2010-11865. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; Examination of Records by Comptroller General and Contract Audit

AGENCY:

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.

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement concerning the examination of records by comptroller general and contract audit. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 75 FR 10268, on March 5, 2010. 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 June 17, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments identified by Information Collection 9000-0034 by any of the following methods:

• Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by inputting “Information Collection 9000-0034” under the heading “Enter Keyword or ID” and selecting “Search”. Select the link “Submit a Comment” that corresponds with “Information Collection 9000-0034”. Follow the instructions provided at the “Submit a Comment” screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and “Information Collection 9000-0034” on your attached document.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4041, Washington, DC 20405. Attn: Hada Flowers/IC 9000-0034.

Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite Information Collection 9000-0034, in all correspondence related to this collection. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal and/or business confidential information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Michael O. Jackson, Procurement Analyst, Contract Policy Branch, GSA, [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

The Audit and Records-Negotiation clause, 52.215-2; Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items clause, 52.212-5(d); and Audit and Records—Sealed Bidding clause, 52.214-26, implement the requirements of 10 U.S.C. 2313, 41 U.S.C. 254, and 10 U.S.C. 2306. The statutory requirements are that the Comptroller General and/or agency shall have access to, and the right to, examine certain books, documents and records of the contractor for a period of 3 years after final payment. The record retention periods required of the contractor in the clauses are for compliance with the aforementioned statutory requirements. The information must be retained so that audits necessary for contract surveillance, verification of contract pricing, and reimbursement of contractor costs can be performed.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Respondents: 19,142.

Responses per Respondent: 20.

Total Responses: 382,840.

Hours per Response: 0.167.

Total Burden Hours: 63,934.

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4041, Washington, DC 20405, telephone [phone]. Please cite OMB Control Number 9000-0034, Examination of Records by Comptroller General and Contract Audit, in all correspondence.

Dated: May 10, 2010.

Al Matera,

Director, Acquisition Policy Division.