[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61376-61377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21308]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Office of Small Business Programs; Proposed Collection; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOL.

ACTION: Notice; opportunity to comment on a proposed collection of 
information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of 
information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that 
requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden 
(time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are 
clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on 
respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Small 
Business Programs (OSBP) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
continuation of the information collections contained in the Small 
Business Programs Information Management System. A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
employee listed below in the ADDRESSES Section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES Section below on or before December 31, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Brenda R. Berry, Management Analyst, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Office of Small Business Programs, Room C-2313, 
200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; E-Mail: 
[email protected]; Telephone: 202-693-6479; Fax: 202-693-6486 (these 
are not a toll free numbers).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The employee listed above in the 
ADDRESSES Section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Federal agencies are required to promote procurement opportunities 
for small, small disadvantaged, and 8(a) businesses by the Small 
Business Act, as amended, (Public Law 95-507, Sections 8 and 15) and 
Public Law 100-656 (Sections 502 and 503). The Federal Acquisition 
Streamlining Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-355) mandates similar efforts for 
small women-owned businesses. Public Law 106-50 created the program for 
service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Public Law 105-135 
established the HubZone program. The Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121) requires Federal 
agencies to make available to small businesses compliance guides and 
assistance on the implementation of regulations and directives of 
enforcement laws they administer. Executive Orders 13256, 13230, and 
13270 direct Federal agencies to implement programs, respectively, 
regarding Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Educational 
Excellence for Hispanic Americans, and Tribal Colleges and Universities 
that are administered by the respective White House Initiative offices 
(in the U.S. Department of Education). Executive Order 13125 directs 
Federal agencies to ensure that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
are afforded opportunity to fully participate in Federal Programs. 
Further, Executive Order 13170 requires that Departments take a number 
of actions to increase outreach and maximize participation of small 
disadvantaged businesses in their procurements. Executive Order 13157 
strengthens the executive branch's commitment to increased 
opportunities for women-owned small businesses. Accordingly, the Small 
Business Programs Information Management System is needed to gather, 
document, and manage identifying information for four Office of Small 
Business Programs constituency groups: Small Businesses; Trade 
Associations; Minority Colleges and Universities; and Tribal 
Governments. Via this system, the constituent groups will have the 
opportunity to voluntarily provide to OSBP information about their 
organizations. The information will be used by OSBP and DOL agencies to 
maximize communication with the respective constituency groups 
regarding relevant OSBP and DOL programs, initiatives, and procurement 
opportunities; to track and solicit feedback on customer service to 
group members; and to facilitate registration of group members for 
OSBP-sponsored activities.

II. Review Focus

    The Office of Small Business Programs is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate 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;
     Evaluate 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;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and 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, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    Currently, the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed continuation of the 
information collections contained in the Small Business Programs 
Information Management System. The estimated public burden associated 
with this collection of information is summarized below:
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Office of Small Business Programs.
    Title: Small Business Program Information Management System.
    OMB Number: 1290-0002.
    Agency Form Number: None.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; and State, Local, or Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondents: 500.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,000.
    Frequency: On Occasion.
    Estimated Average Time Per Response: 5-7 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 160 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the

[[Page 61377]]

information collection request; they also will become a matter of 
public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 24th day of October 2007.
Jose A. Lira,
Director, Office of Small Business Programs.
[FR Doc. E7-21308 Filed 10-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-P