[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76975-76976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28034]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0422]


Proposed Information Collection Activity: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of Management, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Management (OM), Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed 
collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish 
notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information, including each extension of a currently approved 
collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to 
administer contracts.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before February 22, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information to 
Cathy I. Dailey, Office of Acquisition Resources Service (049A5), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20420 or e-mail [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control 
No. 2900-0422'' in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy I. Dailey at (202) 273-8774.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C. 3501-21), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they 
conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to 
Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, (OM) 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of (OM)'s functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of (OM)'s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Titles:
    a. Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 
Clause 852.236-72, Performance of Work by the Contractor.
    b. Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 
Alternate I to Clause 852.236-80, Subcontracts and Work Coordination.
    c. Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 
Clause 852.236-82, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction Contracts 
(without NAS), including Alternate I.
    d. Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 
Clause 852.236-83, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction Contracts 
(with NAS), including Alternate I.
    e. Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 
Clause 852.236-84, Schedule of Work Progress.
    f. Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 
Clause 852.236-88, Contract Changes, Supplements FAR Clause 52.243-4, 
Changes.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0422.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The information contained Department of Veterans 
Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Clauses 852.236-72, Alternate I to 
852.236-80, 852.236-82, 852.236-83, 852.236-84, and 852.236-88 is 
necessary for VA to administer construction contracts, and to carry out 
its responsibility to construct, maintain and repair real property for 
the Department.
    a. VAAR Clause 852.236-72, Performance of Work by the Contractor, 
requires contractors awarded a construction contract containing Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.236-1, to submit a statement 
designating the branch or branches of contract work to be performed by 
the contractor's own forces. The VAAR clause implements the FAR clause 
by requiring the contractor to provide information to the contracting 
officer on how the contractor intends to fulfill this contractual 
obligation. The contracting officer uses this information to ensure 
that the contractor complies with the contract requirements.
    b. Alternate I to Clause 852.236-80, Work Coordination, requires 
construction contractors, on contracts involving complex mechanical-
electrical work, to furnish coordination drawings showing the manner in 
which utility lines will fit into available spaces and relate to each 
other and to the existing building elements. The information is used by 
the contracting officer and VA engineer assigned to the project to 
resolve any problems relating to the installation of utilities on 
construction contract.
    c. VAAR Clause 852.236-82, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (without NAS), requires construction contractors to submit a 
schedule of costs for work to be performed under the contract. If the 
contract includes guarantee period services, Alternate I requires 
contractor to submit information on the total and itemized costs of the 
guarantee period services and to submit a performance plan/program. The 
information is needed to allow the contracting officer to determine the 
correct amount to pay the contractor as work progresses and to properly 
proportion the amount paid for guarantee period services.
    d. VAAR Clause 852.236-83, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (with NAS), requires construction contractors to submit a 
schedule of costs for work to be performed under the contract. If the 
contract includes guarantee period services, Alternate I requires 
contractor to submit information on the total and itemized costs of the 
guarantee period services and to submit a performance plan/program. The 
information is needed to allow the contracting officer to determine the 
correct amount to pay the contractor as work progresses and to properly 
proportion the amount paid for guarantee period services. The 
difference between this clause and the one above 852.236-82 is that 
this clause requires the contractor to use a computerized Network 
Analysis System (NAS) to prepare the cost estimate.
    e. VAAR Clause 852.236-84, Schedule of Work Progress, requires 
construction contractors, on contracts that do not require the use of a 
NAS, to submit a progress schedule. The information is used by the 
contracting officer to track the contractor's progress under the 
contract and to determine whether or not the contractor is making 
satisfactory progress.
    f. VAAR Clause 852.236-88, Contract Changes, Supplements FAR Clause 
52.243-4, Changes. FAR Clause 52.243-4 authorizes the contracting 
officer to order changes to a construction contract but does not 
specifically require the contractor to submit cost proposals for those 
changes. VAAR Clause 852.236-88 requires contractors to submit cost

[[Page 76976]]

proposal for changes ordered by the contracting officer or for changes 
proposed by the contractor. This information is needed to allow the 
contracting officer and the contractor to reach a mutually acceptable 
agreement on how much to pay the contractor for the proposed changes to 
the contract. It is also used by the contracting officer to determine 
whether or not to authorize the proposed changes or whether or not 
additional or alternate cost proposals for changes are needed.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; individuals and 
households; and not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Annual Burden:
    a. VAAR Clause 852.236-72, Performance of Work by the Contractor--
36 hours.
    b. VAAR Alternate I to Clause 852.236-80, Subcontracts and Work 
Coordination--1,190 hours.
    c. VAAR Clause 852.236-82, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (without NAS), including Alternate I--1,397 hours.
    d. VAAR Clause 852.236-83, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (with NAS), including Alternate I--59 hours.
    e. VAAR Clause 852.236-84, Schedule of Work Progress--2,095 hours.
    f. VAAR Clause 852.236-88, Contract Changes, Supplements FAR Clause 
52.243-4, Changes--807 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent:
    a. VAAR Clause 852.236-72, Performance of Work by the Contractor--1 
hour.
    b. VAAR Alternate I to Clause 852.236-80, Subcontracts and Work 
Coordination--10 hours.
    c. VAAR Clause 852.236-82, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (without NAS), including Alternate I--1 hour.
    d. VAAR Clause 852.236-83, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (with NAS), including Alternate I--30 minutes.
    e. VAAR Clause 852.236-84, Schedule of Work Progress--1 hour.
    f. VAAR Clause 852.236-88, Contract Changes, Supplements FAR Clause 
52.243-4, Changes--3 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents:
    a. VAAR Clause 852.236-72, Performance of Work by the Contractor--
36.
    b. VAAR Alternate I to Clause 852.236-80, Subcontracts and Work 
Coordination--119.
    c. Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 
Clause 852.236-82, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction Contracts 
(without NAS), including Alternate I--1,397.
    d. VAAR Clause 852.236-83, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (with NAS), including Alternate I--119.
    e. VAAR Clause 852.236-84, Schedule of Work Progress--1,397.
    f. VAAR Clause 852.236-88, Contract Changes, Supplements FAR Clause 
52.243-4, Changes--269.

    Dated: December 10, 2004.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Jacqueline Parks,
IT Specialist, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 04-28034 Filed 12-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P