Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission to OMB for Review; OMB Circular A-119, 56800 [2014-22575]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• General Services Administration
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 184 (Tuesday, September 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 56800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22575]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0153; Docket 2014-0055; Sequence 11]


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission to OMB for Review; OMB 
Circular A-119

AGENCY: 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.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35), the Regulatory Secretariat Division (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 OMB Circular A-119. A notice was 
published in the Federal Register at 79 FR 38892 on July 9, 2014. No 
comments were received.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 23, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by Information Collection 9000-
0153, OMB Circular A-119, by any of the following methods:
     Regulations.gov: https://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching the OMB 
control number 9000-0153. Select the link ``Comment Now'' that 
corresponds with ``Information Collection 9000-0153, OMB Circular A-
119''. Follow the instructions provided on the screen. Please include 
your name, company name (if any), and ``Information Collection 9000-
0153, OMB Circular A-119'' on your attached document.
     Fax: 202-501-4067.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20405. 
ATTN: Ms. Hada Flowers/IC 9000-0153, OMB Circular A-119.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite Information 
Collection 9000-0153, OMB Circular A-119, 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. Michael O. Jackson, Procurement 
Analyst, Acquisition Policy Division, GSA 202-208-4949 or email 
michaelo.jackson@gsa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

    On February 19, 1998, a revised OMB Circular A-119, ``Federal 
Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus 
Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities,'' was published in 
the Federal Register at 63 FR 8545, February 19, 1998. FAR Subparts 
11.1 and 11.2 were revised and a solicitation provision was added at 
52.211-7, Alternatives to Government-Unique Standards, to implement the 
requirements of the revised OMB circular. If an alternative standard is 
proposed, the offeror must furnish data and/or information regarding 
the alternative in sufficient detail for the Government to determine if 
it meets the Government's requirements. We believe the burden for FAR 
52.211-7 to be negative, as it is purely a permissive means for 
offerors to propose reducing regulatory burden on a given solicitation. 
There are other places A-119 has an effect, though we believe these to 
be positive. One is by enabling the single process initiative. Another 
is the general replacement of Mil standards with commercial standards, 
e.g., ISO 9000. Also, A-119 is the basis for the language in FAR 
53.105, which reduces the chaos in data standards development. The 
whole purpose of A-119 was to reduce regulatory burden by promoting the 
use of industry standards in lieu of federal ones.
    To the extent that data on the annual frequency of the use of 
voluntary consensus standards under FAR 52.211-7 is not available, we 
believe 100 is reasonable. As an aside, FAR part 45 recognizes the use 
of voluntary consensus standards in the management of Government 
property. However, in these cases there is no Government standard per 
se, with the voluntary consensus standard serving as the Government 
standard. Consequently, when under part 45 voluntary consensus 
standards are used, they are not an alternative to a Government 
standard under FAR 52.211-7.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

    Respondents: 100.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Total Responses: 100.
    Hours per Response: 1.
    Total Burden Hours: 100.

C. Public Comments

    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.
    Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the 
information collection documents from the General Services 
Administration, Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20405, telephone 202-501-4755. Please cite OMB 
Control No. 9000-0153, OMB Circular A-119, in all correspondence.

    Dated: September 17, 2014.
Edward Loeb,
Acting Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, Office of 
Government-wide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, 
Office of Government-wide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014-22575 Filed 9-22-14; 8:45 am]
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