Notices. Notice

510 words·~2 min read·/register/2023/08/30/2023-18633

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BILLING CODE 5001-10-P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Defense Acquisition Regulations System [Docket DARS-2023-0020; OMB Control Number 0750-0002] Information Collection; Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services AGENCY: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Defense Acquisition Regulations System has submitted to OMB for clearance, the following proposal for extension of a collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by September 29, 2023. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to *https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.* Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. You may also submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by the following method:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: *https://www.regulations.gov.* Follow the instructions for submitting comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Duncan, 571-372-7574, or *whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-information-collections@mail.mil.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: *Title and OMB Number:* Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS); DFARS Part 204, Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services; OMB Control Number 0750-0002. *Affected Public:* Businesses or other for-profit and not-for-profit entities. *Respondent's Obligation:* Required to obtain or retain benefits. *Frequency:* On occasion. *Number of Respondents:* 3,446. *Annual Responses:* 172,320. *Annual Response Burden Hours:* 62,085. *Needs and Uses:* The collection of information is necessary to protect against foreign interference with DoD telecommunications, which could jeopardize our military communications, the lives of our warfighters, and our national security.

The collection of information is essential to the mission of the agencies to ensure DoD does not purchase prohibited equipment, systems, and services, and can respond appropriately if any such purchases are not identified until after delivery or use. This requirement supports implementation of section 1656(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018. Section 1656 prohibits DoD from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service to carry out the nuclear deterrence mission and homeland defense mission that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as a part of any system.

This requirement is implemented in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) through the provision at 252.204-7017, Prohibition on the Acquisition of Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services—Representation, and the clause at 252.204-7018, Prohibition on Acquisition of Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services. This clearance covers the following requirements: • DFARS 252.204-7017 requires that if an offeror provides an affirmative representation under the provision at 252.204-7016, Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services—Representation, that offeror is required to represent whether it will or will not provide under the contract covered defense telecommunications equipment or services. • DFARS 252.204-7018 requires contractors to report covered telecommunications equipment, systems, and services identified during performance of a contract. *DoD Clearance Officer:* Ms.

Angela Duncan. Requests for copies of the information collection proposal should be sent to Ms. Duncan at *whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-information-collections@mail.mil.* Jennifer D. Johnson, Editor/Publisher, Defense Acquisition Regulations System. [FR Doc. 2023-18633 Filed 8-29-23; 8:45 am]