9000-0055 Supporting Statement

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

FOR INFORMATION COLLECTION SUBMISSION

9000-0055, FREIGHT CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTION

A. Justification.

1. Circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. When the Government purchases supplies that are new to the supply system, nonstandard, or modifications of previously shipped items, and different freight classifications may apply, offerors are requested to indicate the full uniform freight classification or national motor freight classification per FAR 47.305-9. The provision 52.247-53, Freight Classification Description, is inserted in solicitations when the requirements of FAR 47.305-9 have to be met by contractors.

2. Uses of information. The information is used to determine the proper freight rate for the supplies.

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 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 consistent with guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. Efforts to consult with persons outside the agency. A 60-day notice was published in the Federal Register at 80 FR 74105 on November 27, 2015. No comments were received. A 30-day notice was published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 28872 on May 10, 2016.

9. Explanation of any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration 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. Transportation management specialists indicate that there is no centralized database system that maintains statistics on the number of contractors that supply the Government with information regarding the freight classification description. They estimate that 3,000 contractors a year submit the required information. Subject matter experts estimate that it takes approximately 10 minutes for each contractor to read and prepare the information needed for the classification description. We also estimate that each respondent submits three responses each year.

Estimated respondents/yr 3,000

Responses annually x 3

Total annual responses 9,000

Estimated hrs/response x .167

Estimated total burden/hrs 1,503

Cost per hour x $57.00*

Estimated cost to public........................................................................................... $85,671

The estimated cost per response is $9.52.

* Based on the salary table for GS-12/step 5 salary ($41.48 an hour) plus 36.25 percent burden, rounded to the nearest dollar, or $57 an hour. The burden rate used is that mandated by OMB memorandum M-08-13 for use in public-private competition, as updated by OMB for the current year. Reference Salary Table 2015-GS, Effective January 2015, found at www.opm.gov).

14. Estimated cost to the Government. Time required for Governmentwide review is estimated at .5 hours per response.

Annual Reporting Burden and Cost

Reviewing time/hr .5

Responses/yr x 9,000

Review time/yr 4,500

Average wages/hr x $57.00*

Total Government cost $256,500

* Based on the salary table for GS-12/step 5 salary ($41.48 an hour) plus 36.25 percent burden, rounded to the nearest dollar, or $57 an hour. The burden rate used is that mandated by OMB memorandum M-08-13 for use in public-private competition, as updated by OMB for the current year. Reference Salary Table 2015-GS, Effective January 2015, found at www.opm.gov).

15. Explain reasons for program changes or adjustments reported in Item 13 or 14.

This submission requests an extension of OMB approval of an information collection requirement in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The information collection in the FAR remains unchanged.

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.