SUPPORTING STATEMENT
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration
Requirements for Approved Construction Investments
OMB Control No. 0610-0096
A. JUSTIFICATION
This request is for an extension and revision to the Office of Management and Budget approval for this information collection.
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The mission of EDA is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA accomplishes this mission by helping states, regions, and communities through capacity building, planning, infrastructure, research grants, and strategic initiatives. Further information on EDA's program and grant opportunities can be found at www.eda.gov.
In order to effectively administer and monitor its economic development assistance programs, EDA collects certain information from applications for, and recipients of, EDA investment assistance. EDA may award assistance for construction projects under the agency’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Programs (see 13 CFR parts 305 and 307). Public Works Program investments help support the construction or rehabilitation of essential public infrastructure and facilities necessary to generate or retain private sector jobs and investments, attract private sector capital, and promote vibrant economic ecosystems, regional competitiveness and innovation. The EAA Program provides a wide range of technical, planning and infrastructure assistance in regions experiencing adverse economic changes that may occur suddenly or over time.
A series of checklists and templates (commonly referred to as the “bluebook”) and the Standard Terms and Conditions for Construction Projects, as well as any special conditions incorporated into the terms and conditions at the time of award, supplement the requirements that apply to EDA-funded construction projects.
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
The information is used by EDA personnel to monitor recipients' compliance with EDA's statutory and regulatory requirements and specific terms and conditions relating to individual awards. EDA also uses the information requested to analyze and evaluate program performance.
The information collected will not be disseminated to the public.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Whenever practicable, EDA accepts information via fax, email, or any means available to the applicant.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
EDA is unaware of any duplication with respect to this information collection. This information is specific to the applicant. EDA periodically reviews its information collections to ensure that there is no duplication.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.
Small businesses are not eligible for Public Works or Economic Adjustment Assistance and therefore are not affected by this information collection.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
EDA would not be able to fulfill its statutory mandate if the information collection is not conducted or conducted less frequently.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
Not Applicable.
8. Provide a copy of the PRA Federal Register Notice that solicited public comments on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in response to the notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
On May 4, 2018, a Federal Register Notice (Volume 83, Number 87, Pages 19685-19686) was published to solicit public comments on this information collection. No comments were received.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No gifts or payments are provided to any respondent.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
There is no assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents of this information collection.
While information submitted by a respondent to EDA is generally subject to public disclosure, EDA does not publicly release confidential business information, including trade secrets and confidential commercial or financial information, to the extent that such information is exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). See 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4).
11. Provide additional justification for any question of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.
This collection of information does not request information of a sensitive nature.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
It is estimated to take 2 hours to complete this collection of information. At any one time, EDA has approximately 500 construction grants in the post-approval phase (i.e., the grant has been approved by EDA but not yet closed out). Since there are approximately 20 post-approval submissions associated with the average construction project and construction projects tend to last approximately 3 years, EDA estimates that, on average, a typical recipient of EDA construction assistance will submit 7 information collections related to this requirement each year. Therefore, the annual hourly burden is estimated as follows:
500 open construction grants * 7 submissions/year = 3,500 responses/year
* 2 hours = 7,000 hours/year
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question 12 above).
Excluding the value of the burden hours, there is no cost to the respondent associated with this information collection.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
EDA estimates that EDA personnel spend approximately 6 hours reviewing and responding to each submission. EDA values its employees’ time at $67/hour. Therefore, the estimate of annualized cost to the Federal government is as follows:
500 open construction grants * 7 submissions/year * 6 hours/submission * $67/hour =
$1,407,000
Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
As a part of this renewal process, EDA plans to make clarifying edits to the series of checklists and templates, including updates necessitated by issuance of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards as set forth in 2 C.F.R. part 200. The edits will also increase the clarity of the provided instructions and thus facilitate timely completion by the recipient and approval by EDA. None of the edits are expected to increase the time burden on the respondent nor do the modifications change the type of collected information.
16. For collections whose collections will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.
Specific details of information collected from respondents will generally not be published. However, some of the information collected may be published in aggregate form as part of EDA’s annual report, Government Performance and Results Act reporting, or other summary reports.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that the display would be inappropriate.
Not Applicable. No forms are involved with this collection of information
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
No exceptions are requested.
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This information collection does not employ statistical methods. EDA is not aware of any statistical sampling methods that might reduce burden or improve the accuracy of results.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Supporting Statement for the Economic Development Administration’s |
| Author | jvertman |
| Last Modified By | SYSTEM |
| File Modified | 2018-08-06 |
| File Created | 2018-08-06 |