Notice2024-25714
Information Collection; Bid for Advertised Timber
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 6, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with no revision of a currently approved information collection, Bid for Advertised Timber.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88001-88002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25714]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Bid for Advertised Timber
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and
organizations on the extension with no revision of a currently approved
information collection, Bid for Advertised Timber.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before January 6,
2025 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date
will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to
Director, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop
1103, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090.
Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 202-205-1045 or by
email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7407195a12075a20273510191d1a321b06190734010710155a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0d3cd8ec6d38ef4f3e1c4cdc9cee6cfd2cdd3e0d5d3c4c18ec7cfd6">[email protected]</span></a>.
Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available
to the public through relevant websites and upon request. For this
reason, please do not include in your comments information of a
confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or
proprietary information. If you send an email comment, your email
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the
internet. Please note that responses to this public comment request
containing any routine notice about the confidentiality of the
communication will be treated as public comments that may be made
available to the public notwithstanding the inclusion of the routine
notice.
The public may inspect the draft supporting statement and/or
comments received at the following website: <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/forestmanagement/products/contracts.shtml">https://www.fs.usda.gov/forestmanagement/products/contracts.shtml</a>. The public may request an
electronic copy of the draft supporting statement and/or any comments
received be sent via return email. Requests should be emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fc8f91d29a8fd2a8afbd98919592ba938e918fbc898f989dd29b938a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="186b75367e6b364c4b597c7571765e776a756b586d6b7c79367f776e">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kraig Kidwell, Washington Office
Natural Resources Forest Management staff, by phone at 541-961-2614 and
by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#325940535b551c595b5645575e5e72474156531c555d44"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="137861727a743d787a7764767f7f53666077723d747c65">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who use
telecommunications devices for the hearing impaired may call 711 to
reach the Telecommunications Relay Service, 24 hours a day, every day
of the year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Bid for Advertised Timber.
OMB Number: 0596-0066.
Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2024.
Type of Request: Extension with no Revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Pursuant to statutory requirements at 16 U.S.C. 472a,
unless extraordinary conditions exist as defined by regulation, the
Secretary of Agriculture must (1) advertise sales of all National
Forest System timber or forest products exceeding $10,000 in appraised
value, (2) select bidding methods that ensure open and fair
competition, (3) select bidding methods that ensure that the Federal
Government receives not less than appraised value of the timber or
forest product; and (4) monitor bidding patterns for evidence of
unlawful bidding practices.
[[Page 88002]]
Pursuant to the Forest Service Small Business Timber Sale Set-Aside
Program, developed in cooperation with the Small Business
Administration, Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR 223.84 require the
Forest Service bid form used by potential timber sale bidders include
provisions for small business concerns. The data collected will be used
by the agency to ensure that National Forest System timber will be sold
at not less than appraised value, that bidders will meet specific
criteria when submitting a bid, and that anti-trust violations will not
occur during the bidding process.
The tax identification number of each bidder is entered into an
automated bid monitoring system, which is used to determine if
speculative bidding or unlawful bidding practices are occurring and is
required to process electronic payments to the purchaser.
Respondents will be bidders on National Forest System timber sales.
Forest Service Sale Officers will provide bid forms to potential
bidders, and bidders will return the completed forms, dated and signed,
to the Forest Service Sale Officer.
The data gathered in this information collection are not available
from other sources.
Forms Associated With This Information Collection
FS-2400-42a--National Forest Timber and Forest Products for Sale
(Advertisement and Short-Form Bid): This form will be used for
soliciting and receiving bids on short-notice timber sales advertised
for less than 30 days for less than $10,000 in advertised value.
Respondents are bidders on National Forest System timber sales.
FS-2400-14--Bid for Advertised Timber (3 form versions: FS-2400-
14UR--Unit Rate Bidding; FS-2400-14WA--Weighted Average Bidding; FS-
2400-14TV--Total Value Bidding): These forms implement the same
statutes, policies, and regulations and collect similar information
from the same applicants. Respondents are bidders on National Forest
System timber and forest product sales.
FS-2400-14BV--Bid for Integrated Resource Timber Contract (2 form
versions: FS-2400-14BV--Best Value, Total Value Bidding; FS-2400-
14BVU--Best Value, Unit Rate Bidding): These forms will be used for
soliciting and receiving bids on contracts advertised for 30 days or
longer and on contracts greater than $10,000 in advertised value.
FS-2400-14sb--Substitute Blocks of FS-2400-14UR, FS-2400-14WA, and
FS-2400-14TV when sale contains specified roads to a higher standard
than is needed to remove timber and the specified road construction
cost is $50,000 or greater, or when sale contains specified roads to a
higher standard than is needed to remove timber and the specified road
construction cost is less than $50,000. Substitution language specific
for Region 10 for small business set aside sales is also included in
FS-2400-14sb.
Affected Public: Private sector.
Estimate of Burden per Response: 31 hours per response.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,824.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.6.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 118,017 hours.
Comment is Invited:
Comment is invited on: (1) whether this collection of information
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the
functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency's
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All comments received in response to this notice, including names
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record.
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission request for
Office of Management and Budget approval.
JoLynn D. Anderson,
Agency Federal Register Officer, Policy Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-25714 Filed 11-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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