0704-0272 Supporting Statement 2023-12-22

0704-0272 Supporting Statement 2023-12-22.docx

Defense Federal Acqisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Part 223, Occupational Safety and Drug-Free Workforce; and related clauses in DFARS 252.223

OMB: 0704-0272

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SUPPORTING STATEMENT – PART A


OMB Control Number 0704-0272

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Part 223,

Occupational Safety and Drug-Free Work Force and related clauses in DFARS 252.223


Summary of Changes from Previously Approved Collection

  • Overall decrease in burden due to the use of updated data, as well as correction of a mathematical error.


  1. Need for the Information Collection


This information collection requirement covers the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) part 223, subpart 223.3, Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data, section 223.570, Drug-free Work Force, and subpart 223.72, Safeguarding Sensitive Conventional Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives, and related clauses at 252.223. The information collection requirement pertains to the burdens associated with the required reporting of information that an offeror or contractor must submit to the Department of Defense (DoD) in response to the following solicitation provisions and contract clauses in DFARS 252.223:


a. DFARS 252.223-7001, Hazard Warning Labels. Paragraph (c) of the clause requires all offerors, responding to a solicitation, to provide a list of the hazardous material for which the hazard warning label will conform to one of the following statutes rather than the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)—


i. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act;


ii. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act;


iii. Consumer Product Safety Act;


iv. Federal Hazardous Substances Act; or


v. Federal Alcohol Administration Act.


Paragraph (d) of the clause requires only the apparent successful offeror to submit, before award, a copy of the hazard warning label for all hazardous materials not listed in paragraph (c) of the clause.


b. DFARS 252.223-7002, Safety Precautions for Ammunition and Explosives.


i. Paragraph (c) requires the contractor to inform the contracting officer of the corrective actions it has taken within 30 days from a notification from the contracting officer of a noncompliance with DoD 4145.26-M, DoD Contractor’s Safety Manual for Ammunition and Explosives.


ii. Paragraph (d) requires the contractor to notify and submit a written report to the contracting officer if a mishap involving ammunition or explosives occurs.


iii. Paragraph (g)(4) requires the contractor to notify the contracting officer before issuing any subcontract involving ammunition or explosives.


c. DFARS 252.223-7003, Change in Place of Performance—Ammunition and Explosives.


i. Paragraph (a) requires the offeror to identify the place of performance of all ammunition and explosives work described in 252.223-7002.


ii. Paragraphs (b) and (c) require the contractor to inform the contracting officer of any change in the place of performance.


d. DFARS 252.223-7007, Safeguarding Sensitive Conventional Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives. Paragraph (e) requires the contractor to notify the cognizant Defense Security Service field office within 10 days of the award of a subcontract.


e. DFARS 252.223-7004, Drug-Free Work Force. The clause requires that certain contractors maintain records necessary to demonstrate reasonable efforts to eliminate the unlawful use by contractor employees of controlled substances. DoD does not regularly collect any information with regard to this clause. This information collection requirement—


i. Applies to contracts that involve contractor access to classified information;


ii. Applies to any other contract if the contracting officer determines that it is necessary for reasons of national security, or to protect the health or safety of those using the product, or those that may be affected by the performance of the contract; and


iii. Does not apply to contracts for commercial products or commercial services, contracts performed outside of the United States, or when the value of the acquisition is below the simplified acquisition threshold.


2. Use of the Information


a. DFARS 252.223-7001: The contracting officer uses this information to verify compliance with requirements for labeling of hazardous material.


b. DFARS 252.223-7002 and 252.223-7003: The contracting officer uses this information to monitor compliance of contractors with DoD 4145.26-M, DoD Contractor’s Safety Manual for Ammunition and Explosives, and the schedule provisions, to ensure that contractors take reasonable precaution in handling ammunition and explosives and minimize the risk of future mishaps.


c. DFARS 252.223-7007: The contracting officer uses this information to monitor the contractor’s compliance with the security requirements set forth in 5100.76-M, Physical Security of Sensitive Conventional Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives.


d. DFARS 252.223-7004: Records kept by certain contractors, with regard to programs for achieving the objective of a drug-free work force, will be used to document compliance with the requirements of the clause.


3. Use of Information Technology


Information technology is used 100% of the time. Standardized or repetitive data is not involved. Contractors may, however, submit any required information in formats that are compatible with their automated systems.


