2018-13403. Information Collection; Violations of Arms Control Treaties or Agreements With the United States

AGENCY:

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.

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an existing OMB emergency clearance notice.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before August 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments identified by Information Collection 9000-0198; Violations of Arms Control Treaties or Agreements with the United States, by any of the following methods:

• Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for the OMB Control number 9000-0198. Select the link “Comment Now” that corresponds with “Information Collection 9000-0198; Violations of Arms Control Treaties or Agreements with the United States.” Follow the instructions on the screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and “Information Collection 9000-0198; Violations of Arms Control Treaties or Agreements with the United States.”
• Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20405-0001. ATTN: Ms. Mandell/IC 9000-0198; Violations of Arms Control Treaties or Agreements with the United States.

Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite Information Collection 9000-0198; Violations of Arms Control Treaties or Agreements with the United States, in all correspondence related to this collection. Comments received generally will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal and/or business confidential information provided. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check www.regulations.gov,, approximately two-to-three days after submission to verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted by mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (PRA) provides that an agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and no person is required to respond to nor be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information, unless that collection has obtained Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

DoD, GSA, and NASA requested and OMB authorized emergency processing of an information collection involved in this rule, as OMB Control Number 9000-0198 (FAR case 2017-018, 52.209-13, Violation of Arms Control Treaties or Agreements—Certifications) consistent with 5 CFR 1320.13. DoD, GSA, and NASA have determined the following conditions have been met:

a. The collection of information is needed prior to the expiration of time periods normally associated with a routine submission for review under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

b. The collection of information is essential to the mission of the agencies to ensure the Federal Government does not award contracts to offerors, and any entity owned or controlled by the offeror that has engaged in any activity that violates arms control treaties or agreements with the United States.

c. The use of normal clearance procedures would prevent the collection of information from contractors, for national security purposes.

Section 1290 of Public Law 114-328 (codified at 22 U.S.C. 2593e) went into effect on December 23, 2016. The implementation of this FAR case will protect against doing business with entities that engage in any activity that contributed to or is a significant factor in a country's failure to comply with arms control treaties or agreements with the United States. This action is necessary because of statutory requirements relating to a national security function of the United States.

A notice was published in the Federal Register at 83 FR 28145, on June 15, 2018, as a part of a interim rule under FAR Case 2017-018, Violations of Arms Control Treaties or Agreements with the United States.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Number of Respondents: 11,634.

Responses per Respondent: 8.6.

Total Responses: 99,796.

Average Burden Hours per Response: .4 hours.

Total Burden Hours: 40,478.

C. Public Comments

Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and will have practical utility; whether the 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 to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those entities who will respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20405, telephone [phone]. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0198, Violations of Arms Control Treaties or Agreements with the United States.

Dated: June 18, 2018.

William F. Clark,

Director, Office of Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Governmentwide Policy.