Notice2024-22953
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 4, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 193 (Friday, October 4, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80983-80986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22953]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA-2024-0007]
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information
Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities
identified in the ICR.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
December 3, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR
should be submitted on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a> to the docket,
Docket No. FRA-2024-0007. All comments received will be posted without
change to the docket, including any personal information provided.
Please refer to the assigned OMB control number (2130-0615) in any
correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in a
subsequent 30-day notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbb1b4bab5b5bef5a8acbabdbdb4a9bf9bbfb4aff5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="345e5b555a5a511a47435552525b465074505b401a535b42">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (757) 897-9908, or Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b6a79676e7f7f6e25667e787862656c7f64654b6f647f256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5637243a33222233783b2325253f38312239381632392278313920">[email protected]</span></a> or
telephone: (571) 609-1285.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to
provide 60-days' notice to the public to allow comment on information
collection activities before seeking OMB approval of the activities.
See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. Specifically,
FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following ICR
regarding: (1) whether the information collection activities are
necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether
the activities will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FRA's
estimates of the burden of the information collection activities,
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to
determine the estimates; (3) ways for FRA to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways
for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on
the public, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5
CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
FRA believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the
administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of
information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, comments
received will advance three objectives: (1) reduce reporting burdens;
(2) organize information collection requirements in a ``user-friendly''
format to improve the use of such information; and (3) accurately
assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce information
requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB
clearance as the PRA requires:
Title: Grants Management Requirements for Federal Railroad
Administration. Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreements.
[[Page 80984]]
OMB Control Number: 2130-0615.
Abstract: FRA solicits grant applications through a multitude of
grant programs for projects including, but not limited to,
preconstruction planning activities, safety improvements, congestion
relief, improvement of grade crossings, rail line relocation, as well
as projects that encourage development, expansion, and upgrades to
passenger and freight rail infrastructure and services. FRA funds
projects that meet FRA and government-wide evaluation standards and
align with the DOT Strategic Plan.
FRA requires systematic and uniform collection and submission of
information, as approved by OMB, to ensure accountability of Federal
assistance provided by FRA. Through this information collection, FRA
will measure Federal award recipients' performance and results,
including expenditures in support of agreed-upon activities and
allowable costs outlined in the standard FRA Notice of Grant Award sent
to the recipients.
This information collection includes OMB-required reports and
documentation, as well as additional forms and submissions to compile
data relevant to addressing FRA's important policy challenges,
promoting cost-effectiveness in FRA programs, and providing effective
oversight of programmatic and financial performance. FRA issues and
manages awards in compliance with 2 CFR part 200; Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements
for Federal Awards.
Specifically, FRA is proposing to add one new form; revise two
existing forms; and discontinue a form that is no longer required, as
outlined below. Additionally, to conform with FRA's policy and Forms
Management Program,\1\ the required prefix, ``6180'', is being added to
the form number of all existing FRA forms that are included in this
information collection, with the exception of FRA F 33.\2\ This change
complies with the formatting requirement issued by FRA Order 1322.1A
that all required public forms include the number 6180 as a prefix as
part of the form number.
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\1\ FRA 1322.1A (May 19, 2010).
\2\ Updating this form with a 6180 prefix would create a
duplication form number as FRA F 6180.33 is an existing public FRA
form. To avoid duplication, FRA is not updating this form to include
the 6180 prefix.
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FRA is proposing to add new form, FRA F 6180.288 titled, Pre-Award
Authority Request Form. Currently, FRA accepts requests for pre-award
authority via a letter from the award recipient. The purpose of FRA F
6180.288 is to allow recipients who would like to incur eligible pre-
award costs to request pre-award authority from FRA by submitting a
standardized form. This form streamlines the information collection
processes and FRA's subsequent review of the request. The form also
directs the recipient to confirm that they understand pre-award costs
are considered at-risk until the grant agreement has been executed, and
that FRA will authorize such pre-award costs only to the extent they
are allowable under the terms of the grant agreement.
