[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80983-80986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22953]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2024-0007]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its 
implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information 
Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is 
soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities 
identified in the ICR.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed ICR 
should be submitted on https://www.regulations.gov/ to the docket, 
Docket No. FRA-2024-0007. All comments received will be posted without 
change to the docket, including any personal information provided. 
Please refer to the assigned OMB control number (2130-0615) in any 
correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in a 
subsequent 30-day notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Joanne Swafford, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbb1b4bab5b5bef5a8acbabdbdb4a9bf9bbfb4aff5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="345e5b555a5a511a47435552525b465074505b401a535b42">[email protected]</span></a> or 
telephone: (757) 897-9908, or Ms. Arlette Mussington, Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, at email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b6a79676e7f7f6e25667e787862656c7f64654b6f647f256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5637243a33222233783b2325253f38312239381632392278313920">[email protected]</span></a> or 
telephone: (571) 609-1285.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, and its 
implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, require Federal agencies to 
provide 60-days' notice to the public to allow comment on information 
collection activities before seeking OMB approval of the activities. 
See 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.8 through 1320.12. Specifically, 
FRA invites interested parties to comment on the following ICR 
regarding: (1) whether the information collection activities are 
necessary for FRA to properly execute its functions, including whether 
the activities will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FRA's 
estimates of the burden of the information collection activities, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to 
determine the estimates; (3) ways for FRA to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (4) ways 
for FRA to minimize the burden of information collection activities on 
the public, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. See 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 
CFR 1320.8(d)(1).
    FRA believes that soliciting public comment may reduce the 
administrative and paperwork burdens associated with the collection of 
information that Federal regulations mandate. In summary, comments 
received will advance three objectives: (1) reduce reporting burdens; 
(2) organize information collection requirements in a ``user-friendly'' 
format to improve the use of such information; and (3) accurately 
assess the resources expended to retrieve and produce information 
requested. See 44 U.S.C. 3501.
    The summary below describes the ICR that FRA will submit for OMB 
clearance as the PRA requires:
    Title: Grants Management Requirements for Federal Railroad 
Administration. Grant Awards and Cooperative Agreements.

[[Page 80984]]

