FINAL OMB SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR
NRC FORM 450, “GENERAL ASSIGNMENT”
(3150-0114)
EXTENSION REQUEST
Description of the Information Collection
As a part of the contract closeout process for cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials-type contracts, the contractor is required to assign to the Government all rights, title and interest to refunds, rebates, credits or other amounts (including interest, if any) arising out of contract performance and certify that a corporate official is empowered to make the assignment. The contractor uses NRC Form 450, General Assignment, to make such assignments.
JUSTIFICATION
1. Need for and Practical Utility of the Collection of Information.
The assignment made by NRC contractors using form 450 is authorized in contract clauses 52.216-7(h) (2), Allowable Cost and Payment (DEC 2002) and 52.232-7(f), Payments under Time and Materials and Labor Hour Contracts (DEC 2002) and is prescribed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). These clauses require contractors in cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials contracts to execute and deliver the assignment. The assignment must be in a form that is satisfactory to the Contracting Officer, and must be delivered prior to the final payment.
2. Agency Use of Information.
General Assignment forms are reviewed upon receipt to assure proper execution and certification. The form then becomes an integral part of the official contract file and serves as the legal basis for the contractor to collect all refunds, rebates, credits or other amounts properly allocable to costs for which the contractor has been reimbursed by the Government under the contract.
3. Reduction of Burden Through Information Technology.
There are no legal obstacles to reducing the burden associated with this information collection. The NRC encourages respondents to use information technology when it would be beneficial to them. NRC issued a regulation on October 10, 2003 (68 FR 58791), consistent with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, which allows its licensees, vendors, applicants, and members of the public the option to make submissions electronically via CD-ROM, e-mail, special Web-based interface, or other means. However, because the types of information and the infrequency of submission by contractors, NRC Form 450, does not readily lend itself to the use of technological collection techniques for submission. The form must be notarized prior to submittal to the NRC.
4. Effort to Identify Duplication and Use Similar Information.
No sources of similar information are available. There is no duplication of requirements. NRC has in place an ongoing program to examine all information collections with the goal of eliminating all duplication and/or unnecessary information collections. The information is contract specific, thus similar information does not exist which could satisfy the specific contractual requirement. NRC in its contract closeout process, forwards the form for execution as soon as practicable after reconciliation of the final cost information. At the same time, the contractor’s “release” is forwarded for execution, as an effort to reduce the overall burden to the contractor.
5. Effort to Reduce Small Business Burden.
The information collection is prescribed by the FAR 52.216-7(h)(2) and
52.232-7(f). The collection represents the minimum required for proper execution of the General Assignment and cannot be reduced.
6. Consequences to Federal Program or Policy Activities if the Collection Is Not Conducted or is Conducted Less Frequently.
The information collection is required only once, at the time of contract closeout. The FAR 52.216-7(h)(2) and 52.232-7(f) requires execution and delivery of the assignment as a condition precedent to the final payment; therefore, the collection cannot be eliminated.
7. Circumstances Which Justify Verification from OMB Guidelines.
The collection is within all OMB prescribed guidelines.
8. Consultations Outside NRC.
The opportunity for public comment on the information collections was published in the Federal Register on March 24, 2008 (73 FR 16726). No comments were received.
9 Payment of Gift to Respondents.
Not applicable.
10. Confidentiality of the Information.
Confidential and proprietary information is protected in accordance with NRC regulations at 10 CFR 9.17(a) and 10CFR 2.390(b). Execution and certification of the General Assignment does not require use of confidential information. Any subsequent submission of proprietary or business confidential would be protected against improper disclosure as required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Freedom of Information Act and NRC Management Directive, Volume 12, “Security.”
11. Justification for Sensitive Questions.
No sensitive information normally considered private or personal information is required or requested.
12. Estimate of Annualized Burden and Burden Hour Cost.
The annual contractor burden for the NRC Form 450 is estimated to be 200 hours (100 responses X 2 hr/response (1.5 hr clerical) + (.5 hr professional)). The annual burden cost is $18,950 (100 responses X (1.5 hr x $47/hr clerical) + (.5 hr x $238 professional)). The burden estimate was derived from experience concerning the approximate number of contractors affected by the General Assignment form and the approximate number of hours each Contractor would have to expend to comply with the requirements of the form.
The estimate of 2 hrs, per response is based on the following steps being taken to complete the General Assignment Form:
The search and review of contract records and verification by an accounting department may involve data which must be retrieved from storage.
This form must be notarized.
Clerical support is required to complete the form.
The corporate seal has to be verified by the contractor’s Banking Institute for accuracy.
13. Estimate of Other Additional Costs.
There are no additional costs.
14. Estimated Annualized Cost to the Federal Government.
The cost to the Government was derived from experience as to the approximate number of hours Contract Specialists expend in assuring that the NRC Form 450 is properly executed and that the contractors comply with the form and review of the information therein. Annual cost to the Government is estimated at $11,900 (.5 hr per form x 100 forms x $238/hr.).
This cost is fully recovered through fee assessment to NRC licensees pursuant to 10 CFR Parts 170 and/or 171.
15. Reasons for Changes in Burden or Cost.
There is no change in burden. However, the cost for professional effort has increased from $157 to $238 per hour.
16. Publication for Statistical Use.
Results will not be tabulated or published.
17. Reason for Not Displaying the Expiration Date.
Not applicable.
18. Exceptions to the Certification Statement.
Not applicable.
COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS.
Not applicable.
| File Type | application/msword |
| Author | vicki gladhill |
| Last Modified By | Greg Trussell |
| File Modified | 2008-07-17 |
| File Created | 2008-07-17 |