FRA is updating existing FRA F 6180.31 Grant Adjustment Request
Form (GARF) to make the following edits: The term ``Grantee'' has been
changed to ``Recipient''. On page 1, the first use of ``NGA'' has been
defined (Notice of Grant Award). At the top of page 3--changing
``regional manager ``to ``project manager''; page 5.--box F, the prompt
has been updated to, ``If this is an OST program (e.g., INFRA, MEGA,
RAISE), has OST approved the adjustment? If no, do not proceed until
you have obtained OST approval''; added ``N/A'' checkbox; changed
footer date to ``(03/2023)''; an ``N/A'' checkbox was added; and page
5, Section V, a financial field has been added next to ``If yes, denote
the amount of needed Federal funds:'', and changed the first signature
required on top of page 6 from ``RFM'' to ``RCFO''. These revisions are
all items that FRA completes, and not the recipient.
FRA is updating existing form FRA F 6180.34 Quarterly Progress
Report with the following edits: Added a certification checkbox after
Field 10 for the grantee to mark. The updated FRA F 6180.34 also
removes questions 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26a, and 26b.
In addition, FRA is requesting to discontinue the use of FRA F
6180.35 Grant Application Form. After careful review, FRA has
determined that this form has not been used in several years and
applications are currently received by SF-424 Application for Federal
Assistance. Continuing to use FRA F 6180.35 creates duplicative burden
for applicants.
In this 60-day notice, FRA has made program changes and adjustments
that have decreased the previously approved burden hours from 31,811
hours to 28,869 hours. Additional grant funding authorized by the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has significantly increased grant
applications and FRA has made adjustments that more accurately reflect
the estimated number of submissions over this three-year collection
period. These adjustments, and the proposed new form, FRA F 6180.288
Pre-Award Authority Request, created an increase in burden hours of
5,558 hours, however the discontinuance of FRA F 6180.35 Grant
Application Form reduced the burden by 8,500 hours. This resulted in an
overall reduction in burden of 2,942 hours.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.30; FRA F 6180.31(revised); FRA F 6180.32; FRA
F 6180.33; FRA F 6180.34 (revised); FRA F 6180.217; FRA F 6180.229; FRA
F 6180.251; FRA F 6180.252; FRA F 6180.288 (new); SF 270; SF 424; SF
424A; SF 424B; SF 424C; SF 424D; SF 425; SF LLL.
Affected Public: Generally, includes States, local governments, and
railroads.
Frequency of Submission: Varied; on occasion/monthly.
Reporting Burden:
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Average Total
Respondent time per annual Total cost
Form name Form No. Grant activity/ Process universe responses burden equivalent in
in hours hours U.S. dollar
.......................... ......................... (A) (B) (C = A * B) (D = C *
wage rates) \3\
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Application for Federal Assistance..... SF 424.................... Application.............. 1000 1.10 1,100 $50,391.00
Budget Information for Non-Construction SF 424A................... Application.............. 500 3.00 1,500 68,715.00
Programs.
Assurances for Non-Construction SF 424B................... Application.............. 500 0.25 125 5,726.25
Programs.
Budget Information for Construction SF 424C................... Application.............. 500 3.00 1,500 68,715.00
Programs.
Assurances for Construction Programs... SF 424D................... Application.............. 500 0.25 125 5,726.25
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities...... SF LLL.................... Application.............. 1000 0.17 170 7,787.70
Applicant Financial Capability FRA F 6180.251............ Application.............. 1000 2.00 2,000 91,620.00
Questionnaire.
[[Page 80985]]
FRA Assurances and Certifications FRA F 6180.30............. Application.............. 1000 0.25 250 11,452.50
Regarding Lobbying; Debarment,
Suspension and Other Responsibility
Matters and Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements.
Pre-Award Authority Request--Project FRA F 6180.288............ Pre-Award................ 100 3.00 300 13,743.00
Sponsors that wish to incur pre-award
expenses can apply for pre-award
authority. (New Form).
Federal Financial Report \4\ (SF 425; SF 425.................... Awards & Maintenance..... 500 1.50 750 34,357.50
new awards).
Federal Financial Report \5\ (SF 425; SF 425.................... Awards & Maintenance..... 864 1.50 1,296 59,369.76
existing grantees).
