Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; Use of Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary Contractor Identification, 18346-18347 [2013-06921]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
18346
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 58 / Tuesday, March 26, 2013 / Notices
year per contractor as suggested by the
respondent may have been necessary.
However, using the ORCA function in
SAM, a contractor can enter their
representations and certification
information once for use on all Federal
contracts and solicitations. FAR
4.1201(a) requires prospective
contractors to complete electronic
annual representations and
certifications in conjunction with
required registration in the Central
Contractor Registration (CCR). These
requirements are met through
functionality in SAM. The
representations and certifications are
effective until one year from the date of
submission or update to the ORCA
function in SAM. For purposes of this
information collection, initial data entry
plus one update per year was
considered reasonable and was used to
estimate the number of responses per
respondent per year, i.e., 2 responses
per respondent.
We have reassessed the hours of
burden per response based on the
respondent’s comment, and have
determined that an upward estimate of
thirty minutes would provide a more
accurate measure of the time required to
complete or update the initial
certification.
However, at any point, members of
the public may submit comments for
further consideration, and are
encouraged to provide data to support
their request for an adjustment.
B. Annual Reporting Burden
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Respondents: 162,000.
Responses per Respondent: 2.
Annual Responses: 324,000.
Hours per Response: .5.
Total Burden Hours: 162,000.
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 (202) 501–4755. Please cite
OMB Control No. 9000–0130, Buy
American Act—Free Trade
Agreements—Israeli Trade Act
Certificate, in all correspondence.
Dated: March 21, 2013.
William Clark,
Acting Director, Federal Acquisition Policy
Division, Office of Governmentwide
Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition
Policy, Office of Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013–06927 Filed 3–25–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:07 Mar 25, 2013
Jkt 229001
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[OMB Control No. 9000–0145; Docket 2012–
0076; Sequence 23]
Federal Acquisition Regulation;
Submission for OMB Review; Use of
Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) as Primary Contractor
Identification
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD),
General Services Administration (GSA),
and National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Notice of request for public
comments regarding an extension to an
existing OMB clearance.
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act 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 use of the Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) as primary
contractor identification. The DUNS
number is the nine-digit identification
number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet
Information Services to an
establishment. A notice was published
in the Federal Register at 77 FR 56212,
on September 12, 2012. Three
respondents submitted comments.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
April 25, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
identified by Information Collection
9000–0145, Use of Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary
Contractor Identification, by any of the
following methods:
• Regulations.gov: https://
www.regulations.gov. Submit comments
via the Federal eRulemaking portal by
searching ‘‘Information Collection
9000–0145, Use of Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary
Contractor Identification’’ under the
heading ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID’’ and
selecting ‘‘Search’’. Select the link
‘‘Submit a Comment’’ that corresponds
with ‘‘Information Collection 9000–
0145, Use of Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) as Primary Contractor
Identification’’. Follow the instructions
provided at the ‘‘Submit a Comment’’
screen. Please include your name,
company name (if any), and
‘‘Information Collection 9000–0145, Use
of Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) as Primary Contractor
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Identification’’ on your attached
document.
• Fax: 202–501–4067.
• Mail: General Services
Administration, Regulatory Secretariat
(MVCB), 1275 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20417. ATTN: Hada
Flowers/IC 9000–0145, Transportation
Requirements.
Instructions: Please submit comments
only and cite Information Collection
9000–0145, Use of Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary
Contractor Identification, in all
correspondence related to this
collection. All comments received will
be posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal and/or business confidential
information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Curtis E. Glover, Sr., Procurement
Analyst, Office of Governmentwide
Acquisition Policy, GSA (202) 501–1448
or via email at curtis.glover@gsa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Purpose
The Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number is the nine-digit
identification number assigned by Dun
and Bradstreet Information Services to
an establishment. The Government uses
the DUNS number to identify
contractors in reporting to the Federal
Procurement Data System (FPDS). The
FPDS provides a comprehensive
mechanism for assembling, organizing,
and presenting contract placement data
for the Federal Government. Federal
agencies report data on all contracts in
excess of the micro-purchase threshold
to the Federal Procurement Data Center
which collects, processes, and
disseminates official statistical data on
Federal contracting. Contracting officers
insert the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR) provision at 52.204–6,
Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) Number, in solicitations they
expect will result in contracts in excess
of the micro-purchase threshold and do
not contain FAR 52.204–7, Central
Contractor Registration. The majority of
offerors submit their DUNS through
CCR as required by FAR 52.204–7, and
not under the FAR provision at 52.204–
6.
