Document
Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention t...
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview of This Information Collection
Agency:
USDA, AMS.
Title:
Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA).
OMB Number:
0581-NEW.
Type of Request:
Emergency Approval of a New Information Collection.
Abstract:
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621
et seq.), as amended, directs and authorizes USDA to administer Federal cooperative agreements programs. AMS cooperative agreement programs are administered according to OMB Guidance for Cooperative Agreements, which is based on OMB's regulations under the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 200) (85 FR 49506; December 13, 2020). Information collection requirements in this emergency request are needed for AMS to administer a new noncompetitive cooperative agreement program, in accordance with Section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act (Pub. L. 117-2) (Act). USDA will collect information for this new program to award cooperative agreements and provide other assistance to maintain and improve food and agriculture supply chain resiliency.
Since the LFPA is a voluntary program, respondents request or apply for this specific competitive cooperative agreement, and in doing so, they provide information. The information collected is used only by authorized representatives of USDA, AMS, Commodity Procurement Program to certify that cooperative agreement participants are complying with applicable program regulations, and the data collected is the minimum information necessary to effectively carry out program requirements.
Information collection requirements in this request are essential to carry out the intent of Act, to provide respondents the type of service they request and to administer the program.
Estimate of Burden:
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 4 hours.
Respondents:
Cooperative Agreement applicants; or Cooperative Agreement recipients.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
75.
Estimated Total Annual Responses Including Recordkeeping:
975.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:
5.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Recordkeepers:
4,731.25 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the new collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Obtaining OMB's approval of this new information collection enables AMS to publish a Request for Applications (RFA) to establish application requirements, the review and approval process, and cooperative agreement administration procedures. This will enable eligible entities to develop appropriate cooperative agreement applications for the program so that AMS can adequately evaluate these new proposals and obligate the funds as required by the American Act.
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.