[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54957-54958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21887]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Request for Approval of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the intention of the Foreign 
Agricultural Service to request approval for a new information 
collection for General Administrative Policy for Joint Venture 
Agreements.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 14, 2014 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact: Chris Coppenbarger, Grants 
Management Officer, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, MS-3118, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, 
DC 20250; Tel: (202) 720-2568, Fax: (202) 690-4029, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of 
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to establish 
uniform guidelines for the use, award, and administration of joint 
venture agreements entered into under the authority of 7 U.S.C. 
3318(b), and subsequently to publish regulations on the use, award, and 
administration of such agreements. The intended effect is to issue 
agency regulations that reflect current statutory authority and long-
held agency business practices.
    Title: General Administrative Policy for Joint Venture Agreements.
    OMB Number: 0551--New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from approval date.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 4.0 hours per response.
    Type of Respondents: Non-profit organizations; for-profit 
organizations; institutions of higher education; federal, state, and 
local governments; individuals; foreign entities and organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 105.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 315.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,260 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Connie 
Ehrhart, the Agency Information Collection Coordinator, at (202) 690-
1578 or email at [email protected].
    Abstract: This information collection is required to support the 
planned FAS guidelines and regulations regarding ``General 
Administrative Policy for Joint Venture Agreements.'' These guidelines 
establish the requirements for participation in the following FAS 
programs listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 10.613, 
Faculty Exchange Program; 10.614, Scientific Cooperation Exchange 
Program with China; 10.777, Norman E. Borlaug International 
Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship; 10.960, Technical 
Agricultural Assistance; 10.961, Scientific Cooperation and Research 
Program; and 10.962, Cochran Fellowship Program-International Training-
Foreign Participant. This information collection is necessary for FAS 
to plan, manage, and evaluate these programs and to ensure the proper 
and judicious use of government resources, including the development, 
implementation, and administration of the joint venture agreements 
entered into under these programs. Without the information collection, 
the agency would not be able to develop projects, make or receive 
payments, monitor projects, identify financial and accounting errors, 
report to www.usaspending.gov, etc.
    FAS will determine the specific means of collection that will be 
used, based on the availability of technology and, as applicable, (1) 
the informal agreement of FAS and the respondent, (2) the terms of a 
signed agreement between FAS and the respondent, or (3) the provisions 
of written, procedural rules made publicly available by FAS to the 
respondent. The information will be collected via phone calls, emails, 
fax,

[[Page 54958]]

postal mail, person-to-person meetings, as data entry into grant 
management system(s)), and/or any other commonly used means of 
communication available to both parties. FAS will encourage the 
respondent to use modern information technology to reduce the 
administrative burden whenever possible. Respondents that meet user 
criteria and choose to utilize the FAS's electronic grants management 
system will not be required to provide duplicate information for 
subsequent or current transactions. Any party may initiate a 
conversation at any time to discuss the possibility of entering into 
these agreements.
    FAS uses the following forms to obtain information from respondents 
(program applicants and awardees) regarding their eligibility for, and 
participation in, its programs:
    1. FAS-2013-240-004, Joint Venture Agreement and Attachment A 
Provisions.
    2. Form FAS-2013-240-009, FAS Grants and Agreements Cover Sheet
    3. Form FAS-2013-240-011, FAS Detailed Budget Form.
    4. Form FAS-2013-240-012, FAS Project Description Form.
    5. Form SF-424 (used for both construction and non-construction), 
Application for Federal Assistance.
    6. Form SF-424 Individual (used for both construction and non-
construction), Application for Federal Assistance.
    7. Form SF-424A, Budget Information, Non-Construction Programs, or 
SF-424C, Construction Programs.
    8. Form AD-3030, Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and 
Tax Delinquent Status.
    9. Form SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.
    10. Form AD-3031, Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax 
Delinquent Status.
    11. FAS-2013-240-013, Grants and Agreements Overseas Application 
Coversheet .
    12. FAS-2013-240-015, Foreign Assistance Notice of Award.
    13. FAS-2013-240-016, Amendment to Foreign Assistance Notice of 
Award.
    14. FAS-2014-240-021, Joint Venture Agreement Template for PIO.
    15. FAS-2014-240-022, Joint Venture Agreement Template for Foreign 
Entities.
    16. SF-425, Federal Financial Report.
    17. SF-425a, Federal Financial Report Attachment.
    18. SF-270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement.
    19. SF-428, Tangible Personal Property Report.
    20. SF-428-A, Annual Report.
    21. SF-428-B, Final Report Form.
    22. SF-428-C, Disposition Request/Report.
    23. SF-428-S Supplemental Form.
    24. FAS-2013-240-007, Modification Form.
    25. FAS-2013-240-010, Closeout (Modification) of Award Form.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to Chris Coppenbarger, 
Grants Management Officer, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, MS-
3118, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Washington, DC 20250, Email: [email protected]. 
Persons with disabilities who require an alternative means for 
communication of information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, 
etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 
TDD).
    All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on August 19, 2014.
Philip C. Karsting,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-21887 Filed 9-12-14; 8:45 am]
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