Value Engineering (VE), 9549-9550 [2018-04445]

Download as PDF 9549 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 6, 2018 / Notices The site visits to a selection of approximately eight States are intended to allow a deeper understanding of why particular measures were selected, progress in implementing performance measures, and related challenges. This fieldwork will include semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The States will be selected based on the results of the survey and other study knowledge, to include a mix of locations in terms of geographic region, performance measures being used, and status of implementation. Semi-structured interviews with a selection of approximately eight employers are intended to more fully explore issues of interest that emerge from the employer survey responses. Employer interview respondents will be selected based on survey responses as well as suggestions from NASWA regarding employers with particularly strong experience engaging with the workforce system. II. Desired Focus of Comments Currently, DOL is soliciting comments concerning the above data collection for the analysis of employer performance measurement approaches. DOL is particularly interested in comments that do the following: • Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency related to employer services, including whether the information will have practical utility; • evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the ICR to survey and fieldwork respondents, including the validity of the study approach and assumptions used; • enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses). TABLE 1—ESTIMATED TIME BURDEN Total number of respondents Information collection activity Survey—State WIOA Administrator ..................................... Survey—Employer ............................................................... Site Visit Protocol—State Administrator .............................. Site Visit Protocol—Local Administrator .............................. Site Visit Protocol—State and Local Workforce Development Board Staff and Members ....................................... Site Visit Protocol—State and Local Staff Collecting Performance Data .................................................................. Site Visit Protocol—American Job Center Staff .................. Interview—Employer ............................................................ Annual number of respondents a 43 Average burden per response (hours) Number of responses per respondent Annual burden hours 32 8 14 158 11 3 1 1 1 1 0.75 0.33 0.75 0.75 11 53 8 2 32 11 1 0.75 8 16 8 5 13 3 1 1 1 0.75 1 0.75 4 13 2 653 218 ........................ ........................ 101 b 474 c 40 Total .............................................................................. a Based on an 80 percent response rate. on a 50 percent response rate. c One focus group of five per site visit. b Based sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES III. Current Actions At this time, the Department of Labor is requesting clearance for data collection via online surveys and fieldwork for the analysis of employer performance measurement approaches. Type of review: New ICR OMB Control Number: 1290–0NEW Affected Public: Individuals working on state and local workforce development programs, Workforce Development Boards, and American Job Centers selected for surveys and fieldwork; HR department representatives of businesses selected for surveys and interviews. Comments submitted in response to this request will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval; they will also become a matter of public record. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:39 Mar 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 Dated: February 27, 2018. Molly Irwin, Chief Evaluation Officer, U.S. Department of Labor. [FR Doc. 2018–04546 Filed 3–5–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–HX–P OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET Office of Federal Procurement Policy Value Engineering (VE) Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), Office of Management and Budget (OMB). ACTION: Proposed revision to Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A–131, ‘‘Value Engineering’’. AGENCY: In accordance with OMB Memorandum M–17–26 ‘‘Reducing Burden for Federal Agencies by Rescinding and Modifying OMB Memoranda,’’ the Office of Federal SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Procurement Policy (OFPP) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing to amend OMB Circular A–131, Value Engineering, to reduce the reporting burden on Federal agencies. Value Engineering is an effective technique for cutting waste and inefficiency—helping Federal agencies reduce acquisition costs, improve performance, enhance quality, and foster innovation. The proposal would eliminate the requirement for agencies to report annually to OMB and instead encourage agencies to share best practices, case studies and other information on the Acquisition Gateway (https://hallways.cap.gsa.gov/logininformation) that can facilitate better understanding and use of this management tool within the Executive Branch. Interested parties should submit comments within 30 days of this notice. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through https:// www.regulations.gov. DATES: E:\FR\FM\06MRN1.SGM 06MRN1 9550 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 6, 2018 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Wade, OFPP, jwade@ omb.eop.gov. