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###### Department of Veterans Affairs

          - [OMB Control No. 2900-0590]

# AGENCY:

The Office of Management (OM), Department of Veterans Affairs.

# ACTION:

Notice.

# SUMMARY:

                        The Office of Management (OM), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the                         **Federal Register**                         concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.                     

# DATES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before November 20, 2017.

# ADDRESSES:

                        Submit written comments on the collection of information through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at                         *www.Regulations.gov*                         or to Ricky Clark, Office Of Acquisition and Logistics (003A2A), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420 or email to                         *Ricky.Clark@va.gov.*                         Please refer to “OMB Control No. “2900-0590” in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS.                    

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cynthia Harvey-Pryor at (202) 461-5870.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.

With respect to the following collection of information, OMB invites comments on:  (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of OM functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of OM estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology.

*Authority:*                     Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521).                

*Title:*                     Department of Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Clauses 852.237-7, Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance; 852.228-71, Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance; and 852.207-70, Report of Employment Under Commercial Activities.                

*OMB Control Number:*                     2900-0590.                

*Type of Review:*                     Extension of a currently approved collection.                

*Abstract:*                     VAAR clause 852.237-7, Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance, is used in lieu of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.237-7, Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance, in solicitations and contracts for the acquisition of non-personal health care services. It requires the apparent successful bidder/offeror, upon the request of the contracting officer, prior to contract award, to furnish evidence of insurability of the offeror and/or all health-care providers who will perform under the contract. In addition, the clause requires the contractor, prior to commencement of services under the contract, to provide Certificates of Insurance or insurance policies evidencing that the firm possesses the types and amounts of insurance required by the solicitation. The information is required in order to protect VA by ensuring that the firm to which award may be made and the individuals who may provide health care services under the contract are insurable and that, following award, the contractor and its employees will continue to possess the types and amounts of insurance required by the solicitation. It helps ensure that VA will not be held liable for any negligent acts of the contractor or its employees and                           ( print page 44031)                        ensures that VA and VA beneficiaries will be protected by adequate insurance coverage.                

VAAR clause 852.228-71, Indemnification and Insurance, is used in solicitations for vehicle or aircraft services. It requires the apparent successful bidder/offeror, prior to contract award, to furnish evidence that the firm possesses the types and amounts of insurance required by the solicitation. This evidence is in the form of a certificate from the firm's insurance company. The information is required to protect VA by ensuring that the firm to which award will be made possesses the types and amounts of insurance required by the solicitation. It helps ensure that VA will not be held liable for any negligent acts of the contractor and ensures that VA beneficiaries and the public are protected by adequate insurance coverage.

VAAR clause 852.207-70, Report of Employment Under Commercial Activities, is used in solicitations for commercial items and services where the work is currently being performed by VA employees and where those employees might be displaced as a result of an award to a commercial firm. The clause requires contractors awarded such contracts to provide, within 5 days of contract award, a list of employment openings, including salaries and benefits, and blank job application forms. The clause also requires the contractor, prior to the contract start date, to report: The names of adversely affected Federal employees offered employment openings; the date the offer was made; a description of the position; the date of acceptance and the effective date of employment; the date of rejection if an employee rejected an offer; the salary and benefits contained in any rejected offer; and the names of employees who applied for but were not offered employment and the reasons for withholding offers to those employees. In addition, the clause requires the contractor, during the first 90 days of contract performance, to report the names of all persons hired or terminated under the contract. The information will be used by the contracting officer to monitor and ensure compliance by the contractor with the requirements of FAR clause 52.207-3, Right of First Refusal of Employment.

VA uses the information to determine whether additional contract terms and conditions are necessary to mitigate the conflict. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

*Affected Public:*                     Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions.                

*Estimated Annual Burden:*

a. VAAR Clause 852.237-7, Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance—750 hours.

b. VAAR clause 852.228-71, Indemnification and Insurance—250 hours.

c. VAAR clause 852.207-70, Report of Employment Under Commercial Activities—15 hours.

*Estimated Average Burden per Respondent:*

a. VAAR Clause 852.237-7, Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance—30 minutes.

b. VAAR clause 852.228-71, Indemnification and Insurance—30 minutes.

c. VAAR clause 852.207-70, Report of Employment Under Commercial Activities—30 minutes per report.

*Frequency of Response:*                     On occasion.                

a. VAAR Clause 852.237-7, Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance—1 per each contract awarded.

b. VAAR clause 852.228-71, Indemnification and Insurance—1 per each contract awarded.

c. VAAR clause 852.207-70, Report of Employment Under Commercial Activities—3 reports per contract awarded.

*Estimated Number of Respondents:*

a. VAAR Clause 852.237-7, Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance—1500.

b. VAAR clause 852.228-71, Indemnification and Insurance—500.

c. VAAR clause 852.207-70, Report of Employment Under Commercial Activities—10.

By direction of the Secretary.

Cynthia Harvey-Pryor,

Department Clearance Officer, Office of Quality and Compliance, Department of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 2017-19991 Filed 9-19-17; 8:45 am]

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