04-4838. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; Subcontracting Plans/Subcontracting Report for Individual Contracts (Standard Form 294)

AGENCIES:

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

ACTION:

Notice of request for public comments regarding an extension to an existing OMB clearance (9000-0006).

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning subcontracting plans/subcontracting reporting for individual contracts (Standard Form 294). The clearance currently expires on June 30, 2004.

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; 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.

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 (MVA), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0006, Subcontracting Plans/Subcontracting Reporting for Individual Contracts (Standard Form 294), in all correspondence.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before May 3, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rhonda Cundiff, Acquisition Policy, GSA [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation 19.702 contractors receiving a contract for more than the simplified acquisition threshold agree to have small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business, HUBZone small business, veteran-owned small business and service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns participate in the performance of the contract as far as practicable. Contractors receiving a contract or a modification to a contract expected to exceed $500,000 ($1,000,000 for construction) must submit a subcontracting plan that provides maximum practicable opportunities for the above named concerns. Specific elements required to be included in the plan are specified in section 8(d) of the Small Business Act and implemented in FAR subpart 19.7.

In conjunction with these plans, contractors must submit semiannual reports of their progress on Standard Form 294, Subcontracting Report for Individual Contracts.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Respondents: 4,253.

Responses Per Respondent: 3.44.

Total Responses: 14,631.

Hours Per Response: 50.52.

Total Burden Hours: 739,225.

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405, telephone [phone]. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0006, Subcontracting Plans/Subcontracting Reporting for Individual Contracts (Standard Form 294), in all correspondence.

Dated: February 27, 2004.

Laura Auletta,

Director, Acquisition Policy Division.