80 FR 81671 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments; Clearance of a New Information Collection(s): Voluntary Web-Based Questionnaire of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Firms

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 250 (December 30, 2015)

Page Range		81671-81671
FR Document		2015-32859

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for the utilization of the Voluntary Web- Based Questionnaire of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Firms. The questionnaire will be for the use of firms certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). DBE's that choose to participate will be asked to provide information regarding the nature of their business and bidding history, and perceived barriers/challenges that may have prevented them from receiving a contract or successfully competing in DOT's DBE program. A link to the survey will be made available by DOT's Departmental Office of Civil Rights for use by the Department's state and local recipients, which can in turn post this link on their own Web sites. The information collected will be used to assist DOT in measuring whether the DBE program is achieving its objectives.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 81671]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32859]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No. DOT-OST-2015-0255]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments; 
Clearance of a New Information Collection(s): Voluntary Web-Based 
Questionnaire of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Firms

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces the U.S. Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) intention to request the Office of Management 
and Budget's (OMB) approval for the utilization of the Voluntary Web-
Based Questionnaire of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Firms. The 
questionnaire will be for the use of firms certified as a Disadvantaged 
Business Enterprise (DBE). DBE's that choose to participate will be 
asked to provide information regarding the nature of their business and 
bidding history, and perceived barriers/challenges that may have 
prevented them from receiving a contract or successfully competing in 
DOT's DBE program. A link to the survey will be made available by DOT's 
Departmental Office of Civil Rights for use by the Department's state 
and local recipients, which can in turn post this link on their own Web 
sites. The information collected will be used to assist DOT in 
measuring whether the DBE program is achieving its objectives.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by Docket No. DOT-OST-
2015-XXXX] through one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Room W12-
140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except on Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc D. Pentino, Departmental Office 
of Civil Rights, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, 20590; 202-
366-4648; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: XXXX--NEW.
    Title: Voluntary Web-Based Questionnaire of Disadvantaged Business 
Enterprise Firms.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Type of Review: OMB Approval.
    Background: The DOT's Operating Administrations distribute 
substantial funds each year to finance construction projects initiated 
by state and local governments, public transit and airport agencies. 
The DOT has the important responsibility of ensuring that firms 
competing for DOT-assisted contracts for these projects are not 
disadvantaged by unlawful discrimination. The DOT's most important tool 
for meeting this requirement has been its DBE program, which originally 
began in 1980 as a minority/women's business enterprise program 
established by regulation under the authority of Title VI of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964 and other nondiscrimination statutes that apply to 
DOT financial assistance programs. The DBE program was reauthorized by 
Congress several times since its inception; most recently in the 
``Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act'' or the ``MAP-
21,'' (Pub. L. 112-141, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 405), which funded 
surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and 
transit at over $105 billion for fiscal years 2013 and 2014. Section 
1101(b) of the Act describes Congress's findings regarding the 
continued need for the DBE program due to the discrimination and 
related barriers that pose significant obstacles for minority and 
women-owned businesses seeking federally-assisted surface 
transportation work. The information requested will assist DOT in 
measuring whether the DBE program is achieving its objectives to create 
a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly or assist in the 
development of DBE firms to compete successfully in the marketplace.
    Respondents: There are approximately 33,000 Disadvantaged Business 
Enterprises in the United States. Responses from this pool of 
businesses will vary due to the voluntary nature of the collection.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The DOT estimates less than 10% of 
firms will submit information, or approximately 3,000 businesses.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 10 minutes per respondent.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
DOT's DBE program; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways 
for the Department to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized 
without reducing the quality of the collected information. All 
responses to the notice will be summarized and included in the request 
for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 10, 2015.
Stephanie Jones,
Senior Counselor to the Secretary, Chief Opportunities Officer, and 
Acting Director, Departmental Office of Civil Rights.
[FR Doc. 2015-32859 Filed 12-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 250 / Wednesday, December 30, 2015 / Notices 81671

