[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 75 (Monday, April 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20852-20853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8723]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69 , No. 75 / Monday, April 19, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 20852]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education and Economics; 
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Collect Information

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 
CFR part 1320 (60 FR 4497, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
Economics Research Service's (ERS) intention to request approval to 
establish an information collection for reviewers of proposals for 
Federal financial assistance.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by June 18, 
2004, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments to Ken Kessler, Agreements Analyst, 
Extramural Agreements Division, Agricultural Research Service, USDA-MS 
5110, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-5110. Telephone: (301) 
504-1148, E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Extramural Agreements Division, Phone: 
(301) 504-1147, FAX: (301)504-1262.

Additional Information or Comments: Contact Ken Kessler, Agreements 
Analyst, Agricultural Research Service, USDA-MS 5110, 5601 Sunnyside 
Ave., Beltsville, Md 20705-5110. Telephone: (301) 504-1148, E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FANRP Application Kit.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: Not Applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection for three years.
    Abstract: The ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program 
(FANRP) will address the research needs of the United States Department 
of Agriculture's (USDA) food assistance and nutrition programs. Through 
the research gathered by this program the agency intends to analyze: 
diet and nutritional outcomes of needy Americans; food program 
targeting and delivery; and program dynamics and administration. The 
USDA programs affected by this research will include the Food Stamp 
Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants 
and Children; and child nutrition programs, such as the National School 
Lunch Program and School Breakfast Programs. FANRP research on food 
assistance programs is designed to meet the critical information needs 
of the Administration, Congress, program managers, policy officials, 
clients, the research community, and the public at large. FANRP 
research is conducted through internal research at ERS and through a 
portfolio of external research. Through partnerships with other 
agencies and organizations, FANRP also enhances national surveys to 
maintain a food assistance dimension.
    To accomplish this research, ERS will be conducting a competitive 
grant program through which both grants and cooperative agreements will 
be offered to accomplish the program objectives. In order determine 
those entities most qualified to perform the research, ERS will solicit 
applications for grants through the use of the FANRP Application Kit, 
which is the subject of this information collection approval. Before 
awards can be made, certain information is required from applicants as 
part of an overall proposal package. In addition to project summaries, 
descriptions of the research, extension, or education efforts, 
literature reviews, curricula vitae of project directors, and other, 
relevant technical aspects of the proposed project, supporting 
documentation of an administrative and budgetary nature also must be 
provided.
    Because of the nature of the competitive, peer-reviewed process, it 
is important that information from applicants be available in a 
standardized format to ensure equitable treatment. Each year, 
solicitations will be issued requesting proposals for targeted areas of 
food and nutrition research following formats outlined in proposal 
application guidelines accompanying each program's solicitation.
    The Application Kit is divided into separate sections designed to 
address the specifics of the research being proposed. The Application 
Kit has been designed to capture the following information: Application 
Cover Page--The title of the proposal, the Program to which you are 
applying, the priority research being addressed, the names of the 
principle Investigator(s) and the project director, the type of 
institution that is applying, telephone and fax numbers of the 
principle investigator(s) and signature and date of the application; 
Table of Contents--a table which will direct readers to the pages for 
all sections; Project Summary--a description of the overall project 
goals and supporting objectives, and the plans to accomplish the 
project; Project Description (containing the following sections) 
Introduction--a statement of the supporting objectives or research 
questions of the proposed project, descriptions of the most significant 
work in the field under consideration including the work of key project 
personnel and the current status of research in the field; Rationale 
and Significance--a concise presentation of the rationale behind the 
proposed research and relationship between the project objectives and 
the potential long-term efficiencies of the USDA's food and nutrition 
programs; Research Methods--a statement of the hypotheses being asked 
and the methodology being applied to the proposed project; a 
description of the research proposed in the sequence in which it is to 
be performed, the techniques to be used in carrying out the proposed 
project including the feasibility of the techniques, an explanation of 
the data collection methods, the results expected, means by which data 
will be analyzed or interpreted, discussion of relevant variables, 
possible application of results, pitfalls that may be encountered, 
limitations to proposed procedures, and a tentative work plan for 
conducting major steps; Citations to Project Description--citations for 
all

[[Page 20853]]

publication referenced in the proposal including titles and all co-
authors; Collaborative Arrangements--a full explanation of any 
collaboration by the principle investigators and evidence that the 
collaborators are willing to provide the assistance; Vitae and 
Publications--a presentation of the academic and research credentials 
including education employment, professional history, honors and 
awards; and, a chronological list of all publications in referenced 
journals for the past 5 years; Budget (ARS-455)--a detailed request of 
the support for the overall project including salaries and wages, 
nonexpendable equipment, materials and supplies, domestic travel, 
publication costs, computer costs other direct and indirect costs; 
Indirect Cost Rate Schedule--a copy of the entity's indirect cost rate 
schedule that reports the applicant's federally negotiated audited 
rate; Current and Pending Support--a statement of the contribution that 
the proposed work will make to the applicant's overall research 
program; Additions to the Project Description--other information 
necessary to support data provided in other sections of the 
application/proposal.
    In addition to the above referenced Application Kit, ERS will 
utilize the following forms: SF-424, SF-424a ``application for Federal 
Assistance,'' SF-424b ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs,'' SF-269 
``Financial Status Report,'' ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement.'' 
We have determined that the standardized public burden hours associated 
with these forms is valid and appropriate for use with this information 
collection, and those standard hours will be added to the burden hours 
associated with the Application Kit.
    Estimate of Burden: Application Kit--24.75 hours; SF-424 
``Application For Federal Assistance''--.75 hours; SF-424a ``Budget 
Information--Non-construction Programs''--3.0 hours; SF-424b--
``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs''--.25 hours; SF-269 
``Financial Status Report''--.50 hours; SF-270 ``Request for Advance or 
Reimbursement''--1.0 hours. The public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 30.25.
    Respondents: Public and private institutions of higher education, 
State agricultural experiment stations, Federal, State and County 
agencies, private organizations, corporations, and individuals that 
meet criteria set forth in program regulations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 60 applicants are 
expected to submit proposals annually for this program.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses Per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Application Cover 
Page and associated forms referenced above--60 (applicants) X 30.25 
(estimate of burden) hours = 1,815 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    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 will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (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 those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments should be 
sent to the address stated in the preamble. All responses to this 
notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. 
All comments will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 9, 2004.
Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 04-8723 Filed 4-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P