[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24613-24615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09549]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0145]; [Docket 2016-0053; Sequence 7]


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

AGENCY: 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.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act Regulatory 
Secretariat Division 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 requirement concerning use 
of the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as primary contractor 
identification. The DUNS number is the nine-digit identification number 
assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information Services to an 
establishment. A notice was published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 
6860 on February 9, 2016. Two respondents submitted eight comments that 
were received.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 26, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments regarding this burden estimate or any other 
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for 
reducing this burden to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 
of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for GSA, Room 10236, NEOB, Washington, 
DC 20503. Additionally submit a copy to GSA by any of the following 
methods:
     Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching the OMB 
control number. Select the link ``Submit a Comment'' that corresponds 
with ``Information Collection 9000-0145, Use of Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary Contractor Identification''. Follow 
the instructions provided at the ``Submit a Comment'' screen. Please 
include your name, company name (if any), and ``Information Collection 
9000-0145, Use of Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as Primary 
Contractor

[[Page 24614]]

Identification'' on your attached document.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20405. 
ATTN: Ms. Flowers/IC 9000-0145, Use of Data Universal Numbering System 
(DUNS) as Primary Contractor Identification.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite Information 
Collection 9000-0145, Use of Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) as 
Primary Contractor Identification, in all correspondence related to 
this collection. Comments received generally will be posted without 
change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal and/or 
business confidential information provided. To confirm receipt of your 
comment(s), please check www.regulations.gov, approximately two to 
three days after submission to verify posting (except allow 30 days for 
posting of comments submitted by mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Curtis E. Glover, Sr., Procurement 
Analyst, Office of Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, GSA 202-501-1448 
or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

    The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is the nine-digit 
identification number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information 
Services to an establishment. The Government uses the DUNS number to 
identify contractors in reporting to the Federal Procurement Data 
System (FPDS). The FPDS provides a comprehensive mechanism for 
assembling, organizing, and presenting contract placement data for the 
Federal Government. Federal agencies report data on all contracts in 
excess of the micro-purchase threshold to the Federal Procurement Data 
Center which collects, processes, and disseminates official statistical 
data on Federal contracting. Contracting officers insert the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision at 52.204-6, Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) Number, in solicitations they expect will 
result in contracts in excess of the micro-purchase threshold and do 
not contain FAR 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration. The majority 
of offerors submit their DUNS through CCR as required by FAR 52.204-7, 
and not under the FAR provision at 52.204-6.

B. Discussion and Analysis

    Two respondents submitted eight public comments on the extension of 
the previously approved information collection. The analysis of the 
public comments is summarized as follows:
    Comment: The respondent called on the Administration to replace the 
system it now uses to track bidders on federal contracts with a more 
open, efficient, and nonproprietary system, the Global Legal Entity 
Identifier (LEI). The respondent also called on the Administration to 
require contract bidders to identify the real people who own or control 
them--the beneficial owners.
    Response: The respondent's comments are outside the scope of this 
information collection.
    Comment: The respondent urged the Administration to make public the 
beneficial owners of bidding firms. The Administration can do this 
without Congressional action, and it would be a major step toward 
making the procurement process more fair.
    Response: The respondent's comments are outside the scope of this 
information collection.
    Comment: The respondent stated that the U.S. government had the 
right to know who's bidding on federal contracts. Contracting officers 
need to know who is bidding to safeguard the use of taxpayer dollars. 
Legitimate businesses need to know who is bidding if they're to 
complete for contracts fairly.
    Response: The respondent's comments are outside the scope of this 
information collection.
    Comment: The respondent called on the Administration to encourage 
Congress to pass the Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Act 
(ITLEAA), legislation that would require the collection of the 
beneficial owners of the companies incorporated in all 50 states and 
for the information to remain updated.
    Response: The respondent's comments are outside the scope of this 
information collection.
    Comment: The respondent stated that requiring U.S. businesses to 
disclose beneficial owners will neither burden them, nor undermine 
their ability to compete globally. In fact, disclosing beneficial 
owners will create more competitive markets.
    Response: The respondent's comments are outside the scope of this 
information collection.
    Comment: The respondent commented that the U.S. government should 
meaningfully engage civil society in a transparent process when 
exploring alternatives to existing entity identifiers.
    Response: The respondent's comments are outside the scope of this 
information collection.
    Comment: The respondent commented that the U.S. government should 
move to a non-proprietary identifier such as the Global Legal Entity 
Identifier (LEI) or a similar, open system that provides visibility 
spanning the entire hierarchy of entity ownership and includes 
information on the real people who own or control them (often called 
``beneficial owners'').
    Response: The respondent's comments are outside the scope of this 
information collection.
    Comment: The respondent commented that bidders for Federal 
Contracts and grants should be required to disclose information on 
their beneficial owners.
    Response: The respondent's comments are outside the scope of this 
information collection.

C. Annual Reporting Burden

    Respondents: 22,070.
    Responses Per Respondent: 3.
    Annual Responses: 66,210.
    Hours per Response: .1666.
    Total Burden Hours: 11,031.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit and not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    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 Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street 
NW., 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.


[[Page 24615]]


    Dated: April 20, 2016.
Lorin S. Curit,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, Office of Governmentwide 
Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of 
Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-09549 Filed 4-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P