Browse: Departments   Dates   Agencies  

OMB ID: [OMB Control No. 3090-00XX]

NOTICE: NOTICES

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of request for comments regarding a new information collection.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Information Collection Standard Form, Real Property Status Report (SF-XXXX)

DATES: Comment Due Date: January 15, 2008.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a new information collection requirement concerning reporting real property status.

In support of OMB's continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, GSA invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning forms that will be used to collect information related to real property when required by a Federal financial assistance award. To view the form, go to OMB's main Web page at http://www.OMB.gov and click on the ``Grants Management'' and ``Forms'' links. OMB specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

SUMMARY: Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

GSA, on behalf of the Federal Grants Streamlining Initiative, proposes to issue a new standard form, the Real Property Status Report (SFXXXX). The SFXXXX will be used to collect information related to real property when required by a Federal financial assistance award. The SFXXXX includes a cover page, an Attachment A and Attachment B. The purpose of this new form is to report real property status or to request agency instructions on real property that was or will be provided or acquired, in whole or in part, under a Federal financial assistance award (e.g., grant, cooperative agreement, etc.), including real property that was improved (special circumstances apply to improvements) using Federal funds and real property that was donated to a Federal project in the form of a match or cost sharing donation. The form does not create any new reporting requirements. It does establish a standard format for reporting real property status under financial assistance awards. It does establish a standard annual reporting date of September 30 to be used, if an award does not specify an annual reporting date. The standard form will replace any agency unique forms currently in use to allow uniformity of collection and to support future electronic submission of information.

Background

Public Law 106107 requires the OMB to direct, coordinate, and assist Executive Branch departments and agencies in establishing an interagency process to streamline and simplify Federal financial assistance procedures for nonFederal entities. The law also requires executive agencies to develop, submit to Congress, and implement a plan for that streamlining and simplification. Twentysix Executive Branch agencies jointly submitted a plan to the Congress in May 2001. The plan described the interagency process through which the agencies would review current policies and practices and seek to streamline and simplify them. The process involved interagency work groups under the auspices of the U.S. Chief Financial Officers Council, Grants Policy Committee. The plan also identified substantive areas in which the interagency work groups had begun their review. Those areas are part of the Federal Grants Streamlining Initiative.

This proposed form is an undertaking of the interagency PostAward Workgroup that supports the Federal Grants Streamlining Initiative. Additional information on the Federal Grants Streamlining Initiative, which focuses on implementing the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 106107), is set forth in the Federal Register published on September 13, 2006 (71 FR 54098). An overview of the SFXXXX and five other report forms being developed under the Initiative was provided during a webcast of the Grants Policy Committee of the U.S. Chief Financial Officer Council held on March 8, 2007 (72 FR 7090, February 14, 2007).

Under the standards for management and disposition of federally owned property and real property acquired under assistance awards (real property status) in 2 CFR Part 215, the ``Uniform
[[Page 64647]]
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other NonProfit Organizations,'' and the ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with State and Local Governments,'' codified by Federal agencies at 53 FR 8048, on March 11, 1988, recipients may be required to provide Federal agencies with information concerning property in their custody annually, at award closeout or when the property is no longer needed. During the public consultation process mandated by Public Law 106107, recipients suggested the need for clarification of these requirements and the establishment of a standard form to help them submit appropriate property information when required. The Real Property Status Report (SFXXXX) is to be used in connection with requirements listed in the table below and Federal awarding agency guidelines: For . . . A recipient must . . . When . . . Under . . . Federallyowned property..... Submit an inventory Annually, with information 2 CFR 215.33(a)(1) A102 listing. accurate as of 30 Attachment 3.b.(5). September, unless the award specifies a different date. Report the property to the The property is no longer 2 CFR 215.33(a)(1). Federal awarding agency. needed. Report the property to the Upon completion of the 2 CFR 215.33(a)(1) A102 Federal awarding agency. award. Attachment 3.a.(1) and (2). Real property acquired in Sell the property and The recipient is directed 2 CFR 215.32(c)(2) whole or in part under an reimburse the Federal to sell the property Federal awarding agency assistance award. awarding agency for the under guidelines provided guidelines. Federal share. by the Federal awarding agency. Transfer title to the The recipient is directed 2 CFR 215.32(c)(3). property to the Federal to transfer title by the Government or to an Federal awarding agency eligible third party. or its successor. Compensate the original The recipient wants to 2 CFR 215.32(c)(1). Federal awarding agency retain title without or its successor. further obligation to the Federal Government. Obtain the approval of the Before making capital 2 CFR 230, Appendix B, Federal awarding agency. expenditures for Item 27. 2 CFR 220, improvements to property Appendix A, Item that materially increase 18.b.(3) A87, its value or useful life. Attachment B, Item 15.b.3. Obtain the approval of the The recipient wants to use 2 CFR 215.32(b). Federal awarding agency. the real property in other federallysponsored projects or programs that have purposes consistent with those authorized for support by the Federal awarding agency when the recipient determines that the property is no longer needed for the purpose of the original project. Request disposition The recipient no longer 2 CFR 215.32(c). instructions. needs the property for any purpose. B. Annual Reporting Burden

This form will be used by Federal agencies to collect information related to real property when required by a Federal financial assistance award. Since this form will be used primarily for reporting related to grants, and the GSA does not award grants, we are providing a burden estimate for one respondent.

Respondents: Assistance recipients.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1.666667.

Estimated Cost: There is no expected cost to the respondents or to GSA.
Number of Average burden Instrument Number of responses per hours per Total burden respondents respondent response hours Real Property Status Report SFXXXX..... 1 1 0.16666667 0.16666667 SFXXXXReal Property Status Report 1 1 0.75 0.75 [Attachment A].........................
SFXXXXReal Property Status Report 1 1 0.75 0.75 [Attachment B].........................

TOTAL............................... ................ ................ ................ 1.666667 [[Page 64648]]

Obtaining Copies of Proposals: Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (VIR), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405, telephone (202) 5014755, or by faxing your request to (202) 5014067. Please cite the title, OMB Control No. 3090 00XX, Real Property Status Report, in all correspondence.

Dated: November 9, 2007.
Casey Coleman,
Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 075724 Filed 111507; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820RHP

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Michael Nelson, Chair, Post-Award Workgroup; telephone 3017130833 ext. 199; fax 3017130806; email
Michael.Nelson@noaa.gov; mailing address 1305 EastWest Highway, Room 7142, Silver Spring, MD 20910.