[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41321-41322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17609]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0011]


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; Preaward 
Survey Forms (Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, and 1408)

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

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments regarding an extension to 
an existing OMB clearance (9000-0011).

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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 will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently 
approved information collection requirement concerning preaward survey 
forms (Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, and 1408). This 
clearance currently expires October 31, 2003.
    Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; 
whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of 
information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and 
methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be

[[Page 41322]]

collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use 
of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 9, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments, including suggestions for reducing this 
burden to the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), 
1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Moss, Acquisition Policy 
Division, GSA, (202) 501-4764.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

    To protect the Government's interest and to ensure timely delivery 
of items of the requisite quality, contracting officers, prior to 
award, must make an affirmative determination that the prospective 
contractor is responsible, i.e., capable of performing the contract. 
Before making such a determination, the contracting officer must have 
in his possession or must obtain information sufficient to satisfy 
himself that the prospective contractor (i) has adequate financial 
resources, or the ability to obtain such resources, (ii) is able to 
comply with required delivery schedule, (iii) has a satisfactory record 
of performance, (iv) has a satisfactory record of integrity, and (v) is 
otherwise qualified and eligible to receive an award under appropriate 
laws and regulations. If such information is not in the contracting 
officer's possession, it is obtained through a preaward survey 
conducted by the contract administration office responsible for the 
plant and/or the geographic area in which the plant is located. The 
necessary data is collected by contract administration personnel from 
available data or through plant visits, phone calls, and correspondence 
and entered on Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, and 1408 in 
detail commensurate with the dollar value and complexity of the 
procurement. The information is used by Federal contracting officers to 
determine whether a prospective contractor is responsible. Due to 
improved technology, increased sharing of information among agencies 
and the increasing reliance on commercial items, for which preaward 
surveys are not required, the annual burden related to this clearance 
has been reduced.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

    Respondents: 5,478.
    Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Total Responses: 5,478.
    Hours Per Response: 20.8.
    Total Burden Hours: 113,942.
    Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the 
information collection documents from the General Services 
Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, 
Washington, DC 20405, telephone (202) 501-4755. Please cite OMB Control 
No. 9000-0011, Preaward Survey Forms (Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 
1406, 1407, and 1408), in all correspondence.

    Dated: July 8, 2003.
Ralph J. DeStefano,
Acting Director, Acquisition Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 03-17609 Filed 7-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P