[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55950-55952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27822]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Proposed Collection; Comment Request Concerning Collection of 
Acquisition Information

AGENCY: Procurement and Property Management, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments regarding a proposed extension 
of approved information collection requirements.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

[[Page 55951]]

U.S.C. Chapter 35), Procurement and Property Management (PPM) intends 
to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to 
review and approve an extension of four currently approved information 
collections related to the award of, or performance under, USDA 
contracts. PPM invites comment on these information collections. These 
information requirements are currently approved by OMB for use through 
November 30, 1996. PPM proposes that OMB extend its approval for use 
through November 30, 1999.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 30, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Joseph J. Daragan, Procurement Analyst, 
Procurement and Property Management, STOP 9303, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9303. 
Comments may also be submitted via fax at (202) 720-8972, or through 
the Internet at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph J. Daragan, Procurement and 
Property Management, STOP 9303, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9303, (202) 720-5729.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA is seeking OMB approval of the 
following information collections:
    1. Title: Procurement: Maximum Workweek--Construction Schedule.
    OMB Number: 0505-0011.
    Expiration Date: 11/30/96.
    Type of request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Proposed use of information: Information about the contractor's 
proposed hours of work is requested prior to the start of construction 
so that the agency can determine when on-site representatives are 
needed. A contracting office will insert this clause in a construction 
contract when, because of the agency's staffing or budgetary 
constraints, it is necessary to limit the contractor's performance to a 
maximum number of hours per week.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit; small businesses or 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One (1).
    Estimate of Burden: The information collected is the hours and days 
of the week the contractor proposes to carry out construction, with 
starting and stopping times. Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average fifteen minutes per 
response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 150 hours.
    2. Title: Procurement: Brand Name or Equal Clause.
    OMB Number: 0505-0014.
    Expiration Date: 11/30/96.
    Type of request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Proposed use of information: The Agriculture Acquisition Regulation 
permits the use of ``brand name or equal'' purchase descriptions to 
procure commercial products. Such descriptions require the offeror on a 
supply procurement to identify the ``equal'' item being offered and to 
indicate how that item meets salient characteristics stated in the 
purchase description. The contracting officer can determine from the 
descriptive information furnished whether the offered ``equal'' item 
meets the salient characteristics of the Government's requirements. The 
use of brand name or equal descriptions eliminates the need for bidders 
or offerors to read and interpret detailed specifications or purchase 
descriptions.
    Respondents: Businesses or other for-profit; small businesses or 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 74,835.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One (1).
    Estimate of Burden: This information collection is limited to 
solicitations for products for which other methods of product 
specification are impracticable. Only businesses wishing to submit bids 
or offers in response to a solicitation are affected. Public reporting 
burden for this collection of information is estimate to average one 
tenth of an hour per response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,484 hours.
    3. Title: Procurement: Key Personnel Clause.
    OMB Number: 0505-0015.
    Expiration Date: 11/30/96.
    Type of request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Proposed use of information: The information enables the agency to 
determine whether the departure of a key person from the contractor's 
staff may have a deleterious effect upon contract performance, and to 
determine what accommodations or remedies may be taken. If the agency 
could not obtain information about departing key personnel, it could 
not ensure that qualified personnel continue to perform contract work.
    Respondents: State or local governments; businesses or other for-
profit; small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One (1).
    Estimate of Burden: The information collection is required only 
when a contractor proposes to make changes to key personnel assigned to 
performance of a contract. Consequently, information collection is 
occasional. Public reporting burden for this collection of information 
is estimated to average one hour per respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 200 hours.
    4. Title: Procurement: Progress Reporting Clause.
    OMB Number: 0505-0016.
    Expiration Date: 11/30/96.
    Type of request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Proposed use of information: The information is requested monthly 
or quarterly from contractors performing research and development (R&D) 
or advisory and assistance services, including ADP system or software 
development. The information enables the contracting office to monitor 
actual progress and expenditures compared to anticipated performance 
and proposal representations upon which the contract award was made. 
The information alerts the contracting office to technical problems, to 
a need for additional staff resources or funding, and to the 
probability of timely completion within the contract cost or price. If 
the contracting office could not obtain a report of progress, it would 
have to physically monitor the contractor's operations on a day-to-day 
basis throughout the performance period.
    Respondents: State or local government; businesses or other for-
profit; small businesses or organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The frequency of 
progress reports varies from monthly to quarterly depending on the 
complexity of the contract and the risk of successful completion. Based 
on monthly reporting, each respondent would submit 12 responses per 
year.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average one and one half hours per 
respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,600 hours.
    Comments received will be considered in order to: (a) Evaluate 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of USDA contracting offices, 
including whether the information will have a practical utility; (b) 
evaluate the accuracy of

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PPM's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) minimize the burden of the collection of information 
on those who respond, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. All responses to 
this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval, and will become a matter of public record.
W. R. Ashworth,
Director, Procurement and Property Management.
[FR Doc. 96-27822 Filed 10-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-98-P