The Federal Register

Cost Accounting Standards: Harmonization of Cost Accounting Standards 412 and 413 With the Pension Protection Act of

Wed, Nov 26 2008 11:00:00 GMT

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), Cost Accounting Standards Board (Board), is today announcing an extension of time to submit public comments regarding the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) (73 FR 51261, September 2, 2008) on the harmonization of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) 412 and 413 with the Pension Protection Act (PPA) of 2006 (Pub. L. 109280, 120 Stat.780). Many of the public comments received as of November 3, 2008 noted that the ANPRM addressed complex and technical accounting issues. Some of the commenters noted that they were still actively performing actuarial modeling of the ANPRM and alternative approaches. These commenters asked that the Board consider promulgating a second ANPRM or accepting public comments submitted after the original due date of November 3, 2008. Because the Final Rule must be published within the statutory time requirements of Section 106 of the PPA, the Board is concerned that the promulgation of a second ANPRM might not be feasi

FY 2008 Cost of Outpatient Medical, Dental, and Cosmetic Surgery Services Furnished by Department of Defense Medical

Tue, Nov 25 2008 11:00:00 GMT

By virtue of the authority vested in the President by section 2(a) of Public Law 87603 (76 Stat. 593; 42 U.S.C. 2652), and delegated to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by the President through Executive Order No. 11541 of July 1, 1970, the rates referenced below are hereby established. These rates are for use in connection with the recovery from tortiously liable third persons for the cost of outpatient medical, dental and cosmetic surgery services furnished by military treatment facilities through the Department of Defense (DoD). The rates were established in accordance with the requirements of OMB Circular A25, requiring reimbursement of the full cost of all services provided. The outpatient medical and dental rates referenced are effective upon publication of this notice in the Federal Register and will remain in effect until further notice. Pharmacy rates are updated periodically. The inpatient rates, published on March 6, 2008, remain in effect until further notic

Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Wed, Oct 15 2008 11:00:00 GMT

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) invites the general public and Federal agencies to comment on the renewal without change of four (4) standard forms: SF269, Financial Status Report (Long Form); SF269A, Financial Status Report (Short Form); SF272, Federal Cash Transactions Report; and SF272A, Federal Cash Transactions Report. OMB anticipates that this will be the last renewal of these forms. By no later than October 1, 2009, each federal agency must transition from the SF269, SF269A, SF272, and SF272A to the Federal Financial Report (FFR), by requiring recipients to use the FFR for all financial reports submitted after the date it makes the transition. In making the transition, an agency would incorporate the requirement to use the FFR into terms and conditions of new and ongoing grant and cooperative agreement awards, State plans, and/or program regulations that specify financial reporting requirements.

Standard Data Elements for Electronic Summary Reports of Inventions

Thu, Oct 9 2008 11:00:00 GMT

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is establishing a standard set of data elements for a governmentwide summary report of inventions and the Interagency Edison extramural invention reporting system (iEdison) as the host site for collecting this information.

Guidance for Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Financial Assistance)

Fri, Sep 26 2008 11:00:00 GMT

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing guidance on drugfree workplace requirements for financial assistance. The guidance conforms with the common rule that 31 Federal agencies published on November 26, 2003 and therefore makes no substantive change to Federal policies and procedures in this area. The agencies issued that common rule after resolving public comments received in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

OMB is proposing to issue this guidance as an administrative simplification that will streamline the policy framework for drugfree workplace requirements in two ways. First, the guidance is in a form suitable for Federal agency adoption, which will reduce the volume of Federal regulations on drugfree workplace, make it easier for the affected public to use them, and make it easier and less expensive for the Federal Government to maintain them. Second, the guidance is located in the recently established Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR). Loca

Draft 2008 Report to Congress on the Benefits and Costs of Federal Regulations

Wed, Sep 24 2008 11:00:00 GMT

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests comments on its Draft 2008 Report to Congress on the Benefits and Costs of Federal Regulation. The full Draft Report is available at http:// www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/regpolreports_congress.html, and is divided into four chapters. Chapter I examines the benefits and costs of major Federal regulations issued in fiscal year 2007 and summarizes the benefits and costs of major regulations issued between September 1997 and 2007. It also discusses regulatory impacts on State, local, and tribal governments, small business, wages, and economic growth. Chapter II examines trends in regulation since OMB began to compile benefit and cost estimates records in 1981. Chapter III provides an update on implementation of the Information Quality Act, and Chapter IV summarizes agency compliance wit

Compliance Assistance Resources and Points of Contact Available to Small Businesses

Wed, Sep 17 2008 11:00:00 GMT

In accordance with the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3520), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is publishing a ``list of the compliance assistance resources available to small businesses'' and a list of the points of contacts in agencies ``to act as a liaison between the agency and small business concerns'' with respect to the collection of information and the control of paperwork. This information is posted on the following Web site: http:/ /www.business.gov/contacts/federal/.

