Information Collection Requirement; Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services; Request for OMB Emergency Clearance; Comment Request

• Published date: 18 December 2019
• Citation: 84 FR 69362
• Record Number: 2019-27170
• Section: Notices
• Court: Defense Acquisition Regulations System

Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2019)

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2019)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 69362-69363]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-27170]
                =======================================================================
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
                Defense Acquisition Regulations System
                [Docket Number DARS-2019-0063]
                Information Collection Requirement; Covered Defense
                Telecommunications Equipment or Services; Request for OMB Emergency
                Clearance; Comment Request
                AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense
                (DoD).
                ACTION: Notice.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: DoD is requesting the Office of Management and Budget provide
                emergency clearance of collections of information under the provisions
                of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
                DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by January
                17, 2020.
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DoD is requesting the Office of Management
                and Budget (OMB) provide emergency clearance of collections of
                information associated with an interim rule to be published in the
                Federal Register under the title ``Covered Defense Telecommunications
                Equipment or Services (DFARS Case 2018-D022).''
                 Consistent with 5 CFR 1320.13, DoD has determined the following
                conditions have been met:
                 a. The collection of information is needed prior to the expiration
                of time periods normally associated with a routine submission for
                review under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act in view of
                the restrictions imposed by section 1656 of the National Defense
                Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal year (FY) 2018 (Pub. L. 115-91),
                which was signed into law on December 12, 2017. Subsequently, section
                889(a)(1)(A) of the NDAA for FY 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232), was signed into
                law on August 13, 2018, and established a similar Governmentwide
                prohibition. The interim DFARS rule implements the section 1656 and
                DoD-specific procedures associated with the section 889(a)(1)(A)
                prohibitions for DoD, and is structured to align with and supplement
                the higher-level Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) implementation of
                the section 889(a)(1)(A) Governmentwide prohibition. Immediate action
                is
                [[Page 69363]]
                required to implement the requirements of the statutes for DoD.
                 b. This collection of information is essential to DoD's mission by
                ensuring that DoD does not procure prohibited articles. Section 1656
                provides that DoD may not procure or obtain, or extend or renew a
                contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service to
                carry out the DoD nuclear deterrence or homeland defense missions that
                uses covered defense telecommunications equipment or services as a
                substantial or essential component of any system or as a critical
                technology as a part of any system.
                 c. DoD must be able to rely on the integrity and security of
                equipment that is critical to the DoD nuclear deterrence and homeland
                defense missions. The use of normal clearance procedures would prevent
                the collection of information from contractors in an expeditious manner
                with respect to national security functions of the United States.
                 d. DoD cannot comply with normal clearance procedures, because
                public harm is reasonably likely if current clearance procedures are
                followed. Not only would DoD components be likely to purchase and
                install prohibited items, agencies could incur substantial additional
                costs replacing such items, as well as additional administrative costs
                for replacement.
                 DoD is requesting OMB provide emergency clearance for collection of
                the required information for a period of six months. Public comments on
                the information collection will be requested in the interim rule, which
                will be published in the Federal Register.
                Jennifer Lee Hawes,
                Regulatory Control Officer, Defense Acquisition Regulations System.
                [FR Doc. 2019-27170 Filed 12-17-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 6820-ep-P