Supporting Statement for Information Collection 3090-0274 – Art in Architecture Program Historic Buildings and the Arts (PCAC); GSA 7437
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
No law mandates that a percentage of federal construction budgets be spent for fine art. The Art in Architecture Program is the result of a policy decision made in January 1963 by GSA administrator Bernard L. Boudin, who had served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space in 1961-62. The committee’s report to President Kennedy, included “Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture,” which detailed a new quality conscious federal attitude toward architecture. One point, which was omitted from the report because Boudin implemented it prior to the policy’s publication, was:
“A modest portion of the cost of each new Federal office building, not to exceed one percent of the total expense, shall be allocated for the purchase of fine arts to be incorporated in the general design. Emphasis should be placed on the work of living American artists, representing all trends of contemporary art, but this practice should not preclude the purchase of works of earlier periods where this would be appropriate. In commissioning the work of living artists, competitions should be encouraged.”
Boudin approved a policy of commissioning works of art in public buildings under GSA’s jurisdiction, at a cost not to exceed one half of one percent of the construction cost.
The requirement to commission artworks for federal buildings can be found in Chapter 102-77 of the Federal Management Regulations (41 CFR 102-77).
The program has been modified over the years, most recently in 2010 when a requirement was instituted that all artists who want to be considered for any potential GSA commission must be included on the National Artists Registry, which serves as the qualified list of eligible artists; the program continues to commission works of art from living American artists. One half of one percent of the estimated construction cost of new or substantially renovated Federal buildings and U.S. courthouses is allocated for commissioning works of art.
The Art in Architecture Program actively seeks to commission works from the full spectrum of American artists, and strives to promote new media and inventive solutions for public art. GSA has awarded over 400 commissions both to artists with established careers, as well as to artists of local and regional prominence. In support of the program’s goal to commission the most talented contemporary American artists to create works for the nation’s important new civic buildings, it is necessary to identify those artists. The National Artist Registry offers to opportunity for artists across the country to participate and to be considered for commissions.
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used.
The National Artists Registry is a registry of artists who wish to be considered for commissions awarded by GSA to create artworks for Federal buildings. Per the 2010 Art in Architecture Policies and Procedures, the Contracting Officer on each project posts a synopsis for artist selection in FedBizOpps for a minimum of 30 days. The synopsis provides information on how to be included in the National Artists Registry, and states that all artists who want to be considered for any potential GSA commission must be included in the Registry. Once on the registry, an artist does not need to resubmit in order to be considered for future projects.
The Registry is the qualified list of eligible artists. To establish the competitive field for a particular commission, the Technical Evaluation Board screens the registry using the criteria and specific standards it has established for the project. The board is comprised of GSA subject-matter experts; the Contracting Officer serves as an advisory member.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques.
GSA form 7437 is available electronically at www.gsa.gov/artinarchitecture. Artists may, but are not required to submit the form electronically. Approximately 90% send the form and supporting information via e-mail; approximately 10% provide the information on a compact disc. Once received, the information from the form, as well as from the artist’s resume, is entered into an electronic database to provide quick and thorough response to questions regarding artists and art works and to permit the compilation of the competitive field of artists to be considered for a particular commission.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.
The Art in Architecture Program is unique in the Federal government; the National Artists Registry is operated in support of that program and is used specifically to review artists for GSA art projects. Each new or substantially renovated Federal building, US courthouse, and land port of entry includes funds to commission artwork.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities (item 5), describe any methods used to minimize burden.
Each artist is required to submit the form only one time and is thereafter eligible to be considered for all future commissions; it is not necessary to express interest in each project announced in FedBizOpps.
6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.
The National Artists Registry is the qualified list of eligible artists. The registry is open to all American artists (citizens and lawful Permanent Residents or Permanent Workers of the United States). Commissions may be awarded only to artists who are in the registry.
7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner requiring respondents to:
There are no such special circumstances for the National Artists Registry.
8. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
A 60-day notice was published in the Federal Register at 84 FR 14119 on April 9, 2019. No comments were received. A 30 day notice published in the Federal Register at 84 FR 31592 on July 2, 2019.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts will be given to respondents.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
GSA published a System of Records Notice (SORN), GSA/PBS-7 (The Museum System - TMS), in the Federal Register at 75 FR 28253, on May 20, 2010 to establish a new system of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a. The system provides for the collection of information to track and manage the Art in Architecture program, the National Artist Registry and the fine arts collection. The privacy information within the system will be accessed and used by GSA employees in the Art in Architecture and Fine Arts programs.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature.
Submission of all personal information listed on the form is voluntary; however, failure to provide that information would make it impossible to contact the respondent. The information is collected under the general authority granted to GSA under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.) and the Public Buildings Act of 1959 (40 U.S. C. 601-616).
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:
Total Annual Requests 300
Estimates hours/response .25
Average Cost/hour $19.92
Total Cost to Public $1,494.00
The estimated number of respondents annually is approximately 300 individual artists with each response requiring 15 minutes to complete for a total of 75 hours. The average cost per hour is based on the equivalent of a Grade 9, step 1 federal employee. The estimated cost per response is approximately $4.98.
13. Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14.)
The respondent has no additional burden or cost. There are neither capital or start-up costs nor additional annual costs once the original form has been submitted.
There are no start-up costs for the government. The National Artist Registry is already in place and software in operation so that the costs to gather and to maintain the information are minimal.
14. Provide estimates of annualized costs to the Federal Government.
Reviewing Time/hr 15 minutes
Requests/year x 300
Review Time/year 75 hours
Total Government Cost $2,959.50
Based on the 75 burden hours to the government and using the hourly salary of a GS12, step 4 Art in Architecture staff member.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14.
No program changes or adjustments to report.
16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.
Not applicable.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
Not applicable.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19,
“Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions”.
Not applicable.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | JUSTIFICATION |
| Author | STEPHANIEAMORRIS |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-15 |