2011-24905. Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; Buy American Act Certificate

AGENCIES:

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

ACTION:

Notice of request for public comments regarding a revision to an existing OMB clearance.

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB) 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 Buy American Act certificate. This information collection requirement collects data for compliance with 41 U.S.C., Buy American.

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 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments identified by Information Collection 9000-0024, Buy American Act Certificate, by any of the following methods:

• Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by inputting “Information Collection 9000-0024, Buy American Act Certificate” under the heading “Enter Keyword or ID” and selecting “Search.” Select the link “Submit a Comment” that corresponds with “Information Collection 9000-0024, Buy American Act Certificate.” Follow the instructions provided at the “Submit a Comment” screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and “Information Collection 9000-0024, Buy American Act Certificate” on your attached document.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), 1275 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20417. Attn: Hada Flowers/IC 9000-0024, Buy American Act Certificate.

Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite Information Collection 9000-0024, Buy American Act Certificate, 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:

Cecelia Davis, Procurement Analyst, Acquisition Policy Division, GSA [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

The Buy American Act requires that only domestic end products be acquired for public use unless an exception is specifically authorized by statute or regulation, provided that the cost of the domestic products is reasonable. FAR provision 52.225-2, Buy American Act Certificate, as prescribed at 25.1101(a)(2), requires the offeror to certify that all end products are domestic end products, except for foreign end products listed in paragraph (b). For other than commercially available off-the-shelf items, components of unknown origin are considered to have been supplied from outside the United States.

The contracting office uses the information to determine compliance with 41 U.S.C. chapter 83, Buy American.

A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 76 FR 24027, on April 29, 2011. One comment was received.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

Respondents: 3,125.

Responses per Respondent: 15.

Total Responses: 46,875.

Hours per Response: .109.

Total Burden Hours: 5,109.

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), 1275 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20417, telephone [phone]. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0024, Buy American Act Certificate, in all correspondence.

Dated: September 23, 2011.

Laura Auletta,

Acting Director, Office of Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy.