[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2468-2469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-843]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Notice and Request for Comment for Approval of a New Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is seeking approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise procedures for 
accepting vendor bids to supply commodities for use under domestic 
purchase programs. A Domestic Electronic Bid Entry System (DEBES) will 
provide for electronic submission of bids via the Internet. This will 
replace the current system, which requires hard-copy bids and manual 
entry into CCC's system. The new procedure will be more reliable and 
more efficient than the current procedure.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before March 15, 
1999 to be assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Tim Mehl, Chief, Planning 
and Analysis Division, Kansas City Commodity Office (KCCO), 9200 Ward 
Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64114, telephone (816) 926-3536 or fax 
(816) 926-6767.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Domestic Electronic Bid Entry System (DEBES)--7 CFR 1496.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-New
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) purchases 
agricultural commodities to meet domestic program needs. CCC issues 
invitations to purchase agricultural commodities at various times 
during the year. Vendors respond by making offers using the CCC 
Commodity Bid Form (form KC-327). CCC verifies that the KC-327 is 
responsive and manually enters the information on the form into the bid 
evaluation program to determine the lowest cost and award data for the 
creation of contracts. The current keypunching process requires 
entering data and then verifying the results. The sensitivity of the 
data and the high value of the contracts at stake requires a reliable 
and efficient system for capturing the bid data.
    Regulations governing paperwork burdens on the public require that 
before an agency collects information from the public, the agency must 
receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In 
accordance with those regulations, CCC is seeking approval for DEBES to 
provide for the submission of bids through the Internet. Under OMB 
regulations, comments

[[Page 2469]]

concerning DEBES must be submitted to OMB within 30 days of this 
notice's publication in the Federal Register. Within 60 days ``after 
receipt of the proposed collection of information or publication of the 
notice'' in the Federal Register, whichever is later, OMB shall notify 
CCC of its decision to approve, require modifications to, or disapprove 
DEBES.

Bid Process Modifications

    Each vendor will be required to use an Internet Service Provider to 
participate in the DEBES. KCCO will provide vendor training and offer 
hotline assistance for DEBES. It is anticipated DEBES will be put into 
operation in the summer of 1999. Vendor participation in the DEBES 
shall be required to submit bids to CCC for the purchase of 
agricultural commodities intended for domestic food programs. The DEBES 
will capture commodity vendor bid data in a more reliable and efficient 
way than the current system. DEBES provides the data in an electronic 
and linear format.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for collecting 
information under this notice is estimated to average 30 minutes 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.
    Respondents: Businesses and other for profit.
    Respondents: 60.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 24.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 720 hours.
    Proposed topics for comments include: (a) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; 
or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of the 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. Comments regarding 
this information collection requirement should be directed to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Washington, DC 20503, 
and to Tim Mehl, Chief Planning and Analysis Division, Kansas City 
Commodity Office, 9200 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64114, 
telephone (816) 926-3536 or fax (816) 926-6767.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on January 7, 1999.
Keith Kelly,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 99-843 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P