[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53368-53369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23063]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OAR-2003-0170, FRL-7556-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Invitation for Bids and Request for Proposals (IFBs 
and RFPs) EPA ICR Number 1038.10, OMB Control Number 2030-0006

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a 
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on February 29, 
2004. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information 
collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OAR-2003-
0170, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to 
[email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, 
Mail Code: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Robbins, OAM, 3802R, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-1052; fax number: 
(202) 565-2551, e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number OAR-2003-0170, which is available for public 
viewing at the Air and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 
The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the 
telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket is (202) 566-1742. An 
electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA 
Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Use EDOCKET to obtain 
a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or view public 
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public 
docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are 
available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then 
key in the docket ID number identified above.
    Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA within 
60 days of this notice. EPA's policy is that public comments, whether 
submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public 
viewing in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the 
comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose 
public disclosure is restricted by statute. When

[[Page 53369]]

EPA identifies a comment containing copyrighted material, EPA will 
provide a reference to that material in the version of the comment that 
is placed in EDOCKET. The entire printed comment, including the 
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket. Although 
identified as an item in the official docket, information claimed as 
CBI, or whose disclosure is otherwise restricted by statute, is not 
included in the official public docket, and will not be available for 
public viewing in EDOCKET. For further information about the electronic 
docket, see EPA's Federal Register notice describing the electronic 
docket at 67 FR 38102 (May 31, 2002), or go to http://www.epa.gov/edocket.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those companies or organizations, large and small businesses, that want 
to provide the EPA with supplies or services.
    Title: Invitation for Bids and Request for Proposals (IFBs and 
RFPs).
    Abstract: EPA requires contractors to submit information in order 
to be considered for the award of a contract. Information requested 
includes: prices for the supplies/services requested, information on 
past performance, technical and cost information, and general financial 
and organizational information. Information provided by vendors in 
response to an RFP/IFB is used to evaluate which vendor will provide 
the best product in terms of quality, timeliness and price. Response to 
IFBs/RFPs are required to be considered for a contract award. The legal 
authority for this collection is 41 U.S.C. 253., contractor 
confidential business information submitted in connection with an IFB 
or RFP response is protected from public release in accordance with 40 
CFR 2.201 et seq. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is 
not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers 
for EPA's regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of 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, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: Burden estimate for responding to IFBs is 8 hours 
per submission. Annual collection by the Agency is estimated to be 298 
bids. At an average cost of $503.57 for each submission, the annual 
cost to respondents is $150,063.86. Burden for responding to RFPs is 
estimated at 251 hours per submission. Annual receipt of proposals by 
the Agency is expected to be 1224. At an average cost of $15,837.86 the 
annual cost for RFP information collection is estimated at $19,385,540. 
The total respondent burden for both IFBs and RFPs is 309,608 hours. 
Total annual cost for IFBs and RFPs is estimated at $19,535,603. This 
number fluctuates year to year based on how many IFBs and RFPs are 
released at the Agency. Nominal capital or start up costs are expected. 
Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by 
persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide 
information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed 
to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize 
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and 
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and 
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to 
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; 
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; 
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

    Dated: September 3, 2003.
Leigh Pomponio,
Manager, Policy and Oversight Service Center.
[FR Doc. 03-23063 Filed 9-9-03; 8:45 am]
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