[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 59378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26019]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[OMB Control No. 9000-0011]


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Submission for OMB Review; 
Preaward Survey Forms (Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, and 
1408)

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

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments regarding an extension to 
an existing OMB clearance (9000-0011).

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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 Preaward Survey forms 
(Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, and 1408). A request for 
public comments was published in the Federal Register at 68 FR 41321 on 
July 11, 2003. No comments were received.
    Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; 
whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of 
information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and 
methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 
through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 14, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments, including suggestions for reducing this 
burden to the General Services Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), 
1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Goral, Acquisition Policy 
Division, GSA (202) 501-3856.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

    To protect the Government's interest and to ensure timely delivery 
of items of the requisite quality, contracting officers, prior to 
award, must make an affirmative determination that the prospective 
contractor is responsible, i.e., capable of performing the contract. 
Before making such a determination, the contracting officer must have 
in his possession or must obtain information sufficient to satisfy 
himself that the prospective contractor (i) has adequate financial 
resources, or the ability to obtain such resources, (ii) is able to 
comply with required delivery schedule, (iii) has a satisfactory record 
of performance, (iv) has a satisfactory record of integrity, and (v) is 
otherwise qualified and eligible to receive an award under appropriate 
laws and regulations. If such information is not in the contracting 
officer's possession, it is obtained through a preaward survey 
conducted by the contract administration office responsible for the 
plant and/or the geographic area in which the plant is located. The 
necessary data is collected by contract administration personnel from 
available data or through plant visits, phone calls, and correspondence 
and entered on Standard Forms 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, and 1408 in 
detail commensurate with the dollar value and complexity of the 
procurement. The information is used by Federal contracting officers to 
determine whether a prospective contractor is responsible.

B. Annual Reporting Burden

    Respondents: 5,478.
    Responses Per Respondent: 1.
    Total Responses: 5,478.
    Hours Per Response: 20.8.
    Total Burden Hours: 113,942.
    Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the 
information collection documents from the General Services 
Administration, FAR Secretariat (MVA), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, 
Washington, DC 20405, telephone (202) 501-4755. Please cite OMB Control 
No. 9000-0011, Preaward Survey Forms, in all correspondence.

    Dated: October 8, 2003.
Ralph J. Destefano,
Acting Director, Acquisition Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 03-26019 Filed 10-14-03; 8:45 am]
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