Information Collection; OMB Circular A-119, 51256 [2017-23982]

Agencies

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

[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.

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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: 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.
     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 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 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]
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