SUPPORTING STATEMENT
FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSION
9000-0001, AFFIDAVIT OF
INDIVIDUAL SURETY,
STANDARD
FORM 28
Justification.
1. Administrative requirements. The Affidavit of Individual Surety (Standard Form (SF) 28) is used by all executive agencies, including the Department of Defense, to obtain information from individuals wishing to serve as sureties to Government bonds. In order to qualify as a surety on a Government bond, the individual must show a net worth not less than the penal amount of the bond on the SF 28. It is an elective decision on the part of the maker to use individual sureties instead of other available sources of surety or sureties for Government bonds.
2. Uses of information. The information on SF 28 is used to assist the contracting officer in determining the acceptability of individuals proposed as sureties.
3. Consideration of information technology. We use improved information technology to the maximum extent practicable. Where both the Government agency and contractors are capable of electronic interchange, the contractors may submit this information collection requirement electronically.
4. Efforts to identify duplication. This requirement is being issued under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) which has been developed to standardize Federal procurement practices and eliminate unnecessary duplication.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other entities, describe methods used to minimize burden. The burden applied to small businesses is the minimum consistent with applicable laws, executive orders, regulations, and prudent business practices.
6. Describe consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently. Collection of information on a basis other than solicitation-by-solicitation is not practical.
7. Special circumstances for collection. Collection is generally consistent with guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6.
8. Efforts to consult with persons outside the agency. Under the procedures established for development of the FAR, agency and public comments were solicited and each comment addressed before finalization of the text. A notice published in the Federal Register at 76 FR 22706, on April 22, 2011. Two comments were received. Both comments support the extension of this information collection. In addition to supporting the extension, both commenters suggested some revisions/enhancements to the current Standard Form 28.
One commenter suggested that the form include sworn affirmations on certain convictions and debarment, insolvency filings and cease and desist orders issued by state insurance commissioners. The other commenter suggested that the form specify documentation to demonstrate the value of assets and verify that it has been pledged to the United States. For non-real estate assets, the form should require a copy of the escrow agreement with the federally insured financial institution, acknowledge that the individual surety accepts joint and several liability to the extent of the penal amount of the bond and include questions regarding the individual surety's criminal background, including debarment and cease and desist orders issued by the state insurance commissioners. These suggestions will be taken into consideration and if deemed warranted a FAR case will be opened to revise the standard form. At such time, the estimated total annual public hour and cost burden will be adjusted if necessary.
9. Explanation of any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than reenumeration of contractors or guarantees. Not applicable.
10. Describe assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents. This information is disclosed only to the extent consistent with prudent business practices and current regulations.
11. Additional justification for questions of a sensitive nature. No sensitive questions are involved.
12 & 13. Estimated total annual public hour and cost burden. Time required to read and prepare information is estimated at .4 hours per response.
Annual Cost to the Public
Estimated respondents/yr 500
Responses annually x 1
Total annual responses 500
Estimated hrs/response x .3
Estimated total burden/hrs 150
Estimated cost to public ($24 + 75% OH) x $42
Total cost to the public $6,300
14. Estimated cost to the Government. Time required for Governmentwide review is estimated at .5 hours per response.
Annual Reviewing Burden and Cost
Total annual responses 500
Review per response x 1
Total burden hours 500
Average wages + overhead ($24/hr + 100% OH) x $48
Total Government cost $24,000
15. Explain reasons for program changes or adjustments reported in Item 13 and 14. This submission requests an extension of OMB approval of an information collection requirement in the FAR. The decrease in the total burden hours is a result of the change in the “Response per Respondent” and “Hours per Response” categories. The 1.43, responses per respondent, has been lowered to 1. to adequately reflect this category. A respondent has to respond completely not partially when submitting this form. The “Hours per Response” category has been decreased to .3 (18 minutes) from .4 (24 minutes) to reflect the benefit of the electronic capability of fillable-fileable forms. Respondents no longer have to print, scan, and then electronically submit or print and then physically mail forms through the post office, they can now submit electronically.
16. Outline plans for published results of information collections. Results will not be tabulated or published.
17. Approval not to display expiration date. Not applicable.
18. Explanation of exception to certification statement. Not applicable.
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods.
Statistical methods are not used in this information collection.
| File Type | text/rtf |
| File Title | _DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE |
| Author | Network Administrator |
| Last Modified By | HadaNFlowers |
| File Modified | 2011-11-21 |
| File Created | 2011-08-11 |