2019-19514. Submission for OMB Review; Changes, Change Order Accounting, and Notification of Changes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a revision and renewal of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding changes, change order accounting, and notification of changes.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before October 10, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for GSA, Room 10236, NEOB, Washington, DC 20503 or at [e-mail]. Additionally submit a copy to GSA by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the ability to type short comments directly into the comment field or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions on the site.
• Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20405. ATTN: Lois Mandell/IC 9000-0026, Changes, Change Order Accounting, and Notification of Changes.

Instructions: All items submitted must cite Information Collection 9000-0026, Changes, Change Order Accounting, and Notification of Changes. 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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Camara Francis, Procurement Analyst, at telephone [phone], or email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. OMB Control Number, Title, and Any Associated Form(s)

9000-0026, Changes, Change Order Accounting, and Notification of Changes

B. Needs and Uses

The information collection title is changed to “Changes, Change Order Accounting, and Notification of Changes.” This clearance covers the information that contractors must submit to comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) part 43 requirements as stated in the listed clauses:

a. 52.243-4, Changes. For acquisitions exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold for dismantling, demolition, or removal of improvements; and construction, under a fixed-price contract, the contractor must assert its right to an adjustment under this clause within 30 days after receipt of a written change order or the furnishing of a written notice, by submitting to the contracting officer a written statement describing the general nature and amount of proposal, unless this period is extended by the Government. The written notice covers any other written or oral order (which includes direction, instruction, interpretation, or determination) from the contracting officer that causes a change. The contractor gives the contracting officer written notice stating (1) the date, circumstances, and source of the order and (2) that the contractor regards the order as a change order. The statement of proposal for adjustment may be included in the written notice.

b. 52.243-6, Change Order Accounting. The contractor, for each change or series of related changes, shall maintain separate accounts, by job order or other suitable accounting procedure, of all incurred segregable, direct costs (less allocable credits) of work, both changed and not changed, allocable to the change. The contractor shall maintain these accounts until the parties agree to an equitable adjustment or the matter is conclusively disposed of under the Disputes clause. This requirement is necessary in order to be able to account properly for costs associated with changes in supply and research and development contracts that are technically complex and incur numerous changes, or construction contracts if deemed appropriate by the contracting officer.

c. 52.243-7, Notification of Changes. The clause is available for use primarily in negotiated research and development or supply contracts for the acquisition of major weapon systems or principal subsystems. If the contract amount is expected to be less than $1,000,000, the clause shall not be used, unless the contracting officer anticipates that situations will arise that may result in a contractor alleging that the Government has effected changes other than those identified as such in writing and signed by the contracting officer. The contractor shall notify the Administrative Contracting Officer in writing if the contractor identifies any Government conduct (including actions, inactions, and written or oral communications) that the contractor regards as a change to the contract terms and conditions. This excludes changes identified as such in writing and signed by the contracting officer. On the basis of the most accurate information available to the contractor, the notice shall state—

(1) The date, nature, and circumstances of the conduct regarded as a change;

(2) The name, function, and activity of each Government individual and Contractor official or employee involved in or knowledgeable about such conduct;

(3) The identification of any documents and the substance of any oral communication involved in such conduct;

(4) In the instance of alleged acceleration of scheduled performance or delivery, the basis upon which it arose;

(5) The particular elements of contract performance for which the Contractor may seek an equitable adjustment under this clause, including—

(i) What line items have been or may be affected by the alleged change;

(ii) What labor or materials or both have been or may be added, deleted, or wasted by the alleged change;

(iii) To the extent practicable, what delay and disruption in the manner and sequence of performance and effect on continued performance have been or may be caused by the alleged change;

(iv) What adjustments to contract price, delivery schedule, and other provisions affected by the alleged change are estimated; and

(6) The Contractor's estimate of the time by which the Government must respond to the Contractor's notice to minimize cost, delay or disruption of performance.

C. Annual Burden

Respondents: 4,261.

Total Annual Responses: 17,215.

Total Burden Hours: 17,215.

D. Public Comment

A 60-day notice was published in the Federal Register at 84 FR 29205, on June 21, 2019. No comments were received.

Obtaining Copies: 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. 9000-0026, Changes, Change Order Accounting, and Notification of Changes, in all correspondence.

Dated: September 5, 2019.

Janet Fry,

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