[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13969-13970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04843]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 11066]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: State 
Assistance Management System Domestic Results Performance Monitoring 
Module for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment and submission to OMB of 
proposed collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the information 
collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we 
are requesting comments on this collection from all interested 
individuals and organizations. The purpose of this Notice is to allow 
30 days for public comment.

DATES: Submit comments directly to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) up to April 9, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct comments to the Department of State Desk Officer in 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). You may submit comments by the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. You must include the 
DS form number, information collection title, and the OMB control 
number in the subject line of your message.
     Fax: 202-395-5806. Attention: Desk Officer for Department 
of State.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and 
supporting documents,

[[Page 13970]]

may be sent to Natalie Donahue, Chief of Evaluation, Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, who may be reached at (202) 632-6193 
or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: SAMS-Domestic Results 
Performance Module (SAMS-D RPM).
     OMB Control Number: None.
     Type of Request: New collection.
     Originating Office: Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/
P/V).
     Form Number: No form.
     Respondents: Implementing partners of ECA grants and 
cooperative agreements.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 250 per year (most 
respondents report on a semi-annual basis; though there are some that 
will report more frequently, which has been factored into this figure).
     Average Time per response: 20 hours (regardless of 
frequency of reporting).
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 5,000 hours per year.
     Obligation to Respond: Voluntary. The State Assistance 
Management System Domestic (SAMS-D) database is the official system of 
record for grants reporting, this notice of proposed information 
collection pertains only to the SAMS-D RPM, which is an extension 
module within the larger SAMS-D database. The use of that module is 
voluntary.
    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are 
public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you 
should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your 
personal information, will be available for public review.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    As a normal course of business and in compliance with OMB 
Guidelines contained in Circular A-110, recipient organizations are 
required to provide, and the U.S. State Department required to collect, 
periodic program and financial performance reports. The responsibility 
of the State Department to track and monitor the programmatic and 
financial performance necessitates a database that can help facilitate 
this in a consistent and standardized manner. The larger SAMS-D 
database is already the Department of State's system of record; the 
database enables monitoring of grants and cooperative agreements 
through standardized collection and storage of performance monitoring 
award elements, such as progress reports, workplans, grant agreements, 
and other business information related to ECA awards. The SAMS-D RPM 
(which this notice of information collection pertains to, specifically) 
is an extension module within the larger SAMS-D platform, designed to 
collect performance monitoring data in a format that will make analysis 
of program performance and monitoring of the award more efficient.

Methodology

    Information will be entered into SAMS-D RPM electronically. For 
organizations that are unable to submit their reports online, they will 
be able to submit a word document or PDF as the report, which will then 
be uploaded to the SAMS-D RPM. ECA will seek to limit such situations.

Kristin Roberts,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-04843 Filed 3-9-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-05-P