4. Non-duplication


As a matter of policy, DoD reviews the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to determine if adequate language already exists. DFARS part 223 and related clauses at 252.223 apply only to DoD and do not duplicate any other regulations. Similar information is not readily available from any other source.


5. Burden on Small Business


The collection associated with small businesses is the minimum consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and prudent business practices.


6. Less Frequent Collection


The frequency for collecting this information was reviewed by the DoD specialists who are most knowledgeable of the requirements and the need for the information. Every attempt has been made to keep the frequency of collection to a minimum without jeopardizing the ability of the Government to assure that contractors are performing the contractual requirements. Collecting this information less frequently would impede contracting officers from making informed contract award decisions and from performing their administrative functions in an effective and efficient manner.


7. Paperwork Reduction Act Guidelines


This collection of information is consistent with the guidelines delineated in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).


8. Consultation and Public Comments


a. Public Notice


i. Public comments were solicited in a 60-day notice published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2023 (88 FR 66822). No comments were received in response to this notice during the 60-day comment period.


ii. A 30-day notice for this information collection was published in the Federal Register on December 22, 2023 (88 FR 88595).


b. Consultation


Subject matter experts within DoD were also consulted.


9. Gifts or Payment


DoD will not provide a payment or gift to respondents under this information collection requirement, other than remuneration to contractors under their contracts.


10. Confidentiality


This information is disclosed only to the extent consistent with statutory requirements, current regulations, and prudent business practices. The collection of information does not include any personally identifiable information; therefore, no Privacy Impact Assessment or System of Record Notice is required.


11. Sensitive Questions


No sensitive questions are involved in this collection.


12. Respondent Burden and its Labor Costs


a. DFARS 252.223-7001, Hazard Warning Labels, paragraphs (c) and (d). This clause is prescribed at DFARS 223.303 for use in solicitations and contracts that require submission of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). FAR clause 52.223-3, Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data, requires the submission of an MSDS meeting the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200 and the latest version of Federal Standard No. 313, for any hazardous material to be delivered under a contract.


Examination of fiscal year (FY) 2023 data from the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) reveals that approximately 1,067,745 contracts were awarded that may have involved the use of hazardous materials. Approximately 14,344 offers were received from offerors participating in the solicitations associated with these contracts, and approximately 1,793 unique offerors received the resultant contract awards.


i. Paragraph (c) of the DFARS clause requires offerors to list which hazardous materials will be labeled in accordance with one of the statutes delineated in paragraphs (b)(1) through (5), instead of the Hazard Communication Standard, in their offers. We estimate that 75 percent or approximately 10,664 of the offers received (14,218 * 0.75) will be required to provide this list. We estimate 8 responses per respondent, a total of 1,793 respondents (14,344/8) and on average, 1 hour per response. We have estimated a cost of $51 per hour (equivalent of a GS-11, step 5 salary of $37.53, plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $51.13, rounded to the nearest whole dollar ($51)1):


Estimation of Respondent Burden Hours: 252.223-7001(c)

Number of respondents

1,793

Responses per respondent

8

Number of responses

14,344

Hours per response

1

Estimated hours

14,344

Cost per hour (hourly wage)

$51

Cost per response

$51

Annual public burden

$731,544


ii. Paragraph (d) of the clause requires only the successful offeror to submit, before award, a copy of the hazard warning label for all hazardous materials not listed in paragraph (c) of the clause. Based on an estimate that 80 percent of the unique offerors received awards involving hazardous material not listed in paragraph (c), we estimate the number of respondents to be approximately 1,434 (1,793* 0.80) Further, we estimate 8 contracts per respondent are impacted, resulting in 11,472 responses (1,434 * 8), 30 minutes per response, and an estimated cost of $35 per hour (the equivalent of a GS-7, step 5 salary of $25.36, plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $34.55, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, $35):


Estimation of Respondent Burden Hours: 252.223-7001(d)

Number of respondents

1,434

Responses per respondent

8

Number of responses

11,472

Hours per response

0.50

Estimated hours

5,736

Cost per hour (hourly wage)

$35

Cost per response

$17.50

Annual public burden

$200,760

NOTE: Respondents shown in 12.a.ii. above are a subset of respondents represented in paragraph 12.a.i., and are therefore not additive.


