```

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16850-16851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7101]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7385]

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Agency Form DS-
4127, NEA/PI Online Performance Reporting System (PRS), OMB Control 
Number 1405-0183.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. 
The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment in 
the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting 
this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
     Title of Information Collection: NEA/PI Online Performance 
Reporting System (PRS).
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0183.
     Type of Request: Renewal.
     Originating Office: NEA/PI.
     Form Number: DS-4127.
     Respondents: Recipients of NEA/PI grants.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 70 respondents annually.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 280 per year.
     Average Hours Per Response: 20.
     Total Estimated Burden: 5,600 hours per year.
     Frequency: Quarterly.
     Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a 
Benefit.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 60 
days from March 25, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: mepidatabasecomments@state.gov.
     Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): Catherine 
Bourgeois, Deputy Director, U.S. Department of State, Office of the 
Middle East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI), Bureau of Near Eastern 
Affairs, NEA Mail Room--Room 6258, 2201 C St., NW., Washington, DC 
20520.
     Fax: 202-647-8445.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: 2430 E St., NW. (23rd and D St., 
NW.), Navy Hill--SA-4--Central, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20037.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and OMB control number in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection and 
supporting documents, to Neil Stormer, U.S. Department of State, Office 
of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (NEA/PI), Bureau of Near 
Eastern Affairs, NEA Mail Room--Room 6258, 2201 C St., NW., Washington, 
DC 20520, who may be reached on 202-776-8595 or at stormernc@state.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments to permit 
the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of our functions.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
technology.
    Abstract of proposed collection: Since 2002, MEPI has obligated 
more than $600 million to over 550 organizations,

[[Page 16851]]

which carry out more than 850 projects in support of political, 
economic, education and women's rights reform in 20 countries of the 
Middle East and North Africa. As a normal course of business and in 
compliance with OMB Guidelines contained in Circular A-110, recipient 
organizations are required to provide, and the U.S. State Department is 
required to collect, periodic program and financial performance 
reports. The responsibility of the State Department to track and 
monitor the programmatic and financial performance necessitates a 
database that can help facilitate this in a consistent and standardized 
manner. The MEPI Performance Reporting System (PRS) enables enhanced 
monitoring and evaluation of grants through standardized collection and 
storage of relevant award elements, such as quarterly progress reports, 
workplans, results monitoring plans, grant agreements, financial 
reports, and other business information related to MEPI implementers. 
The PRS streamlines communication with implementers and allows for 
rapid identification of information gaps for specific projects.
    Methodology: Information will be entered into PRS electronically by 
respondents. Non-respondents will submit their quarterly reports on 
paper.
    Additional Information:

    Dated: March 17, 2011.
Catherine Bourgeois,
Deputy Director, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, NEA/PI, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2011-7101 Filed 3-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-31-P
```