Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application for NATO International Competitive 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:

Written comments must be submitted on or before September 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Mark Crace, BIS Liaison, (202) 482-8093, Mark.Crace@bis.doc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Opportunities to bid for contracts under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program (NSIP) are only open to firms of member NATO countries. NSIP procedures for international competitive bidding (AC/4-D/2261) require that each NATO country certify that their respective firms are eligible to bid on such contracts. This is done through the issuance of a “Declaration of Eligibility.” The U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is the executive agency responsible for certifying U.S. firms. The BIS-4023P is the application form used to collect information needed to ascertain the eligibility of a U.S. firm. BIS will review applications for completeness and accuracy, and determine a company's eligibility based on its financial viability, technical capability, and security clearances with the U.S. Department of Defense.

II. Method of Collection

Submitted electronically or on paper.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0694-0128.

Form Number(s): BIS-4023P

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,000.

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.