Telecommunications System Construction Policies and Procedures

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form 157 Telecommunications System Construction Policies and Procedures Form	Modified
PART 1753.docx Supplementary Document	2024-10-21
0572-0059 60 day Notice 8.13.2024.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-10-21
0572-0059 Burden Worksheet-10.21.2024.xlsx Supplementary Document	2024-10-21
0572-0059-Supporting Statement-10.21.2024.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-10-21

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
1786	Telecommunications System Construction Policies and Procedures Form	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0572-0059	ICR Reference No: 202410-0572-002
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202001-0572-005
Agency/Subagency: USDA/RUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Telecommunications System Construction Policies and Procedures
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 01/21/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2025
Responses	3,335	3,318
Time Burden (Hours)	7,703	6,610
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: In order to facilitate the programmatic interest of the RE act, and, to assure that loans made or guaranteed by RUS are adequately secured, RUS, as a secured lender, has established certain forms for materials, equipment and construction of telecommunications systems. The use of standard forms, construction contracts, and procurement procedures help assure RUS that appropriate standards and specifications are maintained, RUS' loan security is not adversely affected; and the loan and loan guarantee funds are used effectively and for the intended purposes.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 7 USC 901 Name of Law: RE Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 65842	08/13/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 7071	01/21/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Telecommunications System Construction Policies and Procedures	245, 158, 270, 157, 159, 179, 216, 217, 242, 274, 276, 281, 282, 515, 284, 390, 506, 521, 724, 724a, 724b, 743, 756, 771, 771a, 773, 787, 817b, 817a, 835, 817, 375, 527	Construction Work Plan and Cost Distribution ,   Certification of Contractor or Force Account Proposal Approval ,   Summary of Completed Construction ,   Architects and Engineers Qualifications ,   Construction Change Order ,   Post Loan Engineering Service Contract ,   Assignment of Engineering Service Contract ,   Engineering Service Contract - Special Services - Telephone ,   Equal Opportunity Addendum ,   Bidder's Qualifications ,   Bidder's Qualifications for Buried Plant Construction ,   Tabulation of Materials Furnished by Borrower ,   Approval of Subcontracts ,   Certificate of Architect-Approval of final statement of cost ,   Interim Financing Construction ,   Software License Agreement ,   Statement of Engineering Fees - Telecommunications ,   Telephone System Construction Contract (Labor and Materials) ,   Biweekly Progress Report of Telephone Construction and Engineerng Service ,   Statement of Construction Telephone System - Outside Plant ,   Final Inventory, Telephone Construction Contract (Labor and Materials) ,   Final Inventory, Telephone Construction Contract (Labor and Material) ,   Final Inventory, Telephone Construction Contract (Labor and Materials) ,   Certificate of Contractor and Indemnity Agreement (Line Extensions) ,   Contract Closeout Certification ,   Summary of Work Orders (Inspection by RUS Field Engineer) ,   Summary of Work Orders ,   Miscellaneous Construction Work and Maintenance Service Contract ,   Supplement A to Construction Contract RUS Form 515 ,   Final Inventory, Telephone Force Account Construction ,   Final Inventory, Telephone Force Account Construction ,   Final Inventory, Telephone Force Account Construction ,   Pre-loan Engineering Service Contract, Telephone System Design

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	3,335	3,318	0	0	17	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	7,703	6,610	0	0	1,093	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a revision to a currently approved package. Since the previous submission, there has been an increase of two (2) respondents (1,432 to 1,434), an increase of 17 responses (3,318 to 3,335) and an increase of 1,093 burden hours (6,610 to 7,703). The data employed was made up of the quantity of actual borrower responses during the time period over 2020 through 2022 as included in the Engineering Branch logs of the RUS Telecommunications Program. The increase can be attributed to the last burden worksheet having several items marked as zero. However, even though the items may not have been used over the last couple of years, they are still active forms and it is possible they may be submitted. Based on this, a one (1) was used as a placeholder to account for the possibility of burden.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,492,943

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 01/21/2025

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