# Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Foreign Availability Procedures
**AGENCY:**
Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice of information collection, request for comment.
**SUMMARY:**
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
**DATES:**
To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before April 27, 2026.
**ADDRESSES:**
Interested persons are invited to submit comments by email to Nancy Kook, IC Liaison, Bureau of Industry and Security, at *[email protected]* or to *[email protected].* Please reference OMB Control Number 0694-0004 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Requests for additional information or specific questions related to collection activities should be directed to Nancy Kook, IC Liaison, Bureau of Industry and Security, phone 202-482-2440 or by email at *[email protected].*
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**I. Abstract**
This information is collected in order to respond to requests by Congress and industry to make foreign availability determinations in accordance with Section 768 of the Export Administration Regulations. Continued restrictions on exports when comparable items are available from uncontrollable sources decreases U.S. competitiveness in high technology industries and undermines U.S. national security interests. Exporters are urged to voluntarily submit data to support the contention that items controlled for export for national security reasons are available-in-fact, from a non-U.S. source, in sufficient quantity and of comparable quality so as to render the control ineffective.
**II. Method of Collection**
Electronic.
**III. Data**
*OMB Control Number:* 0694-0004.
*Form Number(s):* None.
*Type of Review:* Regular submission, extension of a current information collection.
*Affected Public:* Business or other for-profit organizations.
*Estimated Number of Respondents:* 2.
*Estimated Time per Response:* 255.
*Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 510.
*Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* 0.
*Respondent's Obligation:* Voluntary.
*Legal Authority: Section* 1754(a)(6) of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA).
**IV. Request for Comments**
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.