Overview
Title
60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Supply Chain Risk Management Questionnaire; OMB Control No.: 2535-NEW
Agencies
ELI5 AI
HUD wants to hear from people about a new set of questions they want to ask companies they work with, to make sure nothing bad happens with the things they buy, kind of like making sure all your toys are safe and strong. They're asking everyone to share ideas on how these new questions can be useful and better, but they haven't yet said how much time it will take or how many people need to answer these questions.
Summary AI
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a 60-day notice seeking public comments on a new information collection initiative called the Supply Chain Risk Management Questionnaire. This is part of HUD's effort to evaluate and enhance its supply chain risk management practices for current and future vendors. The information collection aligns with several executive orders and federal guidelines focused on cybersecurity and supply chain security. HUD is inviting feedback on the necessity, impact, and potential improvements to the proposed information collection.
Abstract
HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces a new initiative to gather public opinion over a period of 60 days. It seeks feedback on a proposed data collection tool, the Supply Chain Risk Management Questionnaire. This questionnaire is designed to assess the supply chain risk management practices of HUD's current and potential information and communications technology vendors. The initiative is part of HUD's broader effort to align with federal mandates to strengthen cybersecurity and supply chain security protocols.
Summary and Purpose
This notice serves as an open invitation for public and stakeholder comments on the necessity and utility of the proposed questionnaire. HUD is particularly interested in understanding how this information collection could improve its internal processes and enhance the security of its supply chain activities. The initiative is driven by recent executive orders and federal guidelines aimed at bolstering national cybersecurity and supply chain security, reflecting a government-wide push towards more resilient and secure procurement practices.
Concerns and Issues
Several concerns arise from the document. Notably, the document does not provide a detailed analysis of the burden—both in terms of time and expense—that respondents might face when completing the questionnaire. Without this estimate, stakeholders are left uncertain about the practical implications of complying with the information request. Additionally, there is a lack of specific detail on how HUD's existing processes will be improved by this initiative or what shortcomings it seeks to address. This absence of clarity may hinder public and stakeholder engagement.
Furthermore, it remains unclear how the feedback collected from public comments will be used to influence the final design or implementation of the questionnaire. The document references several executive orders and federal guidelines but fails to spell out the precise policies or procedures that will be modified or updated as a result of this initiative. Finally, the document does not provide an estimated number of respondents or the frequency of the proposed information collection, making it difficult to gauge the initiative's scope and reach.
Potential Impact on the Public
The proposed initiative has the potential to positively impact the public by ensuring that HUD's procurement processes are better protected against cybersecurity threats and supply chain vulnerabilities. By collecting detailed information from vendors, HUD can identify potential risks early and take appropriate mitigation actions, ultimately leading to more secure and reliable services.
Impact on Stakeholders
For vendors, particularly those involved in information and communications technology, this initiative could bring both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, compliance with the questionnaire could be seen as a mark of resilience and reliability, potentially enhancing a vendor's competitive standing. On the other hand, the absence of clarity on the burden of response and the potential need for substantial compliance efforts could impose additional operational costs.
In conclusion, while the HUD's effort represents a proactive step towards securing governmental supply chains, the document would benefit from greater clarity and specificity to facilitate a more informed engagement from stakeholders. Such detail would help ensure that the public and vendors can fully understand and contribute to the development of HUD's supply chain risk management practices.
Issues
• The document does not provide a detailed estimate of the burden in terms of time or cost expected from the respondents of the Supply Chain Risk Management Questionnaire.
• There is no specific information on how the HUD SCRM Program will enhance current supply chain management processes, nor is there a discussion of the current shortcomings it aims to address.
• It is unclear how the feedback received from public comments will be integrated or used to modify the proposed information collection process.
• The document discusses Executive Orders and federal guidance but does not detail any specific policies or procedures that will be updated or changed as part of this initiative.
• The description of the need for the information and its proposed use is broad; more specific examples or scenarios where the questionnaire would be beneficial may enhance clarity and public understanding.
• No estimated number of respondents or frequency of information collection is provided, which hinders a full understanding of the scope and scale of the proposed initiative.