Overview
This section outlines the regulatory requirement for Federal agencies to obtain Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval before collecting information from the public, as mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980. It provides a comprehensive cross-reference table linking specific FAR segments, clauses, and forms to their officially assigned OMB control numbers.
Key Rules
- The 10-Person Rule: Federal agencies must obtain OMB approval before collecting information or imposing recordkeeping requirements on 10 or more members of the public.
- Mandatory Approval: All information collection requirements contained within the FAR must be approved by the OMB to be enforceable.
- Centralized Index: FAR 1.106 serves as the official directory that maps individual FAR provisions (such as Subparts, Sections, and 52.2 clauses) and Standard Forms (SF) to their specific OMB control numbers.
- Scope: The requirements cover a wide range of activities including bid submissions, socioeconomic representations, cost accounting, and contract termination forms.
Practical Implications
- Legal Compliance: The presence of an OMB control number confirms that the data request has been vetted for necessity and "public burden," and it ensures the agency has the legal authority to collect that specific information.
- Contractor Protection: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, a person is generally not required to respond to an information collection request unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.