Cost Study for Single-Family Value-in-Place (VIP)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

Cost Study for Single-Family Value-in-Place (VIP)

ACTION: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity; Comment

Request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on

proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 9,

1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions

should be directed to Masato Asanuma, Bureau of the Census,

Manufacturing and Construction Division, Room 2136, FOB 4, Washington,

DC 20233-6900, (301) 457-1241.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Census Bureau produces a monthly data series on the value of

private single-family residential construction put in place. Estimates

for the series are derived from the Bureau's Survey of Construction

(SOC) by using a mathematical model and construction progress patterns.

The application of the mathematical model requires us to subtract out

nonconstruction costs from sales price or contract value that we

collect for the SOC and add construction costs not normally included in

the contract value. The factors representing these corrections to the

cost need to be updated in order to bring them up to date with today's

housing market and recent innovations in construction. The factors

currently in use were derived from two studies conducted in the early

1980's. The Census Bureau will conduct a special one-time study to re-

estimate these factors based on current single-family construction

data.

II. Method of Collection

A subset of the SOC respondents for single-family housing

completions will be asked to provide the Census Bureau with up to nine

construction cost items. The sample will be drawn from the single

family units in the SOC that have been completed. The sample of 7,600

SOC respondents will be spread over a period of 13 months. The study is

a mailout/mailback survey with telephone followups for nonresponse and

data review. The respondents will be initially contacted within two

months of the reported completion of the SOC.

III. Data

OMB Number: Not available.

Form Number: C-702(S) and C-702(C).

Type of Review: Regular.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,600.

Estimated Time Per Response: 12 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,520.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $12,000.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden

(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on respondents, including through the use of

automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information

collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: July 3, 1996.

Linda Engelmeier,

Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 96-17543 Filed 7-9-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P