burden could be minimized without DATES: Comments on this notice must be Act’’ or the ‘‘MAP–21,’’ (Pub. L. 112–
reducing the quality of the collected received by February 29, 2016. 141, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 405), which
information. The agency will summarize ADDRESSES: You may submit comments funded surface transportation programs
or include your comments in the request [identified by Docket No. DOT–OST– for highways, highway safety, and
for OMB’s clearance of this information 2015–XXXX] through one of the transit at over $105 billion for fiscal
collection. following methods: years 2013 and 2014. Section 1101(b) of
Issued under the authority delegated in 49 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// the Act describes Congress’s findings
CFR 1.87 on: December 22, 2015. www.regulations.gov. Follow the online regarding the continued need for the
G. Kelly Regal, instructions for submitting comments. DBE program due to the discrimination
Associate Administrator, Office of Research • Fax: 202–493–2251. and related barriers that pose significant
and Information Technology. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, obstacles for minority and women-
[FR Doc. 2015–32865 Filed 12–29–15; 8:45 am] U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 owned businesses seeking federally-
New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, assisted surface transportation work.
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. The information requested will assist
• Hand Delivery: Docket Management DOT in measuring whether the DBE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Facility, U.S. Department of program is achieving its objectives to
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey create a level playing field on which
[Docket No. DOT–OST–2015–0255] Avenue SE., West Building, Room W12– DBEs can compete fairly or assist in the
140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 development of DBE firms to compete
Agency Information Collection a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through successfully in the marketplace.
Activities: Request for Comments; Friday, except on Federal holidays. Respondents: There are
Clearance of a New Information FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: approximately 33,000 Disadvantaged
Collection(s): Voluntary Web-Based Marc D. Pentino, Departmental Office of Business Enterprises in the United
Questionnaire of Disadvantaged Civil Rights, Office of the Secretary, U.S. States. Responses from this pool of
Business Enterprise Firms Department of Transportation, 1200 businesses will vary due to the
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, voluntary nature of the collection.
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S.
DC, 20590; 202–366–4648; Estimated Number of Respondents:
Department of Transportation.
marc.pentino@dot.gov. The DOT estimates less than 10% of
ACTION: Notice and request for firms will submit information, or
comments. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
approximately 3,000 businesses.
OMB Control Number: XXXX—NEW.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Estimated Total Burden on
Title: Voluntary Web-Based
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44 Respondents: 10 minutes per
Questionnaire of Disadvantaged
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice respondent.
Business Enterprise Firms.
announces the U.S. Department of Form Numbers: None. Public Comments Invited: You are
Transportation’s (DOT) intention to Type of Review: OMB Approval. asked to comment on any aspect of this
request the Office of Management and Background: The DOT’s Operating information collection, including (a)
Budget’s (OMB) approval for the Administrations distribute substantial Whether the proposed collection of
utilization of the Voluntary Web-Based funds each year to finance construction information is necessary for the proper
Questionnaire of Disadvantaged projects initiated by state and local performance of DOT’s DBE program; (b)
Business Enterprise Firms. The governments, public transit and airport the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c)
questionnaire will be for the use of firms agencies. The DOT has the important ways for the Department to enhance the
certified as a Disadvantaged Business responsibility of ensuring that firms quality, utility and clarity of the
Enterprise (DBE). DBE’s that choose to competing for DOT-assisted contracts information collection; and (d) ways
participate will be asked to provide for these projects are not disadvantaged that the burden could be minimized
information regarding the nature of their by unlawful discrimination. The DOT’s without reducing the quality of the
business and bidding history, and most important tool for meeting this collected information. All responses to
perceived barriers/challenges that may requirement has been its DBE program, the notice will be summarized and
have prevented them from receiving a which originally began in 1980 as a included in the request for OMB
contract or successfully competing in minority/women’s business enterprise approval. All comments will also
DOT’s DBE program. A link to the program established by regulation under become a matter of public record.
survey will be made available by DOT’s the authority of Title VI of the Civil Issued in Washington, DC, on December
Departmental Office of Civil Rights for Rights Act of 1964 and other 10, 2015.
use by the Department’s state and local nondiscrimination statutes that apply to Stephanie Jones,
recipients, which can in turn post this DOT financial assistance programs. The Senior Counselor to the Secretary, Chief
link on their own Web sites. The DBE program was reauthorized by Opportunities Officer, and Acting Director,
information collected will be used to Congress several times since its Departmental Office of Civil Rights.
assist DOT in measuring whether the inception; most recently in the ‘‘Moving [FR Doc. 2015–32859 Filed 12–29–15; 8:45 am]
DBE program is achieving its objectives. Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

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Document Created: 2015-12-30 03:16:08
Document Modified: 2015-12-30 03:16:08

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice and request for comments.
Dates		Comments on this notice must be received by February 29, 2016.
Contact		Marc D. Pentino, Departmental Office of Civil Rights, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, 20590; 202- 366-4648; [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 81671