Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application for NATO International Bidding

AGENCY:

Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice.

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.

DATES:

To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before January 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Mark Crace, IC Liaison, Bureau of Industry and Security, 1401 Constitution Avenue, Suite 2099B, Washington, DC 20233 (or via the internet at PRAcomments@doc.gov). All Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

All U.S. firms desiring to participate in the NATO International Competitive Bidding (ICB) process under the NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP) must be certified as technically, financially and professionally competent. The U.S. Department of Commerce provides the Declaration of Eligibility that certifies these firms. Any such firm seeking certification is required to submit a completed Form BIS-4023P along with a current annual financial report and a resume of past projects in order to become certified and placed on the Consolidated List of Eligible Bidders.

II. Method of Collection

Applications are submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security, Defense Programs Division where the contents are reviewed for completeness and accuracy by the NATO Program Specialist. The application is a one-time effort. The information provided on the BIS-4023P form is used to certify the U.S. firm and place it in the bidders list database.

BIS has developed a form-fillable .PDF version of the BIS-4023P to enable electronic submission of this form. The form is available at the following URL: http://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/other-areas/strategic-industries-and-economic-security-sies/nato-related-business-opportunities. Completed applications and supporting documentation may be submitted electronically via email.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0694-0128.

Form Number(s): BIS-4023P.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other For Profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: There is no cost to the respondent other than time to answer the information request.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: Section 401 (10) of Executive order 12656 (November 18, 1988), 15 U.S.C. Section 1512.

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 also will become a matter of public record.