This information collection complies
with Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) (42 U.S.C. 6962). RCRA requires the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to designate items which are or can be produced with
recovered materials. RCRA further requires agencies to develop
affirmative procurement programs to ensure that items composed of
recovered materials will be purchased to the maximum extent
practicable. Affirmative procurement programs required under RCRA
must contain, as a minimum, (1) a recovered materials preference
program and an agency promotion program for the preference program;
(2) a program for requiring estimates of the total percentage of
recovered materials used in the performance of a contract,
certification of minimum recovered material content actually used,
where appropriate, and reasonable verification procedures for
estimates and certifications; and (3) annual review and monitoring
of the effectiveness of an agency's affirmative procurement
program. The items for which EPA has designated minimum recovered
material content standards are grouped into eight categories: (1)
construction products, (2) landscaping products, (3) nonpaper
office products, (4) paper and paper products, (5) park and
recreation products, (6) transportation products, (7) vehicular
products, and (8) miscellaneous products. The FAR rule also permits
agencies to obtain pre-award information from offerors regarding
the content of items which the agency has designated as requiring
minimum percentages of recovered materials. In accordance with
RCRA, the information collection applies to acquisitions requiring
minimum percentages of recovered materials, when the price of the
item exceeds $10,000 or when the aggregate amount paid for the item
or functionally equivalent items in the preceding fiscal year was
$10,000 or more. .
A reassessment of the recovered
material provision, FAR 52.223-4, and clause, FAR 52.223-9, was
preformed. Based on the comprehensive reassessment performed, this
information collection resulted in a small increase in the total
burden hours from the previous information collection that was
published in the Federal Register at 76 FR 40368 on July 08, 2011.
The increase is likely a result of increased awareness about green
purchasing across the Federal Government. The Federal Procurement
Data System (FPDS) was searched to determine the use of the
provision and clause using element 8L Recovered
Materials/Sustainability for Fiscal Year 2013. No public comments
were received in prior years that have challenged the validity of
the Government's estimate. Updates were made to the average wages
and overhead based on Fiscal Year 2013 Office of Personnel
Management and Office of Management and Budget rates.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
9000-0134 Supporting Statement.docx
Environmentally Sound Products - FAR Sections Affected: 23.406, 52.223-4, & 52.223-9