[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81490-81491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33257]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OARM-2011-0997; FRL-9613-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Contractor Cumulative Claim and Reconciliation 
(Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to 
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection 
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is 
scheduled to expire as follows: EPA ICR No. 0246.11 on May 31, 2012. 
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 February 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OARM-2011-0997 by one of the following methods:
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: OEI Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. 
Please include a total of three (3) copies and identify the Docket ID 
Number EPA-HQ-OARM-2011-0997, Contractor Cumulative Claim and 
Reconciliation.
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center-Attention OEI Docket, EPA 
West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington DC 20004. Such 
deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of 
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-
2011-0997. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to 
be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The 
www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which 
means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you 
provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment 
directly to EPA without going through www.regulations.gov your email 
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the 
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the 
Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you 
include your name and other contact information in the body of your 
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic 
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of 
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center 
homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Holly Hubbell, Policy Training and 
Oversight Division, Office of Acquisition Management (3802R), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-1091; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

How can I access the docket and/or submit comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OARM-2011-0997, which is available for online viewing at 
www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the OEI Docket in the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. 
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC 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 OEI Docket is (202) 566-1752.
    Use www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collection of 
information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing 
of the contents of the 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 in this 
document.

What information is EPA particularly interested in?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

What should I consider when I prepare my comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.

[[Page 81491]]

    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified 
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

What information collection activity or ICR does this apply to?

    Affected entities: All contractors who have completed an EPA cost 
reimbursement type contract will be required to submit EPA Form 1900-
10. These contractors represent a wide range of industries which 
include, but are not limited to: custom computer programming, 
management and consulting services, medical laboratories, and testing 
laboratories.
    Title: Contractor Cumulative Claim and Reconciliation.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 0246.11, OMB Control No. 2030-0016.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on May 31, 
2012.
    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 title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal 
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed 
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate 
means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if 
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA 
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: All contractors who have completed an EPA cost 
reimbursement type contract will be required to submit EPA Form 1900-
10. EPA Form 1900-10 summarizes all costs incurred in performance of 
the contract and sets forth the final indirect rates. This form is 
reviewed by the contracting officer to determine the final costs 
reimbursable to the contractor. FAR 52.216-7 states that the Government 
will pay only the costs determined to be allowable by the contracting 
officer in accordance with FAR 31.2. Furthermore, FAR 52.216-7 states 
that indirect cost rates shall be established for each fiscal year at 
the close of a contractor's fiscal year. EPA Form 1900-10 summarizes 
this information for the entire contract period and provides a basis 
for cost review by contracting, finance, and audit personnel. As stated 
previously, FAR 4.804-5 mandates that the office administering the 
contract shall ensure that the costs and indirect cost rates are 
settled.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average four 
hours. 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 
which have subsequently changed; 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.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 20.
    Frequency of response: at end of contract.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 4 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs to all respondents: $8,491.00. This 
includes an estimated burden cost of $412.55/respondent and an 
estimated cost of $12.00/respondent for maintenance and operational 
costs. Capital investment costs are not necessary for respondents to 
provide the requested information.

Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?

    EPA estimates that the hourly burden will remain the same as 
reported in the previous information collection because there has been 
no change in the information being collected and approximately the same 
number of contracts remains active.

What is the next step in the process for this ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICRs as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will 
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: December 20, 2011.
John R. Bashista,
Director, Office of Acquisition Management.
[FR Doc. 2011-33257 Filed 12-27-11; 8:45 am]
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