[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 188 (Friday, October 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 54420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21356]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-CP-21-0063]


Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of request for emergency approval of a new information 
collection.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
this notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to seek approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information 
collection to administer the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative 
Agreement Program (LFPA). AMS is implementing this new cooperative 
agreement program under the American Rescue Plan Act, which directs the 
Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with 
State, local, and tribal governments to purchase food from local and 
regional farmers/producers (within the state or within 400 miles) and 
from socially disadvantaged farmers/producers.

DATES: Submit comments on or November 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice by using the electronic process available at 
www.regulations.gov. Written comments may also be submitted to the 
Commodity Procurement Program; AMS; USDA; 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Room 2517-South Building, Stop 0239; Washington, DC 20250-0239. All 
comments should reference the docket number AMS-CP-21-0063, the date of 
publication, and the page number of this issue of the Federal Register. 
All comments received will be posted without change, including any 
personal information provided, at www.regulations.gov and will be 
included in the record and made available to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Lober, Assistant to the 
Deputy Administrator, Commodity Procurement Program; (202) 313-1411 or 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview of This Information Collection

    Agency: USDA, AMS.
    Title: Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program 
(LFPA).
    OMB Number: 0581-NEW.
    Type of Request: Emergency Approval of a New Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et 
seq.), as amended, directs and authorizes USDA to administer Federal 
cooperative agreements programs. AMS cooperative agreement programs are 
administered according to OMB Guidance for Cooperative Agreements, 
which is based on OMB's regulations under the Uniform Administrative 
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards (2 CFR part 200) (85 FR 49506; December 13, 2020). Information 
collection requirements in this emergency request are needed for AMS to 
administer a new noncompetitive cooperative agreement program, in 
accordance with Section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act 
(Pub. L. 117-2) (Act). USDA will collect information for this new 
program to award cooperative agreements and provide other assistance to 
maintain and improve food and agriculture supply chain resiliency.
    Since the LFPA is a voluntary program, respondents request or apply 
for this specific competitive cooperative agreement, and in doing so, 
they provide information. The information collected is used only by 
authorized representatives of USDA, AMS, Commodity Procurement Program 
to certify that cooperative agreement participants are complying with 
applicable program regulations, and the data collected is the minimum 
information necessary to effectively carry out program requirements.
    Information collection requirements in this request are essential 
to carry out the intent of Act, to provide respondents the type of 
service they request and to administer the program.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 4 hours.
    Respondents: Cooperative Agreement applicants; or Cooperative 
Agreement recipients.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 75.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses Including Recordkeeping: 975.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers: 
4,731.25 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of agency 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
new 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.
    Obtaining OMB's approval of this new information collection enables 
AMS to publish a Request for Applications (RFA) to establish 
application requirements, the review and approval process, and 
cooperative agreement administration procedures. This will enable 
eligible entities to develop appropriate cooperative agreement 
applications for the program so that AMS can adequately evaluate these 
new proposals and obligate the funds as required by the American Act.

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-21356 Filed 9-30-21; 8:45 am]
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