Document
Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Department, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. The Department is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.
Title of Collection:
Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures.
OMB Control Number:
1845-0172.
Type of Review:
A revision of a currently approved ICR.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Private Sector; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses:
10,413.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours:
5,207.
Abstract:
FSA, in partnership with the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) of ED, is requesting the renewal of Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures, 1845-0172, to continue to collect the required information from institutions of higher education regarding foreign gifts and contracts as specified in the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended. Section 117 of the HEA, codified at 20 U.S.C. 1011f, provides that institutions of higher education must file a disclosure report with the Secretary of Education on January 31 or July 31, whichever is sooner, under certain circumstances.
In June of 2020, ED established a collection of information, Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures, 1801-0006, through ED's Partner Enterprise Business Collaboration (PEBC) system. That collection was under an OMB control number for OGC. The PEBC collection provided for collection of the data elements that ED believes are necessary to ensure institutions provide Congressionally-mandated transparency with respect to covered gifts from and contracts with foreign sources. In June of 2023, a new collection of information, Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures, 1845-0172, was approved with the same PEBC collection portal, with a few minimal changes, but returning the collection of information to FSA. OGC and FSA have worked closely over the course of these previous two information requests. FSA is seeking renewal for substantially the same information collection, utilizing a new, more user-friendly portal located at
https://www.foreignfundinghighered.gov.
Ross Santy,
Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.