[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13570-13571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7324]



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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 
Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization invites the general public and other Federal agencies to 
comment on this information collection. This request for comment is 
being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 
104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Comments should address the accuracy 
of the burden estimates and ways to minimize the burden including the 
use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology, as well as other relevant aspects of the 
information collection.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposal for the 
collection of information should be received on or before May 28, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Gladys Lane, Office of Small 
and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (00SB), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. All comments 
will become a matter of public record and will be summarized in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. This 
document solicits comments concerning the following information 
collection:
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0444.
    Title and Form Number: VAAR Subpart 819.70, Veteran-Owned and 
Operated Small Business, (Exceptions to SF 18 and SF 129).
    Type of Review: Reinstatement without change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Need and Uses: The information will be used by VA to identify 
veteran-owned business to ensure eligible veteran-owned firms are given 
an opportunity to participate in VA solicitations for goods and 
services. Without this information there would be no way to properly 
monitor this program.
    Current Actions: Public Law 93-237, amended the Small Business Act 
by directing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to give 
``special consideration'' to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces in all 
SBA programs. In September 1983, VA adopted the ``special 
consideration'' philosophy and directed all VA contracting activities 
to take affirmative action to solicit and assist Vietnam Era and 
disabled veteran-owned small businesses to participate in VA 
acquisition process. This established VA Vietnam Era and Disabled 
Veteran-Owned Small Business Outreach Program. In October 1983, VA 
received OMB approval to modify SF 18, Request for Quotations, and SF 
129, Solicitation Mailing List Application, to include Vietnam Era and 
disabled veteran-owned information. On April 5, 1990, the Secretary 
approved an initiative to expand the Vietnam Era and disabled veteran-
owned small business program to include all veteran-owned small

[[Page 13571]]

businesses. Title 38 U.S.C. vests the Secretary with broad authority 
and responsibility to assist veterans. Therefore, we requested that 
approval be granted to include veteran-owned business in addition to 
Vietnam Era and disabled veteran-owned businesses information on SF 18 
and SF 129. The information requested will be a self certification that 
a firm is veteran-owned. It allows VA to ensure that eligible veteran-
owned firms are given an opportunity to participate in VA acquisitions 
and to monitor our success in implementing these regulatory provisions. 
The information requested on the SF 18 and SF 129 will be solicited 
from the respondents on a voluntary basis.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 14,181 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: Additional burden imposed 
on SF 18 and SF 129 is 15 seconds.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,403,500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the reports should be directed to Department of Veterans 
Affairs, Attn: Ron Taylor, VA Clearance Officer (045A4), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, 
Telephone (202) 565-4412 or FAX (202) 565-8267.

    Dated: March 14, 1996.

    By direction of the Secretary.
William T. Morgan,
Management Analyst.
[FR Doc. 96-7324 Filed 3-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P