03-22593. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; Government Property

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 (9000-0075).

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning Government Property. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 68 FR 37467 on June 24, 2003. No comments were received.

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 October 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: FAR Desk Officer, OMB, Room 10102, NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, and a copy to the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeritta Parnell, Acquisition Policy Division, GSA [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

“Property,” as used in Part 45, means all property, both real and personal. It includes facilities, material, special tooling, special test equipment, and agency-peculiar property. Government property includes both Government-furnished property and contractor-acquired property.

Contractors are required to establish and maintain a property system that will control, protect, preserve, and maintain all Government property because the contractor is responsible and accountable for all Government property under the provisions of the contract including property located with subcontractors.

The contractor's property control records shall constitute the Government's official property records and shall be used to—

(a) Provide financial accounts for Government-owned property in the contractor's possession or control;

(b) Identify all Government property (to include a complete, current, auditable record of all transactions);

(c) Locate any item of Government property within a reasonable period of time.

This clearance covers the following requirements:

(a) FAR 45.307-2(b) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer if it intends to acquire or fabricate special test equipment.

(b) FAR 45.502-1 requires a contractor to furnish written receipts for Government property.

(c) FAR 45.502-2 requires a contractor to submit a discrepancy report upon receipt of Government property when overages, shortages, or damages are discovered.

(d) FAR 45.504 requires a contractor to investigate and report all instances of loss, damage, or destruction of Government property.

(e) FAR 45.505-1 requires that basic information be placed on the contractor's property control records.

(f) FAR 45.505-3 requires a contractor to maintain records for Government material.

(g) FAR 45.505-4 requires a contractor to maintain records of special tooling and special test equipment.

(h) FAR 45.505-5 requires a contractor to maintain records of plant equipment.

(i) FAR 45.505-7 requires a contractor to maintain records of real property.

(j) FAR 45.505-8 requires a contractor to maintain scrap and salvage records.

(k) FAR 45.505-9 requires a contractor to maintain records of related data and information.

(l) FAR 45.505-10 requires a contractor to maintain records for completed products.

(m) FAR 45.505-11 requires a contractor to maintain records of transportation and installation costs of plant equipment.

(n) FAR 45.505-12 requires a contractor to maintain records of misdirected shipments.

(o) FAR 45.505-13 requires a contractor to maintain records of property returned for rework.

(p) FAR 45.505-14 requires a contractor to submit an annual report of Government property accountable to each agency contract.

(q) FAR 45.508-2 requires a contractor to report the results of physical inventories.

(r) FAR 45.509-1(a)(3) requires a contractor to record work accomplished in maintaining Government property.

(s) FAR 45.509-1(c) requires a contractor to report the need for major repair, replacement and other rehabilitation work.

(t) FAR 45.509-2(b)(2) requires a contractor to maintain utilization records.

(u) FAR 45.606-1 requires a contractor to submit inventory schedules.

(v) FAR 45.606-3(a) requires a contractor to correct and resubmit inventory schedules as necessary.

(w) FAR 52.245-2(a)(3) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer when Government-furnished property is received and is not suitable for use.

(x) FAR 52.245-2(a)(4) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer when government-furnished property is not timely delivered and the contracting officer will make a determination of the delay, if any, caused the contractor.

(y) FAR 52.245-2(b) requires a contractor to submit a written request for an equitable adjustment if Government-furnished property is decreased, substituted, or withdrawn by the Government.

(z) FAR 52.245-4 requires a contractor to submit a timely written request for an equitable adjustment when Government-furnished property is not furnished in a timely manner.

(aa) FAR 52.245-5(a)(4) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer when Government-furnished property is received that is not suitable for use.

(bb) FAR 52.245-5(a)(5) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer when Government-furnished property is not received in a timely manner.

(cc) FAR 52.245-5(b)(2) requests a contractor to submit a written request for an equitable adjustment if Government-furnished property is decreased, substituted, or withdrawn by the Government.

(dd) FAR 52.245-7(f) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer when use of all facilities falls below 75% of total use.

(ee) FAR 52.245-7(l)(2) requires a contractor to alert the contracting officer within 30 days of receiving facilities that are not suitable for use.

(ff) FAR 52.245-9(f) requires a contractor to submit a facilities use statement to the contracting officer within 90 days after the close of each rental period.

(gg) FAR 52.245-10(h)(2) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer if facilities are received that are not suitable for the intended use.

(hh) FAR 52.245-11(e) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer when use of all facilities falls below 75% of total use.

(ii) FAR 52.245-11(j)(2) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer within 30 days of receiving facilities not suitable for intended use.

(jj) FAR 52.245-17 requires a contractor to maintain special tooling records.

(kk) FAR 52.245-18(b) requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer 30 days in advance of the contractor's intention to acquire or fabricate special test equipment (STE).

(ll) FAR 52.245-18(d) & (e) requires a contractor to furnish the names of subcontractors who acquire or fabricate special test equipment (STE) or components and comply with paragraph (d) of this clause, and contractors must comply with the (b) paragraph of this clause if an engineering change requires acquisition or modification of STE. In so complying, the contractor shall identify the change order which requires the proposed acquisition, fabrication, or modification.

(mm) FAR 52.245-19 requires a contractor to notify the contracting officer if there is any change in the condition of property furnished “as is” from the time of inspection until time of receipt.

(nn) FAR 49.602-2(a) through (e) refers to the inventory schedule forms, SF's 1426 through 1434.

This information is used to facilitate the management of Government property in the possession of the contractor.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Number of Respondents: 27,884.

Responses per Respondent: 488.6.

Total Responses: 13,624,122.

Average Burden Hours Per Response: .4826.

Total Burden Hours: 6,575,805.

The total burden hours have changed under this OMB clearance 9000-0075 to reflect the incorporation of hours currently associated with OMB clearance 9000-0151 (FAR Case 1995-013) which expired as of June 2000 and was not renewed. The OMB collection burden associated with Government property nonetheless remains unchanged.

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. 9000-0075, Government Property, in all correspondence.

Dated: August 20, 2003.

Laura G. Auletta,

Director, Acquisition Policy Division.