    OMB Control Number: 2130-0615.
    Abstract: FRA solicits grant applications through a multitude of 
grant programs for 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. FRA funds 
projects that meet FRA and government-wide evaluation standards and 
align with the DOT Strategic Plan.
    FRA requires systematic and uniform collection and submission of 
information, as approved by OMB, to ensure accountability of Federal 
assistance provided by FRA. Through this information collection, FRA 
will measure Federal award recipients' performance and results, 
including expenditures in support of agreed-upon activities and 
allowable costs outlined in the standard FRA Notice of Grant Award sent 
to the recipients.
    This information collection includes OMB-required reports and 
documentation, as well as additional forms and submissions to compile 
data relevant to addressing FRA's important policy challenges, 
promoting cost-effectiveness in FRA programs, and providing effective 
oversight of programmatic and financial performance. FRA issues and 
manages awards in compliance with 2 CFR part 200; Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards.
    Specifically, FRA is proposing to add one new form; revise two 
existing forms; and discontinue a form that is no longer required, as 
outlined below. Additionally, to conform with FRA's policy and Forms 
Management Program,\1\ the required prefix, ``6180'', is being added to 
the form number of all existing FRA forms that are included in this 
information collection, with the exception of FRA F 33.\2\ This change 
complies with the formatting requirement issued by FRA Order 1322.1A 
that all required public forms include the number 6180 as a prefix as 
part of the form number.
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    \1\ FRA 1322.1A (May 19, 2010).
    \2\ Updating this form with a 6180 prefix would create a 
duplication form number as FRA F 6180.33 is an existing public FRA 
form. To avoid duplication, FRA is not updating this form to include 
the 6180 prefix.
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    FRA is proposing to add new form, FRA F 6180.288 titled, Pre-Award 
Authority Request Form. Currently, FRA accepts requests for pre-award 
authority via a letter from the award recipient. The purpose of FRA F 
6180.288 is to allow recipients who would like to incur eligible pre-
award costs to request pre-award authority from FRA by submitting a 
standardized form. This form streamlines the information collection 
processes and FRA's subsequent review of the request. The form also 
directs the recipient to confirm that they understand pre-award costs 
are considered at-risk until the grant agreement has been executed, and 
that FRA will authorize such pre-award costs only to the extent they 
are allowable under the terms of the grant agreement.
    FRA is updating existing FRA F 6180.31 Grant Adjustment Request 
Form (GARF) to make the following edits: The term ``Grantee'' has been 
changed to ``Recipient''. On page 1, the first use of ``NGA'' has been 
defined (Notice of Grant Award). At the top of page 3--changing 
``regional manager ``to ``project manager''; page 5.--box F, the prompt 
has been updated to, ``If this is an OST program (e.g., INFRA, MEGA, 
RAISE), has OST approved the adjustment? If no, do not proceed until 
you have obtained OST approval''; added ``N/A'' checkbox; changed 
footer date to ``(03/2023)''; an ``N/A'' checkbox was added; and page 
5, Section V, a financial field has been added next to ``If yes, denote 
the amount of needed Federal funds:'', and changed the first signature 
required on top of page 6 from ``RFM'' to ``RCFO''. These revisions are 
all items that FRA completes, and not the recipient.
    FRA is updating existing form FRA F 6180.34 Quarterly Progress 
Report with the following edits: Added a certification checkbox after 
Field 10 for the grantee to mark. The updated FRA F 6180.34 also 
removes questions 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26a, and 26b.
    In addition, FRA is requesting to discontinue the use of FRA F 
6180.35 Grant Application Form. After careful review, FRA has 
determined that this form has not been used in several years and 
applications are currently received by SF-424 Application for Federal 
Assistance. Continuing to use FRA F 6180.35 creates duplicative burden 
for applicants.
    In this 60-day notice, FRA has made program changes and adjustments 
that have decreased the previously approved burden hours from 31,811 
hours to 28,869 hours. Additional grant funding authorized by the 
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has significantly increased grant 
applications and FRA has made adjustments that more accurately reflect 
the estimated number of submissions over this three-year collection 
period. These adjustments, and the proposed new form, FRA F 6180.288 
Pre-Award Authority Request, created an increase in burden hours of 
5,558 hours, however the discontinuance of FRA F 6180.35 Grant 
Application Form reduced the burden by 8,500 hours. This resulted in an 
overall reduction in burden of 2,942 hours.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Form(s): FRA F 6180.30; FRA F 6180.31(revised); FRA F 6180.32; FRA 
F 6180.33; FRA F 6180.34 (revised); FRA F 6180.217; FRA F 6180.229; FRA 
F 6180.251; FRA F 6180.252; FRA F 6180.288 (new); SF 270; SF 424; SF 
424A; SF 424B; SF 424C; SF 424D; SF 425; SF LLL.
    Affected Public: Generally, includes States, local governments, and 
railroads.
    Frequency of Submission: Varied; on occasion/monthly.
    Reporting Burden:

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                                                                                                               Average       Total
                                                                                                 Respondent    time per      annual        Total cost
               Form name                          Form No.           Grant  activity/  Process    universe    responses      burden      equivalent in
                                                                                                               in hours      hours        U.S. dollar
                                         ..........................  .........................          (A)          (B)  (C = A * B)           (D = C *
                                                                                                                                         wage rates) \3\
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Application for Federal Assistance.....  SF 424....................  Application..............         1000         1.10        1,100         $50,391.00
Budget Information for Non-Construction  SF 424A...................  Application..............          500         3.00        1,500          68,715.00
 Programs.
Assurances for Non-Construction          SF 424B...................  Application..............          500         0.25          125           5,726.25
 Programs.
Budget Information for Construction      SF 424C...................  Application..............          500         3.00        1,500          68,715.00
 Programs.
Assurances for Construction Programs...  SF 424D...................  Application..............          500         0.25          125           5,726.25
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities......  SF LLL....................  Application..............         1000         0.17          170           7,787.70
Applicant Financial Capability           FRA F 6180.251............  Application..............         1000         2.00        2,000          91,620.00
 Questionnaire.

[[Page 80985]]

