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[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 93 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26773-26774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12893]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary

Department of Commerce Solicitations: Requests for Proposals 
(RFPs) or Invitations for Bids (IFBs)

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 
(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5327, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Ms. Deborah O'Neill, Department of Commerce, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 6422, Washington, DC, 20230. Her 
telephone number is (202) 482-0202.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Department of Commerce (DOC) is required by the Competition in 
Contracting Act (Pub. L. 98-369) to seek maximum competition when 
issuing contracts for supplies and services. The Federal Acquisition 
Regulations (FAR) require each Federal agency to obtained needed 
supplies and services by soliciting proposals from prospective 
contractors prior to entering into contracts necessary to accomplished 
the missions of the agency. The Department is required to issue 
solicitations which require prospective contractors to prepare and 
submit technical and cost proposals as part of the Federal acquisition 
process for awarding these contracts. In soliciting proposals, the 
agency collects, from each competing contractor, the information 
necessary to evaluate the proposals and make a decision as to which 
proposal offers the most benefit to the Government. In its 
solicitations, the Commerce Department uses Standard Forms and uniform 
solicitation format which are prescribed by the FAR. Each competing 
contractor is required to submit a proposal comprising various parts 
(technical, business, and cost). Instructions for the preparation of 
the proposal is tailored to the statement of work, the amount of 
information to be submitted in the proposal will vary with the 
complexity and size of the work. The proposal will be evaluated by the 
Government using criteria which must be stated in the solicitation. The 
results of the evaluation are used to make a decision as to which firm 
shall be selected for the contract. Commerce collects no information 
other than that needed to evaluate and select contractors to meet the 
unique requirements of the Department, and to meet the requirement of 
the Federal procurement system.

II. Method of Collection

    Written submission.

[[Page 26774]]

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0690-0008.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Regular submission for extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit and not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 250.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0 (no capital expenditures are 
required).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this 
information collection; they will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: May 7, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-12893 Filed 5-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-EC-P
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