Notice of Sunshine Act Meeting, 34074-34075 [2012-14025]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 34074 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2012 / Notices A. Overview Value Engineering (VE) refers to an organized effort to analyze functions of systems, equipment, facilities, services, and supplies for the purpose of achieving the essential functions at the lowest life-cycle cost consistent with required levels of performance, reliability, quality, and safety. Industry first developed VE during World War II as a means of continuing production despite shortages of critical materials by analyzing functions to generate alternative materials or systems to accomplish the required tasksat a lower cost. The Federal Government subsequently adopted this tool as a mechanism to incentivize contractors to continually think of ways to drive greater efficiency in their production methodologies by allowing them to share with the Government in the savings generated by their value engineering change proposals. VE can reduce program costs and optimize performance. Currently, several Federal agencies have reported life-cycle savings through the use of VE in a broad range of acquisition programs, such as those involving defense systems, transportation, construction, engineering, environmental, and manufacturing projects. According to annual reports of VE activities submitted by Federal agencies to OMB, value engineering generates billions of dollars in savings and cost avoidance annually for the Federal Government. For example, the Department of Defense (DOD) reported savings of nearly $2 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2009 and $3.4 billion in FY 2010. The Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration reports that annual savings for Federally-funded state construction projects have ranged from $1.8 to $3.2 billion between 2005 and 2009. The Department of State reports that it has used VE to identify hundreds of millions of dollars in total life cycle savings since FY 2008—saving an average of $46 for every one dollar invested in VE studies. Opportunities for savings exist at other agencies. OMB Circular A–131 requires agencies to establish VE programs so that the agencies will realize the benefits of using VE techniques to reduce nonessential contract and program costs. OMB first issued the Circular in January 1988 (53 FR 3140), and the Circular was last revised in May 1993 (58 FR 31056). The Circular specifically requires agencies to: (1) Identify a focal point within each agency to monitor, manage and maintain data on agency VE programs; VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:23 Jun 07, 2012 Jkt 226001 (2) establish criteria and guidelines for screening programs and projects which might benefit from the application of VE techniques; (3) develop guidelines to evaluate VE proposals; (4) actively solicit VE ideas from contractors; and (5) emphasize, through training and other means, the potential of VE to reduce unnecessary costs. Since issuing the Circular in 1988, OMB has issued three memoranda in April 1995, October 1996, and February 1997 emphasizing the importance and benefits of VE and reminding agencies of their responsibilities under the program. As a result of proposed revisions in this notice, the previously-issued OMB memoranda have been overtaken by events and are hereby formally rescinded. In this notice, OFPP is proposing to revise Circular A–131 to reflect presentday buying strategies and practices, such as performance-based service contracting, to ensure that the Federal Government is effectively considering and taking full advantage of VE, whenever appropriate, to cut waste and inefficiency and promote greater fiscal responsibility. The revisions that are proposed in this notice would: • Reinforce the importance of giving meaningful consideration to VE to save money and improve performance. The proposal states that VE should be considered for all appropriate agency program management activities and capital assets (as defined in OMB Circular A–11 and the Capital Programming Guide), as well as to appropriate supply, service, architectengineering, and construction contracts. Through the use of VE, agencies successfully identify and remove nonessential functions and associated costs, ensure realistic budgets, and improve and maintain acceptable levels of quality. • Explain that VE can be used with various contract types and methods of contracting. The proposal explains that VE can be incorporated into the acquisition strategy to improve results achieved from contracts. VE can be used when contracting for services, when using various contract delivery methods, such as design-build, or when using performance-based specifications. • Explain that VE can be used with other management tools. The proposal explains that VE can be used with other management tools designed to improve processes, such as lean six sigma. • Increase the threshold for the application of VE. The proposal would raise the threshold from $1 million to $2 million, primarily to take into account inflation since the $1 million level was adopted. Agencies would have the PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 discretion to set lower thresholds for those projects that have a significant impact on agency operations. • Strengthen training. The proposal states that agencies should provide training to appropriate program and contract staff in the application and implementation of VE on contracts. OFPP will work with the Federal Acquisition Institute and the Defense Acquisition University on appropriate training materials for the acquisition workforce. • Reduce reporting requirements. The proposal would reduce from 20 to 5 the number of projects to be reported annually to OMB and would update the reporting format to include a description of the methodology used to calculate savings. The proposal would also eliminate Part III of the Circular in its entirety; Part III has required a detailed cost summary of program results from inception to date. • Remove outdated terminology and update references. The proposal would remove outdated terminology and update references to include currently prevalent methodologies and techniques such as performance-based acquisition, the design/build project delivery process, and integrated product/project/ process teams. • Remove automatic Inspector General (IG) review. The proposal would remove the provision requiring agency IGs to conduct an automatic audit of VE programs every two years. We expect management review of agency VE programs to be considered over time through internal control assessments of acquisition functions conducted in connection with OMB Circular A–123, Management Accountability and Control. Agency management should also work with their IGs, as appropriate, to consider when IG review of VE activities may be warranted. OMB requests comments on these proposals as well as on other aspects of the Circular. Joseph G. Jordan, Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy. [FR Doc. 2012–13903 Filed 6–7–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION [MCC FR 12–07] Notice of Sunshine Act Meeting Millennium Challenge Corporation. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM 08JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2012 / Notices Notice of the June 21, 2012, Millennium Challenge Corporation Board of Directors Meeting. ACTION: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 21, 2012. PLACE: Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20520. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information on the meeting may be obtained from Melvin F. Williams, Jr., Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary via email at corporatesecretary@mcc.gov or by telephone at (202) 521–3600. STATUS: Meeting will be closed to the public. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The Board of Directors (the ‘‘Board’’) of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (‘‘MCC’’) will hold a meeting to discuss updates on Malawi and Mali, highlights TIME AND DATE: of completed compacts, and an audit committee report. The agenda items are expected to involve the consideration of classified information and the meeting will be closed to the public. Dated: June 5, 2012. Melvin F. Williams, Jr., VP/General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Millennium Challenge Corporation. [FR Doc. 2012–14025 Filed 6–6–12; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 9211–03–P MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION [MCC FR 12–06] Notice of Quarterly Report (January 1, 2012–March 31, 2012) 34075 The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is reporting for the quarter January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012, on assistance provided under section 605 of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), as amended (the Act), and on transfers or allocations of funds to other federal agencies under section 619(b) of the Act. The following report will be made available to the public by publication in the Federal Register and on the Internet Web site of the MCC (www.mcc.gov) in accordance with section 612(b) of the Act. SUMMARY: Dated: June 4, 2012. T. Charles Cooper, Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs, Millennium Challenge Corporation. Millennium Challenge Corporation. AGENCY: ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 605 Projects Obligated Objectives Cumulative expenditures Measures Country: Madagascar Year: 2012 Quarter 2 Total obligation: $85,594.779 Entity to which the assistance is provided: MCA Madagascar Total Quarterly Expenditures 1 : $0 $29,560,718 Increase Land Titling and Security. $29,560,718 Financial Sector Reform Project. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Land Tenure Project ....... $23,704,219 Increase Competition in the Financial Sector. $23,704,220 VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:23 Jun 07, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Area secured with land certificates or titles in the Zones. Legal and regulatory reforms adopted. Number of land documents inventoried in the Zones and Antananarivo. Number of land documents restored in the Zones and Antananarivo. Number of land documents digitized in the Zones and Antananarivo. Average time for Land Services Offices to issue a duplicate copy of a title. Average cost to a user to obtain a duplicate copy of a title from the Land Services Offices. Number of land certificates delivered in the Zones during the period. Number of new guichets fonciers operating in the Zones. The 256 Plan Local d’Occupation Foncier-Local Plan of Land Occupation (PLOFs)are completed. Volume of funds processed annually by the national payment system. Number of accountants and financial experts registered to become CPA. Number of Central Bank branches capable of accepting auction tenders. Outstanding value of savings accounts from CEM in the Zones. Number of Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) participating in the Refinancing and Guarantee funds. Maximum check clearing delay. Network equipment and integrator. Real time gross settlement system (RTGS). Telecommunication facilities. Retail payment clearing system. Number of CEM branches built in the Zones. Number of savings accounts from CEM in the Zones. Percent of Micro-Finance Institution (MFI) loans recorded in the Central Bank database. E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM 08JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 111 (Friday, June 8, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34074-34075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14025]


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MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION

[MCC FR 12-07]


Notice of Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY: Millennium Challenge Corporation.

[[Page 34075]]


ACTION: Notice of the June 21, 2012, Millennium Challenge Corporation 
Board of Directors Meeting.

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Time and Date:  3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 21, 2012.

Place:  Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20520.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information on the meeting may be 
obtained from Melvin F. Williams, Jr., Vice President, General Counsel 
and Corporate Secretary via email at corporatesecretary@mcc.gov or by 
telephone at (202) 521-3600.

Status:  Meeting will be closed to the public.

Matters to be Considered:  The Board of Directors (the ``Board'') of 
the Millennium Challenge Corporation (``MCC'') will hold a meeting to 
discuss updates on Malawi and Mali, highlights of completed compacts, 
and an audit committee report. The agenda items are expected to involve 
the consideration of classified information and the meeting will be 
closed to the public.

    Dated: June 5, 2012.
Melvin F. Williams, Jr.,
VP/General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Millennium Challenge 
Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2012-14025 Filed 6-6-12; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 9211-03-P
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