[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 168 (Monday, August 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52448-52449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21454]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Online Customer 
Relationship Management (CRM)/Performance Databases, the Online Phoenix 
Database, and the Online Opportunity Database

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 30, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Sheleen Dumas, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Nakita Chambers, Program Manager, Minority Business 
Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Business 
Development, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, (202) 
482-0065, and email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    As part of its national service delivery system, MBDA awards 
cooperative agreements each year to fund the provision of business 
development services to eligible minority business enterprises (MBEs). 
The recipient of each cooperative agreement is competitively selected 
to operate one of the MBDA's Business Center programs. In accordance 
with the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA), MBDA requires all 
center operators to report basic client information, service activities 
and progress on attainment of program goals via the Online CRM/
Performance database. The data inputs into the CRM/Performance database 
originate from the client intake forms used by each center to collect 
information from each minority business enterprise that receives 
technical business assistance from the center. This data provides the 
baseline from which the CRM/Performance database is populated. The 
Online CRM/Performance Database is used to regularly monitor and 
evaluate the progress of the MBDA funded centers, to provide the 
Department and OMB with a summary of the quantitative information 
required to be submitted about government supported programs, and to 
implement the GPRA. This information is also summarized and included in 
the MBDA Annual Performance Report, which is made available to the 
public.
    In addition to the information collected from MBEs to provide 
service and performance reports, the MBDA Center award recipients are 
required to list MBEs to conduct business in the United States in the 
Online Phoenix Database. This listing is used to match those registered 
MBEs with opportunities entered in the Online Opportunity Database by 
public and private sector entities. The MBEs may also self-register via 
the Online Phoenix Database for notification of potential business 
opportunities.
    In 2012, the overall estimate of burden hours decreased for users 
under the newly adopted program structure as a result of the 
streamlining of certain administrative and reporting requirements. The 
MBDA Business Center programs will continue to use the Customer 
Relationship Management/Performance, Phoenix and Business Opportunity 
databases until the new program is redesigned during Fiscal Year 2016.

[[Page 52449]]

    Revision: In Fiscal Year 2015, MBDA has developed a new client 
intake and customer transaction forms for use in the business center 
program. The new forms include a statement regarding MBDA's intended 
use by MBDA and transfer of the information collected to other federal 
agencies for the purpose of conducting research and studies on minority 
businesses.
    The following new information will be provided on the MBDA Client 
Engagement Form: By submitting this form, your company agrees to allow 
the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) in Washington, D.C. to 
share this document, information contained therein, and any 
supplementary material provided by your company (collectively ``Client 
Engagement Form'') on an as needed basis, with other United States 
Government agencies to carry out appropriate due diligence and more 
effectively advocate for your interests. The Client Engagement Form 
also may be used by MBDA and MBDA Business Centers for the purposes of 
conducting research, studies, and analysis consistent with the MBDA 
mission as stated in Executive Order 11625. The Client Engagement Form 
is considered business confidential and will not be shared with any 
other person or organization outside the U.S. Government unless the 
MBDA Headquarters is given permission to do so by your company. All 
business confidential information will be protected from disclosure to 
the extent permitted by law.
    The following new information will be provided on the Client 
Transaction Form: By submitting this form, your company agrees to allow 
the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) in Washington, D.C. to 
share this document, information contained therein, and any 
supplementary material provided by your company (collectively 
``Verification Form'') on an as needed basis, with other United States 
Government agencies to carry out appropriate due diligence and more 
effectively advocate for your interests. The Verification Form also may 
be used by MBDA and MBDA Business Centers for the purposes of 
conducting research, studies, and analysis consistent with the MBDA 
mission as stated in Executive Order 11625. The Verification Form is 
considered business confidential and will not be shared with any other 
person or organization outside the U.S. Government unless the MBDA 
Headquarters is given permission to do so by your company. All business 
confidential information will be protected from disclosure to the 
extent permitted by law.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be collected manually and electronically.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0640-0002.
    Form Number(s): 0640-002.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of 
currently approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or 
Tribal government; Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,633.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 minute to 210 minutes, depending 
upon function.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,516.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: 0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: August 26, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-21454 Filed 8-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P