34954 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 1998 / Notices

having or expected to have a theft rate

above the median rate for all new

passenger motor vehicles (cars, MPVs,

and light-duty trucks—6000 lbs GVWR

and below) sold in the United States, as

well as with major component parts that

are interchangeable with those having

high-theft rate.

The specific lines and parts to be

identified are to be selected by

agreement between the manufacturer

and the agency. If there is a

disagreement of the selection, the

statute states that the agency shall select

such lines and parts, after notice to the

manufacturer and an opportunity for

written comment. The procedures,

contained in Part 542 (1) and (2) will be

applied to those lines introduced before

or after the 1997 model year (MY).

Estimated Annual Burden: 1,600

hours.

(2) Title: Petitions for Exemption from

the Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard,

49 CFR Part 543.

OMB Control Number: 2127–0542.

Type Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.

Abstract: 49 U.S.C. Chapter 331

requires the Secretary of Transportation

to promulgate a theft prevention

standard to provide for the

identification of certain motor vehicles

and their major replacement parts to

impede motor vehicle theft. 49 U.S.C.

section 33106 provides for an

exemption to this identification process

by petitions from manufactures who

equip covered vehicles with standard

original equipment anti theft devices,

which the Secretary determines are

likely to be as effective in reducing or

deterring theft as the identification

system.

Estimated Annual Burden: 192 hours.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, within 30

days, to the Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Office of

Management and Budget, 725–17th

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503,

Attention NHTSA Desk Officer.

Comments are invited on: whether the

proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the Department,

including whether the information will

have practical utility; the accuracy of

the Department’s estimate of the burden

of the proposed information collection;

ways to enhance the quality, utility and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents, including the use of

automated collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

A comment to OMB is best assured of

having its full effect if OMB receives it

within 30 days of publication.

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 22,

1998.

Phillip A. Leach,

Clearance Officer, United States Department

of Transportation

[FR Doc. 98–17067 Filed 6–25–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–62–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping

Requirements; Agency Information

Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act 1995 (44 USC

Chapter 35), this notice announces that

the Information Collection Request (ICR)

abstracted below has been forwarded to

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) for review and comment. The

ICR describes the nature of the

information collection and its expected

burden. The Federal Register Notice

with a 60-day comment period soliciting

comments on the following collection of

information was published on February

17, 1998 [63 FR 7849–7850].

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before July 27, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Arlene Kennedy, Office of Information

Services, (202) 366–9458, Department of

Transportation, Federal Highway

Administration, 400 Seventh Street,

SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office

hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.,

e.t., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Highway Administration

(FHWA)

Title: Certification of Enforcement of

the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax.

OMB Number: 2125–0541.

Type of Request: Extension of a

currently approved collection.

Form(s): N/A

Affected Public: State highway

agencies.

Abstract: Title 23, United States Code,

Section 141(d), provides that a State’s

apportionment of funds under 23 U.S.C.

104(b)(5) shall be reduced in an amount

up to 25 percent of the amount to be

apportioned during any fiscal year

beginning after September 30, 1984, if

vehicles subject to the Federal heavy

vehicle use tax are lawfully registered in

the State without having presented

proof of payment of the tax. The annual

certification of collection of the heavy

vehicle use tax submitted by each State

serves as the primary means of

determining State compliance with 23

U.S.C. 141(d) by the FHWA. Under the

rulemaking authority granted to the

Secretary of Transportation by 23 U.S.C.

315, the FHWA has determined that an

annual certification of compliance by

each State is the least obtrusive means

of administering the provisions of the

legislative mandate.

Evidence of compliance with 23

U.S.C. 141(d) is comprised of two

elements: reporting and recordkeeping.

The reporting element consists of a

simple certification submitted to FHWA

on an annual basis by the State’s

Governor or designated official. The

recordkeeping element consists of a oneyear retention of Schedule 1, Form

2290, by the States (or other suitable

alternative provided by regulation).

Compliance reviews are periodically

conducted by FHWA to determine if the

certification is adequate to ensure

effective administration of 23

U.S.C.141(d).

The certification requirement is the

critical factor in establishing a

manageable and reasonable procedure

for determining State compliance with

the statute. Without annual certification

and supporting records, determinations

of compliance would involve frequent

reviews of State registration procedures

and practices and would clearly be an

obtrusive Federal presence in State

programs.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 612.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the

Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and

Budget, 725–17th Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20503, Attention

FHWA Desk Officer. Comments are

invited on: whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary

for the proper performance of the

functions of the Department, including

whether the information will have

practical utility; the accuracy of the

Department’s estimate of the burden of

the proposed information collection;

ways to enhance the quality, utility and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents, including the use of

automated collection techniques or

other forms of information technology.

A comment to OMB is best assured of

having its full effect if OMB receives it

within 30 days of publication.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 1998 / Notices 34955

Issued in Washington, DC, on June

22,1998.

Vanester M. Williams,

Clearance Officer, United States Department

of Transportation

[FR Doc. 98–17068 Filed 6–25–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–62–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

Broad Agency Announcement: Funds

Availability for Research Projects and

Technology Advancements Under the

Next Generation High-Speed Rail

Program

AGENCY: Federal Railroad

Administration (FRA), Department of

Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of funds availability:

Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for

research projects and technology

advancements under the next generation

high-speed rail program.

