their pay, accoutrements, and all the appurtenances of war, is laid out on what makes no return, and is gone for ever as truly as if it had been thrown into the sea. The persons, indeed, who furnish the articles required for war, have lived upon the profits of their work; but their work has been unserviceable, whereas it might have been otherwise. Their talents and labour have all been misdirected. Thus, in every point of view, the money spent in war is misspent. And how surprising do some of the facts of this expenditure appear! The expenditure on the British army and navy in 1868, for instance, was nearly three times the amount of all the government grants for the promotion of education in England and Scotland during the thirty previous years. The United States, during the fifty years following 1789, spent, in military and naval equipments (which were only employed one or two years in actual war), three hundred and sixty millions sterling ; being seven times more than what they spent on all other national affairs whatever. Our own debt of above eight hundred millions represents only a part of our expenditure in war during the last hundred years.
War not only takes largely of our existing means, besides anticipating the future, but it paralyses and blights the powers by which means are acquired. The commerce of a country is usually much deranged by war, in consequence of the shutting up of certain markets, and the danger incurred in reaching others. Manufacturers are consequently thrown idle. All this descends in incalculable miseries upon the humbler classes.
But perhaps the most fatal effect of war is the lowering of the moral tone of a people. It introduces a new set of objects to public notice, and sets all their sympathies into wrong directions. Idle parade and gewgaws take the place of solidly useful matters; men worship what destroys; merit is estimated, not by the extent of good that a man does, but by his power of inflicting evil. The modest benefactors of their race are overlooked ; while praise is heaped upon him who has shewn an unusual amount of perhaps merely animal courage, or at best exercised ingenuity in inflicting suffering upon his fellow-creatures. In the progress of such a dispute with another nation, the selfish feelings are called into powerful play. We wish for victory, and seek to obtain it, without the least regard to the merits of the case. 'Our own country and cause, right or wrong,' is practically the maxim of all belligerent parties. This selfishness and injustice diffuses itself into the administration of the government, and even into private affairs ; so that corruption, peculation, contrabandism, and fraud abound on all hands. In such a state of things, all that conduces to moral progress is sensibly checked ; and it may be said that, for every year spent in war, we should require five to do away with its bad effects, and enable us to start at the point where we formerly were.
It is not wonderful that war should be so disadvantageous; for men are constituted in such a way as to be benefited only by mutual kindness and a firm union, and not by doing each other harm. It is a great mistake to suppose even that we can be benefited in the long-run by only consulting our own interests ; a much greater mistake is it to suppose that we can, as a rule, derive good from what does harm to our neighbours. All our highest gratifications are found in the efforts we make to give happiness to others; it is a thing which requires to come, either originally or by reflection, from a fellow-creature ; it has no spontaneous fount in ourselves. A nation, therefore, on the outlook for happiness to itself, would need to promote the benefit of its neighbours ; it should seek to form friendly relations with them, to promote an interchange of benefits by commerce and other means; to do them, in short, all the good in its power. By these, but by no other means can nations experience benefit from each other's neighbourhood. It is to be lamented that this principle has not as yet been much acted upon ; but wherever it has in any degree been put in practice, it has succeeded. As yet, we see governments for the most part disposed to take precautionary measures against each other, as more fearing each other as enemies, than disposed to trust each other as capable of being made friends. And thus a policy of suspicion, attended with immense expense, is established amongst states. France keeps up an army and navy, lest Britain should some day fall upon her. Britain does the same, dreading some outbreak on the part of France. Forts are raised beside harbours, to protect shipping from these imaginary hostilities. Half the men who are at the prime of life are obliged to go into discipline as soldiers for a month per annum, that they may be ready to repel any assault from their neighbours, who are drilling under the same terror for them. Thus money is misexpended, and human labour misapplied, to an enormous amount, from a mere sentiment of jealousy—a fear which actually engenders its own assailants. How strange that no people have ever yet been found capable of the gallantry of saying to a neighbour : 'We arm not, for we mean no harm, and wish to apprehend none : here we offer you love instead of hostility : you are too magnanimous, in such circumstances, to refuse the one or offer the other !' No nation civilised to the degree of those in Western Europe, could withstand a communication of this nature : it would, like Orlando, blush and hide its sword. There is nothing Quixotic in this doctrine. It proceeds upon the most familiar principles in human nature ; namely, that an honest good-will generates the same in the bosoms to which it is addressed. Would governments but try the relaxation of an import duty instead of the putting a warvessel into commission, would they but hold out a friendly hand in any case of exigency-such as occurred when Hamburg was burnt -instead of raising up jealous forts and martello towers, they would find how much better it was to do good than to threaten or presume evil, and how truly
LOVE IS POWER.