b. 252.223-7002, Safety Precautions for Ammunition and Explosives, paragraphs (c), (d), and (g). This clause is prescribed at DFARS 223.370-5 for use in solicitations and contracts for acquisitions requiring the use or the incorporation of materials involving initiation, propulsion, or detonation as an integral or component part of an explosive, an ammunition, or explosive end item or weapon system.


i. Paragraph (c)(2) requires the contractor, within 30 days of notification of noncompliance, to notify the contracting officer of the corrective action(s) it has taken. Based on data for FY 2022 provided by the DoD Explosives and Safety Board technical expert, we estimate there are approximately 290 DoD contractors performing on contracts involving ammunition and explosives (A&E). Of those 290 contractors, there were approximately 102 noncompliance reports that required corrective action. This indicates that approximately 35 percent of DoD contractors involved in A&E will be notified of some sort of noncompliance requiring corrective action. These numbers are expected to remain steady, so DoD estimates that 102 actions will be subject to reporting and corrective action per year. Some of these actions are minor, while other corrective actions are more extensive. DoD estimates that, on average, it takes the contractor 4 hours to report the corrective action taken. DoD estimates a cost per hour of $61 (equivalent to GS-12, step 5 salary of $44.98 plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $61.29, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, $61):


Estimation of Respondent Burden Hours: 252.223-7002(c)(2)

Number of respondents

102

Responses per respondent

1

Number of responses

102

Hours per response

4

Estimated hours

408

Cost per hour (hourly wage)

$61

Cost per response

$244

Annual public burden

$24,888


ii. Paragraph (d)(1) requires contractors to notify the contracting officer immediately of any mishaps involving ammunition or explosives. Paragraph (d)(3) requires the contractor to submit a written report of the investigation of the incident to the contracting officer. Based on data for FY 2022 provided by the DoD Explosives and Safety Board technical expert, we estimate 12 mishaps per year. These mishaps will be attributed to 8 contractors, approximately 1.5 responses per contractor. Each report will require approximately 16 hours to complete, at a cost of $61 (equivalent to GS-12, step 5 salary of $44.98 plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $61.29, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, $61):


Estimation of Respondent Burden Hours: 252.223-7002(d)

Number of respondents

8

Responses per respondent

1.5

Number of responses

12

Hours per response

24

Estimated hours

288

Cost per hour (hourly wage)

$61

Cost per response

$1,464

Annual public burden

$17,568


iii. Paragraph (g)(4) requires contractors to notify the contracting officer when placing a subcontract for ammunition or explosives. DoD estimates an average of 6 responses per contractor performing on an A&E contract, 15 minutes per response, at a cost of $35 per hour (the equivalent of a GS-7, step 5 salary of $25.36, plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $34.55, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, $35):


Estimation of Respondent Burden Hours: 252.223-7002(g)(4)

Number of respondents

323

Responses per respondent

6

Number of responses

1,938

Hours per response

0.25

Estimated hours

485.5

Cost per hour (hourly wage)

$35

Cost per response

$8.75

Annual public burden

$16,958

NOTE: Respondents shown in 12.b.i. and 12.b.ii. above are a subset of respondents represented in 12.b.iii., and are therefore not additive.


c. 252.223-7003, Changes in Place of Performance—Ammunition and Explosives, paragraphs (a), (b), and (c). This clause is prescribed at DFARS 223.370-5, for use in contracts under which ammunition and explosives are handled.


i. Paragraph (a) of the clause requires the offeror to identify, in the “Place of Performance” provision of the solicitation, the place of performance of all ammunition and explosives work covered by DFARS 252.223-7002, Safety Precautions for Ammunition and Explosives. Based on FY 2022 data provided by the DoD Explosives and Safety Board technical expert, DoD estimates approximately 43,699 responses (491 solicitations * 89 responses per solicitation). Using the estimate of 102 contractors established in 252.223-7002(c)(2) (see Item 12.b.i.), DoD calculates an average of approximately 428 responses per respondent (43,699/102 = 428.42 (rounded down to 428)). We further estimate that it takes an offeror approximately ten minutes to identify the place of performance in the solicitation, at a cost of $42 per hour (equivalent of a GS-9, step 5 salary of $31.02, plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $42.26, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, $42):


Estimation of Respondent Burden Hours: 252.223-7003(a)

Number of respondents

102

Responses per respondent (rounded)

428

Number of responses

43,699

Hours per response

0.17

Estimated hours (rounded)

7,429

Cost per hour (hourly wage)

