[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 203 (Monday, October 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56192-56193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22853]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0095; Docket No. 2019-0003; Sequence No. 31]


Information Collection; Commerce Patent Regulations

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations, DoD, GSA, and NASA invite the public to comment on a 
revision and renewal concerning Department of Commerce patent 
regulations. DoD, GSA, and NASA invite comments on: Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of Federal Government acquisitions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information 
collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the 
information collection on respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. OMB has 
approved this information collection for use through January 31, 2020. 
DoD, GSA, and NASA propose that OMB extend its approval for use for 
three additional years beyond the current expiration date.

DATES: DoD, GSA, and NASA will consider all comments received by 
December 20, 2019.

ADDRESSES: DoD, GSA, and NASA invite interested persons to submit 
comments on this collection by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field or 
attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov 
and follow the instructions on the site.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20405. 
ATTN: Lois Mandell/IC 9000-0095, Commerce Patent Regulations.
    Instructions: All items submitted must cite Information Collection 
9000-0095, Commerce Patent Regulations. 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: Zenaida Delgado, Procurement Analyst, 
at telephone 202-969-7207, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. OMB Control Number, Title, and Any Associated Form(s)

    9000-0095, Commerce Patent Regulations.

B. Need and Uses

    The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 27.3, Patents 
Rights under Government Contracts, implements the Department of 
Commerce regulation (37 CFR 401) based on chapter 18 of title 35 
U.S.C., Presidential Memorandum on Government Patent Policy to the 
Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, dated February 18, 1983, 
and Executive Order 12591, Facilitating Access to Science and 
Technology, dated April 10, 1987. Under the subpart, a contracting 
officer may insert the clause at FAR 52.227-11, Patent Rights-Ownership 
by the Contractor, or 52.227-13, Patent Rights-Ownership by the 
Government, in solicitations and contracts pertaining to inventions 
made in the performance of experimental, developmental, or research 
work.
    In accordance with the clauses, a Government contractor must report 
all subject inventions to the contracting officer, submit a disclosure 
of the invention, and identify any publication, sale, or public use of 
the invention (FAR 52.227-11(c), 52.227-13(e)(1)). The contracting 
officer may modify FAR 52.227-11(e) or otherwise supplement the clause 
to require contractors to submit periodic or interim and final reports 
listing subject inventions (FAR 27.303(b)(2)(i) and (ii)). In order to 
ensure that subject inventions are reported, the contractor is required 
to establish and maintain effective procedures for identifying and 
disclosing subject inventions (FAR 52.227-11, Alternate IV; 52.227-

[[Page 56193]]

13(e)(1)). In addition, the contractor must require its employees, by 
written agreements, to disclose subject inventions (FAR 52.227-
11(e)(2); 52.227-13(e)(4)). The contractor also has an obligation to 
utilize the subject invention, and agree to report, upon request, the 
utilization or efforts to utilize the subject invention (FAR 52.227-
11(f); 52.227-13(c)(1)(iii)).

C. Annual Burden

    Respondents: 3,379.
    Total Annual Responses: 13,200.
    Total Burden Hours: 52,800.
    Obtaining Copies: 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 No. 9000-
0095, Commerce Patent Regulations, in all correspondence.

    Dated: October 16, 2019.
Janet Fry,
Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, Office of Governmentwide 
Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of 
Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-22853 Filed 10-18-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P