 
FRA Assurances and Certifications        FRA F 6180.30.............  Application..............         1000         0.25          250          11,452.50
 Regarding Lobbying; Debarment,
 Suspension and Other Responsibility
 Matters and Drug-Free Workplace
 Requirements.
Pre-Award Authority Request--Project     FRA F 6180.288............  Pre-Award................          100         3.00          300          13,743.00
 Sponsors that wish to incur pre-award
 expenses can apply for pre-award
 authority. (New Form).
Federal Financial Report \4\ (SF 425;    SF 425....................  Awards & Maintenance.....          500         1.50          750          34,357.50
 new awards).
Federal Financial Report \5\ (SF 425;    SF 425....................  Awards & Maintenance.....          864         1.50        1,296          59,369.76
 existing grantees).
Request for Advance or Reimbursement...  SF 270....................  Awards & Maintenance.....          860         1.00          860          39,396.60
Payment Summary Spreadsheet............  SF 252....................  Awards & Maintenance.....          860         0.50          430          19,698.30
Quarterly Progress Report \6\ (FRA F     FRA F 6180.34.............  Awards & Maintenance.....          500         2.00        1,000          45,810.00
 34; new awards) Revised form.
Quarterly Progress Report \7\ (FRA F     FRA F 6180.34.............  Awards & Maintenance.....          864         2.00        1,728          79,159.68
 34; existing grantees) Revised form.
Grant Adjustment Request Form (GARP)     FRA F 6180.31.............  Awards & Maintenance.....          212         1.00          212           9,711.72
 Revised form.
Service Outcome Agreement (SOA) Annual   FRA F 6180.32.............  Awards & Maintenance.....           24         1.00           24           1,099.44
 Reporting.
Certification of Compliance or Non-      Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....           15         4.00           60           2,748.60
 Compliance with Buy America
 Requirements for Steel, Iron,
 Construction Materials, and
 Manufactured Products being produced
 by Awardee (narrative request).
Certification of Compliance with Buy     Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1        62.00           62           2,840.22
 America for Rolling Stock (narrative
 request).
Waivers--Requests/Applications for       Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....           15        80.00        1,200          54,972.00
 Waivers, excluding FRA Form 229
 (narrative request).
NIST Manufacturing Extension             FRA F 6180.229............  Buy America Component....           15        18.00          270          12,368.70
 Partnership Supplier Scouting--FRA--
 Item Opportunity Synopsis.
Awardee Investigations (including FRA    Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            3       333.00          999          45,764.19
 initiated investigations).
Awardee direct reply to FRA after        Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            2         1.00            2              91.62
 request to conduct investigation of
 bidder/offeror (narrative request).
Additional Documents to FRA from         Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1         4.00            4             183.24
 Awardee/Investigated Party (narrative
 request).
Transmission of Awardee/Bidder/Offeror   Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1         4.00            4             183.24
 Reply to Petitioner (narrative
 request).
Awardee/Investigated Bidder/Offeror      Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1         8.00            8             366.48
 response to Petitioner Comment
 (narrative request).
Written request to FRA for information   Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1         4.00            4             183.24
 bearing on substance of investigation
 which has been submitted by
 petitioner, interested parties, or
 awardees (narrative request).
Detailed Statement to FRA Regarding      Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1         8.00            8             366.48
 Confidentiality of Previously
 Submitted Information to Agency
 (narrative request).
Awardee Determination to make award      Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1        40.00           40           1,832.40
 before resolution of investigation one
 of these sections specified reasons
 (narrative request).
Notification to FRA by Awardee to make   Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1         1.00            1              45.81
 award during pendency of investigation
 (narrative request).
Request to FRA for Reconsideration of    Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1        80.00           80           3,664.80
 Initial Decision by Party Involved in
 Investigations (narrative request).
Pre-Award Audit (narrative request)....  Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1        33.00           33           1,511.73
Final Contract between Awardee and       Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1        16.00           16             732.96
 Bidder/Offeror (narrative request).
Post Award Audit (narrative request)...  Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1       256.00          256          11,727.36
Rolling Stock Domestic Content           Narrative Request.........  Buy America Component....            1       120.00          120           5,497.20
 Improvement Plans (narrative request).
Categorical Exclusion Worksheet).......  FRA F 6180.217............  Awards & Maintenance.....           75       156.00       11,700         535,977.00
Final Performance Report...............  FRA F 33..................  Closeout.................           79         8.00          632          28,951.92
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total \8\..........................  ..........................  .........................       11,001  ...........       28,869          1,322,489
                                                                                                  responses                     hours
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[[Page 80986]]

    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 11,001.
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    \3\ The dollar equivalent cost is derived from the May 2022 
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), using the 
median hourly wage rate for a Management Analyst 13-1111 of $45.81.
    \4\ An estimated 125 new awardees submit each quarter--125 x 4 = 
500 respondents.
    \5\ An estimated 216 existing awardees submit each quarter--216 
x 4 = 864 respondents.
    \6\ An estimated 125 new awardees submit each quarter--125 x 4 = 
500 respondents.
    \7\ An estimated 216 existing awardees submit each quarter--216 
x 4 = 864 respondents.
    \8\ Total cost equivalent was rounded.
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    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 28,869 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hour Dollar Cost Equivalent: 
$1,322,489.
    FRA informs all interested parties that it may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, a collection 
of information that does not display a currently valid OMB control 
number.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

Christopher S. Van Nostrand
Deputy Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2024-22953 Filed 10-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P


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