OMB PRA Extension: Foreign Source Purchase Reporting Requirements

Regs.gov: General Services Administration

Published March 27th, 2026

Detected March 30th, 2026

Summary

The GSA Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to OMB a request to extend OMB Control No. 9000-0161, an existing information collection covering FAR provision 52.225-18 (Place of Manufacture). The provision requires offerors of manufactured end products to indicate whether the place of manufacture is predominantly in the United States or outside. The 60-day comment period closes April 29, 2026. Estimated annual burden: 23,134 respondents, 1,295,504 responses, 12,955 burden hours.

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What changed

This notice extends an existing Paperwork Reduction Act information collection (OMB Control No. 9000-0161) covering FAR 52.225-18, Place of Manufacture. The requirement obligates offerors of manufactured end products to indicate in solicitation responses whether products are manufactured predominantly in the US or outside the US, enabling contracting officers to report data in the Federal Procurement Data System for analysis of the Buy American statute and trade agreements. No substantive changes to the collection were made despite one commenter recommending standardized governmentwide collection and reduced duplication; the FAR Council directed feedback to FAR Case 2026-004.

Federal contractors and offerors submitting responses to solicitations for manufactured end products should review the current burden estimates and consider submitting comments by April 29, 2026 via www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. No new compliance obligations are imposed—this is a routine extension of an existing reporting requirement. Contractors should ensure their systems continue to capture place-of-manufacture data in accordance with FAR provision 52.225-18.

What to do next

Submit comments on the proposed extension via www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain by April 29, 2026
Review FAR provision 52.225-18 compliance processes for current efficiency
Monitor FAR Case 2026-004 for related Buy American certification framework changes

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to OMB a request to
review and approve an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding reporting purchases
from sources outside the United States.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before April 29, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for this information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the
search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

FARPolicy@gsa.gov or call 202-969-4075.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. OMB Control Number, Title, and any Associated Form(s)

9000-0161, Reporting Purchases from Sources Outside the United States.

B. Need and Uses

This clearance covers the information that offerors must submit to comply with the FAR provision 52.225-18, Place of Manufacture.
This provision requires offerors of manufactured end products to indicate in response to a solicitation, by checking a box,
whether the place of manufacture of the end products it expects to provide is predominantly manufactured in the United States
or outside the United States. Contracting officers use the information as the basis for entry into the Federal Procurement
Data System for further data on the rationale for purchasing foreign manufactured items. The data is necessary for analysis
of the application of the Buy American statute and the trade agreements.

C. Annual Burden

Respondents: 23,134.

Total Annual Responses: 1,295,504.

Total Burden Hours: 12,955.

D. Public Comment

A 60-day notice was published in the
Federal Register
at 90 FR 59122, on December 18, 2025. A respondent provided several comments; however, they did not result in changes to the
estimated burden.

Summary of Comments

The respondent supports the extension but expressed concern over the use, quality, and consistency of the collected information.
The respondent recommended the following:

Adopt standardized governmentwide collection of place-of-manufacture data.
Improve processes by preventing unnecessary duplication in existing Buy American certification frameworks and providing clearer and more consistent definitions.
Update burden estimates to reflect technological advancements and administrative efficiencies, recognizing the cumulative paperwork impact. Response: The FAR Council acknowledges the comments received. Regarding the comments addressing duplication in existing Buy American certification frameworks, the respondent will have the opportunity to provide feedback when proposed changes to FAR Part 25 are published for comment as part of FAR Case 2026-004, Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul parts 19, 22, 23, and 25.

Obtaining Copies: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the GSA Regulatory Secretariat Division by calling
202-501-4755 or emailing GSARegSec@gsa.gov. Please cite OMB Control No. 9000-0161, Reporting Purchases from Sources Outside the United States.

Janet Fry, Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division, Office of Governmentwide Acquisition Policy, Office of Acquisition Policy,
Office of Governmentwide Policy. [FR Doc. 2026-06072 Filed 3-27-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P