[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 222 (Monday, November 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69504-69505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29202]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DoC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: Minority Business Development Agency.
    Title: Performance Database (formerly the Business Development 
Report (BDR) System), Phoenix (formerly Automated Business Enterprise 
Locator System (ABELS)) and the Opportunity Database Systems.
    Agency Form Number: None.
    OMB Approval Number: Formerly 0640-0002.
    Type of Request: Revision, with change, of a previously approved 
collection for which approval has expired.
    Burden: 50, 1050 and 1,570 hours annually, respectively.
    Number of Respondents: 50, 1,050 and 1,570, respectively.
    Avg. Hours per Response: 3-15 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The purpose of the Performance, Phoenix and 
Opportunity databases is to provide an electronic system for (1) 
entering the accomplishments (Performance) of MBDA's funded 
organizations, (2) entering minority-owned businesses doing business in 
the United States (Phoenix), and matching contract opportunities with 
eligible minority companies listed in the Phoenix database 
(Opportunity).
    Specific uses of the on-line Performance Database include:

The documentation of actual performance accomplishments of each funded 
organization compared with stated goals in its cooperative agreement 
with MBDA. The Performance database permits tracking of each funded 
organization's goals using a number of general and specific variables. 
The flexibility of the database permits new variables to be added as 
needed.

The verification of the summary performance accomplishments cited in 
narrative reports. Based on the results, performance data and other 
qualitative information obtained during MBDA quarterly monitoring will 
determine whether a specific cooperative agreement should be terminated 
or other actions are needed to improve performance.

The advantage of daily tracking of performance is that it will enable 
managers not only to terminate non-performing funded organizations but, 
more importantly, to address performance problems early in their 
development.

Identifies minority business clients receiving Agency-sponsored 
business development services in the form of management and technical 
assistance, the kind of assistance each receives, and the impact of 
that assistance on the growth and profitability of the client firms.

The preparation of special reports analyzing program activities and 
services by business types, industry trends, business starts, 
geographic profiles, successful capital and marketing opportunities, 
and other program elements.

The system permits client identification using a unique computer-
assigned identifier for each funded organization. This identification 
is related to all client data fields. Number of clients assisted, types 
of assistance, number of hours of assistance, dollar amounts of loans, 
bonds and contracts, as well as a number of other variables are 
available for analysis on each client and funded organization.

    MBDA requires this information to monitor, evaluate, and plan 
Agency programs which effectively enhance the development of the 
minority business sector.
    Using information collected, MBDA produces ad hoc and recurring 
reports on its funded organizations, client services activities and 
accomplishments. Because MBDA's major funded activity is client 
service, the reports generated are a primary agency reporting and 
planning mechanism.
    The purpose of this collection will be to establish a framework for 
assessing and evaluating projects' performance.
    The Phoenix database constitutes the Minority Business Development 
Agency's (MBDA) listing of minority-owned businesses doing business in 
the United States. The Opportunity database contains public and private

[[Page 69505]]

contract and other opportunities. The system matches contract 
opportunities with eligible minority companies listed in the Phoenix 
database. The information entered in the Phoenix database will be used 
to assist minority enterprises with marketing of goods and services.
    The purpose for collecting this information is to enable entities 
with an interest in contracting with a minority firm to identify 
potential minority contractors according to various criteria. MBDA uses 
the Phoenix database in conjunction with the Opportunity database to 
refer listed minority companies contracts and other business 
opportunities via email and fax. The Opportunity database matches 
contract opportunities with eligible minority companies listed in the 
Phoenix database. Specific information on the Opportunity form, such as 
``key words'' and NAICS codes, are compared with like information 
contained in the Phoenix database of minority companies. When a match 
is made, the eligible minority companies will be notified of any 
contract opportunity and the offeror of the opportunity will be 
notified of any eligible minority companies. These systems reside on 
Y2K (year 2000) compliant platforms connected to the service-provider 
network via the Internet.
    Affective Public: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit and 
not-for-profit institutions.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondents Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: Mr. David Rostker (202) 395-3895.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek , Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-3129, U.S. Department of Commerce, Electronic 
Government Division, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Room 
6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Dave Rostker at OMB.

    Dated: November 5, 2002.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-29202 Filed 11-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P