II. Discussion and Analysis
Three respondents submitted public
comments on the extension of the
previously approved information
collection. The analysis of the public
comments is summarized as follows:
Comment: Three respondents
commented that they supported the
continued use of the Data Universal
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
26MRN1
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 58 / Tuesday, March 26, 2013 / Notices
Numbering System as the primary
contractor identification.
Response: The comments are noted.
Comment: One respondent
commented that the extension of the
information collection would violate the
fundamental purposes of the Paperwork
Reduction Act because of the burden it
puts on the entity submitting the
information and the agency collecting
the information.
Response: In accordance with the
Paperwork Required Act (PRA),
agencies can request an OMB approval
of an existing information collection.
The PRA requires that agencies use the
Federal Register notice and comment
process, to extend the OMB’s approval,
at least every three years. This
extension, to a previously approved
information collection, pertains to FAR
Subpart 4.6, Contract Reporting. The
contracting officer must identify and
report a DUNS number (Contractor
Identification Number) for the
successful offeror on a contract action in
the Federal Procurement Data System
(FPDS). The DUNS number reported
must identify the successful offer’s
name and address as stated in the offer
and resultant contract. Not granting this
extension would consequently eliminate
the Government’s ability to use the
DUNS number to report information on
federal contract awards.
Comment: One respondent
commented that the Agency did not
accurately estimate the public burden
an extension of the information
collection requirement would create.
Response: The DUNS number is a
widely used number for identifying
companies conducting business in the
private sector. It is anticipated that the
DUNS number is readily available, so
the estimated average of 1.5 minutes to
comply with providing the DUNS
number appears reasonable for this
collection, however; based on a
reassessment, an adjustment has been
made to increase the average estimate to
10 minutes. The number of estimated
respondents remains at 38,679. The
number of unique large and small
business contractors who received new
awards or orders of $3K or more in the
Federal Procurement Data System
database for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 is
193,397. It is estimated that twenty
percent (or 38,679) of the contractors
would have been required to submit
their DUNS number under FAR
provision 52.204–6 on an average of
three solicitations in FY11. The majority
of contractors will not be required to
submit their DUNS under FAR
provision 52.204–6. This is due to the
fact that FAR Clause 52.204–7, Central
Contractor Registration (CCR), is
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:07 Mar 25, 2013
Jkt 229001
required to be inserted in the majority
of solicitations and contracts except as
provided in 4.1102(a). FAR Clause
52.204–7 requires vendors to provide
their DUNS number in CCR.
Comment: One respondent
commented that the collective burden of
compliance with the information
collection requirement greatly exceeds
the Agencies estimate and outweighs
any potential utility of the extension.
Response: The Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) was designed to improve the
quality and use of Federal information
to strengthen decision-making,
accountability, and openness in
government and society. Central to this
process is the solicitation of comments
from the public. This process
incorporates an enumerated
specification of targeted information
and provides interested parties a
meaningful opportunity for comment on
the relevant compliance cost. This
process has led to decreases in the
overall collective burden of compliance
for the information collection
requirement in regards to the public.
Based on OMB estimates, in FY 2010,
the public spent 8.8 billion hours
responding to information collections.
This was a decrease of one billion
hours, or ten percent from the previous
fiscal year. In effect, the collective
burden of compliance for the public is
going down as the Government
publishes rules that make the process
less complex, more transparent, and
reduces the cost of federal regulations to
both the Contractor community and
Government.
Comment: One respondent
commented that the Government’s
response to the Paperwork Reduction
Act waiver for Far Case 2007–006 is
instructive on the total burden for
respondents.
Response: Serious consideration is
given, during the open comment period,
to all comments received and
adjustments are made to the paperwork
burden estimate based on reasonable
considerations provided by the public.
This is evidenced, as the respondent
notes, in FAR Case 2007–006 where an
adjustment was made from the total
preparation hours from three to 60. This
change was made considering
particularly the hours that would be
required for review within the company,
prior to release to the Government.
The burden is prepared taking into
consideration the necessary criteria in
OMB guidance for estimating the
paperwork burden put on the entity
submitting the information. For
example, consideration is given to an
entity reviewing instructions; using
technology to collect, process, and
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
18347
disclose information; adjusting existing
practices to comply with requirements;
searching data sources; completing and
reviewing the response; and
transmitting or disclosing information.