Financial Reporting for Grants and Cooperative Agreements: Federal Financial Report (FFR)

Wed, Aug 13 2008 11:00:00 GMT

Title: Federal Financial Report (FFR).

OMB No.: New Collection.

Description: The Office of Management and Budget is consolidating and replacing four existing financial reporting forms (SF269, SF269A, SF272, and SF272A) with a single Federal Financial Report (FFR). The purpose of the FFR is to give recipients of grants and cooperative agreements a standard format for reporting the financial status of their grants and cooperative agreements (hereby referred to collectively as awards). Federal awarding agencies developed the FFR as part of their implementation of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106107).

Respondents: Federal Grants making agencies and their grantees.

Additional Information: Copies of the proposed collection may be obtained by going to OMB's main Web page at http://www.OMB.gov and clicking on the ``Grants

Public Availability of Fiscal Year 2007 Agency Inventories Under the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act

Thu, Jul 10 2008 11:00:00 GMT

The Federal Activities Inventory Reform (FAIR) Act, Public Law 105270, requires agencies to develop inventories each year of activities performed by their employees that are not inherently governmentali.e., inventories of commercial activities. The FAIR Act further requires OMB to review the inventories in consultation with the agencies and publish a notice of public availability in the Federal Register after the consultation process is completed. In accordance with the FAIR Act, OMB is publishing this notice to announce the availability of inventories from the agencies listed below. These inventories identify both commercial activities and activities that are inherently governmental.

This is the second and final release of the FAIR Act inventories for FY 2007. Interested parties who disagree with the agency's initial judgment may challenge the inclusion or the omission of an activity on the list of activities that are not inherently governmental within 30 working days and, if not satisfied

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request for the Review of a Revised Information Collection: Form DPRS-2809

Mon, Jun 23 2008 11:00:00 GMT

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 10413, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. DPRS 2809, Request to Change Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Enrollment, is used by former spouses and Temporary Continuation of Coverage recipients who are eligible to elect, cancel, or change health benefits enrollment during open season.

Approximately 27,000 DPRS2809 forms are completed annually. We estimate it takes approximately 45 minutes to complete the forms. The annual burden is 20,250 hours.

For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth SmithToomey on (202) 6068358, FAX (202) 4183251 or via Email to MaryBeth.Smith Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

Public Availability of Fiscal Year 2007 Agency Inventories Under the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act

Tue, Jun 17 2008 11:00:00 GMT

This is the first release of the FAIR Act inventories for FY 2007. Interested parties who disagree with the agency's initial judgment may present a challenge to the agency regarding the inclusion or the omission of an activity on the list of activities that are not inherently governmental within 30 working day

OMB Circular A-133 Information Collection under OMB Review

Mon, Jun 16 2008 11:00:00 GMT

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that an information collection request was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for processing under 5 CFR 1320.10. The first notice of this information collection request, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, was published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2007 [72 FR 68608]. The information collection request involves two proposed information collections from two types of entities: (1) Reports from auditors to auditees concerning audit results, audit findings, and questioned costs; and (2) reports from auditees to the Federal Government providing information about the auditees, the awards they administer, and the audit results. These collection efforts are required by the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) and OMB Circular A133, ``Audits of States, Local Governments, and

Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations; Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement

Thu, Jun 5 2008 11:00:00 GMT

This notice announces the availability of the 2008 Circular A- 133 Compliance Supplement. The notice also offered interested parties an opportunity to comment on the 2008 Circular A133 Compliance Supplement. The 2008 Supplement adds seven programs, including three programs added to an existing cluster. It has also been updated for program changes and technical corrections. In total, the 2008 Compliance Supplement includes 178 individual programs. A list of changes to the 2008 Supplement can be found at Appendix V. Due to its length, the 2008 Supplement is not included in this Notice. See ADDRESSES for information about how to obtain a copy.

