[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28450-28451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13315]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Department of Commerce (DOC) has submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for
collection of information under provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
Agency: Minority Business Development Agency.
Title: Performance Database (formerly the Business Development
Report (BDR) System), Phoenix (formerly Automated Business Enterprise
Locator System (ABELS)) and the Opportunity Database Systems.
Agency Form Number: None.
OMB Approval Number: Formerly 0640-0002.
Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously
approved collection for which approval has expired.
Burden: 10,046 hours (46, 8,750 and 1,250 hours annually,
respectively).
Number of Respondents: 40,046 (46, 35,000 and 5,000, respectively).
Avg. Hours per Response: 15 minutes.
Needs and Uses: The purpose of the Performance, Phoenix and
Opportunity databases is to provide an electronic system for (1)
entering the accomplishments (Performance) of MBDA's funded
organizations, (2) entering minority-owned businesses doing business in
the United States (Phoenix), and matching contract opportunities with
eligible minority companies listed in the Phoenix database
(Opportunity). Specific uses of the on-line Performance Database
include:
The documentation of actual performance accomplishments of each
funded organization compared with stated goals in its cooperative
agreement with MBDA. The Performance database permits tracking of each
funded organization's goals using a number of general and specific
variables. The flexibility of the database permits new variables to be
added as needed.
The verification of the summary performance accomplishments cited
in narrative reports. Based on the results, performance data and other
qualitative information obtained during MBDA quarterly monitoring will
determine whether a specific cooperative agreement should be terminated
or other actions are needed to improve performance.
The advantage of daily tracking of performance is that it will
enable managers not only to terminate non-performing funded
organizations but, more importantly, to address performance problems
early in their development.
Identifies minority business clients receiving Agency-sponsored
business development services in the form of management and technical
assistance, the kind of assistance each receives, and the impact of
that assistance on the growth and profitability of the client firms.
The preparation of special reports analyzing program activities and
services by business types, industry trends, business starts,
geographic profiles, successful capital and marketing opportunities,
and other program elements.
The system permits client identification using a unique computer-
assigned identifier for each funded organization. This identification
is related to all client data fields. Number of clients assisted, types
of assistance, number of hours of assistance, dollar amounts of loans,
bonds and contracts, as well as a number of other variables are
available for analysis on each client and funded organization.
MBDA requires this information to monitor, evaluate, and plan
Agency programs which effectively enhance the development of the
minority business sector.
Using information collected, MBDA produces ad hoc and recurring
reports on its funded organizations, client services activities and
accomplishments. Because MBDA's major funded activity is client
service, the reports generated are a primary agency reporting and
planning mechanism.
The data collection activity is comprised of the Time Phased Plan
(TPP). This form, included in the funded organization's proposal in
response to Agency solicitation in the Federal Register, provides the
Agency with the grantee's actual accomplishments at the end of each
reporting period. MBDA staff enters the grantee goals at the time of
solicitation.
The purpose of this collection will be to establish a framework for
assessing and evaluating projects' performance.
The Phoenix database constitutes the Minority Business Development
Agency's (MBDA) listing of minority-owned businesses doing business in
the United States. The Opportunity database contains public and private
contract and other opportunities. The system matches contract
opportunities with eligible minority companies listed in the Phoenix
database. The information entered in the Phoenix database will be used
to assist minority enterprises with marketing of goods and services.
The purpose for collecting this information is to enable entities
with an interest in contracting with a minority firm to identify
potential minority contractors according to various criteria.
[[Page 28451]]
MBDA uses the Phoenix database in conjunction with the Opportunity
database to refer listed minority companies contracts and other
business opportunities via E-mail and fax. The Opportunity database
matches contract opportunities with eligible minority companies listed
in the Phoenix database. Specific information on the Opportunity form,
such as ``key words'' and NAICS codes, are compared with like
information contained in the Phoenix database of minority companies.
When a match is made, the eligible minority companies will be notified
of any contract opportunity and the offeror of the opportunity will be
notified of any eligible minority companies. These systems reside on
Y2K (year 2000) compliant platforms connected to the service-provider
network via the Internet.
Affective Public: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit and
not-for-profit institutions.
Frequency: Annually.
Respondents Obligation: Required for benefit.
OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker (202) 395-3897.
Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained
by calling or writing Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance
Officer, (202) 482-3272, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the
Chief Information Officer, Room 5300, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via Internet at LEngelme@doc.gov).
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room
10202, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington,
DC 20503 within 30 days of publication.
Dated: May 19, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-13315 Filed 5-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P
