BIS Armored Vehicle Survey

U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security

U.S. Armored Vehicles

OMB Control No. 0694-0120

1. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.

On May 23, 2018, in response to a request by the President of the United States, the Secretary of Commerce initiated an investigation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of automobiles, including cars, SUVs, vans and light trucks, and automotive parts. This investigation has been initiated under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Technology Evaluation (OTE), is conducting a survey and assessment of the armored vehicle industry as part of its overall assessment of imports of automobiles and automotive parts. The survey, requested by the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, will be used to gather critical industry data necessary for the national security analysis required for this investigation.

The principal goal of this survey is to assist the Commerce Department in assessing the domestic armored vehicle industry and the impact of automotive parts imports on armored vehicle industry supply chains, research and development, and labor force, and other factors relevant to Section 232 analysis. Information collected will include facilities and production data, trade flows, supply chain data, sales and demand data, employment information, joint ventures, conditions of competition, research and development information, and government and defense activities. The resulting aggregate data will give the Commerce Department detailed industry information that is otherwise not available and is needed to effectively conduct its analysis.

During the design and development of the survey instrument, OTE gathered input from other U.S. agencies and government experts.

OTE has authority under Section 705 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (DPA), and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, to conduct assessments and collect information on the capabilities and capacity of the U.S. industrial base and domestic industries to support the national defense. These assessments are normally undertaken in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense or with other U.S. federal agencies and typically focus on manufacturing capability, workforce, financial performance, and economic issues affecting key industrial sectors or critical technologies.

The enclosed survey questionnaire, which primarily covers a five-year period, is the source of information needed for a national security analysis of this type.

By virtue of the above mentioned statutes, OTE is the focal point for national security analyses among civilian federal agencies, which includes mandatory data collection authority to carry out these responsibilities.