[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 178 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56635-56636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20105]



[[Page 56635]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs


Affirmative Action Program Verification Interface; New 
Information Collection Requirements; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-
clearance consultation program to provide the general public and 
federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or 
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The program helps to ensure that requested 
data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and 
financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly 
understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents 
can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Federal Contract 
Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is soliciting comments concerning its 
proposal to obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) to implement the Affirmative Action Program Verification 
Interface (AAP-VI). A copy of the proposed information collection 
request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this Notice or by accessing 
it at https://www.regulations.gov/.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before November 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Electronic comments: The federal e-Rulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the instructions found on that website for 
submitting comments.
    Mail, Hand Delivery, Courier: Addressed to Tina Williams, Director, 
Division of Policy and Program Development, Office of Federal Contract 
Compliance Programs, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room C-3325, 
Washington, DC 20210.
    Instructions: Please submit one copy of your comments by only one 
method. For faster submission, we encourage commenters to transmit 
their comment electronically via the https://www.regulations.gov/ 
website. Comments that are mailed to the address provided above must be 
postmarked before the close of the comment period. All submissions must 
include OFCCP's name for identification. Comments submitted in response 
to the notice, including any personal information provided, become a 
matter of public record and will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov/. Comments will also be summarized and/or included 
in the request for OMB approval of the information collection request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Williams, Director, Division of 
Policy and Program Development, Office of Federal Contract Compliance 
Programs, Room C-3325, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20210. Telephone: (202) 693-0103 (voice) or (202) 693-1337 (TTY) (these 
are not toll-free numbers). Copies of this notice may be obtained in 
alternative formats (large print, braille, audio recording) upon 
request by calling the numbers listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. Background: OFCCP administers and enforces the three equal 
employment opportunity laws listed below.
     Executive Order 11246, as amended (E.O. 11246)
     Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 
(Section 503)
     Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, 
as amended (VEVRAA)
    These authorities prohibit employment discrimination by covered 
federal contractors and subcontractors and require that they provide 
equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, 
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, 
or status as a protected veteran. Additionally, federal contractors and 
subcontractors are prohibited from discriminating against applicants 
and employees for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing 
information about their pay or the pay of their co-workers, subject to 
certain limitations. E.O. 11246's basic coverage applies to federal 
contractors and subcontractors and to federally assisted construction 
contractors holding a government contract in excess of $10,000, or 
government contracts that have, or can reasonably be expected to have, 
an aggregate total value exceeding $10,000 in a 12-month period. E.O. 
11246 also applies to government bills of lading, depositories of 
federal funds in any amount, and to financial institutions that are 
issuing and paying agents for U.S. Savings Bonds. E.O. 11246's 
Affirmative Action Program (AAP) requirements apply to federal 
contractors and subcontractors with 50 or more employees and a contract 
of $50,000 or more. Section 503 prohibits employment discrimination 
against applicants and employees because of physical or mental 
disability and requires affirmative action to ensure that persons are 
treated without regard to disability. Section 503 applies to federal 
contractors and subcontractors with contracts in excess of $15,000, and 
its AAP coverage applies to federal contractors and subcontractors with 
50 or more employees and a contract of $50,000 or more. VEVRAA 
prohibits employment discrimination against protected veterans and 
requires affirmative action to ensure that persons are treated without 
regard to their status as a protected veteran. VEVRAA applies to 
federal contractors and subcontractors with contracts of $150,000 or 
more, and its AAP coverage applies to federal contractors and 
subcontractors with 50 or more employees and a contract of $150,000 or 
more. This information collection request (ICR) seeks authorization for 
an annual Affirmative Action Program online certification process for 
federal contractors and for a secure method for federal contractors to 
submit AAPs electronically to OFCCP when they are scheduled for a 
compliance evaluation.
    II. Review Focus: OFCCP is particularly interested in comments 
which:
     Evaluate the proposed frequency and level of information 
collection;
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the enforcement and compliance assistance functions of 
the agency that support the agency's compliance mission, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
     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;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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.
    III. Current Actions: OFCCP seeks approval of this new information 
collection in order to carry out its responsibilities to enforce the

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nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions of the three legal 
authorities it administers.
    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Agency: Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
    Title: Affirmative Action Program Verification Interface.
    OMB Control Number: 1250-[NEW].
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Total Respondents: 116,898.
    Total Annual Respondents: 116,898.
    Average Time per Response: 0.3 hours for account creation. 0.2 
hours for AAP Submission. 0.1 hours for SAM Cert Question.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 47,759 in the first year. 13,041 in 
subsequent years.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Other Burden Costs: $0.

    Signed in Washington, DC, this September 8, 2020.
Harvey D. Fort,
Deputy Director, Division of Policy and Program Development, Office of 
Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
[FR Doc. 2020-20105 Filed 9-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CM-P