Introduction

The Federal Railroad Administration

(FRA) is soliciting pre-proposal concept

papers for various research projects,

technology advancements and/or

demonstrations directed at enhancing

the deployment of high-speed rail

service in the United States.

Technologies most likely to enhance the

deployment of high-speed rail service in

the U.S. are those which will—(a)

enhance the revenue-generating

capability of high-speed operations; (b)

bring about capital cost reductions and

economy in producing equipment and

facilities; (c) reduce operating costs of

high-speed rail service; (d) improve the

reliability of equipment and

infrastructure components; (e) improve

safety; and/or (f) enhance the social

benefits and/or environmental aspects

of high speed rail.

Eligible Participants

This is an unrestricted solicitation.

Any responsible source may submit a

pre-proposal concept paper for

consideration including, but not limited

to, states or local governments, or

organizations of state or local

governments, institutions of higher

education, hospitals or other non-profit

organizations, private individuals,

corporations, businesses or commercial

organizations, except that any business

owned in whole or in part by the

Federal Government is not eligible.

Although businesses owned in whole or

in part by the Federal Government are

not eligible for funding under the

Program, they may contract with eligible

participants. Cooperative arrangements

(e.g., joint ventures, limited

partnerships, teaming arrangements, or

collaboration and consortium

arrangements) are permitted and

encouraged. Small, Small

Disadvantaged (SD), and WomenOwned (WO) Business Concerns, and

Historically Black Colleges and

Universities (HBCU) and Minority

Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to

submit pre-proposal concept papers on

their own and/or in collaboration with

others. However, no portion of this BAA

will be set aside exclusively for Small,

SD, or WO Business Concerns, or for

HBCU and MIs. Attention: Minority,

Women-Owned and Disadvantaged

Business Enterprises (DBEs)! The

Department of Transportation (DOT),

Short-Term Lending Program (STLP)

offers working capital financing in the

form of lines of credit to finance

accounts receivable for transportation

related contracts. Maximum line of

credit is $500,000 with interest at the

prime rate. For further information call

(800) 532–1169. Internet address:

http://osdbuweb.dot.gov.

Exchanges and Points of Contact

Exchanges of information between

interested parties and the Government,

prior to submission of pre-proposal

concept papers, are strongly

encouraged. Such informal exchanges

may provide would-be offerors with

preliminary information on the

Government’s level of interest in

prospective works or projects or on the

availability of funds. Any exchanges of

information must be consistent with

procurement integrity requirements of

section 27 of the Office of Federal

Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 423,

as amended) (see Federal Acquisition

Regulation (FAR) 3.104). For technical

inquires, interested parties may contact

the BAA primary technical point of

contact, Mr. Robert McCown (Tel: 202/

632–3250, Fax: 202/632–3854), or one of

the other, secondary technical points of

contact identified in Appendix A of the

BAA 98–01 Pre-Proposal Preparation

Package (BAA 98–01 Package), available

from the FRA. All non-technical

inquiries should be directed to the

Grants/Contracting Officer, Mr. Thomas

Riddle (Tel: 202/632–3391, Fax: 202/

632–3846). Please note that FRA

anticipates changing its telephone

service on or about July 10, 1998. New

telephone numbers will be assigned

during this change over. For the first 30

days after the change over, there will be

a automatic bridge/link in which the

service provider will furnish callers

with the new number of the party they

are trying to reach when an old

[replaced] number is dialed. After 30

days, a caller who dials an old number

will be routed to the DOT operator for

assistance/new number, or the caller

may dial the DOT information line

direct at 202/366–4000. As of the date

this announcement/notice was

submitted for publication, the following

numbers have been tentatively assigned

for the points of contact identified

above, for usage on or after July 10,

1998: Mr. McCown—Tel: 202/493–6350,

RDV–30 Fax: 202/493–6333. Mr.

Riddle—Tel: 202/493–6149.

BAA Time Line

BAA 98–01 is being published in both

the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) and

the Federal Register (FR) in June 1998.

(Note: BAA 98–01 is a single broad

agency announcement of the FRA, that

is being advertised and published in

these two different media to reach a

broad base of prospective applicants.

The description of BAA 98–01 may

different slightly in form between the

two publications, but each will be

substantially the same as the other in all

material respects.) FRA will accept preproposal concept paper submissions,

inquiries and requests for the BAA 98–

01 Package under BAA 98–01,

immediately upon its announcement

and appearance in either the CBD, or

FR, or June 22, 1998, whichever single

date/event occurs first. However, to

allow interested parties adequate time to

prepare pre-proposal concept papers,

FRA will not begin its technical

evaluations before July 22, 1998. Unless

BAA 98–01 is superceded or canceled,

FRA will continue to accept concept

submissions, inquiries and package

requests, through April 30, 1999;

however, fiscal year 1999 (FY 99)

awards are subject to the availability of

FY 99 appropriations or the continued

availability of unobligated prior no-year

funds. Although the BAA is open for an

extended period, interested parties

would be well advised to submit

proposals as early as possible.

Funding Authority and Related

Information

Funds for this program are authorized

in the Department of Transportation and

Related Agencies Appropriations Act

1998, Public Law 105–66 (October 27,

1997). FRA will make available up to

$4.3 million for awards under the BAA

during fiscal year 1998 for research

project and technology advancements in

areas of research interest to the FRA,

that are evaluated favorably and

determined by the FRA to be consistent

with the objectives of this BAA and of

interest to the Government, and for

which adequate funding exist. Awards