The estimated burden hours for a
collection are based on an average
between the hours that a simple
disclosure by a very small business
might require and the much higher
numbers that might be required for a
very complex disclosure by a major
corporation. Also, the estimated burden
hours should only include projected
hours for those actions which a
company would not undertake in the
normal course of business. Careful
consideration went into assessing the
estimated burden hours for this
collection, however, at any point,
members of the public may submit
comments for further consideration, and
are encouraged to provide data to
support their request for an adjustment.
III. Annual Reporting Burden
The estimated annual reporting
burden has been adjusted since
published in the Federal Register at 74
FR 37991, on July 30, 2009. The
adjustment is based on use of Fiscal
Year 2011 Federal Procurement Data
System data, consideration for the fact
that the majority of vendors are required
to report their DUNS number into the
Central Contractor Registration per FAR
52.204–7, and not FAR.204–6, as
required by this information collection,
and reassessment of the estimated
response time.
Respondents: 38,679.
Responses per Respondent: 3.
Annual Responses: 116,037.
Hours per Response: .1666.
Total Burden Hours: 19,332.
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 (202) 501–4755. Please cite
OMB Control Number 9000–0145, Use
of Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) as Primary Contractor
Identification, in all correspondence.
Dated: March 21, 2013.
William Clark,
Acting Director, Federal Acquisition Policy
Division, Office of Governmentwide
Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition
Policy, Office of Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013–06921 Filed 3–25–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
26MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18346-18347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06921]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[OMB Control No. 9000-0145; Docket 2012-0076; Sequence 23]
Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; Use of
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary Contractor
Identification
AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Notice of request for public comments regarding an extension to
an existing OMB clearance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act 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 use of the Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as primary contractor identification.
The DUNS number is the nine-digit identification number assigned by Dun
and Bradstreet Information Services to an establishment. A notice was
published in the Federal Register at 77 FR 56212, on September 12,
2012. Three respondents submitted comments.
DATES: Submit comments on or before April 25, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by Information Collection 9000-
0145, Use of Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary
Contractor Identification, by any of the following methods:
Regulations.gov: https://www.regulations.gov. Submit
comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching ``Information
Collection 9000-0145, Use of Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as
Primary Contractor Identification'' under the heading ``Enter Keyword
or ID'' and selecting ``Search''. Select the link ``Submit a Comment''
that corresponds with ``Information Collection 9000-0145, Use of Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary Contractor
Identification''. Follow the instructions provided at the ``Submit a
Comment'' screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and
``Information Collection 9000-0145, Use of Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) as Primary Contractor Identification'' on your attached
document.
Fax: 202-501-4067.
Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory
Secretariat (MVCB), 1275 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20417. ATTN:
Hada Flowers/IC 9000-0145, Transportation Requirements.
Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite Information
Collection 9000-0145, Use of Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as
Primary Contractor Identification, in all correspondence related to
this collection. All comments received will be posted without change to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal and/or business
confidential information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Curtis E. Glover, Sr., Procurement
Analyst, Office of Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, GSA (202) 501-
1448 or via email at curtis.glover@gsa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Purpose
The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is the nine-digit
identification number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information
Services to an establishment. The Government uses the DUNS number to
identify contractors in reporting to the Federal Procurement Data
System (FPDS). The FPDS provides a comprehensive mechanism for
assembling, organizing, and presenting contract placement data for the
Federal Government. Federal agencies report data on all contracts in
excess of the micro-purchase threshold to the Federal Procurement Data
Center which collects, processes, and disseminates official statistical
data on Federal contracting. Contracting officers insert the Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision at 52.204-6, Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) Number, in solicitations they expect will
result in contracts in excess of the micro-purchase threshold and do
not contain FAR 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration. The majority
of offerors submit their DUNS through CCR as required by FAR 52.204-7,
and not under the FAR provision at 52.204-6.
II. Discussion and Analysis
Three respondents submitted public comments on the extension of the
previously approved information collection. The analysis of the public
comments is summarized as follows:
Comment: Three respondents commented that they supported the
continued use of the Data Universal
[[Page 18347]]
Numbering System as the primary contractor identification.
Response: The comments are noted.
Comment: One respondent commented that the extension of the
information collection would violate the fundamental purposes of the
Paperwork Reduction Act because of the burden it puts on the entity
submitting the information and the agency collecting the information.
