Justification_0054

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSION

9000-0054, U.S.-FLAG AIR CARRIERS CERTIFICATION

A. Justification.

1. Administrative requirements. Section 5 of the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act of 1974 (49 U.S.C. 1517) (Fly America Act) requires that all Federal agencies and Government contractors and subcontractors use U.S.-flag air carriers for U.S. Government-financed international air transportation of personnel (and their personal effects) or property, to the extent that service by those carriers is available. It requires the Comptroller General of the United States, in the absence of satisfactory proof of the necessity for foreign-flag air transportation, to disallow expenditures from funds, appropriated or otherwise established for the account of the United States, for international air transportation secured aboard a foreign-flag air carrier if a U.S.-flag carrier is available to provide such services. In the event that the contractor selects a carrier other than a U.S.-flag air carrier for international air transportation, the contractor shall include a certification on vouchers involving such transportation.

2. Uses of information. The contracting officer uses the information furnished in the certification to determine whether adequate justification exists for the contractor’s use of other than an U.S.-flag air carrier.

3. Consideration of information technology. We use improved information technology to the maximum extent practicable. Where both the Government agency and contractors are capable of electronic interchange, the contractors may submit this information collection requirement electronically.

4. Efforts to identify duplication. This requirement is being issued under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) which has been developed to standardize Federal procurement practices and eliminate unnecessary duplication.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other entities, describe methods used to minimize burden. The burden applied to small businesses is the minimum consistent with applicable laws, Executive orders, regulations, and prudent business practices.

6. Describe consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently. Collection of information on a basis other than solicitation-by-solicitation is not practical.

7. Special circumstances for collection. Collection is consistent with guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. Efforts to consult with persons outside the agency. Under the procedures established for development of the FAR, agency and public comments were solicited and each comment addressed before finalization of the text. A notice in the December 15, 2008 Federal Register made this requirement available to the public and requested comments. No major problems regarding this requirement were reported.

9. Explanation of any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than reenumeration of contractors or guarantees. Not applicable.

10. Describe assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents. This information is disclosed only to the extent consistent with prudent business practices and current regulations.

11. Additional justification for questions of a sensitive nature. No sensitive questions are involved.

12 & 13. Estimated total annual public hour and cost burden. Time required to read and prepare information is estimated at 15 minutes per completion.

Estimated respondents/yr 150

Responses annually x 2

Total annual responses 300

Estimated hrs/response x .25

Estimated total burden/hrs 75

Cost per hour $24

Benefits and overhead + 75%

Estimated cost to public $3,150

14. Estimated cost to the Government. Time required for Governmentwide review is estimated at 5 minutes per response.

Annual Reporting Burden and Cost

Reviewing time/hr .083

Responses/yr x 300

Review time/yr 25

Average wages/hr x $20

Average wages/yr $500

Benefits and overhead + 100%

Total Government cost $1,000

15. Explain reasons for program changes or adjustments reported in Item 13 or 14. This submission requests an extension of OMB approval of an information collection requirement in the FAR. The information collection requirement in the FAR remains unchanged.

16. Outline plans for published results of information collections. Results will not be tabulated or published.

17. Approval not to display expiration date. Not applicable.

18. Explanation of exception to certification statement. Not applicable.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical
Methods.

Statistical methods are not used in this information collection.

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