[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 68392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22429]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 217 / Thursday, November 10, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 68392]]



AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT


Notice of Public Information Collections Being Reviewed by the 
U.S. Agency for International Development; Comments Requested

SUMMARY: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is making 
efforts to reduce the paperwork burden. USAID invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following proposed and/or continuing information collections, as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act for 1995. Comments are 
requested concerning: (a) Whether the proposed or continuing 
collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the burden estimates; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES: Submit comments on or before January 9, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly Johnson, Bureau for 
Management, Office of Administrative Services, Information and Records 
Division, U.S. Agency for International Development, Room 2.07-106, 
RRB, Washington, DC 20523, (202) 712-1365 or via e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB No.: OMB 0412-NEW.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Title: Minority Serving Institution Database.
    Type of Review: New Information Collection.
    Purpose: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) 
requests comment on its proposal to expand its existing automated 
Extranet database to include voluntary registration of U.S. Minority 
Serving Institutions (MSIs). The existing application, the Small 
Business Resource Database (SBRD) was placed into production at the 
beginning of Fiscal year 2004. Small and Small and Disadvantaged 
Business interested in pursuing contracts with USAID may register with 
the Agency on a voluntary basis. These data are then made available via 
a secure Extranet conduit to Agency Program, Technical and Contract 
Officers worldwide. The Agency experienced a significant improvement in 
the amount of contracting with these entities in Fiscal Year 2004, 
versus USAID's performance in 2003, and in comparison to the averages 
for the Executive Branch of the Federal government. The Agency's 
performance in this regard is published at the following URL: http://www.sba.gov/GC/goads/Goaling-Report-08-21-2005.pdf.
    USAID proposes to capture the voluntary registration of Minority 
Serving Institutions (MSIs), who may be interested in pursuing 
contracts, grants and cooperative agreements with USAID in furtherance 
of the Agency's international development initiatives. The existing 
SBRD application, and the Extranet conduit for disseminating these data 
within USAID would be utilized for this purpose. This action would 
further the grant-making process and potentially benefit several of the 
three hundred and fifty-one U.S. MSIs. Additional information regarding 
the SBRD, which is presently in production, without the proposed 
expanded registration capability, may be reviewed at the following URL: 
http://www.usaid.gov/business/small_business/vendordb.html.
    Annual Reporting Burden:
     Respondents: 351.
     Total annual responses: 351.
     Total annual hours requested: 87.75 hours.

    Dated: November 2, 2005.
Joanne Paskar,
Chief, Information and Records Division, Office of Administrative 
Services Bureau for Management.
[FR Doc. 05-22429 Filed 11-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6116-01-M