[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34746-34747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15699]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0422]


Agency Information Collection Activity: Department of Veteran 
Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Construction Provisions and 
Clauses 852.236-72, 852.236.80, 852.236-82, 852.236-83, 852.236-84 and 
852.236-88

AGENCY: The Office of Management (OM), Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Management (OM), Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed 
collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish 
notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved 
collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before September 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov 
or to Ricky Clark, Office of Acquisition and Logistics (003A2A), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20420 or email to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 
``2900-0422'' in any correspondence. During the comment period, 
comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Harvey-Pryor at (202) 461-
5870.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must 
obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each 
collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for 
comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, OM invites 
comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of OM functions, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of OM 
estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or the use of other forms of information 
technology.
    Authority: Under the PRA of 1995 (Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 
3501-3521).
    Title: Department Of Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) 
Clauses 852.236-72, 852.236.80, 852.236-82, 852.236-83, 852.236-84 and 
852.236-88.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0422.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: This collection of information contains the following six 
collections of information for the following Department of Veterans 
Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) clauses: (1) VAAR clause 852.236-
72, Performance of Work by the Contractor, requires contractors awarded 
a construction contract containing Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 
clause 52.236-1, Performance of Work by the Contractor, to submit a 
statement designating the branch or branches of contract work to be 
performed by the contractor's own forces. The FAR clause requires the 
contractor to perform a minimum percentage of the work under the 
contract with its own forces. This VAAR clause implements this FAR 
clause by requiring the contractor to provide information to the 
contracting officer on just how the contractor intends to fulfill this 
contractual obligation. The information is used by the contracting 
officer to ensure that the contractor complies with the contract 
requirements; (2) VAAR clause 852.236-80, Subcontracts and Work 
Coordination requires construction contractors, on contracts involving 
complex mechanical-electrical work, to furnish coordination drawings 
showing the manner in which utility lines will fit into available space 
and relate to each other and to the existing building elements. The 
intent of this information is to promote carefully planned work 
sequencing and proper trade coordination on construction contracts, to 
assure expeditious solutions to problems, and to avoid or minimize 
additional costs to the contractor and the Government. The information 
is used by the contracting officer and the VA engineer assigned to the 
project to resolve any problems relating to the installation of 
utilities on construction contracts; (3) VAAR clause 852.236-84, 
Schedule of Work Progress, requires construction contractors, on 
contracts that do not require the use of a NAS, to submit a progress 
schedule. The information is used by the contracting officer to track 
the contractor's progress under the contract and to determine whether 
or not the contractor is making satisfactory progress (4) VAAR clause 
852.236-88, Contract Changes, supplements FAR clause 52.243-4, Changes. 
FAR clause 52.243-4 authorizes the contracting officer to order changes 
to a construction contract but does not specifically require the 
contractor to submit cost proposals for those changes. VAAR clause 
852.236-88 requires contractors to submit cost proposals for changes 
ordered by the contracting officer or for changes proposed by the 
contractor. This information is needed to allow the contracting officer 
and the contractor to reach a mutually acceptable agreement on how much 
to pay the contractor for the proposed changes to the contract. It is 
also used by the contracting officer to determine whether or not to 
authorize the proposed changes or whether or not additional or 
alternate changes are needed; (5) VAAR clause 852.236-82, Payments 
under Fixed-Price Construction Contracts (without NAS-CPM), with its 
Alternate I, requires construction contractors to submit a schedule of 
costs for work to be performed under the contract. In addition, if the 
contract includes guarantee period services, Alternate I,

[[Page 34747]]

requires the contractor to submit information on the total and itemized 
costs of the guarantee period services and to submit a performance 
plan/program. The information is needed to allow the contracting 
officer to determine the correct amount to pay the contractor as work 
progresses and to properly proportion the amount paid for guarantee 
period services. The information is used by the contracting officer to 
determine the correct amount to pay the contractor; (6) VAAR clause 
852.236-83, Payments under Fixed-Price Construction Contracts 
(including NAS-CPM), with its Alternate I, requires construction 
contractors to submit a schedule of costs for work to be performed 
under the contract. In addition, if the contract includes guarantee 
period services, Alternate I, requires the contractor to submit 
information on the total and itemized costs of the guarantee period 
services and to submit a performance plan/program. The information is 
needed to allow the contracting officer to determine the correct amount 
to pay the contractor as work progresses and to properly proportion the 
amount paid for guarantee period services. The contracting officer uses 
the information to determine the correct amount to pay the contractor. 
The difference between this clause and the one above, 852.236-83, is 
that this clause requires the contractor to use a computerized Network 
Analysis System (NAS) to prepare the cost estimate. The Information is 
necessary for the Department of Veterans Affairs to administer 
construction contracts and to carry out its responsibility to 
construct, maintain, and repair real property for the department.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Annual Burden:
    a. Clause 852.236-72, Performance of Work by the Contractor--60 
hours.
    b. Clause 852.236-80, Subcontracts and Work Coordination--920 
hours.
    c. Clause 852.236-84, Schedule of Work Progress--1,828.5 hours.
    d. Clause 852.236-88, Contract Changes--729 hours.
    e. Clause 852.236-82, Payments under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (without NAS-CPM), with its Alternate I--1219 hours.
    f. Clause 852.236.83, Payments under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (including NAS-CPM), with its Alternate I--46 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent:
    g. Clause 852.236-72, Performance of Work by the Contractor--1 
hour.
    h. Clause 852.236-80, Subcontracts and Work Coordination--10 hours.
    i. Clause 852.236-84, Schedule of Work Progress--1 hour.
    j. Clause 852.236-88, Contract Changes--3 hours.
    k. Clause 852.236-82, Payments under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (without NAS-CPM), with its Alternate I--1 hour.
    l. Clause 852.236-83, Payments under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (including NAS-CPM), with its Alternate I--.5 hours
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents:
    a. Clause 852.236-72, Performance of Work by the Contractor--60.
    b. Clause 852.236-80, Subcontracts and Work Coordination--92.
    c. Clause 852.236-84, Schedule of Work Progress--1,219.
    d. Clause 852.236-88, Contract Changes--243.
    e. Clause 852.236-82, Payments under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (without NAS-CPM), with its Alternate I--1,219.
    f. Clause 852.236-83, Payments under Fixed-Price Construction 
Contracts (including NAS-CPM), with its Alternate I--92.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Cynthia Harvey-Pryor,
Department Clearance Officer, Enterprise Records Service, Office of 
Quality and Compliance, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-15699 Filed 7-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P