[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 159 (Tuesday, August 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 44239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22066]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0023]


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Entitled Balance of 
Payments Program Certificate

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of request for an extension to an existing OMB 
clearance.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 
Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved 
information collection requirement concerning Balance of Payments 
Program Certificate. A request for public comments was published at 63 
FR 29976, June 2, 1998. No comments were received.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before September 17, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Linfield, Federal Acquisition 
Policy Division, GSA (202) 501-1757.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other 
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for 
reducing this burden, to: FAR Desk Officer, OMB, Room 10102, NEOB, 
Washington, DC 20503, and a copy to the General Services 
Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVRS), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, 
Washington, DC 20405.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

    Under the Balance of Payments Program, unless specifically exempted 
by statute or regulation, the Government gives preferences to the 
acquisition of domestic end products or services, provided that the 
cost of the domestic items is reasonable. The Balance of Payments 
Program differs from the Buy American Act in that it applies to 
acquisitions for use outside the United States.
    The contracting officer uses the information to identify which end 
products or services are domestic, and which are of foreign origin. In 
order to be considered domestic, the cost of its components mined, 
produced, or manufactured in the United States must exceed 50 percent 
of the cost of all its components. Services are considered domestic if 
25 percent or less of their total cost are attributable to performance 
occurring outside the United States. The contracting officer determines 
reasonableness of cost by applying an evaluation factor of 50 percent. 
If this procedure results in a tie, the domestic offer shall be 
considered successful.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average .167 hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information.
    The annual reporting burden is estimated as follows: Respondents, 
1,243; responses per respondent, 5; total annual responses, 6,215; 
preparation hours per response, .167; and total response burden hours, 
1,038.
    Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requester may obtain a copy of the 
justification from the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat 
(MVRS), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405, telephone 
(202) 501-4755. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0023, Balance of 
Payments Program Certificate, in all correspondence.

    Dated: August 11, 1998.
Edward C. Loeb,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 98-22066 Filed 8-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-34-P