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Priority review Notice Amended Consultation

DFARS Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software Information Collection

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Summary

The Defense Acquisition Regulations System is seeking OMB approval for an extension of the information collection regarding rights in technical data and computer software under DFARS. This notice includes updated burden hour estimates and seeks public comment.

What changed

The Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DARS) has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the extension of an existing information collection concerning rights in technical data and computer software, as governed by DFARS Subparts 227.71 and 227.72. The request includes revised estimates for respondent obligations, annual responses, and burden hours, totaling 703,325 hours. This information is necessary for the Department of Defense (DoD) to implement statutory requirements related to recognizing and protecting contractor rights in privately funded developments and ensuring the completeness and accuracy of delivered technical data.

Regulated entities, specifically businesses and non-profit institutions involved in government contracts, are required to provide this information to obtain or retain benefits. The public comment period for this information collection request is open until April 27, 2026. Interested parties should submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or reginfo.gov. The specific DFARS provisions and clauses affected include 252.227-7013, 252.227-7014, 252.227-7017, and 252.227-7018.

What to do next

  1. Submit comments on the proposed information collection by April 27, 2026, via regulations.gov or reginfo.gov.
  2. Review DFARS Subparts 227.71 and 227.72 for information collection requirements related to technical data and computer software rights.

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Defense Acquisition Regulations System has submitted to OMB for clearance the following proposal for collection of information
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by April 27, 2026.

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:

Mr. Reginald T. Lucas, 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) Subpart 227.71, Rights in Technical Data, and Subpart 227.72, Rights
in Computer Software and Computer Software Documentation, and related provisions and clauses of the Defense Federal Acquisition
Regulation Supplement (DFARS); OMB Control Number 0704-0369.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit and not-for-profit institutions.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

Frequency: On occasion.

Number of Respondents: 46,534.

Responses per Respondent: 9, approximately.

Annual Responses: 427,717.

Average Burden per Response: 1.6 hours, approximately.

Annual Response Burden Hours: 647,484.

Annual Recordkeeping Burden Hours: 55,841.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 703,325.

Needs and Uses: DFARS subparts 227.71 and 227.72 prescribe the use of solicitation provisions and contract clauses containing information
collection requirements that are associated with rights in technical data and computer software. DoD needs this information
to implement 10 U.S.C. 3771-3775, Rights in technical data, and 10 U.S.C. 3781-3786, Validation of proprietary data restrictions.
DoD uses the information to recognize and protect contractor rights in technical data and computer software that are associated
with privately funded developments; and to ensure that technical data delivered under a contract are complete and accurate
and satisfy contract requirements. DoD has revised the estimated burden due to use of more current data and correction of
mathematical errors.

DoD uses the following DFARS provisions and clauses in solicitations and contracts to require offerors and contractors to
identify and mark data or software requiring protection from unauthorized use, release, or disclosure in accordance with 10
U.S.C. 3771-3775:

252.227-7013, Rights in Technical Data—Other Than Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

252.227-7014, Rights in Other Than Commercial Computer Software and Other Than Commercial Computer Software Documentation.

252.227-7017, Identification and Assertion of Use, Release, or Disclosure Restrictions.

252.227-7018, Rights in Other Than Commercial Technical Data and Computer Software—Small Business Innovation Research Program
and Small Business Technology Transfer Program.

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 3771(b)(4), DoD may disclose limited rights data to persons outside the Government, or allow
those persons to use data with use, release, or disclosure restrictions, if the recipient agrees not to further release, disclose,
or use the data. Therefore, the clause at DFARS 252.227-7013, Rights in Technical Data—Other Than Commercial Products and
Commercial Services, requires the contractor to identify and mark data or software that it provides with limited rights.

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 3781(b), contractors and subcontractors at any tier must be prepared to furnish written justification
for any asserted restriction on the Government's rights to use or release data. The following DFARS clauses require contractors
and subcontractors to maintain adequate records and procedures to justify any asserted restrictions:

252.227-7019, Validation of Asserted Restrictions—Computer Software.

252.227-7037, Validation of Asserted Restrictions on Technical Data.

In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 3771(b)(2), DoD must protect the rights of contractors that have developed items, components,
or processes exclusively at private expense. Therefore, the clause at DFARS 252.227-7025, Limitations on the Use or Disclosure
of Government-Furnished Information Marked with Restrictive Legends, requires a contractor or subcontractor to submit a use
and nondisclosure agreement when it obtains data from the Government to which the Government has less than unlimited rights.
In addition, DFARS 227.7103-7, Use and nondisclosure agreement, requires intended recipients of technical data or computer
software delivered to the Government with restrictions on use, modification, reproduction, release, performance, display,
or disclosure, to sign the use and nondisclosure agreement at 227.7103-7(c) prior to release or disclosure of the data, unless
the recipient is a Government contractor that requires access to a third party's data or software for the performance of a
Government contract that contains the clause at 252.227-7025, Limitations on Use or Disclosure of Government-Furnished Information
Marked with Restrictive Legends. According to 10 U.S.C. 3771(b)(4), DoD may disclose limited rights data to persons outside
the Government, or allow those persons to use limited rights data, if the recipient agrees not to further use, release, or
disclose the data.

The provision at DFARS 252.227-7028, Technical Data or Computer Software Previously Delivered to the Government, requires
an offeror to identify any technical data or computer software that it previously delivered, or will deliver, under any Government
contract. DoD needs this information to avoid paying for rights in technical data or computer software that the Government
already owns.

DoD Clearance Officer: Mr. Reginald T. Lucas. Requests for copies of the information collection proposal should be sent to Mr. Lucas at whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-information-collections@mail.mil.

Kimberly R. Ziegler, Editor/Publisher, Defense Acquisition Regulations System. [FR Doc. 2026-05935 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P

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Named provisions

Rights in Technical Data Rights in Computer Software and Computer Software Documentation

Classification

Agency
DARS
Comment period closes
April 27th, 2026 (28 days)
Instrument
Notice
Legal weight
Non-binding
Stage
Consultation
Change scope
Substantive
Document ID
OMB Control Number 0704-0369

Who this affects

Applies to
Employers
Industry sector
9261 Government Contracting
Activity scope
Intellectual Property Management Contract Compliance
Geographic scope
United States US

Taxonomy

Primary area
Government Contracting
Operational domain
Legal
Topics
Intellectual Property Information Technology

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