Information Collection; OMB Circular A-119, 51256 [2017-23982]
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51256
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 212 / Friday, November 3, 2017 / Notices
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[OMB Control No. 9000–0153; Docket 2017–
0053; Sequence 17]
Information Collection; OMB Circular
A–119
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.
AGENCY:
Under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act, 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.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
January 2, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
identified by Information Collection
9000–0153, OMB Circular A–119, by
any of the following methods:
• Regulations.gov: http://
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.
• Mail: General Services
Administration, Regulatory Secretariat
Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20405. ATTN: Ms.
Mandell/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 http://
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.
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:18 Nov 02, 2017
Jkt 244001
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 GovernmentUnique 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 the 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.
This collection implements OMB
Circular A–119, Federal Participation in
the Development and Use of Voluntary
Consensus Standards. FAR solicitation
provision 52.211–7, Alternatives to
Government-Unique Standards, is the
collection instrument. We have
previously indicated that ‘‘to the extent
that the data on the annual frequency of
the use of voluntary consensus
standards under FAR 52.211–7 is not
available, we believe that 100 is
reasonable.’’ This is the number that has
been reported since the inception of this
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
PRA collection, which indicates that
revised data has been consistently
unavailable since responses are
provided to contracting personnel at the
local level in response to a local
solicitation. We checked the FPDS data
dictionary and there are no codes to flag
data fields or provide a count of when
Mil standards are used in solicitations/
contracts. Considering the lack of FPDS
or other data, we recommend
continuing the PRA coverage at the
current level.
B. Annual Reporting Burden
Respondents: 100.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Total Responses: 100.
Hours per Response: 1.
Total Burden Hours: 100.
Affected Public: Businesses or other
for-profit and not-for-profit.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain benefits.
Reporting Frequency: On occasion.
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: October 31, 2017.
Lorin S. Curit,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division,
Office of Government-wide Acquisition
Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office
of Government-wide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017–23982 Filed 11–2–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P
E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM
03NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 212 (Friday, November 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 51256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23982]
[[Page 51256]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[OMB Control No. 9000-0153; Docket 2017-0053; Sequence 17]
Information Collection; 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 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.
DATES: Submit comments on or before January 2, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by Information Collection 9000-
0153, OMB Circular A-119, by any of the following methods:
Regulations.gov: http://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.
Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory
Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20405.
ATTN: Ms. Mandell/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 http://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 the 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.
This collection implements OMB Circular A-119, Federal
Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus
Standards. FAR solicitation provision 52.211-7, Alternatives to
Government-Unique Standards, is the collection instrument. We have
previously indicated that ``to the extent that the data on the annual
frequency of the use of voluntary consensus standards under FAR 52.211-
7 is not available, we believe that 100 is reasonable.'' This is the
number that has been reported since the inception of this PRA
collection, which indicates that revised data has been consistently
unavailable since responses are provided to contracting personnel at
the local level in response to a local solicitation. We checked the
FPDS data dictionary and there are no codes to flag data fields or
provide a count of when Mil standards are used in solicitations/
contracts. Considering the lack of FPDS or other data, we recommend
continuing the PRA coverage at the current level.
B. Annual Reporting Burden
Respondents: 100.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Total Responses: 100.
Hours per Response: 1.
Total Burden Hours: 100.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit and not-for-profit.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Reporting Frequency: On occasion.
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: October 31, 2017.
Lorin S. Curit,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, Office of Government-
wide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of
Government-wide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-23982 Filed 11-2-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P