[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3380-3381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1890]
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[[Page 3381]]
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
[OMB Control No. 9000-0041]
Clearance Request Entitled Technical Proposal--Two-Step Sealed
Bidding
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Notice of request for an extension to an existing OMB clearance
(9000-0041).
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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved
information collection requirement concerning Technical Proposal--Two-
Step Sealed Bidding. A request for public comments concerning this
burden estimate was published at 60 FR 53916, October 18, 1995. No
public comments were received.
DATES: Comment Due Date: March 1, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect
of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, or obtaining a copy of the justification, should be
submitted to: FAR Desk Officer, OMB, Room 10102, NEOB, Washington, DC
20503, and a copy to the General Services Administration, FAR
Secretariat (MVRS), 18th & F Streets, NW, Room 4037, Washington, DC
20405. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0041, Technical Proposal--Two-
Step Sealed Bidding, in all correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Ralph De Stefano, Office of Federal Acquisition Policy, GSA (202)
501-1758.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Purpose
Two-step sealed bidding is a method of contracting designed to
obtain the benefits of sealed bidding when adequate specifications are
not available. An objective is to permit the development of a
sufficiently descriptive and not unduly restrictive statement of the
Government's requirements, including an adequate technical data
package, so that subsequent acquisitions may be made by conventional
sealed bidding. This method is especially useful in acquisitions
requiring technical proposals, particularly those for complex items. It
is conducted in two steps:
(a) Step 1 consists of the request for, submission, evaluation, and
(if necessary) discussion of a technical proposal. No pricing is
involved. The objective is to determine the acceptability of the
supplies or services offered. As used in this context, the word
``technical'' has a broad connotation and includes, among other things,
the engineering approach, special manufacturing processes, and special
testing techniques. It is the proper step for clarification of
questions relating to technical requirements.
(b) Step 2 involves the submission of sealed price bids by those
who submitted acceptable technical proposals in step 1.
The requested information is needed, in the absence of adequate
specifications, to develop a sufficiently descriptive and not unduly
restrictive statement of the Government's requirements and to determine
the acceptability of proposals received. The contracting officer
evaluates the acceptability of the information received, based on the
criteria in the request for proposals.
B. Annual Reporting Burden
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 8 hours per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information.
The annual reporting burden is estimated as follows: Respondents,
3,225; responses per respondent, 1; total annual responses, 3,225;
preparation hours per response, 8; and total response burden hours,
25,800.
Obtaining Copies of Justifications
Requester may obtain copies of justifications from the General
Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVRS), Room 4037, Washington,
DC 20405, telephone (202) 501-4755. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-
0041, Technical Proposal--Two-Step Sealed Bidding, in all
correspondence.
Dated: January 24, 1996.
Beverly Fayson,
FAR Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 96-1890 Filed 1-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-M
