2013-17036. Agency Information Collection (Brand Name or Equal) Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Office of Acquisition and Logistics, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Office of Acquisition and Logistics, Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before August 16, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov;​; or to VA's OMB Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 [phone]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0585” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone], or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0585.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Clause 852.211-77, Brand Name or Equal (was 852.210-77).

OMB Control Number: 2900-0585.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VAAR clause 852.211-77 advises bidders or offerors who are proposing to offer an item that is alleged to be equal to the brand name item stated in the bid, that it is the bidder's or offeror's responsibility to show that the item offered is in fact, equal to the brand name item. This evidence may be in the form of descriptive literature or material, such as cuts, illustrations, drawings, or other information. While submission of the information is voluntary, failure to provide the information may result in rejection of the firm's bid or offer if the Government cannot otherwise determine that the item offered is equal. The contracting officer will use the information to evaluate whether or not the item offered meets the specification requirements.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on April 11, 2013, at pages 21711-21712.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and Not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Annual Burden: 1,125 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 10 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,750.

Dated: July 11, 2013.

By direction of the Secretary:

Crystal Rennie,

VA Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.