This is a voluntary reporting collection open to all Railroads and local and state governments, and is used for administering the FRA Grants Management Program. Frequency of reporting varies depending upon the stage of the grant process (award, maintenance or close out). All reporting is directed to FRA when submitted. This is a revision to a currently approved collection.
The purpose of the program: FRA solicits grant applications for viable projects including, but not limited to, preconstruction planning activities, safety improvements, congestion relief, improvement of grade crossings, rail line relocation, as well as projects that encourage development, expansion, and upgrades to passenger and freight rail infrastructure and services. Funded projects are those that meet FRA and government wide evaluation standards and align with the Presidentâs key strategic transportation goals to create safe and efficient transportation choices, build a foundation for economic competitiveness, promote energy efficiency and environmental quality, and support interconnected livable communities. FRA administers award agreements for both construction and non-construction projects that will result in service benefits or other tangible improvements in rail corridors. These projects include completion of preliminary engineering, environmental research and development, final design, and construction.
This is a revision to a current collection of information. The current OMB inventory for this information collection shows a total burden of 31,811 hours and 6,570 responses while the requesting inventory estimates a total burden of 21,173 hours and 4,762 responses.
Program change decreased the burden by 8,470 hours and responses by 165. Adjustments decreased the burden by 2,168 hours and responses by 1,643. Overall, the burden for this submission has decreased by 10,638 hours and responses by 1,808.
Specifically, FRA is proposing to add FRA F 6180.288, titled, Pre-Award Authority Request Form. Additionally, FRA will discontinue the use of FRA F 6180.35 Grant Application Form as this form has not been used in several years, and applicants are primarily using the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance to submit their applications. Discontinued use of FRA F 6180.35 will eliminate unnecessary and duplicative burden for applicants.
With this submission FRA is also correcting the previously reported burden hours for use of the SF forms that are used as part of the FRA Grants program. The burden hours associated with the use of common forms by FRA should be reflected under the Host agencies OMB control number. In previous submissions FRA was incorrectly reflecting this burden as part of ICR 2130-0615 Grants and Awards. To correct this, the previously reported burden hours for all SF forms have been removed from this submission and FRA action will be taken to reflect these burden hours under the Host Agency.
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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Pre-Award Authority Request Form