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Background Value Engineering (VE) is a management technique that is used to analyze activities and identify alternative processes for completing the activities at a lower cost. Industry first developed VE during World War II as a means of continuing production despite shortages of critical materials. The Federal Government subsequently adopted VE as a mechanism to improve efficiency. Policies adding the use of VE are set forth in OMB Circular A–131 at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/ whitehouse.gov/files/omb/circulars/ A131/a131-122013.pdf. Use of VE supports the Administration’s efforts to emphasize critical thinking and analysis instead of compliance activity and documentation. Although several Federal agencies have reported life-cycle savings in a broad range of acquisition programs, including defense, transportation, and construction projects, overall usage of VE by federal agencies has been limited. OFPP believes agency workforce awareness and consideration of VE can be improved by redirecting agency resources away from compliance reporting and towards information sharing with other agencies on use of the tool through the Acquisition Gateway (https://hallways.cap.gsa.gov/ login-information). The Gateway provides federal buyers with a forum for improving government acquisition. The Acquisition Innovation Hub within the Gateway facilitates information sharing with tools and resources for acquisition professionals and other stakeholders. These actions are called for by OMB Memorandum M–17–26, ‘‘Reducing Burden for Federal Agencies by Rescinding and Modifying OMB Memoranda.’’ Memorandum M–17–26 was designed to eliminate inefficiencies created by past OMB direction and improve the efficiency of government operations. Accordingly, OFPP proposes the following changes to Circular A–131, as revised in December 2013: 1. Replace section 8, entitled ‘‘Reports to OMB’’ with the following new section 8: Information Sharing. Agencies are encouraged to share best practices, case studies and other information about their experience using VE on the Acquisition Gateway (https://hallways.cap.gsa.gov/logininformation). The Gateway connects federal buyers with resources and tools to improve acquisition throughout the government. The Acquisition Innovation Hub within the Gateway facilitates information sharing between acquisition professionals and other VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:39 Mar 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 stakeholders. Sharing information on the Hub can help build greater awareness of VE and accelerate the pace of innovation and other benefits that can come from the use of this management tool. 2. Make the following conforming changes: a. Delete paragraph f. from section 7, which refers to reporting. b. Delete the Attachment to the Circular, which provides a format for reporting to OMB. For a copy of OMB Circular A–131, go to https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/ whitehouse.gov/ files/omb/circulars/ A131/a131-122013.pdf. Although public comment is not required in the development of these changes, OMB welcomes input on the proposed amendments to the Circular described above and will consider feedback prior to finalizing changes to the Circular. Lesley A. Field, Deputy Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy. [FR Doc. 2018–04445 Filed 3–5–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3110–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50–334 and 50–412; NRC– 2018–0041] FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company; Beaver Valley Power Station; Unit Nos. 1 and 2; Use of Optimized ZIRLOTM Fuel Rod Cladding Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Exemption; issuance. AGENCY: I. Background The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to an April 9, 2017, request from FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC), in order to use Optimized ZIRLOTM fuel rod cladding at the Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 (Beaver Valley). SUMMARY: The exemption was issued on March 6, 2018. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2018–0041 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this document using any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2018–0041. Address questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301–287–9127; email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 individual listed in the FOR FURTHER section of this document. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publiclyavailable documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ adams.html. To begin the search, select ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in this document. In addition, for the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS accession numbers are provided in a table in the ‘‘Availability of Documents’’ section of this document. • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tanya E. Hood, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415– 1387, email: Tanya.Hood@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: INFORMATION CONTACT The FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC) is the holder of Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. 50–334 and 50–412, which authorize operation of Beaver Valley. The licenses provide, among other things, that the facilities are subject to all rules, regulations, and orders of the NRC now or hereafter in effect. The facilities consist of pressurized-water reactors located in Shippingport Borough on the Ohio River in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The ZIRLO® corrosion model was based on a model originally developed for zircaloy-4 cladding. As utilities moved to increased fuel thermal duty associated with higher peaking factors, uprated core power, and longer cycle lengths, cladding corrosion has become one of the important factors in assessing the potential for increased fuel thermal duty. II. Request/Action Pursuant to title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) section 50.12, ‘‘Specific exemptions,’’ the E:\FR\FM\06MRN1.SGM 06MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9549-9550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04445]


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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

Office of Federal Procurement Policy


Value Engineering (VE)

AGENCY: Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB).

