2900-0586 Supporting Statement 28SEP2022 (30-Day FRN)

^Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supporting Statement for Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Clause 852.211-72, Technical Industry Standards

OMB Control No. 2900-0586

1. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection of information.

This Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) submission seeks an extension of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval No. 2900-0586 for collection of information for both commercial and non-commercial item, service, and construction solicitations and contracts using VAAR Clause 852.211-72, Technical Industry Standards, as prescribed in CFR Title 48, Federal Acquisition Regulations System, VAAR 811.204-70, Contract clause.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purposes the information is to be used; indicate actual use the agency has made of the information received from current collection.

VAAR clause 852.211-72, Technical Industry Standards, requires that items offered for sale to VA under the solicitation conform to certain technical industry standards, such as United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the USDA Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications (IMPS) and that the contractor furnish evidence to VA that the items meet that requirement. The evidence is normally in the form of a tag or seal affixed to the item, such as a label on beef product. In most cases, this requires no additional effort on the part of the contractor, as the items come from the factory with the tags already in place, as part of the manufacturer's standard manufacturing operation. Occasionally, for items not already meeting standards or for items not previously tested, a contractor will have to furnish a certificate from an acceptable laboratory certifying that the items furnished have been tested in accordance with, and conform to, the specified standards. Only firms whose products have not previously been tested to ensure the products meet the industry standards required under the solicitation and contract will be required to submit a separate certificate. The information will be used to ensure that the items being purchased meet minimum safety standards and to protect VA employees, VA beneficiaries, and the public.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

Collection efforts do not involve the use of automation. The information is specific to each solicitation and to each item of equipment and must accompany the bid or offer. There are no opportunities to use information technology to reduce the reporting burden.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

There are no duplicated efforts. Each reporting situation is unique and the testing data that must be submitted is unique to the product being offered for sale to the Government.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

There is no significant impact on small businesses.

6. Describe the consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

Failure to collect the information would have a negative impact on VA's ability to ensure that the items being purchased meet minimum safety standards and to protect VA employees, VA beneficiaries, and the public.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted more often than quarterly or require respondents to prepare written responses to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it; submit more than an original and two copies of any document; retain records, other than health; medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years; in connection with a statistical survey that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study and require the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB.

The information is needed on each product offered for sale to the Government rather than quarterly. There might not be another occasion to require this same information for this same product. The information is submitted with each quotation, bid, or offer. The time for response is the same as the time for submission of the quotation, bid, or offer, which may be fewer than 30 days, especially for lower dollar value solicitations or for commercial items.

8. a. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the sponsor's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the sponsor in responses to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

The 60-day FRN was published in the Federal Register (87FR45856) on 7/29/2022. The public comment period ended on 9/27/2022. VA didn’t receive any comments.

b. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure or reporting format, and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed or reported. Explain any circumstances which preclude consultation every three years with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained.

No efforts to consult with persons outside the agency beyond the Federal Register publication of 60-day FRN and 30-day FRN.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payments or gifts will be provided.

10. Describe any assurance of privacy to the extent provided by law to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

No assurances of privacy/confidentiality will be provided to respondents.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature (Information that, with a reasonable degree of medical certainty, is likely to have a serious adverse effect on an individual's mental or physical health if revealed to him or her), such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private; include specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

The request for information does not include any questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Estimate of the hour burden of the collection of information:

1. The number of respondents, frequency of responses, annual hour burden, and explanation for each form is reported as follows:

No. of Respondents	x Frequency of Response		X Average Burden Minutes per Response	÷by 60	Number of Burden Hours
1,118	1 per bid or offer received		30		559

2. If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13 of OMB 83-1.

N/A

3. Provide estimates of annual cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item14.

Estimated annualized cost: $23,724 (559 hours at $42.44 per hour.) The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) gathers information on full-time wage and salary workers. According to the latest (May 2021) available BLS data, the mean hourly wage is $31.15 on BLS wage code “13-1020 Buyers and Purchasing Agents (Group/broad)” plus 36.25% fringe benefits per OMB Memo M-08-13 dated March 11, 2008. (Other Specialty Trade Contractors - May 2021 OEWS Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (bls.gov))

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14).

N/A

14. Provide estimates of annual cost to the Federal Government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operation expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.

Estimated annualized cost to the Government: $15,887 (559 hours at $28.42 per hour (GS 7 step 5 pay rate per 2022 GS Pay Table plus total position fringe benefit of 36.25%). 2022 OPM Salary Table can be located at Pay & Leave : Salaries & Wages - OPM.gov. The information is evaluated upon receipt. If acceptable, no further action is required.

15. Explain the reason for any burden hour changes since the last submission.

The burden hours remain the same. The increased $7,217 public burden cost is due to the increased in BLS wage rate.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and othe1· actions.

The results will not be published.

17. If seeking approval to omit the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

VA will display the OMB expiration date.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19, "Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions," of OMB 83-I.

This submission does not contain any exceptions to the certification statements.

2. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

Statistical methods will not be employed.

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