81 FR 87947 - Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection of Information: Travel Request and Expense Report Form for TSA Contractors

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 234 (December 6, 2016)

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites public comment on a new Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The collection involves the submission of travel request and reimbursement information by TSA contractors to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for their approval. A TSA contractor will submit the form prior to and upon return from travel.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87947-87948]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29146]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration


Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection 
of Information: Travel Request and Expense Report Form for TSA 
Contractors

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: 60-day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites 
public comment on a new Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted 
below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The 
ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden. The collection involves the submission of travel request and 
reimbursement information by TSA contractors to the Contracting Officer 
Representative (COR) for their approval. A TSA contractor will submit 
the form prior to and upon return from travel.

DATES: Send your comments by February 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or delivered 
to the TSA PRA Officer, Office of Information Technology (OIT), TSA-11, 
Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, 
Arlington, VA 20598-6011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Christina Walsh at the above 
address, or by telephone (571) 227-2062.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is 
not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it 
displays a valid OMB control number. The ICR documentation is available 
at http://www.reginfo.gov. Therefore, in preparation for OMB review and 
approval of the following information collection, TSA is soliciting 
comments to--
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed information requirement is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

Purpose of Data Collection

    Pursuant to the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), TSA has authority 
to implement statutory requirements and policies for travel by Federal 
civilian employees and others authorized to travel at government 
expense. See FTR, 41 CFR 300. See also 5 U.S.C. 5707 (Travel, 
Transportation, and Subsistence).\1\ Consistent with this authority, 
TSA created the Contractor Travel Request and Expense Report form, TSA 
Form 308. The form allows a TSA Contracting Officer Representative to 
preauthorize reimbursable travel for a contractor intending to conduct 
travel determined to be a reimbursable expense under the contract. 
Requiring preauthorization for travel ensures the requested travel is 
within scope of the contract and any costs incurred are in compliance 
with the FTR. Additionally, the form may be used post-travel to verify 
that the invoiced-amount is consistent with the preauthorized costs, 
which ensures government dollars used to fund the travel are not 
misused and that the government does not overpay for any reimbursable 
travel.
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    \1\ Visit www.gsa.gov/federaltravelregulation for text and other 
information regarding the FTR. Under the FTR, a Federal traveler is 
a person who travels on a Government aircraft and who is either: (1) 
A civilian employee in the Government service; (2) a member of the 
uniformed or foreign services of the U.S. Government; or (3) a 
contractor working under a contract with an executive agency. See 41 
CFR 300-3.1.
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Description of Data Collection

    The data collected on the Contractor Travel Request and Expense 
Report includes basic identifying information for the individual 
traveling, such as full name of the traveler, travel date(s) and 
location(s), departure information,

[[Page 87948]]

justification for travel, all costs associated with the travel, name 
and contract number for the vendor and signature of the requesting 
vendor. The travel-related submission policy for the TSA program office 
using the form will determine whether the person completing and 
submitting the form is an individual from the vendor's administrative 
staff or the traveler. The completed form is submitted to the 
contractor via email or other electronic format and does not require 
password protection. The data will be collected, as necessary, when 
travel-related expenses under a contract meet the stipulated 
requirements for reimbursable-travel. The total annual number of 
respondents is estimated to be 450 and the annual burden hours is 
estimated to be 112.5 hours per year.

Use of Results

    TSA will use these results as a basis for authorizing travel before 
departure and as a means to track expenditures for contractor-
reimbursable travel. Reviewing the information collected will ensure 
that travel remains within scope of the contract and that any costs 
incurred are in compliance with the FTR. By continuing to track the 
expenditures annually and by contract, TSA can improve budgeting for 
travel and have a more informed set of requirements for future 
contracts. Failure to collect this information could lead to 
unauthorized expenditures by the contractor and/or incorrect budget 
request submissions.

    Dated: November 30, 2016.
Christina Walsh,
TSA Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2016-29146 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
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