04-20001. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; Buy American Act-Trade Agreements Act Certificate

AGENCIES:

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

ACTION:

Notice of request for comments regarding extension to an existing OMB clearance (9000-0025).

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 the Buy American Act-Trade Agreements Act Certificate. The clearance currently expires on October 31, 2004.

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 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (V), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0025, Buy American Act-Trade Agreements Act Certificate, in all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Cecelia Davis, Contract Policy Division, GSA [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

Under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, unless specifically exempted by statute or regulation, agencies are required to evaluate offers over a certain dollar limitation not to supply an eligible product without regard to the restrictions of the Buy American. Offerors identify excluded end products on this certificate.

The contracting officer uses the information to identify the offered items which are domestic end products. Items having components of unknown origin are considered to have been mined, produced, or manufactured outside the United States or a designated country of the Act.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Respondents: 1,140.

Responses Per Respondent: 10.

Total Responses: 11,400.

Hours Per Response: .167.

Total Burden Hours: 1,238.

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (V), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405, telephone [phone]. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0025, Buy American Act,-Trade Agreements Act Certificate, in all correspondence.

Dated: August 27, 2004

Ralph J. De Stefano

Acting Director, Contract Policy Division.