AGAR Advisory 81, Common Identification Standard for Contractors, has been added to the AGAR Advisories Page.

AGAR Advisory 79B, Hurricane Katrina Emergency Contracting Authorities and Waivers, has been added to the AGAR Advisories Page.

The Purchase Cardholder Information (FOIA) Page has been revised to add updated lists of Agency Program Coordinators (APCs), Local Agency Program Coordinators (LAPCs) and Cardholders as of March 2006.

The AGAR Advisories Page has been updated to delete AGAR Advisories 78 and 66C which have expired. The Biobased Products Procurement Tools Page has been updated to add updated contract templates and the a copy of the Federal Register Final Rule Designating 6 biobased items has been added to the Biobased Items Page.

The USDA Acquisition Toolkit Reference and Regulatory Information Page has been updated to add the USDA OSDBU Memo dated Feb. 9, 2006, establishing the USDA Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program - FY 2006 Set-Aside Policy for DIGs, TICs and ESBs.

The USDA Acquisition Toolkit Ordering Products and Services Page has been updated to add a link to information on the USDA-wide Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees requirements contract.

AGAR Advisory 80, Requirement for Use of an Earned Value Management System (EVMS), has been added to the AGAR Advisories Page.

The list of USDA-wide contracts and agreements (Intranet) which can be accessed from the Acquisition Toolkit at Ordering Products and Services page has been updated.

AGAR Advisory 79A, Hurricane Katrina Contingency Contracting Authorities, Proclamation of the President Suspending the Davis Bacon Act and Waivers for Use of Convenience Checks for Disaster Recovery and Emergency Blanket Waiver Approval for Hurricane Related Information Technology Acquisitions, which revises and supersedes AGAR Advisory 79 dated September 9, 2005, has been added to the AGAR Advisories Page.

A link to the Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC) has been added to the USDA Procurement Home Page. The HCIC provides a central point of reference for businesses, especially Minority-owned businesses and Small- and Medium-sized enterprises, to register for and become aware of federal contracting opportunities in the Gulf Coast. HCIC does not award contracts. It was established to ensure that businesses understand the process and are aware when opportunities become available.

The Qualification Requirements Page has been updated to add Farm Service Agency, Kansas City Commodity Office Qualification Requirements for Procurement of Commodities.

AGAR Advisory 79, Hurricane Katrina Contingency Contracting Authorities, Proclamation of the President Suspending the Davis Bacon Act and Waivers for Use of Convenience Checks for Disaster Recovery and Emergency Blanket Waiver Approval for Hurricane Related Information Technology Acquisitions, has been added to the AGAR Advisories Page.

AGAR Advisory 78, Class Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition has been added to the AGAR Advisories Page.

A link to the USDA Home Page with Hurricane Katrina Aftermath Information - Updates (National Finance Center and USDA Employees in Affected Areas) has been added to the USDA Procurement Home Page.

The USDA Acquisition Toolkit has been revised. (1)The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) concerning FPDS-NG have been updated to post the August 26, 2005 status report on USDA FPDS-NG Help Desk Calls. (2) The Federal IT Accessibility Information (Section 508) has been updated to add OMB Memorandum dated August 11, 2005 - Subject: Buying Accessible Electronic and Information Technology and Complying with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and add a separate link to the "Buy Accessible Wizard" intended to assist requiring officials and acquisition professionals in complying with the requirements of Section 508.

The Doing Business With USDA kit (PA-1613, Stock Number AD-1130) has been updated. The updated edition of the Doing Business With USDA kit is available on the Business Opportunities Page.

The Purchase and Fleet Card Information Page has been updated to add revised information about release PCMSFY05.2, Scheduled for Release September 2005.

The USDA-wide Contract and Agreements Intranet page that can be accessed from the USDA Acquisition Toolkit has been updated to add information about three BPAs for IT hardware and peripherals awarded to Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses.

The information regarding Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) on the Etcetera page has been updated to add a list of SDVOSBs developed by the USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Mission Area based on a Federal Business Opportunities source sought synopsis.

AGAR Advisory 77, Contracting for Prepackaged News Stories has been added to the AGAR Advisories Page.

The Career Management Page has been updated to add a link to Villanova University under Training Opportunities. The Etcetera page of the Acquisition Toolkit has been updated to add a copy of USDA OSDBU Memorandum dated June 21, 2005, subject: Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS)

AGAR Advisory 75, Use of Brand Name Specifications, and AGAR Advisory 76, Document Numbering System and Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDS-NG) Reporting, have been added to the AGAR Advisories Page.

The Purchase and Fleet Card Page has been updated to add information about release PCMSFY05.2, Scheduled for Release September 2005.

The Purchase Cardholder Information (FOIA) page has been updated to add the updated list of Cardholders.

The USDA Procurement Home Page has been updated to add a link to the USDA Press Release concerning the USDA Initiative to Aid Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. The Etcetera page of the Acquisition Toolkit Small Business Information has been updated to include this link and a copy of the USDA Strategy to Implement the Service-Disabled Veteran Executive Order 13360. The Career Management page has been updated to add a link to the OFPP Policy Letter 05-01, Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce, and additional links to sites with training information. The Biobased Products page has been updated to add a link to DR 5023-002, Biobased Products Procurement Program.

The list of AGAR Advisories has been updated to cancel and delete AGAR Advisories 29, 43, 44, 45 and 48, based on age of the informational document or discontinuation of the program addressed by the AGAR Advisory.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) concerning the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDS-NG) have been updated to post the updated status report on USDA FPDS-NG Help Desk Calls and to add information on new FPDS-NG issues. The FAQS are available from the USDA Acquisition Toolkit.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) concerning the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDS-NG) have been revised and are available from the USDA Acquisition Toolkit.

Agriculture Acquisition Circular (AAC 96-04) and the Agriculture Acquisition Regulation updated through AAC 96-04 have been posted to the Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) Page. The Purchase Card Management System (PCMS) Training Material has been revised to add updated training material.

Information about the USDA Acquisition Workforce Conference scheduled for April 19, 2005 has been added to the USDA Procurement Home Page.

AGAR Advisory 37, Waiver of Synopsis Requirements, expired on March 31, 2005, and will not be extended. Office of Federal Procurement Policy and the Small Business Administration have concluded, based on available data, that another extension is not warranted. AGAR Advisory 37 and 37A have been deleted from the list of AGAR Advisories. The USDA Acquisition Toolkit and the Business Opportunities have been updated to post Qualification Requirements in accordance with AGAR Advisory 60.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) concerning the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDS-NG) have been revised and are available from the USDA Acquisition Toolkit.

The Purchase and Fleet Card Information Page has been updated to add updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

AGAR Advisory 73, Purchase of Online Courseware Libraries and Learning Management Systems or Services, and AGAR Advisory 74, AGAR Provision - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code and Small Business Size Standard, have been added to the AGAR Advisories Page.

The Agriculture Acquisition Regulation Page has been updated to add the comments received concerning AGAR Case 2004-01 (Agriculture Acquisition Regulation: Miscellaneous Amendments) which was published as a direct final rule in the Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 1, dated January 3, 2005.

The information for vendors on the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) requirements has been updated to add a link to the Dun and Bradstreet web site for Government contractors and grantees to use to request a DUNS number. Information on the new requirement for vendors to annually submit electronic representations and certifications via the On-line Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) has also been added.

The Purchase and Fleet Card Program information has been revised to provide updated PCMS Training Material and 1 new and 3 updated PCMS Guides for Purchase and Fleet Cards.