WITH the appearance and work
manship of the little creatures W called spiders, every one must be V? more or less familiar. They belong to the great division of Invertebrate Animals called Articulata. At one time they were included by naturalists in the class of Insects; but a more minute examination of their form and general development has caused
them to be disjoined from the Insecta, and formed, along with mites, ticks, and scorpions, into a separate class, called Arach
nida, intermediate between Insecta and Cruso tacea.
A There are several hundred species of spi
I ders—some large, some small; some of a dull sombre hue, others brilliantly coloured; some that abide in human dwellings, others that inhabit the fields and forests; some that have the means of floating themselves through the air, others whose means of locomotion are confined to their legs. At first sight, the body of the spider appears to be a roundish soft ball, supported on long jointed legs; but, on narrow inspection, the ball-like mass constitutes only the
abdomen or hinder portion, the true body and head


text:
In crisis now? DIAL 000
1. Prepare
2. Act now
3. Rebuild
4. Thrive
About Your Toolkit
Getting support and keeping safe after you leave a violent relationship.
3a. Centrelink support payments and services
Est. read time: 4 min
Support Payments when in a crisis
Support Payments if you care for a child
Income Support Payments
Other services offered by Centrelink
Scams by people purporting to be Centrelink
This section contains information about types of payments and other services you may be eligible for from Centrelink. Information about how to register with Centrelink, set up a myGov account and accessing Centrelink services online can be found on this website at 1f. Centrelink online and setting up a myGov account. Other Centrelink information can be found at 3b. Tips for Dealing with Centrelink.
Crisis Payments: a one off payment available if you are in severe financial hardship because you have experienced an extreme circumstance, including family and domestic violence. Important: you must apply for or register your intent to claim within 7 days of the event that led you to claim, for example the day you decided to leave home, or you decided not to have your partner home. You will also be referred to a social worker to provide short-term counselling and refer you to other services as needed. Find more information at the Crisis Payments section of the Services Australia website.
Special Benefits: A payment if you're in severe financial hardship and are not eligible for other income support from Centrelink. This payment is usually available for non-Australian citizens who are permanent residents or hold an approved visa. You can claim this payment for yourself OR for a child if you have custody and can't get any income or family support payments because you are not a permanent resident and your child is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Find out more information at the Special Benefits section of the Services Australia website.
Support payments are available if you are:
a legal parent, which includes being a birth parent, adopted parent, married to the birth parent when the child was born, or a parent recognised under the Family Law Act 1975 (to do with surrogacy); or
a non-parent carer of a child – someone who cares for the child at least 128 nights a year and is not in a relationship with either parent.
Family Tax Benefit: a tax subsidy to help with the cost of raising children, subject to an income test, and available for single parents, a non-parent carer, and grandparent carers. Find out more at the Family Tax Benefit section of the Services Australia website.
Child Support: An ongoing periodic payment made by a parent to another parent or non-parent carer for the benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship. The arrangement may include a parenting plan. Payment will cease if the parents have reconciled for 6 months or more. Find out more at the Child Support Services section of the Services Australia website.
If you are concerned that asking for child support puts you at risk, call the Centrelink Families Line and speak to a social worker. The Families Line numbers and other useful numbers can be found on the Centrelink phone numbers page.
Parenting Payments: If you care for a child under 8 years old (if single) or under 6 (if you're partnered) this payment acts as an income support payment while you're a young child's main carer. Find out more at the Parenting Payments section of the Services Australia website.