$42

Cost per response

$7.14

Annual public burden

$312,011


ii. Paragraphs (b) and (c) require the contractor to obtain written permission from the contracting officer before changing the place of performance of any portion of the contract covered by 252.223-7002, Safety Precautions for Ammunition and Explosives. Discussions with the technical expert from the DoD Explosives and Safety Board indicate that generally, 10 percent of the 102 contractors performing A&E contracts will request a change of its place of performance. These 10 respondents (102 * 0.10, rounded) will submit approximately 4 responses each, many times due to a change in the place of performance of their subcontractors. Each response will require approximately 8 hours to complete, due to the amount of detailed information the contractor is required to submit in order to demonstrate that the new place of performance meets the stringent safety requirements associated with this type of work, at a cost of $42 per hour (equivalent of a GS-9, step 5 salary of $31.02, plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $42.26, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, $42):


Estimation of Respondent Burden Hours: 252.223-7003(b) & (c)

Number of respondents

10

Responses per respondent

4

Number of responses

40

Hours per response

8

Estimated hours

320

Cost per hour (hourly wage)

$42

Cost per response

$336

Annual public burden

$13,440

NOTE: Respondents shown in 12.c.i. and 12.c.ii. above are a subset of respondents represented in paragraph 12.b.iii. for 252.223-7002(g), and are therefore not additive.


d. 252.223-7007, Safeguarding Sensitive Conventional Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives, paragraph (e). This clause is prescribed in DFARS 223.7203, for use in solicitations and contracts for acquisitions involving items within the scope (Chapter 1, paragraph B) of DoD 5100.76-M, Physical Security of Sensitive Conventional Arms, Ammunitions, and Explosives (AA&E). Paragraph (e) requires the contractor to notify the cognizant Defense Security Service (DSS) field office within 10 days of any subcontract involving AA&E.


According to subject matter experts from DSS, the estimated number of facilities in the AA&E program is 167, and the office performs an estimated 250 surveys annually. As a result, we estimate that the number of respondents per year is 167; the average number of notifications per respondent is 1.5 based upon 250 surveys per year; and the amount of time required to prepare each notification is 30 minutes, at a cost of $51 per hour (equivalent of a GS-11, step 5 salary of $37.53, plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $51.13, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, $51):


Estimation of Respondent Burden Hours: 252.223-7007(e)

Number of respondents

167

Responses per respondent

~1.5

Number of responses

250

Hours per response

0.50

Estimated hours

125

Cost per hour (hourly wage)

$51

Cost per response

$25.50

Annual public burden

$6,375


e. 252.223-7004, Drug-Free Work Force. This clause is prescribed at DFARS 223.570-2, for use in contracts that involve access to classified information or when the contracting officer determines that the clause is necessary for reasons of national security or for the purpose of protecting the health or safety of those using or affected by the product of, or performance of, the contract.


i. Ongoing recordkeeping – existing contracts: According to FY 2023 FPDS data, there were approximately 15,258 contractors with existing ongoing other than commercial product contracts valued at greater than the simplified acquisition threshold that are performed in the United States, of which approximately 10,010 were small businesses. According to subject matter experts, it is estimated that 50% of the small businesses and 90% of the large businesses are performing sensitive contracts. In addition, it is estimated that it would take a recordkeeper 40 hours per year to maintain records of compliance with the clause requirements under an existing contract at a cost of $42 per hour (equivalent of a GS-9, step 5 salary of $31.02, plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $42.26, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, $42).


Estimation of Respondent Recordkeeping: 252.223-7004 (Existing Contracts)

Ongoing Program Requirements - Businesses

Small

Large

Total

Respondents

10,010

5,248

15,258

% performing sensitive contracts

50%

90%


Total number of recordkeepers

5,005

4,723

9,728

Recordkeeping hours per year per contractor

40

Total recordkeeping burden hours

389,120

Cost per hour

$42

Cost per contractor

$1,680

Total annual cost burden

$16,343,040


ii. Start-up recordkeeping – new awards: Of the total number of recordkeepers estimated in Item 12.e.i. above, it is estimated that 10% are establishing a new program. It is estimated that it takes a recordkeeper 80 hours to start up a program to document compliance with the clause at a cost of $86 per hour (equivalent of a GS-14, step 5 salary of $ 63.21, plus 36.25 percent burden, for a total of $86.12, rounded to the nearest dollar, $86).


