Notice2026-03543

Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Report of the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program

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
February 23, 2026

Issuing agencies

Education Department

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 8470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03543]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2026-SCC-0267]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Report 
of the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
(OSERS), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved 
information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
April 24, 2026.

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the 
information collection listed in this notice, please use <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching the Docket ID number ED-2026-SCC-0267. 
Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal 
mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> 
site is not available to the public for any reason, the Department will 
temporarily accept comments at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f2bbb1b69d91999786bf9580b29796dc959d84"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c050f08232f272938012b3e0c2928622b233a">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include the 
docket ID number and the title of the information collection request 
when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that 
comments submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. 
Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail 
or delivery should be addressed to the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 4A114, Washington, DC 20202-1200.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Jesse Hartle, 202-245-6411.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department, in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to 
comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of 
information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its 
information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting 
burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format. The Department is soliciting comments on the 
proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. 
The Department is especially interested in public comment addressing 
the following issues: (1) is this collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) 
how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department 
minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including 
through the use of information technology. Please note that written 
comments received in response to this notice will be considered public 
records.
    Title of Collection: Report of the Randolph-Sheppard Vending 
Facility Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1820-0009.
    Type of Review: A revision of a currently approved ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 51.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,199.
    Abstract: The Randolph-Sheppard Act (Act) provides persons who are 
blind with remunerative employment and self-support through the 
operation of vending facilities on Federal and other property. The 
program, enacted into law in 1936, was intended to enhance employment 
opportunities for trained, licensed blind persons to operate vending 
facilities. At the outset, the program placed sundry stands in the 
lobbies of Federal office buildings and post offices, selling such 
items as newspapers, magazines, candies, and tobacco products. The law 
was subsequently amended in 1954 and again in 1974 to ensure 
individuals who are blind a priority in the operation of vending 
facilities, which now include cafeterias, military dining facilities, 
snack bars, interstate highway rest areas, and automatic vending 
machines on Federal property. Most States also have programs that 
include State, county, municipal, and private installations.
    The licensing and operation of vending facilities by blind vendors 
under the Act is supported by a combination of VR program funds, State 
appropriations, Federal vending machine income, and levied set asides 
from vendors. As required by 20 U.S.C. 107a(6)(a), the Secretary of 
Education, through the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services 
Administration (RSA), conducts periodic evaluations of the programs 
authorized under the Act. In addition, section 107b(4) requires 
entities designated as the State licensing agency (SLA) to ``make such 
reports in such form and containing such information as the Secretary 
may from time to time require. . . .'' The information to be collected 
is a necessary component of the evaluation process and forms the basis 
for reporting to the Department. The data are also used to understand 
the distribution type and profitability of vending facilities 
throughout the country. Such information is useful in providing 
technical assistance to SLAs and property managers and in monitoring 
the implementation of the program. The Code of Federal Regulations, at 
34 CFR 395.8, specifies that vending machine income received by the 
Date from Federal property managers can be distributed to blind vendors 
in an amount not to exceed the national average income for blind 
vendors. This amount is determined through data collected by the RSA-
15: Report of Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program. In addition, 
the collection of information ensures the provision and transparency of 
activities referenced in 34 CFR 395.12 related to disclosure of program 
and financial information and assists with the requirement in 34 CFR 
395.11 regarding the provision of training.
    This information collection (IC) will be implemented upon the 
expiration of the current IC on October 31, 2026; however, it is 
requested to begin the use of this form and the new instructions for 
the FY 2026 data collection beginning on October 1, 2026. The 51 SLAs 
will submit their data through the RSAMIS on the <a href="http://rsa.ed.gov">rsa.ed.gov</a> website 
during the 90-day data collection period (10/1/2026-12/30/2026).

Ross Santy,
Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2026-03543 Filed 2-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on February 23, 2026.

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