03-22592. Federal Acquisition Regulations; Information Collection; Defense Production Act Amendments

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 (9000-0133).

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 defense production act amendments. This OMB clearance expires on November 30, 2003.

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.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before November 4, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 authorizes various forms of Government assistance to encourage expansion of production capacity and supply of industrial resources essential to national defense. The DPA Amendments of 1992 provide for the testing, qualification, and use of industrial resources manufactured or developed with assistance provided under Title III of the DPA.

FAR 34.1 and 52.234-1 require contractors, upon the direction of the contracting officer, to test Title III industrial resources for qualification, and provide the test results to the Defense Production Act Office. The FAR coverage also expresses Government policy to pay for such testing and provides definitions, procedures, and a contract clause to implement the policy. This information is used by the Defense Production Act Office, Title III Program, to determine whether the Title III industrial resource has been provided an impartial opportunity to qualify.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Respondents: 6.

Responses Per Respondent: 3.

Total Annual Responses: 18.

Hours Per Response: 100.

Total Burden Hours: 1,800.

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), Room 4035, 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405, telephone [phone]. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0133, Defense Production Act Amendments in all correspondence.

Dated: August 26, 2003.

Laura G. Auletta,

Director, Acquisition Policy Division.