Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel, 16683 [E8-6547]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 61 / Friday, March 28, 2008 / Notices sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES of them having tasks specifically associated with the Funeral Rule. Staff retains its estimate that each of the four employees (three directors and a clerical employee) per firm would each require one-half hours, at most, per year, for such training. Thus, total estimated time for training is 40,600 hours (4 employees per firm x 1⁄2 hour x 20,300 providers). Estimated annual cost burden: $3,524,000 in labor costs and $1,226,000 in non-labor costs. Labor costs: Labor costs are derived by applying appropriate hourly cost figures to the burden hours described above. The hourly rates used below are averages. Clerical personnel, at an estimated hourly rate of $13, can perform the recordkeeping tasks required under the Rule. Based on the estimated hour burden of 20,300 hours, the estimated cost burden for recordkeeping is $263,900 ($13 per hour x 20,300 hours). The two and one-half hours required of each provider, on average, to update price lists should consist of approximately one and one-half hours of managerial or professional time, at $27.50 per hour, and one hour of clerical time, at $13 per hour, for a total of $54.25 per provider7 [($27.50 per hour x 1.5 hours) + ($13.00 per hour x 1 hour)]. Thus, the estimated total cost burden for maintaining price lists is $1,101,275 ($54.25 per provider x 20,300 providers). The cost of providing written documentation of the goods and services selected by the consumer is 2,639 hours of managerial or professional time at approximately $27.50 per hour, or $72,572.50 (2,639 hours x $27.50 per hour). The cost of responding to telephone inquiries about offerings or prices is 48,000 hours of managerial or professional time at $27.50 per hour, or $1,320,000 (48,000 hours x $27.50 per hour). The cost of training licensed and nonlicensed funeral home staff to comply with the Funeral Rule is two hours per funeral home, with four employees of 7 National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States, June 2006, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (June 2007) (‘‘BLS National Compensation Survey’’) (citing the mean hourly earnings for funeral directors as $22.11/hour), available at https:// www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/sp/ncbl0910.pdf. As in the past, staff has increased this figure on the assumption that the owner or managing director, who would be paid at a slightly higher rate, would be responsible for making pricing decisions. Clerical estimates are derived from the above source data, applying roughly a mid-range of mean hourly rates for potentially applicable clerical types, e.g., bookkeeping, file clerks, new accounts clerks, data entry. VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:06 Mar 27, 2008 Jkt 214001 varying ranks each spending one-half hour on training. Consistent with estimates in the current clearance, the Commission is assuming that three funeral directors, at hourly wages of $27.50, $20, and $15, respectively, as well as one clerical or administrative staff member, at $13 per hour, require such training, for a total burden of 40,600 hours (20,300 funeral homes x 2 hours total per establishment), and $766,325 [($27.50 + $20 + $15 + $13) x 1⁄2 hour per employee x 20,300 funeral homes]. The total labor cost of the three disclosure requirements imposed by the Funeral Rule is $2,493,847.50 ($1,101,275 + $72,572.50 + $1,320,000). The total labor cost for recordkeeping is $263,900. The total labor cost for disclosures, recordkeeping and training is $3,524,000 ($263,900 for recordkeeping + $766,325 for training + $2,493,847.50 for disclosures), rounded to the nearest thousand. Capital or other non-labor costs: The Rule imposes minimal capital costs and no current start-up costs. The Rule first took effect in 1984 and the revised Rule took effect in 1994, so funeral providers should already have in place capital equipment to carry out tasks associated with Rule compliance. Moreover, most funeral homes already have access, for other business purposes, to the ordinary office equipment needed for compliance, so the Rule likely imposes minimal additional capital expense. Compliance with the Rule, however, does entail some expense to funeral providers for printing and duplication of price lists. Assuming that two price lists per funeral/cremation are created by industry to adhere to the Rule, 4,800,000 copies per year are made for a total cost of $1,200,000 (2,400,000 funerals per year x 2 copies per funeral x $.25 per copy). In addition, the estimated 2,639 providers not already providing written documentation of funeral arrangements apart from the Rule will incur additional printing and copying costs. Assuming that those providers use the standard two-page form shown in the Compliance Guide, at twenty-five cents per page, at an average of twenty funerals per year, the added cost burden would be $26,390 (2,639 providers x 20 funerals per year x 2 pages per funeral x $.25). Thus, estimated non-labor costs are $1,226,000, rounded to the nearest thousand. William Blumenthal General Counsel [FR Doc. E8–6451 Filed 3–27–08: 8:45 am] PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION [GSA–2008–N01] Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel Office of the Administrator, General Services Administration ACTION: Notice, establishment of an Advisory Panel. AGENCY: Establishment of Advisory Panel This notice is published in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92—463), and advises of the establishment of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel (MAS). The Administrator of General Services has determined that the establishment of the Panel is necessary and in the public interest. Purpose of the Advisory Panel The Panel will be used to provide advice and recommendations to the General Services Administration that ensures that the Government obtains the lowest overall price for products and services and promotes fair award and administration of MAS contract awards. Specifically, the panel will review the MAS policy statements, implementing regulations, solicitation provisions and other related documents regarding the structure, use, and pricing for the MAS contract awards. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of the Administrator is the office within GSA that is sponsoring this panel. For additional information, please contact Ms. Pat Brooks, Designated Federal Officer, Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel, U.S. General Services Administration, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 911, Arlington, VA. 22202, (703) 605–3406 or email at mas.advisorypanel@gsa.gov. Dated: March 24, 2008 David A. Drabkin, Acting Chief Acquisition Officer. [FR Doc. E8–6547 Filed 3–27–08; 12:56 pm] BILLING CODE 6820–EP–S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [Document Identifier: OS–0990–New; 30-day notice] Agency Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment Request AGENCY: BILING CODE 6750–01–S Sfmt 4703 16683 E:\FR\FM\28MRN1.SGM Office of the Secretary, HHS. 28MRN1

Agencies

General Services Administration

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 61 (Friday, March 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 16683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6547]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[GSA-2008-N01]


Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel

AGENCY:  Office of the Administrator, General Services Administration

ACTION:  Notice, establishment of an Advisory Panel.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Establishment of Advisory Panel

    This notice is published in accordance with the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92--463), and advises of the 
establishment of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel (MAS). 
The Administrator of General Services has determined that the 
establishment of the Panel is necessary and in the public interest.

Purpose of the Advisory Panel

    The Panel will be used to provide advice and recommendations to the 
General Services Administration that ensures that the Government 
obtains the lowest overall price for products and services and promotes 
fair award and administration of MAS contract awards. Specifically, the 
panel will review the MAS policy statements, implementing regulations, 
solicitation provisions and other related documents regarding the 
structure, use, and pricing for the MAS contract awards.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  The Office of the Administrator is 
the office within GSA that is sponsoring this panel. For additional 
information, please contact Ms. Pat Brooks, Designated Federal Officer, 
Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel, U.S. General Services 
Administration, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 911, Arlington, VA. 22202, 
(703) 605-3406 or email at mas.advisorypanel@gsa.gov.



    Dated: March 24, 2008
David A. Drabkin,
Acting Chief Acquisition Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-6547 Filed 3-27-08; 12:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S

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