Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): Agency information collection activities— Submission for OMB review; comment request,

[Federal Register: August 18, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 159)]

[Notices]

[Page 44239]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr18au98-53]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0023]

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Entitled Balance of Payments Program Certificate

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

ACTION: Notice of request for an extension to an existing OMB clearance.

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning Balance of Payments Program Certificate. A request for public comments was published at 63 FR 29976, June 2, 1998. No comments were received.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before September 17, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Linfield, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, GSA (202) 501-1757.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: FAR Desk Officer, OMB, Room 10102, NEOB, Washington, DC 20503, and a copy to the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVRS), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Purpose

   Under the Balance of Payments Program, unless specifically exempted by statute or regulation, the Government gives preferences to the acquisition of domestic end products or services, provided that the cost of the domestic items is reasonable. The Balance of Payments Program differs from the Buy American Act in that it applies to acquisitions for use outside the United States.

   The contracting officer uses the information to identify which end products or services are domestic, and which are of foreign origin. In order to be considered domestic, the cost of its components mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States must exceed 50 percent of the cost of all its components. Services are considered domestic if 25 percent or less of their total cost are attributable to performance occurring outside the United States. The contracting officer determines reasonableness of cost by applying an evaluation factor of 50 percent. If this procedure results in a tie, the domestic offer shall be considered successful.

2. Annual Reporting Burden

   Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average .167 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

   The annual reporting burden is estimated as follows: Respondents, 1,243; responses per respondent, 5; total annual responses, 6,215; preparation hours per response, .167; and total response burden hours, 1,038.

   Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requester may obtain a copy of the justification from the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVRS), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405, telephone (202) 501-4755. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0023, Balance of Payments Program Certificate, in all correspondence.

   Dated: August 11, 1998. Edward C. Loeb, Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.

   [FR Doc. 98-22066Filed8-17-98; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 6820-34-P