FR 2021-01334

The document from the Federal Register is a notice regarding a request for the review and renewal of an information collection requirement associated with Standard Form 28, the Affidavit of Individual Surety. This request has been submitted by the Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The form is primarily used to collect information from individuals who wish to act as sureties on government bonds. The agencies require this information to evaluate the acceptability of these individuals as sureties.

General Summary

In essence, the document highlights the ongoing administrative efforts to ensure compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act by renewing the information collection associated with Standard Form 28. The renewal process includes provisions for public comments, thus allowing stakeholders to express concerns or suggestions. Despite receiving feedback from the public that suggested incorporating specific changes to the form, the renewal must proceed because the current approval is close to expiration.

Significant Issues or Concerns

The document does raise some issues and concerns:

• Lack of Specificity: While it mentions that changes to the form are needed to align with updates to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), it does not elaborate on what those changes are or why they are crucial.

• Public Comments: One comment raised a concern about the acceptance of individual surety bonds without sufficient oversight of their asset backing. Although the document mentions this concern, it does not indicate whether there will be any further actions to address these specific issues comprehensively.

• Burden Estimate Clarity: The document references a burden estimate of time (6 hours) and responses (20 annually), but it provides no details on how these figures were calculated, leaving the reader questioning the actual impact on respondents.

Impact on the Public

For the general public, this document represents an element of bureaucratic process designed to maintain orderly and transparent government contracting practices. While it may not seem directly relevant to many individuals, it ensures that when people or businesses do engage in government contracts requiring surety bonds, there are standardized and understandable requirements in place.

Positive and Negative Impacts on Stakeholders

• Positive Impacts: For government agencies and procurement officials, the renewal of this form and its compliance with updated regulations is a key tool in maintaining rigorous standards for security and trustworthiness in government bonding practices. This aids in reducing the risk of financial loss for the government due to unreliable sureties.

• Negative Impacts: On the other hand, those individuals or businesses who serve or wish to serve as individual sureties may face confusion or additional hurdles because of unclear modifications or the potential for future changes to the form. Moreover, without addressing public concerns about the efficacy of individual surety bonds, stakeholders may continue to face ambiguity and challenges in their roles as sureties.

Overall, this document underscores the continuous balancing act between regulatory compliance and adaptive policy-making to reflect the needs and concerns of both government entities and private stakeholders.