Supporting Statement

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Data collected on SF 17 is used for determining and assessing for ship

construction; ship repair and services rendered to Maritime and Navy

ships. The responsibilities for data collection relative to shipbuilding

capabilities was initially assigned by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936

(amended 1970). Letter of Agreement dated 9 November 1955, between

the Department of Defense and Department of Commerce established the

Office of the Coordinator of Ship Repair and Conversion for the

Department of Defense and the Department of Commerce. The

responsibilities of the Office of the Coordinator were vested in the Naval

Sea Systems Command (Formerly the Bureau of Ships). One of the

functions of the Office of the Coordinator is to maintain adequate records

covering available facilities and capacities of the shipbuilding and ship

repair yards.

2. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA 04Z) and the Maritime

Administration will be the organizations using the data provided on

Standard Form 17. NAVSEA 04Z is responsible for conducting Master

Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA)/Agreement for Boat Repair (ABR) and

Pre-award surveys. The data is used to determine the eligibility of a

private ship repair company to do Navy repair work or its capability to

perform a specific ship repair contract. The Merchant Marine Act of

1936, as amended, gives Maritime Administration the responsibility for

surveying and keeping records on private shipyards.

3. The applicant can only provide the information required. Our efforts have

not discovered a method that would reduce the burden. The form is

available online, fillable, and can be submitted electronically, although

most choose not to submit in that mode.

4. A survey of other existing forms was conducted. The study concluded

that no single form in use would duplicate this information. The data

required is not available from any source other than the respondents.

5. There is not a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small

entities.

6. The Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended, requires an annual survey

be conducted. No other information source provides a comprehensive

listing of private sector ship repair firms’ physical capabilities and

limitations including launching ways, drydocks, piers, shops, cranes, work-

force, etc., among other items.

7. There are no special circumstances for this collection. Collection is

Consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8. A copy of the Notice published in the Federal Register (Vol. 72, No. 32

page 7624, dated February 16, 2007) is attached. No public comments

were received. Supervisors of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair have

direct contact with the respondents and hold periodic discussions to assess

the type of information requested. They have received no complaints or

recommendations for changing the collection instrument.

9. No payment or gift will be provided to respondents.

9. The data is considered “Business Sensitive” and is stored in locked file

cabinets. Information no longer used is disposed of in accordance with

agency policy regarding the disposition of sensitive material.

9. None of the questions are of a personal or private nature.

9. For the purpose of this review, costs calculations include only private

sector civilians.

1. The hour burden information collection on the civilian

Portion is as follows:

Respondents: 130

Response time: 4 hours*

Response frequency: Annual

Burden hours: 520

*The individual burden was based on an estimate industry average.

Depending on the optional comments provided, the hour burden for

individual respondents could vary by plus or minus ½ hour.

2. The estimated annual cost to each respondent is

approximately $116.00, allowing for 2 ½ hours of mid-

level managerial time to compile the information (avg.

wage rate/hr $34.33), and 1 ½ hours of clerical time to

prepare and forward the information requested (avg. wage

rate/hr $19.47). An estimated cost for mailing ($.81) is

also included in the total.

9. There will be no additional cost burden to respondents.

9. Estimated annualized cost to the Federal Government are as follows:

Operating Expense:

Support Staff $13,774*

Overhead $ 2,755**

Production/Distribution $ 3,145***

Total $19,674

* Includes approximately 330 professional hours x average

professional rate/hr of $41.74

** Overhead is calculated using 20% of the support staff cost

*** Production/Distribution includes the estimated material cost

associated with printing and mailing the product.

9. This is an extension of a previously approved collection for which

approval will expire.

9. The results of this information collection will not be published.

9. Approval is not sought for avoiding display of the expiration date for

OMB approval.

9. There will be no exceptions to the certification statement identified in Item

19, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions”, of OMB

Form 83-I.

B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

The collecting of this information does not employ statistical methods.

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