Assistance with the Cost of Child Care: If you and your child meet the eligibility criteria, a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) will be paid directly to your child care provider. If you are eligible for the CCS, you may also qualify for an Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) if you meet the eligibility criteria for the Grandparent Subsidy, the Transition to Work Subsidy or the Temporary Financial Hardship Subsidy. Carers of children exposed to domestic violence, may also be eligible for the Additional Child Care Subsidy under the child wellbeing category.
Job Seeker Payment: Financial help if you are looking for work, or if you are sick and injured and can't do your usual work or study for a short time. To receive JobSeeker you need to meet some rules including:
you are aged between 22 and Age Pension Age; and
you meet the income and assets test; and
you meet the residence rules
You can find out more about JobSeeker Payment at the Services Australia website.
Youth Allowance: Financial help if you're 24 or younger and a student or Australian Apprentice, or 21 or younger and looking for work.
Low Income Health Card: A concession card to get cheaper health care and some discounts if you're on a low income. Find out more at the Low Income Health Card section of the Services Australia Website.
Rent Assistance: if you qualify for another Centrelink payment, and also pay rent, you may be eligible for a regular extra payment. Find out more at the Rent Assistance section of the Services Australia website
Social Work Services: Centrelink also have social workers offering counselling, support and information. Social workers can also direct you to other support and services. You can contact a social worker by calling the Centrelink Employment Services Line on 132 850 and ask to speak to a social worker, or visit a service centre in person. Find out more at the Social Work Services section of the Services Australia website.
Job Search Services: A range of services provided to help you in your search for a job. Centrelink service centres provide access to computers and printers, and provide information on looking for a job. Find out more at the Job Search service section of the Services Australia website.
In order to receive certain payments, you may have mutual obligation requirements. Mutual obligation requirements mean you may need to apply for jobs, do training or study in order to qualify for a support payment. You may get exemptions from the mutual obligation requirements if you are homeless or facing domestic violence. Read more about mutual obligation requirements and exemptions for family and domestic violence.
A complete list of all the Centrelink payments and services can be found at the Centrelink website.
Information about Centrelink online and setting up a myGov account can be found at 1f. Centrelink online and setting upMyGov.
Be wary of scams by people contacting you, pretending to be from Centrelink, to seek money or information from you. Centrelink will only contact you under certain circumstances and in certain ways, and has provided advice on How to protect against scams.
[Page last updated: 19/6/21]
Your Toolkit
1a. How to protect yourself and your technology
1b. How can your bank or financial advisor help if you are preparing to leave?
1c. Checklist of documents you need to take with you when leaving a relationship
1d. Making a safety plan
1e. Evidence collection
1f. Centrelink online and setting up a myGov account
1g. Support services/groups for women experiencing or recovering from family and domestic violence
2a. Calling for emergency help
2b. A guide to leaving home in an emergency
2c. Family Violence Restraining Orders – What they are and how to get one
2d. Emergency Assistance
3b. Tips for dealing with Centrelink
3c. Housing matters
3d. Safety in public
3e. Staying safe at home
3f. Financial assistance for living costs
3g. Accessing legal services
3h. Mail safety
3i. Tenancy Information and Laws
4a. Budgeting
4b. Credit
4c. How to deal with financial settlements and other large amounts of money
4d. Goal Setting and Saving Strategies
4e. What to do when your debts are out of control
4f. Understanding insurances
4g. Understanding superannuation
4h. Tax
4i. Wills
4j. Longer term banking matters – how can the bank continue to help?
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The contents of this website is general in nature and for reference purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific financial advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action based on the information we have provided. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representation or warranties of any kind about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products or services. Even though we are able to provide links to other website, we have no control over the nature, veracity of content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorsement.


Our software testing courses and quality assurance training will help any IT professional get the confidence they need to perform these standard procedures within the corporate environment. Courses and seminars offered by Last Minute Training will provide a firm knowledge base for those who carry out the IT functions in corporations both large and small. From the practical basics such as how to perform a quality assurance test to more in depth concepts such as scheduling for software testing and quality assurance run throughs, these courses and seminars will provide all the information needed in order to carry out an effective Software testing and quality assurance program.