03-26020. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; Commercial Item Acquisitions

AGENCIES:

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

ACTION:

Notice of request for comments regarding an extension to an existing OMB clearance (9000-0136).

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 the clauses and provisions required for use in commercial item acquisitions. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 68 FR 52186 on September 2, 2003. No comments were received.

Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it 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 and ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. This information will be collected electronically when the online representations and certifications application (ORCA) is activated.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before November 14, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jerry Zaffos, Acquisition Policy Division, GSA [phone].

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat, 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 included Title VIII, entitled Commercial Items. The title made numerous additions and revisions to both the civilian agency and Armed Service acquisition statutes to encourage and facilitate the acquisition of commercial items and services by Federal Government agencies.

To implement these changes, DoD, NASA, and GSA amended the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to include several streamlined and simplified clauses and provisions to be used in place of existing clauses and provisions. They were designed to simplify solicitations and contracts for commercial items.

Information is used by Federal agencies to facilitate the acquisition of commercial items and services.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Respondents: 37,500.

Responses Per Respondent: 34.

Total Responses: 1,275,000.

Hours Per Response: .312.

Total Burden Hours: 397,800.

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405, telephone [phone]. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0136 regarding Commercial Item Acquisitions in all correspondence.

Dated: October 8, 2003.

Ralph J. Destefano,

Acting Director, Acquisition Policy Division.