ACTION: Proposed revision to Office of Management and Budget Circular 
No. A-131, ``Value Engineering''.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with OMB Memorandum M-17-26 ``Reducing Burden 
for Federal Agencies by Rescinding and Modifying OMB Memoranda,'' the 
Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) within the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing to amend OMB Circular A-131, 
Value Engineering, to reduce the reporting burden on Federal agencies. 
Value Engineering is an effective technique for cutting waste and 
inefficiency--helping Federal agencies reduce acquisition costs, 
improve performance, enhance quality, and foster innovation. The 
proposal would eliminate the requirement for agencies to report 
annually to OMB and instead encourage agencies to share best practices, 
case studies and other information on the Acquisition Gateway (https://hallways.cap.gsa.gov/login-information) that can facilitate better 
understanding and use of this management tool within the Executive 
Branch.

DATES: Interested parties should submit comments within 30 days of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted through https://www.regulations.gov.

[[Page 9550]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Wade, OFPP, [email protected].

Background

    Value Engineering (VE) is a management technique that is used to 
analyze activities and identify alternative processes for completing 
the activities at a lower cost. Industry first developed VE during 
World War II as a means of continuing production despite shortages of 
critical materials. The Federal Government subsequently adopted VE as a 
mechanism to improve efficiency. Policies adding the use of VE are set 
forth in OMB Circular A-131 at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/circulars/A131/a131-122013.pdf.
    Use of VE supports the Administration's efforts to emphasize 
critical thinking and analysis instead of compliance activity and 
documentation. Although several Federal agencies have reported life-
cycle savings in a broad range of acquisition programs, including 
defense, transportation, and construction projects, overall usage of VE 
by federal agencies has been limited. OFPP believes agency workforce 
awareness and consideration of VE can be improved by redirecting agency 
resources away from compliance reporting and towards information 
sharing with other agencies on use of the tool through the Acquisition 
Gateway (https://hallways.cap.gsa.gov/login-information). The Gateway 
provides federal buyers with a forum for improving government 
acquisition. The Acquisition Innovation Hub within the Gateway 
facilitates information sharing with tools and resources for 
acquisition professionals and other stakeholders. These actions are 
called for by OMB Memorandum M-17-26, ``Reducing Burden for Federal 
Agencies by Rescinding and Modifying OMB Memoranda.'' Memorandum M-17-
26 was designed to eliminate inefficiencies created by past OMB 
direction and improve the efficiency of government operations.
    Accordingly, OFPP proposes the following changes to Circular A-131, 
as revised in December 2013:

    1. Replace section 8, entitled ``Reports to OMB'' with the 
following new section 8: Information Sharing. Agencies are 
encouraged to share best practices, case studies and other 
information about their experience using VE on the Acquisition 
Gateway (https://hallways.cap.gsa.gov/login-information). The 
Gateway connects federal buyers with resources and tools to improve 
acquisition throughout the government. The Acquisition Innovation 
Hub within the Gateway facilitates information sharing between 
acquisition professionals and other stakeholders. Sharing 
information on the Hub can help build greater awareness of VE and 
accelerate the pace of innovation and other benefits that can come 
from the use of this management tool.
    2. Make the following conforming changes:
    a. Delete paragraph f. from section 7, which refers to 
reporting.
    b. Delete the Attachment to the Circular, which provides a 
format for reporting to OMB.

    For a copy of OMB Circular A-131, go to https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/ files/omb/circulars/A131/a131-122013.pdf.
    Although public comment is not required in the development of these 
changes, OMB welcomes input on the proposed amendments to the Circular 
described above and will consider feedback prior to finalizing changes 
to the Circular.

Lesley A. Field,
Deputy Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-04445 Filed 3-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3110-01-P

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