[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56896-56897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22460]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0135; Docket 2013-0077; Sequence 12]


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; 
Prospective Subcontractor Requests for Bonds

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.

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

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act the 
Regulatory Secretariat will be submitting to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a 
previously approved information collection concerning subcontractor 
requests for bonds.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by Information Collection 9000-
0135 by any of the following methods:
     Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by inputting ``Information 
Collection 9000-0135'' under the heading ``Enter Keyword or ID'' and 
selecting ``Search.'' Select the link ``Submit a Comment'' that 
corresponds with ``Information Collection 9000-0135.'' Follow the 
instructions provided at the ``Submit a Comment'' screen. Please 
include your name, company name (if any), and ``Information Collection 
9000-0135'' on your attached document.
     Fax: 202-501-4067.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW., 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20405-
0001. ATTN: Hada Flowers/IC 9000-0135.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite Information 
Collection 9000-0135, in all correspondence related to this collection. 
All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal and/or business 
confidential information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cecelia L. Davis, Procurement 
Analyst, Acquisition Policy Division, GSA (202) 219-0202 or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

    Part 28 of the FAR contains guidance related to obtaining financial 
protection against damages under Government contracts (e.g., use of 
bonds, bid guarantees, insurance etc.). Part 52 contains the texts of 
solicitation provisions and contract clauses. These regulations 
implement a statutory requirement for information to be provided by 
Federal contractors relating to payment bonds furnished under 
construction contracts which are subject to 40 U.S.C. chapter 31, 
subchapter III, Bonds. This collection requirement is mandated by 
Section 806 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 
1992 and 1993 (Pub. L. 102-190), as amended by Section 2091 of the 
Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-335). The 
clause at 52.228-12, Prospective Subcontractor Requests for Bonds, 
implements Section 806(a)(3) of Pub. L. 102-190, as amended, which 
specifies that, upon the request of a prospective subcontractor or 
supplier offering to furnish labor or material for the performance of a 
construction contract for which a payment bond has been furnished to 
the United States pursuant to 40 U.S.C. chapter 31, subchapter III, 
Bonds, the contractor shall promptly provide a copy of such payment 
bond to the requestor.
    In conjunction with performance bonds, payment bonds are used in 
Government construction contracts to secure fulfillment of the 
contractor's obligations under the contract and to assure that the 
contractor makes all payments, as required by law, to persons 
furnishing labor or material in performance of the contract. This 
regulation provides prospective subcontractors and suppliers a copy of 
the payment bond furnished by the contractor to the Government for the 
performance of a Federal construction contract subject to 40 U.S.C. 
chapter 31, subchapter III, Bonds. It is expected that prospective 
subcontractors and suppliers will use this information to determine 
whether to contract with that particular prime contractor. This 
information has been and will continue to be available from the 
Government. The requirement for contractors to provide a copy of the 
payment bond upon request to any prospective subcontractor or supplier 
under the Federal construction contract is contained in Section 
806(a)(3) of Public Law 102-190, as amended by Sections 2091 and 8105 
of Public Law 103-355.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

    Based on a Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) report for the 
number of new construction contract awards over $150,000 (simplified 
acquisition threshold), there were 9,752 contracts awarded for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2012. The Government estimated that each contract awarded had 
an average of 10 subcontractors (9,752 x 10), resulting in a total 
universe of 97,520 subcontractors. In consultation with subject matter 
experts, it was determined that 15% or 14,628 subcontractors (unique 
vendors) would

[[Page 56897]]

request the required information. Consequently, it was determined that 
14,628 unique vendors was a sufficient baseline for estimating the 
number of respondents that would need to comply with this information 
collection.
    An adjustment is being made regarding the estimated number of five 
annual responses, which was published in the Federal Register at 75 FR 
62540 on October 12, 2010, to a more appropriate estimate of 1 response 
annually (i.e., the number a subcontractor would request this 
information). This adjustment results in a decrease of the estimated 
burden on the public from 15,872.50 hours to 3,657 hours.
    Respondents: 14,628.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Total Responses: 14,628.
    Hours per Response: .25.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,657.

C. Public Comments

    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.
    Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the 
information collection documents from the General Services 
Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW., 2nd 
Floor, Washington, DC 20405, telephone (202) 501-4755. Please cite OMB 
Control Number 9000-0135, Prospective Subcontractor Requests for Bonds, 
in all correspondence.

    Dated: September 10, 2013.
Karlos Morgan,
Acting Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, Office of 
Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office 
of Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013-22460 Filed 9-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P