[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 174 (Thursday, September 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 54655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20397]



[[Page 54655]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0113]


Federal Acquisition Regulation;Information Collection; 
Acquisition of Helium

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

ACTION: Notice of request for comments regarding an extension to an 
existing OMB clearance (9000-0113).

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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 acquisition of 
helium. The clearance currently expires on October 31, 2004.
    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 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 November 8, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments regarding this burden or any other aspect of 
this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this 
burden to the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (VR), 
1800 F Street, NW,Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405. Please cite OMB 
Control No.9000-0113, Acquisition of Helium, in all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Linda Nelson, Contract Policy Division, 
GSA (202) 501-1900.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

    The Helium Act (Pub. L. 86-777) (50 U.S.C. 167a, et seq.) and the 
Department of the Interior's implementing regulations (30 CFR parts 601 
and 602) require Federal agencies to procure all major helium 
requirements from the Bureau of Land Management, Department of the 
Interior.
    The FAR requires offerors responding to contract solicitations to 
provide information as to their forecast of helium required for 
performance of the contract. Such information will facilitate 
enforcement of the requirements of the Helium Act and the contractual 
provisions requiring the use of Government helium by agency 
contractors, in that it will permit corrective action to be taken if 
the Bureau of Land Management, after comparing helium sales data 
against helium requirement forecasts, discovers apparent serious 
discrepancies.
    The information is used in administration of certain Federal 
contracts to ensure contractor compliance with contract clauses. 
Without the information, the required use of Government helium cannot 
be monitored and enforced effectively.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

    Respondents: 26.
    Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Total Responses: 26.
    Hours Per Response: 1.
    Total Burden Hours: 26.
    Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the 
information collection documents from the General Services 
Administration, FAR Secretariat (VR), Room 4035, 1800 F Street, 
Washington, DC 20405, telephone (202) 501-4755. Please cite OMB Control 
No. 9000-0113, Acquisition of Helium, in all correspondence.

    Dated: August 30, 2004
Ralph J. De Stefano
Acting Director, Contract Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 04-20397 Filed 9-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S