[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 13 (Friday, January 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3505-3506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-901]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 6065]


 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Agency Form 
DS-4127, NEA/PI Online Performance Reporting System (PRS), OMB Control 
Number 1405-XXXX

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. 
The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment in 
the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting 
this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
     Title of Information Collection: NEA/PI Online Performance 
Reporting System (PRS).
     OMB Control Number: none.
     Type of Request: New collection.
     Originating Office: NEA/PI.
     Form Number: DS-4127.
     Respondents: Recipients of NEA/PI grants.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 70 respondents annually.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 280 per year.

[[Page 3506]]

     Average Hours Per Response: 20.
     Total Estimated Burden: 5600 hours per year.
     Frequency: Quarterly.
     Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a 
Benefit.

DATE(S): The Department will accept comments from the public up to 60 
days from January 18, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): Barbara Hibben, 
Acting Deputy Director, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Middle 
East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI), Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, 
NEA Mail Room--Room 6258, 2201 C St., NW., Washington, DC 20520.
     Fax: 202-647-8445
     Hand Delivery or Courier: 2430 E St., NW. (23rd and D St., 
NW.), Navy Hill--SA-4--Central, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20037.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and OMB control number in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection and 
supporting documents, to George Wilson, U.S. Department of State, 
Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI), Bureau of 
Near Eastern Affairs, NEA Mail Room--Room 6258, 2201 C St., NW., 
Washington, DC 20520, who may be reached on 202-776-8641 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments to permit 
the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of our functions.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
technology.
    Abstract of proposed collection:
    Since 2002, MEPI has obligated more than $430 million to over 250 
organizations, who carry out more than 370 projects in support of 
political, economic, education and women's rights reform in 20 
countries of the Middle East and North Africa. As a normal course of 
business and in compliance with OMB Guidelines contained in Circular A-
110, recipient organizations are required to provide, and the U.S. 
State Department required to collect, periodic program and financial 
performance reports. The responsibility of the State Department to 
track and monitor the programmatic and financial performance 
necessitates a database that can help facilitate this in a consistent 
and standardized manner. The MEPI Performance Reporting System (PRS) 
enables enhanced monitoring and evaluation of grants through 
standardized collection and storage of relevant award elements, such as 
quarterly progress reports, workplans, results monitoring plans, grant 
agreements, financial reports, and other business information related 
to MEPI implementers. The PRS streamlines communication with 
implementers and allows for rapid identification of information gaps 
for specific projects.
    Methodology:
    Information will be entered into PRS electronically by respondents. 
Non-respondents will submit their quarterly reports on paper.
    Additional Information:

    Dated: December 20, 2007.
Barbara Hibben,
Acting Deputy Director, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, NEA/PI, 
Department of State.
 [FR Doc. E8-901 Filed 1-17-08; 8:45 am]
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