Performance of Commercial Activities

Wed, Mar 19 2008 11:00:00 GMT

OMB is updating the civilian position full fringe benefit cost factor used to compute the estimated cost of government performance in publicprivate competitions conducted pursuant to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A76. The civilian position full fringe benefit cost factor is comprised of four separate elements: (1) Insurance and health benefits, (2) standard civilian retirement benefits, (3) Medicare benefits, and (4) miscellaneous fringe benefits. OMB is updating the insurance and health benefits and standard civilian retirement benefits cost elements based on actuarial analyses provided by the Office of Personnel Management.

OMB is also updating the annual Federal pay raise assumptions and inflation cost factors used for computing the government's personnel and nonpay costs in Circular A76 publicprivate competitions. These annual pay raise assumptions and inflation factors are based on the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2009.

FY 2007 Pilot Program for Alternative Approaches to Performance and Accountability Reporting Open Forum

Thu, Mar 13 2008 11:00:00 GMT

The open forum on the FY 2007 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) pilot previously scheduled for April 14, 2008 will now be held at the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) on April 10, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those interested in participating should respond to the questions listed below by Email to either Regina Kearney at rkearney@omb.eop.gov, or Pat Harris at pharris@omb.eop.gov by close of business March 28, 2008.

Do the PAR pilot component documents (Annual Financial Report, Annual Performance Report, and Highlights):
[cir] Provide an enhanced presentation of the financial and performance information in a more transparent way (i.e. information is presented in a manner that is user friendly and easy enough for a novice reader to understand)?
[cir] Report financial and performance information more meaningful (i.e. financial and performance data is reliable, relevant, a

Cost of Hospital and Medical Care Treatment Furnished by the Department of Defense Medical Treatment Facilities;

Thu, Mar 6 2008 11:00:00 GMT

By virtue of the authority vested in the President by Section 2(a) of Pub. B. 87603 (76 Stat. 593; 42 U.S.C. 2652), and delegated to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget by the President through Executive Order No. 11541 of July 1, 1970, the rates referenced below are hereby established. These rates are for use in connection with the recovery from tortiously liable third persons for the cost of inpatient medical services furnished by military treatment facilities through the Department of Defense (DoD). The rates have been established in accordance with the requirements of OMB Circular A25, requiring reimbursement of the full cost of all services provided. The inpatient medical rates referenced are effective upon publication of this notice in the Federal Register and will remain in effect until further notice. The outpatient medical and dental, and cosmetic surgery rates published on November 21, 2007, remain in effect until further notice. Pharmacy rates are updated periodically

Discount Rates for Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Federal Programs

Wed, Jan 30 2008 11:00:00 GMT

The Office of Management and Budget revised Circular A-94 in 1992. The revised Circular specified certain discount rates to be updated annually when the interest rate and inflation assumptions used to prepare the budget of the United States government were changed. These discount rates are found in Appendix C of the revised Circular. The updated discount rates are shown below. The discount rates in Appendix C are to be used for costeffectiveness analysis, including leasepurchase analysis, as specified in the revised Circular. They do not apply to regulatory analysis.

FY 2007 Pilot Program for Alternative Approaches to Performance and Accountability Reporting Open Forum

Wed, Jan 30 2008 11:00:00 GMT

An open forum on the FY 2007 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) pilot will be held at the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) on April 14, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The PAR pilot allows agencies to explore different formats to enhance the presentation of financial and performance information and make this information more meaningful and transparent to the public. As an alternative to the traditional PAR, agencies that participated in the pilot had to prepare and submit to OMB three component documents. The component documents included an Agency Financial Report (AFR), an Annual Performance Report (APR), and a Highlights document that presents performance and financial information in a summary fashion. The purpose of the forum is to obtain feedback from individual users and stakeholders regarding the results of the pilot. Those interested in participating should respond to the questions listed below by email to either Regina Kearney at

Office of Federal Procurement Policy; Acquisition of Green Products and Services

Tue, Jan 15 2008 11:00:00 GMT

The Office of Management and Budget, Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) published a document in the Federal Register of December 28, 2007, concerning a proposed OFPP policy letter on the acquisition of green products and services. The document erroneously contained an effective date.