04-20230. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; Quality Assurance Requirements

AGENCIES:

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

ACTION:

Notice of request for an extension to an existing OMB clearance (9000-0077).

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 quality assurance requirements. A request for public comments was published at 69 FR 39909 on July 1, 2004. No comments were received. On review of this second notice, the burden hours associated with this OMB clearance was reduced from "39,719" to "35,746". This reduction is based on the Government reviewing 5% of new contract awards for FY 2002 over $100,000 exclusive of acquisition using commercial item acquisition procedures.

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 7, 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. 9000-0077, Quality Assurance Requirements, in all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

Supplies and services acquired under Government contracts must conform to the contract's quality and quantity requirements. FAR Part 46 prescribes inspection, acceptance, warranty, and other measures associated with quality requirements. Standard clauses related to inspection require the contractor to provide and maintain an inspection system that is acceptable to the Government; give the Government the right to make inspections and test while work is in process; and require the contractor to keep complete, and make available to the Government, records of its inspection work.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Respondents: 850.

Responses Per Respondent: 1.

Total Responses: 850.

Hours Per Response: .25.

Total Burden hours: 213.

C. Annual Recordkeeping Burden

Recordkeepers: 52,254.

Hours Per Recordkeeper: .68.

Total Burden Hours: 35,533.

Total Annual Burden: 213 + 35,533 = 35,746.

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (V), Room 4035, 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405, telephone [phone]. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0077, Quality Assurance Requirements, in all correspondence.

Dated: August 31, 2004.

Ralph J. De Stefano,

Acting Director, Contract Policy Division.