[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 229 (Monday, November 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74812-74813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30215]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice: 15-113]


Notice of Information Collection

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of information collection.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 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 (Pub. 
L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This is a request to reinstate OMB 
control number 2700-0092 with changes to include all NASA financial 
assistance awards, not just awards to commercial firms.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received within 60 
days from the date of this publication.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to Ms. Frances Teel, NASA PRA 
Clearance Officer, NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW., Mail Code 
JF0000, Washington, DC 20546 or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Ms. Frances Teel, NASA PRA Clearance Officer, 
NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW., Mail Code JF0000, Washington, DC 
20546 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This is a request to reinstate OMB control number 2700-0092 with 
changes. This collection is required to ensure proper accounting of 
Federal funds and property provided under finanical assistance awards 
(grants and cooperative agreements). Reporting and recordkeeping are 
prescribed at 2 CFR part 1800 for awards issued to non-profits, 
institutions of higher educations, government, and commercial firms 
when cost sharing is not required and 14 CFR part 1274 for awards 
issued to commercial firms when cost sharing is required. This 
information collection was formally titled Cooperative Agreements with 
Commercial Firms.

II. Method of Collection

    Proposals are filed through the NASA Solicitation and Proposal 
Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) or grants.gov. The 
use of these systems reduces the need for proposers to submit multiply 
copies to the agency. It further allows them to submit multiple 
proposals to different funding announcements without registering each 
time. Electronic funds transfer is used for payment under Treasury 
guidance, for commercial firms and through the HHS Payment Management 
System for other recipients. In addition, NASA encourages the use of 
computer technology and is participating in Federal efforts to extend 
the use of information technology to more Government processes.
    Basis of Estimate. Approximately 6,500 NASA financial assistance 
awards are open at any one time. It is estimated that out of the 7,100 
proposals received each year, NASA awards approximately 1,600 new 
awards. The period of performance for each financial assistance award 
is usually three to five years. NASA had approximately 120 awards with 
commercial firms. Commercial firms submit quarterly payment requests 
directly to NASA, while other recipients submit Financial Reports (SF 
425) on a quarterly bases to the HHS Payment Management System. 
Performance, Property, and Patent Reports are filed annually. 
Historical records indicate that, on average, 1,625 changes are 
submitted annually. The total number of respondents is based on the 
average number of proposals that are received each year and the average 
number of active grants that are managed each year. The total number of 
hours spent on each task was estimated through historical records and 
experience of former recipients. Using past calculations, the total 
cost was estimated using the on the average salary (wages and benefits) 
for a GS-12 step 5.

[[Page 74813]]

III. Data

    Title: Financial Assistant Awards/Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements.
    OMB Control Number: 2700-0092.
    Type of review: Reinstatement with Change of a Previously Approved 
Information Collection.
    Affected Public: Non-profits, institutions of higher educations, 
government, and commercial firms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,600.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 691,641.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Respondents: $20,674,712.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on (1) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
NASA, including whether the information collected has practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of NASA's estimate of the burden (including 
hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (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 respondents, including automated collection techniques 
or the use of other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection. They will also become a matter of public record.

Frances Teel,
NASA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-30215 Filed 11-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7510-13-P