[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26469-26471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4212]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0145]


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; Use of 
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary Contractor 
Identification

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 (9000-0145).

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

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 
Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved 
information collection requirement concerning use of data universal 
numbering system (DUNS) as primary contractor identification. The Data 
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is the nine-digit 
identification number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information 
Services to an establishment. A request for public comments was 
published in the Federal Register at 70 FR 75453 on December 20, 2005.
    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

[[Page 26470]]

technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments regarding this burden estimate or any other 
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for 
reducing this burden to the General Services Administration, FAR 
Secretariat (VIR), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ernest Woodson, Contract Policy 
Division, GSA, (202) 501-3775.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

    The Government uses the DUNS number to identify contractors in 
reporting to the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). Federal 
agencies report data on all contracts in excess of $2,500.00 to the 
Federal Procurement Data System--Next Generation (FPDS-NG) which 
collects, processes, and disseminates official statistical data on 
Federal contracting. Contracting officers insert the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision 52.204-6, Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) Number in solicitations they expect will result 
in generation of an individual contract action report. This provision 
requires offerors to submit their DUNS number with their offer. If the 
offeror does not have a DUNS number, the provision provides 
instructions on obtaining one.
    GSA has concluded that OMB should approve the extension of the 
information collection as it is currently written.

B. Summary and Disposition of Comments

    Comments were received from two respondents. These comments were 
considered in the formation of the conclusion for the information 
collection to be approved as written.
    1. Comment: One respondent was concerned with the DUNS being the 
primary method of contractor identification by Federal agencies.
    Response: The DUNS has been required for Federal acquisition 
purposes for more than 25 years. In the Government Accountability 
Office (GAO) report B-160725 published on October 12, 1979, the GAO 
concluded that the Government was collecting corporate data in a 
decentralized manner, which was leading to a number of data quality 
issues, and charges by the vendor community of an excessive 
administrative burden to conduct business with the Government. GAO also 
concluded that the Government used the DUNS number as the contractor 
identification number.
    2. Comment: One respondent was concerned that the Government 
estimate of the public burden is grossly underestimated; indicating 
that applying for a DUNS Number takes significantly longer that 1.2 
minutes.
    Response: The original Government estimate is not based on the time 
it takes a vendor to obtain a DUNS number, but the time it takes an 
offeror to submit its DUNS with its offer. The Government has estimated 
the vendor burden to obtain a DUNS number. To obtain a new DUNS number 
a registrant may call 1-866-705-5711, or visit https://eupdate.dnb.com/requestoptions/government/ccrreg/. Calling the Federal Government 800 
number to obtain a DUNS number will take a prepared caller 
approximately 25 minutes, which includes an average 5 minute wait time 
to connect with a D&B help desk specialist. The website process will 
take a prepared registrant approximately 20 minutes from start to 
finish to obtain a new DUNS number.
    3. Comment: One respondent was concerned with the Government 
relying upon a private sector corporation to uphold a mandatory 
contracting requirement, indicating that if Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) 
ceases operation, becomes overburdened, or somehow loses the ability to 
perform the function, the entire program will fall apart.
    Response: D&B has been in business for more than 165 years, and 
their worldwide database includes over 100 million DUNS numbers and 
tracks 53 million companies in 200 countries. The Government only uses 
.4% of D&B`s databases.
    4. Comment: One respondent believed that the CCR registration could 
be altered to achieve the same level of performance and function of 
contractor identification by assigning a unique number to each CCR 
registration instead of dealing with D&B.
    Response: In the late 1980's and early 1990's, the Government 
maintained a proprietary database of Contractor Establishment Codes 
(CEC) numbers. This database attempted to recreate the D&B worldwide 
database on a much smaller scale. This was a Government-owned 
contractor-maintained database. The contractor who was awarded the 
responsibility to maintain the database was D&B. After review of the 
project in 1994, the Government chose again to use the commercially 
available DUNS numbers to fulfill its need. The decision was based on 
several factors, most notably the fact that the DUNS number is broadly 
used, both domestically and worldwide. Since the E-Government Act of 
2002, the Government has chosen several guiding principles. One of them 
is to use commercial practices wherever feasible. D&B not only produces 
a unique number, they also have a mature business providing contractor 
association. The Government uses the information about one contractor 
and their relationship to other contractors for reports and we have no 
desire to compete with that line of work. Therefore, the decision to 
use D&B is still strongly supported by the Administration.
    5. Comment: One respondent was concerned that the D&B system is not 
reliable enough for its intended purpose, because it seems to operate a 
large call center abroad to manage an enormous volume of calls.
    Response: We agree that early on communication issues were 
experienced when following up with the Federal community through D&B. 
However, D&B has a dedicated call center supported by 22 full-time 
employees located in Austin, Texas that handles effectively 200,000 
calls annually. Today, when D&B contacts the Federal Community, 
domestic support is used to ensure clarity of discussion.
    6. Comment: One respondent was concerned that the DUNS system 
creates problems when a contractor owns several smaller partnerships or 
corporations, in which case more than one DUNS number is required. The 
respondent believes that such circumstances cause an increased burden 
on corporations that own other businesses.
    Response: It is reasonable for each separate legal entity to have 
its own separate identity number.
    7. Comment: One respondent was concerned that D&B's decision to 
discontinue the issuance of DUNS numbers to third parties e.g., Federal 
agencies) has resulted in many prospective foreign contractors 
experiencing difficulties in obtaining a DUNS number; and the dilemma 
Federal agencies face in overseas sole-source situations when the 
contractor refuses to obtain a DUNS number for personal safety reasons.
    Response: We agree with the respondent's assessment of conditions 
abroad in remote locations in obtaining the DUNS numbers. As a result, 
a series of generic DUNS numbers has been developed that may be used 
under defined conditions to alleviate challenges in obtaining DUNS 
numbers. The development of the numbers was in preparation of FAR case 
2004-038, Federal Procurement Data System, that is expected to be 
published in the

[[Page 26471]]

Federal Register late May or June, 2006. The pending FAR case defines 
how these numbers will be used by the Federal community. Given this 
solution, we strongly feel that the respondent's challenges should be 
significantly reduced.

C. Annual Reporting Burden

    Respondents: 35,694.
    Responses Per Respondent: 4.00.
    Annual Responses: 142,776.
    Hours Per Response: .0200. (Averaged)
    Total Burden Hours: 2,852.
    Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the 
information collection documents from the General Services 
Administration, FAR Secretariat (VIR), Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405, 
telephone (202) 501-4755. Please cite OMB Control Number 9000-0145, Use 
of Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary Contractor 
Identification, in all correspondence.

    Dated: April 28, 2006.
Gerald Zaffos,
Director, Contract Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 06-4212 Filed 5-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S