2021-00265. Submission for OMB Review; Alternatives to Government-Unique Standards

AGENCY:

Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a revision and extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning alternatives to Government-unique standards.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before February 10, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for this information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Additionally, submit a copy to GSA through https://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions on the site. This website provides the ability to type short comments directly into the comment field or attach a file for lengthier comments.

Instructions: All items submitted must cite OMB Control No. 9000-0153, Alternatives to Government-Unique Standards. Comments received generally will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal and/or business confidential information provided. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check https://www.regulations.gov approximately two-to-three days after submission to verify posting. If there are difficulties submitting comments, contact the GSA Regulatory Secretariat Division at 202-501-4755 or [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Hawes, Procurement Analyst, at telephone [phone], or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. OMB control number, Title, and any Associated Form(s): 9000-0153, Alternatives to Government-Unique Standards.

B. Need and Uses

This clearance covers the information that offerors must submit to comply with the provision at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.211-7, Alternatives to Government-Unique Standards. This solicitation provision permits offerors to propose alternatives to Government-unique standards in response to Government solicitations. If an alternative standard is proposed, the offeror must furnish data and/or information regarding the alternative in sufficient detail for the Government to determine if it meets the Government's requirements. The information collected from offerors will be used by Federal agencies to determine if voluntary consensus standards will satisfy the Government's needs for a particular solicitation, in order to comply with OMB Circular A-119, Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities, and Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-113, 15 U.S.C. 272 note).

This OMB Control Number was previously entitled “OMB Circular A-119,” but has been updated to reflect the information collection requirement.

C. Annual Burden

Respondents: 100.

Total Annual Responses: 100.

Total Burden Hours: 100.

D. Public Comment

A 60-day notice was published in the Federal Register at 85 FR 70622, on November 5, 2020. No comments were received.

Obtaining Copies: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the GSA Regulatory Secretariat Division by calling 202-501-4755 or emailing [e-mail]. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0153, Alternatives to Government-Unique Standards.

William F. Clark,

Director, Office of Government-Wide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-Wide Policy.