Proposed Information Collection Request; Contractor Conflicts of Interest (Renewal), 18527-18528 [2021-07331]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 67 (Friday, April 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18527-18528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07331]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OARM-2018-0028; FRL-10022-31-OMS]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Contractor Conflicts of 
Interest (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Contractor Conflicts 
of Interest'' (EPA ICR No. 1550.12, OMB Control No. 2030-0023) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, EPA 
is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed 
information collection as described below. This is a proposed renewal 
of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2021. An 
Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to 
respond to a collection of information unless it displays a current 
valid OMB control number.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-
2018-0028 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or 
by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail 
Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Leftrict, OAS/PTOD, 3803R, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-9463; fax number: N/A; email 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that 
the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this 
ICR. The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in 
person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution 
Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 
202-566-1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, 
visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
comments and information to enable it to: (i) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (ii) evaluate the accuracy of 
the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (iv) minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through 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. EPA 
will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. 
The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and 
approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: The collection of this information is required to ensure 
that the Agency can effectively identify, evaluate, and take 
appropriate action concerning contractor conflicts of interest (COI). 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contractors are required to 
disclose any actual or potential COI with regard to their employees, 
corporate affiliations, and business relationships. Contractors will be 
required to maintain a database of business relationships and report 
information to EPA on either an annual basis or when work is ordered 
under an Agency contract. Additionally, under some contracts, the 
contractor must request written approval from the contracting officer 
to enter a proposed contract subject to the restrictions of EPA's 
Limitation of Future Contracting Clause that can found at CFR 48 
1552.209-74.

[[Page 18528]]

    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: All contractors seeking contract 
award that are identified with the potential conflict of interest upon 
contract award.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: This obligation is mandatory in 
accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 9.5.
    Estimated number of respondents: 56.
    Frequency of response: Varies.
    Total estimated burden: 68,933 hours annually. Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $4,996,497.08 (per year), includes 
$624,851.92 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is an increase of 12,878 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase is due to an increase in the number of 
Conflicts of Interest Plans required by the upsurge in acquisitions 
during the past three (3) years. In the previous filing, there were 45 
required COI plans, but in the current filing there are 56 required COI 
plans.

Kimberly Patrick,
Director, Office of Acquisition Solutions.
[FR Doc. 2021-07331 Filed 4-8-21; 8:45 am]
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