2018-21240. Notice of Request for Approval of a Renewal Information Collection

AGENCY:

Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the intention of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer to request the renewal of a currently approved information collection (OMB No. 0505-0027) for suspension and debarment and drug-free workplace certifications.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received by November 30, 2018 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted by either/one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for submitting comments.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send to Director, Transparency and Accountability Reporting Division, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Room 3027-S, Stop Code 9011, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250.

All comments received will be available for public inspection and posted without change, including any personal information, to http://regulations.gov,, or during regular business hours at the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Martha E. Burton, Management Analyst, Transparency and Accountability Reporting Division, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Room 3027-S, Stop Code 9011, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250; [phone]; [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the intention of the USDA Office of the Chief Financial Officer to request the renewal of a currently approved information collection (OMB No. 0505-0027) for suspension and debarment and drug-free workplace certifications.

Title: Suspension and Debarment and Drug-Free Workplace Certifications.

OMB Number: 0505-0027.

Expiration Date of Current Approval: December 31, 2018.

Type of Request: Intent to extend a currently approved information collection for three years.

Abstract: The information will be collected by USDA Federal financial assistance agencies and staff offices as certifying information concerning applicant suitability in compliance with Federal Suspension and Debarment and Drug-Free Work Place regulations, as defined by 2 CFR parts 180, 417 and Public Law 100-690, Title V, Subtitle D: 41 U.S.C. 8101 et seq., 2 CFR parts 182 and 421. Suspensions and debarments are discretionary or statutory administrative actions taken by Federal agencies to protect the government by excluding persons and entities who are not presently responsible from participating in Federal programs or activities. Federal agencies are also prohibited from awarding financial assistance unless conditions are met that speak to recipient awareness of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance while conducting any activity with the use of Federal financial assistance. The five forms that USDA uses with its financial assistance applications to collect the data include: (1) AD-1047—Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters—Primary Covered Transactions; (2) AD-1048—Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion—Lower Tier Covered Transactions; (3) AD-1049—Certification Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements (Grants) Alternative 1 (For Grantees Other Than Individuals; (4) AD 1050—Certification Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements (Grants) Alternative 2 (For Grantees Who Are Individuals); and (5) AD-1052—Certification Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements-State and State Agencies).

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this total collection of information is estimated to average 0.25 hours per response per individual form. This burden is assumed for all of the forms in the aggregate.

Type of Respondents: Individuals or private entities; businesses or other for profit; not-for profit; Federal, state, local or tribal governments; institutions of higher education or other research organizations; foreign organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 38,885.

Estimated Number of Responses: 77,770.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 19,443.

Form	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Number of responses	Average time to prepare (hrs)	Total annual burden on respondents (hrs)
AD-1047	11,886	2	23,772	0.25	5,943
AD-1048	11,595	2	23,190	0.25	5,798
AD-1049	7,007	2	14,014	0.25	3,504
AD-1050	3,482	2	6,964	0.25	1,741
AD-1052	4,915	2	9,830	0.25	2,457
Total	38,885	2	77,770	0.25	19,443

Comments from interested parties are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 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 the burden of the proposed 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.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Signed:

Tyson P. Whitney,

Director, Transparency and Accountability Reporting Division.