[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41967-41968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19917]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket Number: DOT-OST-2009-0185]


Request for OMB Clearance of a New Emergency Information 
Collection; New Information Collection: ARRA Bonding Assistance Program 
Reimbursable Fee Program

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), Department of Transportation 
(DOT).

ACTION: Notice; Letter of public notification of the American Recovery 
and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, (Pub. L. 111-5) DBE Bonding 
Assistance Program. This request is being

[[Page 41968]]

submitted to OMB via an Emergency Information Collection Request.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces the 
Information Collection Request on DOT Form F4504--Application for 
Reimbursement of Bond Fees for this new ARRA DOT program. The notice is 
being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for Emergency 
Action and approval.
    In an effort to assist the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises 
(DBEs) obtain transportation and infrastructure contracts at the local, 
state and federal levels, the Department of Transportation's (DOT) 
Office of the Secretary, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization (OSDBU) has established under the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the DBE ARRA Bonding Assistance 
Program (BAP) Reimbursement Fee Program This program will assist DBEs 
become more competitive and perform on more transportation 
infrastructure projects receiving ARRA funding assistance from any DOT 
mode of transportation, such as Federal Highway Administration, (FHWA), 
Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and the Maritime 
Administration (MARAD). The DBE ARRA BAP is financial assistance in the 
form of a bonding fee cost reimbursement. DOT will directly reimburse 
DBEs the premiums paid to the surety company, usually between 2-3% of 
the total bond amount, for performance, payment or bid/proposal bonds. 
In the event the DBE also obtains a bond guarantee from Small Business 
Administration's (SBA) Surety Bond Guarantee Program (SBGP), the DOT 
will also reimburse the DBE for the small business concern (principal) 
fee of .729% of the contract price.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Strine, Manager, 202-366-1930, 
Financial Assistance Division, Office of Small and Disadvantaged 
Business Utilization, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W56-493, Washington, 
DC 20590. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: OMB Control Number 2105-XXXX.
    Title: ARRA Bonding Assistance Program Reimbursement Fee Program.
    Form Number: DOT F 4504.
    Affected Public: Disadvantaged Business Enterprises--certified by 
Title 49 CFR, Part 26.
    Frequency: One-time.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 2 hours.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 3,540 hours.
    Abstract: ARRA Bonding Assistance Program Reimbursable Fee Program.
    The information collected will be from the DBE working on 
transportation or infrastructure ARRA funded project. The information 
collected will be used by DOT OSDBU to verify eligibility, process the 
application, and disburse the reimbursement. The information being 
collected relates the name of the company; full street address; the Dun 
and Bradstreet Number (DUNS); Central Contractor Registration along 
with Bank information to process their payment; DOT transportation 
related contract information; supporting documentation that shows the 
federal project number, bond information along with a copy of their 
bond; and proof of payment of the fee. The applicant's eligibility is 
determined by submitting a copy of a DBE certification and/or annual 
affidavit, if applicable, for bonding fee reimbursement for specific 
bonds. This will be verified by OSDBU staff as part of the application 
process. Instructions are attached along with a copy of sample letter 
to show how to obtain the federal project number. This information is 
necessary to be able to reimburse the DBE the financial assistance for 
the bond fees.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 10, 2009.
Tracey M. Jackson,
Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-19917 Filed 8-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P