Request for Advance or Reimbursement... SF 270.................... Awards & Maintenance..... 860 1.00 860 39,396.60
Payment Summary Spreadsheet............ SF 252.................... Awards & Maintenance..... 860 0.50 430 19,698.30
Quarterly Progress Report \6\ (FRA F FRA F 6180.34............. Awards & Maintenance..... 500 2.00 1,000 45,810.00
34; new awards) Revised form.
Quarterly Progress Report \7\ (FRA F FRA F 6180.34............. Awards & Maintenance..... 864 2.00 1,728 79,159.68
34; existing grantees) Revised form.
Grant Adjustment Request Form (GARP) FRA F 6180.31............. Awards & Maintenance..... 212 1.00 212 9,711.72
Revised form.
Service Outcome Agreement (SOA) Annual FRA F 6180.32............. Awards & Maintenance..... 24 1.00 24 1,099.44
Reporting.
Certification of Compliance or Non- Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 15 4.00 60 2,748.60
Compliance with Buy America
Requirements for Steel, Iron,
Construction Materials, and
Manufactured Products being produced
by Awardee (narrative request).
Certification of Compliance with Buy Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 62.00 62 2,840.22
America for Rolling Stock (narrative
request).
Waivers--Requests/Applications for Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 15 80.00 1,200 54,972.00
Waivers, excluding FRA Form 229
(narrative request).
NIST Manufacturing Extension FRA F 6180.229............ Buy America Component.... 15 18.00 270 12,368.70
Partnership Supplier Scouting--FRA--
Item Opportunity Synopsis.
Awardee Investigations (including FRA Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 3 333.00 999 45,764.19
initiated investigations).
Awardee direct reply to FRA after Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 2 1.00 2 91.62
request to conduct investigation of
bidder/offeror (narrative request).
Additional Documents to FRA from Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 4.00 4 183.24
Awardee/Investigated Party (narrative
request).
Transmission of Awardee/Bidder/Offeror Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 4.00 4 183.24
Reply to Petitioner (narrative
request).
Awardee/Investigated Bidder/Offeror Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 8.00 8 366.48
response to Petitioner Comment
(narrative request).
Written request to FRA for information Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 4.00 4 183.24
bearing on substance of investigation
which has been submitted by
petitioner, interested parties, or
awardees (narrative request).
Detailed Statement to FRA Regarding Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 8.00 8 366.48
Confidentiality of Previously
Submitted Information to Agency
(narrative request).
Awardee Determination to make award Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 40.00 40 1,832.40
before resolution of investigation one
of these sections specified reasons
(narrative request).
Notification to FRA by Awardee to make Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 1.00 1 45.81
award during pendency of investigation
(narrative request).
Request to FRA for Reconsideration of Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 80.00 80 3,664.80
Initial Decision by Party Involved in
Investigations (narrative request).
Pre-Award Audit (narrative request).... Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 33.00 33 1,511.73
Final Contract between Awardee and Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 16.00 16 732.96
Bidder/Offeror (narrative request).
Post Award Audit (narrative request)... Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 256.00 256 11,727.36
Rolling Stock Domestic Content Narrative Request......... Buy America Component.... 1 120.00 120 5,497.20
Improvement Plans (narrative request).
Categorical Exclusion Worksheet)....... FRA F 6180.217............ Awards & Maintenance..... 75 156.00 11,700 535,977.00
Final Performance Report............... FRA F 33.................. Closeout................. 79 8.00 632 28,951.92
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Total \8\.......................... .......................... ......................... 11,001 ........... 28,869 1,322,489
responses hours
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[[Page 80986]]
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 11,001.
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\3\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the May 2022
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), using the
median hourly wage rate for a Management Analyst 13-1111 of $45.81.
\4\ An estimated 125 new awardees submit each quarter--125 x 4 =
500 respondents.
\5\ An estimated 216 existing awardees submit each quarter--216
x 4 = 864 respondents.
\6\ An estimated 125 new awardees submit each quarter--125 x 4 =
500 respondents.
\7\ An estimated 216 existing awardees submit each quarter--216
x 4 = 864 respondents.
\8\ Total cost equivalent was rounded.
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Total Estimated Annual Burden: 28,869 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent:
$1,322,489.
FRA informs all interested parties that it may not conduct or
sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, a collection
of information that does not display a currently valid OMB control
number.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.
Christopher S. Van Nostrand
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-22953 Filed 10-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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