Estimation of Respondent Recordkeeping: 252.223-7004 (New Awards)

New Start Program Requirements - Businesses

Small

Large

Total

Total number of recordkeepers

5,005

4,723

9,728

% establishing a new program

10%

10%


Total number of new programs per year

501

472

973

Start-up hours per new program

80

Total start-up burden hours

77,840

Cost per hour

$86

Cost per program

$6,880

Total annual start-up cost burden

6,694,240


f. Total Public Burden:


i. The following is a summary of the total estimated public reporting burden:


Clause 252.223-

Respondents

Responses/Respondent

Total Responses

Hours/

Response

Total

Hours

Total

Cost

-7001(c)

1,793

8

14,344

1.0

14,344

$731,544

-7001(d)*

1,434

8

11,472

0.5

5,736

$200,760

-7002(c)*

102

1

102

4.0

408

$24,888

-7002(d)*

8

1.5

12

24.0

288

$17,568

-7002(g)

323

6

1,938

0.25

~485

$16,958

-7003(a)*

102

428

43,699

0.17

7,429

$312,011

-7003(b/c)*

10

4

40

8.0

320

$13,440

-7007(e)

167

~1.5

250

0.5

125

$6,375

TOTAL

2,283

~34.5

71,857

~0.41

29,134

$1,323,544

* Subset of number of respondents. Not additive.


ii. The following is a summary of the total estimated public recordkeeping burden:


Clause 252.223-

Recordkeepers

Hours/

Recordkeeper

Total Hours

Total

Cost

-7004 Existing

9,728

40

389,120

$16,343,040

-7004 New*

973

80

77,840

$6,694,240

TOTAL

9,728

~48

466,960

$23,037,280

* Subset of number of respondents. Not additive.


13. Respondent Costs Other than Burden Hour Costs


It is not anticipated that this information collection will generate any annualized costs to respondents other than the labor burden costs addressed in Item 12.


14. Cost to the Federal Government


In the table below, the number of respondents and the number of responses are based on the same information and calculated in the same manner as discussed in Item 12. The estimate of hours expended by DoD reviewing and analyzing the contractors’ or offerors’ documentation is based on estimations provided by the subject matter experts. There are no costs to the Government other than the labor burden costs.


Estimation of Government Burden: Total

Clause 252.223-

Total Responses

Hours per Response

Total

Hours

Cost per Hour

Cost

per Response

Total

Cost

-7001(c)

14,344

1.0

14,344

$51

$51

$731,544

-7001(d)

11,472

0.5

5,736

$35

$17.50

$200,760

-7002(c)

102

4.0

408

$61

$244

$24,888

-7002(d)

12

24

288

$61

$1,464

$17,568

-7002(g)

1,938

0.25

485

$35

$8.75

$16,958

-7003(a)

43,699

0.17

7,429

$42

$7.14

$312,011

-7003(b) & (c)

40

8.00

320

$42

$336

$13,440

-7007(e)

250

0.50

125

$51

$25.50

$6,375

TOTAL

71,857

~0.41

29,134

$45.43

$18.41

$1,323,544


15. Reasons for Change in Burden


The reasons for the decrease in burden are not attributed to any programmatic changes but rather reflect changes in the relevant data. Other changes to the burden amounts reflect the use of updated FPDS information and the application of FY 2020 GS hourly rates, as well as correction of a mathematical error.


0704-0272: Reporting

2020

2023

Change

Responses

58,140

71,857

+13,717

Estimated Hours

48,525

29,134

-19,391

Annual Public Burden

$2,183,807

$1,323,544

-$860,263


0704-0272: Recordkeeping

2020

2023

Change

Recordkeepers

11,096

9,728

-1,368

Estimated Hours

532,640

466,960

-65,680

Annual Public Burden

$24,413,760

$23,037,280

-$1,376,480


16. Publication of Results


The results of this collection will not be published.


17. Non-Display of OMB Expiration Date


DoD is not seeking approval to omit the display of the expiration date of OMB approval of the information collection.


18. Exceptions to “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Submissions”


There are no exceptions to the certification accompanying this Paperwork Reduction Act submission.



1 In all instances, the hourly rates are based on OPM 2023 General Schedule hourly rates plus OMB Memorandum M-08-13 March 11, 2008 Civilian Position Full Fringe Benefit Cost Factor.

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