[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 209 (Monday, October 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 54311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23552]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
October 24, 2018.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments
are requested regarding (1) whether the 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 burden 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 through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments regarding this information collection received by November
28, 2018 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to:
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office
Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are
encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to:
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8958.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Title: NIFA Grant Application.
OMB Control Number: 0524-0039.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) sponsors
ongoing agricultural research, education, and extension programs under
which competitive, formula, and special awards of a high-priority
nature are made. These programs are authorized pursuant to the
authorities contained in the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101), the Smith-
Lever Act, and other legislative authorities. Before awards can be
issued, certain information is required from applicants as part of an
overall application. In addition to a project summary, proposal
narrative, vitae of key personnel, and other pertinent technical
aspects of the proposed project, supporting documentation of an
administrative and budgetary nature also must be provided. This
information is obtained via applications through the use of federal-
wide standard grant application forms and NIFA specific application
forms. Because competitive applications are submitted, many of which
necessitate review by peer panelists, it is particularly important that
applicants provide the information in a standardized fashion to ensure
equitable treatment for all.
Need and Use of the Information: The fundamental purpose of the
information requested is to provide information that is not obtained in
the federal-wide application forms but is necessary for the NIFA
proposal and award process. In addition to federal-wide standard grant
application forms, NIFA will use the following program and agency
specific components as part of its application package: Letter of
Intent Form, Supplemental Information Form; Application Type Form; Form
NIFA-2008, Assurance Statement(s); and Form NIFA-2010, Fellowships/
Scholarships Entry/Annual Update/Exit Form.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or household; Federal
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 15,153.
Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Weekly; Monthly;
Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 18,354.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Title: NIFA Proposal Review Process.
OMB Control Number: 0524-0041.
Summary of Collection: The United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), administers
competitive, peer-reviewed research, education and extension programs.
The reviews are undertaken to ensure that projects supported by NIFA
are of a high-quality and are consistent with the goals and
requirements of the funding program. These programs are authorized
pursuant to the authorities contained in the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7
U.S.C. 3101), the Smith-Lever Act, and other legislative authorities.
Need and Use of the Information: The collected information from the
evaluations is used to support NIFA grant programs. NIFA uses the
results of each proposal to determine whether a proposal should be
declined or recommended for award. In order to obtain this information,
an electronic questionnaire is used to collect information about
potential panel and ad-hoc reviewers. If this information is not
collected, it would be difficult for a review panel and NIFA staff to
determine which projects warrant funding, or identify appropriate
qualified reviewers. In addition, Federal grants staff and auditors
could not assess the quality or integrity of the review, and the writer
of the application would not benefit from any feedback on why the
application was funded or not.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Federal
Government; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 50,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Weekly; Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 102,400.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-23552 Filed 10-26-18; 8:45 am]
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