80 FR 46378 - 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Risk Analysis and Management (RAM)

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 149 (August 4, 2015)

The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46378-46379]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19098]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 9211]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Risk Analysis 
and Management (RAM)

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. 
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are 
requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals 
and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for 
public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 
September 3, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web: Persons with access to the Internet may comment on 
this notice by going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the 
document by entering ``Docket Number: DOS-2015-0036'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
     Email: [email protected].
     Regular Mail: Send written comments to: U.S. Department of 
State, Office of Risk Analysis and Management, 2201 C St. NW., 
Washington, DC 20520.
     Fax: 202-647-7082.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: U.S. Department of State, Office 
of Risk

[[Page 46379]]

Analysis and Management, 2201 C St. NW., Washington, DC 20520.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and 
supporting documents, to Lisa M. Farrell, US Department of State, 
Office of Risk Analysis and Management, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, 
DC 20520; who may be reached on 202-647-6020 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
     Title of Information Collection: Risk Analysis and 
Management.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0204.
     Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Administration, Office of 
Logistics Management (A/LM).
     Form Number: DS-4184.
     Respondents: Potential Contractors and Grantees.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 850.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 850.
     Average Time per Response: 75 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 1008 hours.
     Frequency: On occasion.
     Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this 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 
information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are 
public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you 
should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your 
personal information, will be available for public review.
    Abstract of proposed collection: The information collected from 
individuals and organizations is specifically used to conduct screening 
to ensure that State funded activities do not provide support to 
entities or individuals deemed to be a risk to national security.
    Methodology: The State Department has implemented a Risk Analysis 
and Management Program to vet potential contractors and grantees 
seeking funding from the Department of State to mitigate the risk that 
such funds might benefit entities or individuals who present a national 
security risk. To conduct this vetting program the Department collects 
information from contractors, sub-contractors, grantees and sub-
grantees regarding their directors, officers and/or key employees 
through mail, fax or electronic submission. The Department published a 
30-day notice on April 23, 2015 (80 FR 22764). The Department is 
publishing this additional notice to announce our intent to collect 
additional information from former civilian government and military 
officials of the current Syria regime. Concerns have been raised 
regarding the possibility of the United States Government inadvertently 
funding individuals guilty of human rights abuses. The questions we 
plan to add to the information collection are necessary to help 
identify the activities and former affiliations of these individuals. 
The information collected is compared to information gathered from 
commercial, public, and U.S. government databases to determine the risk 
that the applying organization, entity or individual might use 
Department funds or programs in a way that presents a threat to 
national security. This program will continue as a pilot program as 
directed by Congress in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, 
and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2015 (Div. J, Pub. L. 113-
235).

    Dated: July 17, 2015.
 Catherine I. Ebert-Gray,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Administration, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2015-19098 Filed 8-3-15; 8:45 am]
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