[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25821-25822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10115]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 6216]


30-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 comment and submission to OMB of 
proposed collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for approval 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.
     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): Submit comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for up to 30 days from May 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Direct comments and questions to Katherine Astrich, the 
Department of State Desk Officer in the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who 
may be reached at 202-395-4718. You may submit comments by any of the 
following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. You must include the DS form 
number, information collection title, and OMB control number in the 
subject line of your message.
     Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.
     Fax: 202-395-6974.

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 to properly perform 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.

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 the 
empowerment of women and political, economic, and education 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 is entered into PRS electronically by respondents. Non-
respondents submit their quarterly reports on paper.


[[Page 25822]]


    Dated: April 16, 2008.
Barbara Hibben,
Deputy Director, Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative, 
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
 [FR Doc. E8-10115 Filed 5-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-31-P