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pdfS UPPORTING STATEMENT – Part A
EQUEST FOR APPROVAL UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT AND 5 CFR 1320
R
OMB 0412-XXXX
Collection Title:USAID/MEXICO-RFI 2023-003, LocalPartner and Sub-Partner Outreach
PART A. JUSTIFICATION
1. E xplain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify
any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy
of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the
collection of information.
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10.001 mandates that Agencies shall conduct
market research, 1) before developing new requirements documents for an acquisition by
that agency, and before soliciting offers for acquisitions in excess of $250,000, among
others. Market research is used to “determine if sources capable of satisfying the
agency’s requirements exist.” As we would like to survey the market to see what new
entrants can meet USAID/Mexico’s needs for the purpose of developing new
requirements and soliciting acquisitions above $250,000, USAID/Mexico must conduct
the appropriate research. This survey is the means to achieve this objective.
Similarly for assistance awards, 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) mandates program
planning and design. It requires that a program “be designed with clear goals and
objectives that facilitate the delivery of meaningful results consistent with the Federal
authorizing legislation of the program.” The market research undertaken through the use
of this RFI and survey collection will allow USAID/Mexico to engage in this program
planning and design.
2. I ndicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for
a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information
received from the current collection.
This is a new collection. It is being collected through the use of a Request for Information,
which will be published onwww.Sam.gov,www.grants.gov,and through other channels,
including social media, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico website, and private email.
USAID/Mexico will use this information to survey the market to determine how many and
what type of organizations exist in the Mexican context that could partner or sub-partner
with USAID. The data will allow us to seek out new and underutilized partners and
diversify our partner base. It will also hopefully identify other partners that could be used
as subawardees and indirect recipients of USG funding. The information will also provide
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oints of contact with distinct organizations that USAID can conduct outreach with and
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capacity strengthening for.
3. D
escribe 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, e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also
describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
This collection utilizes automated collection through the Google Forms application. This is
being collected in this way so that the data can be aggregated and utilized more
effectively. There will be no additional burden of entering the data into a repository as
Google Forms automatically transfers the information into a database that is filterable
and immediately usable. Additionally, the Google Form is meant to reduce the burden on
respondents as they do not have to generate their own documents, and worry about
format and design, and their answers will be immediately focused based on the fields
requested. We estimate that this will greatly reduce the burden involved in preparing
responses to USAID in the traditional sense, with individual emails.
4. D
escribe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information
already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item
2 above.
The drafter has discussed this with all offices at USAID/Mexico and we do not have any of the
information requested here. All of our information is anecdotal and was not collected
systematically, which means it is not proper market research. All of our information is also
only collected on current partners, a group of approximately 35 organizations but does
not encompass the full environment of organizations in Mexico. The U.S. Embassy in
Mexico also does not have any information that could be used for this purpose.
5. I f the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities,
describe any methods used to minimize burden.
As discussed previously, the Google Form is meant to reduce the burden on respondents as
they do not have to generate their own documents, and worry about format and design,
and their answers will be immediately focused based on the fields requested. We
estimate that this will greatly reduce the burden involved in preparing responses to
USAID in the traditional sense, with individual emails.
6. D
escribe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not
conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to
reducing burden.
USAID/Mexico will not be able to adhere to the Federal Acquisition Regulations or the Code
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f Federal Regulations if it is not permitted to conduct this collection. Additionally, USAID
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will not be able to conduct efforts to diversify its partner base, expand its sub awardees,
nor make informed decisions on the capacities of local organizations for its activities.
7. Explain any special circumstances for the information collection.
This is part of the localization strategy for USAID/Mexico and is aligned with the Agency’s
Localization Initiative, to do more locally-led development, and its aims related to DEIA,
to be more inclusive of new and distinct organizations.
8. I f applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in
the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting
comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public
comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency
in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and
hour burden.
F ederal Register Document Number: 2023-18762, FR Citation Number 88 FR 59864 found at
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/30/2023-18762/usaidmexico-rfi-2023-00
3-local-partner-and-sub-partner-outreach. Publishedon August 30, 2023. No comments were
received.
F ederal Register Document Number2023-24286, 88 FR 75537 found at
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/03/2023-24286/usaidmexico-rfi-2023-00
3-local-partner-and-sub-partner-outreach. Publishedon November 3, 2023. No substantive
comments have been received.
9. E xplain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
There will be no payment or gift to respondents.
10.Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If the collection requires a Systems of
Records Notice (SORN) or Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), those should be cited and
described here.
The Privacy Office cleared the survey. The document includes a privacy notice as follows:
“PRIVACY NOTICE: The survey is administered by the USAID/Mexico Office of Acquisition
and Assistance.
The information provided will be used to enhance USAID’s development approach and
understand local organizations’ priority topic areas and capacities. The results of the
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s urvey, including aggregated information, may be shared with our partners, sub-partners,
and in internal reports. Completion of this survey is voluntary. You may choose to
respond to all or any of the questions. Your participation will help ensure shape the
methodology for our ongoing development assistance in Mexico. If you agree to
participate, you may withdraw your participation in the survey at any time by emailing
[email protected] and we will remove your information. You may also contact
[email protected] with any questions or concerns.”
It also includes the following: “Please do not enter any unsolicited personally identifying (PII)
information for yourself or others in your responses. The results may be shared with
USAID partner organizations. Participation in this RFI is voluntary.”
11.Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly
considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency
considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the
explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any
steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
This survey does not request any sensitive information.
12.Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.
Category of Respondent
ivil Society Organizations
C
Private Sector Organizations
Totals
# Of
# Of
esponses Per
R
Respondents
Year
150
1
150
1
300
articipation
P
Time
urden
B
Hours
.3 hours
.3 hours
5
4
45
90
13.Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers
resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour
burden already reflected on the burden worksheet).
Only costs are reflected in the hour burden. There is no additional cost to record keepers
because of the automated nature of the survey.
14.Provide estimates of annualized costs to the Federal government. Also, provide a
description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of
hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff),
and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of
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information. If there will be no costs beyond the normal labor costs for staff, state that
here.
There is no cost to the federal government given that we are using the google form.
15.Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported on the burden
worksheet.
N/A
16.For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for
tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be
used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending
dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and
other actions.
No results will be published, all results will be used internally.
17.If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
N/A
18.Explain each exception to the topics of the certification statement identified in
“Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.” (See Pg. 2 of the OMB 83-I
form)
N/A
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| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Modified | 2023-11-29 |
| File Created | 2023-11-29 |