Response: In accordance with the Paperwork Required Act (PRA),
agencies can request an OMB approval of an existing information
collection. The PRA requires that agencies use the Federal Register
notice and comment process, to extend the OMB's approval, at least
every three years. This extension, to a previously approved information
collection, pertains to FAR Subpart 4.6, Contract Reporting. The
contracting officer must identify and report a DUNS number (Contractor
Identification Number) for the successful offeror on a contract action
in the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). The DUNS number reported
must identify the successful offer's name and address as stated in the
offer and resultant contract. Not granting this extension would
consequently eliminate the Government's ability to use the DUNS number
to report information on federal contract awards.
Comment: One respondent commented that the Agency did not
accurately estimate the public burden an extension of the information
collection requirement would create.
Response: The DUNS number is a widely used number for identifying
companies conducting business in the private sector. It is anticipated
that the DUNS number is readily available, so the estimated average of
1.5 minutes to comply with providing the DUNS number appears reasonable
for this collection, however; based on a reassessment, an adjustment
has been made to increase the average estimate to 10 minutes. The
number of estimated respondents remains at 38,679. The number of unique
large and small business contractors who received new awards or orders
of $3K or more in the Federal Procurement Data System database for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 is 193,397. It is estimated that twenty percent
(or 38,679) of the contractors would have been required to submit their
DUNS number under FAR provision 52.204-6 on an average of three
solicitations in FY11. The majority of contractors will not be required
to submit their DUNS under FAR provision 52.204-6. This is due to the
fact that FAR Clause 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration (CCR),
is required to be inserted in the majority of solicitations and
contracts except as provided in 4.1102(a). FAR Clause 52.204-7 requires
vendors to provide their DUNS number in CCR.
Comment: One respondent commented that the collective burden of
compliance with the information collection requirement greatly exceeds
the Agencies estimate and outweighs any potential utility of the
extension.
Response: The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) was designed to improve
the quality and use of Federal information to strengthen decision-
making, accountability, and openness in government and society. Central
to this process is the solicitation of comments from the public. This
process incorporates an enumerated specification of targeted
information and provides interested parties a meaningful opportunity
for comment on the relevant compliance cost. This process has led to
decreases in the overall collective burden of compliance for the
information collection requirement in regards to the public. Based on
OMB estimates, in FY 2010, the public spent 8.8 billion hours
responding to information collections. This was a decrease of one
billion hours, or ten percent from the previous fiscal year. In effect,
the collective burden of compliance for the public is going down as the
Government publishes rules that make the process less complex, more
transparent, and reduces the cost of federal regulations to both the
Contractor community and Government.
Comment: One respondent commented that the Government's response to
the Paperwork Reduction Act waiver for Far Case 2007-006 is instructive
on the total burden for respondents.
Response: Serious consideration is given, during the open comment
period, to all comments received and adjustments are made to the
paperwork burden estimate based on reasonable considerations provided
by the public. This is evidenced, as the respondent notes, in FAR Case
2007-006 where an adjustment was made from the total preparation hours
from three to 60. This change was made considering particularly the
hours that would be required for review within the company, prior to
release to the Government.
The burden is prepared taking into consideration the necessary
criteria in OMB guidance for estimating the paperwork burden put on the
entity submitting the information. For example, consideration is given
to an entity reviewing instructions; using technology to collect,
process, and disclose information; adjusting existing practices to
comply with requirements; searching data sources; completing and
reviewing the response; and transmitting or disclosing information. The
estimated burden hours for a collection are based on an average between
the hours that a simple disclosure by a very small business might
require and the much higher numbers that might be required for a very
complex disclosure by a major corporation. Also, the estimated burden
hours should only include projected hours for those actions which a
company would not undertake in the normal course of business. Careful
consideration went into assessing the estimated burden hours for this
collection, however, at any point, members of the public may submit
comments for further consideration, and are encouraged to provide data
to support their request for an adjustment.
III. Annual Reporting Burden
The estimated annual reporting burden has been adjusted since
published in the Federal Register at 74 FR 37991, on July 30, 2009. The
adjustment is based on use of Fiscal Year 2011 Federal Procurement Data
System data, consideration for the fact that the majority of vendors
are required to report their DUNS number into the Central Contractor
Registration per FAR 52.204-7, and not FAR.204-6, as required by this
information collection, and reassessment of the estimated response
time.
Respondents: 38,679.
Responses per Respondent: 3.
Annual Responses: 116,037.
Hours per Response: .1666.
Total Burden Hours: 19,332.
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 (202) 501-4755. Please cite OMB Control
Number 9000-0145, Use of Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as
Primary Contractor Identification, in all correspondence.
Dated: March 21, 2013.
William Clark,
Acting Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, Office of
Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office
of Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013-06921 Filed 3-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P
