[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 59 (Monday, March 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 15403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6820]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Information Collection, Procurement of Agricultural Commodities
for Foreign Donation
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is requesting comments from all
interested individuals and organizations on an extension of a currently
approved information collection associated with procurement of
agricultural commodities for foreign donation. The Kansas City
Commodity Office (KCCO) issues a public invitation soliciting bids for
the sale of commodities and requests ocean carrier provide indications
of available freight rates to KCCO using the Freight Bid Entry System
(FBES). Use of this system enhances bidding opportunities for potential
vendors while allowing CCC to efficiently acquire commodities.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before May 28,
2010 to be assured consideration.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your
comments, include date, volume and page number of this issue of the
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following
methods:
Mail: Sharon Hadder, Farm Service Agency, Commodity Operations,
Stop 0550, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250.
E-mail: Send comment to: [email protected].
Fax: (202) 690-1809.
Comments also should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may
be obtained from Sharon Hadder at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Hadder, Agricultural Marketing
Specialist, telephone (202) 720-3816.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Procurement of Agricultural Commodities for Foreign
Donation.
OMB Number: 0560-0258.
Expiration Date: May 31, 2010.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The United States donates agricultural commodities
overseas to meet famine or other relief requirements, to combat
malnutrition, and sells or donates commodities to promote economic
development.
To accommodate these donations, CCC issues invitations to purchase
agricultural commodities and services, such as transportation, for use
in international programs. Ocean transportation contracting is done by
the Cooperating Sponsors or Private Volunteer Organizations (PVOs)
(grantee organizations or foreign governments receiving the
commodities) or the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) in the case of some Title II, Public Law 480 shipments. KCCO
evaluates commodity bids together with the freight rate indications to
identify the combination which most likely results in the lowest-landed
cost, i.e., the lowest combined cost of commodities and freight to
destination.
Vendors bid for ocean freight by making offers using FBES to place
bids electronically. Vendors can access FBES on-line to see the date/
time the system shows for receipt of bid, bid modification, or bid
cancellation. At bid opening date/time, the bids submitted through FBES
are system evaluated. KCCO then awards commodity bids on the basis of
lowest landed cost by a comparison with offered freight rates and
notifies the Cooperating Sponsor or PVO of the bid accepted. Awarded
contracts are posted on our Web site.
The KCCO is currently using the FBES. Use of this system enhances
bidding opportunities for potential vendors while allowing CCC to more
efficiently acquire commodities. The Web-Based Supply Chain System
(WBSCM) is a new procurement system in development to eliminate the
need for FBES and to replace the other current systems for several USDA
agencies, and the USAID. The OMB approval will expire on May 31, 2010,
and WBSCM will be released on June 30, 2010. Upon release of WBSCM,
this information collection request (ICR) will be discontinued but it
will be covered in the Federal Acquisition Regulation as specified in
the OMB control number 9000-0034 (SF-33, SF-26, SF-1447) to cover the
bid-related information in the system. CCC is requesting to extend
approval until August 31, 2010, and it may merge with OMB Control
Number 0560-0177, WBSCM.
Estimate of Average time to Respond: 16 minutes.
Respondents: Steamship lines and/or their agents.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 15.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 8.
Estimated Number of Responses: 120.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 24.
We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information
collection and to help us to:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) 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.
All comments to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Signed at Washington, DC on March 18, 2010.
Jonathon W. Coppess,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2010-6820 Filed 3-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P