[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4338-4339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1559]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 21, 2010.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

[[Page 4339]]

Office of Procurement and Property Management

    Title: Procurement: Brand Name or Equal Provision and Clause.
    OMB Control Number: 0505-0014.
    Summary of Collection: In order to obtain goods or services, the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), like other Federal 
agencies, has established agency contracting offices to enter into 
Federal contracts. The Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) (48 
CFR ch. 4) and the (48 CFR 411.171), provision (48 CFR 452.211-70), and 
a clause (48 452.211-71) permits the use of ``brand name or equal'' 
purchase descriptions to procure commercial products. Such descriptions 
require the offeror on a supply procurement to identify the ``equal'' 
item being offered and to indicate how that item meets the salient 
characteristics stated in the purchase description. The use of brand 
name or equal descriptions eliminates the need for bidders or offerors 
to read and interpret detailed specifications or purchase descriptions.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Office of Procurement and 
Property Management (OPPM) will collect information to determine from 
the descriptive information furnished whether the offered ``equal'' 
item meets the salient characteristics of the Government's 
requirements. If information were not collected, OPPM would spend more 
time developing purchase descriptions and offerors would spend more 
time reading and interpreting the purchase descriptions.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 9,300.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 930.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-1559 Filed 1-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-TX-P