U.S. Chief Financial Officer Council; Grants Policy Committee, 7090 [07-674]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 7090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-674]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


U.S. Chief Financial Officer Council; Grants Policy Committee

ACTION: Notice of open stakeholder Webcast meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the second of a series of open 
stakeholder Webcast meetings sponsored by the Grants Policy Committee 
(GPC) of the U.S. Chief Financial Officer Council.

DATES: The GPC will hold a Webcast meeting on Thursday, March 8, 2007, 
1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. The Webcast will be 
broadcast live.

ADDRESSES: The GPC March 8 Webcast meeting will be hosted by and 
broadcasted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The meeting 
will be held in the USDA Jefferson Auditorium at 1400 Independence 
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250. Meeting registration is not required, 
but you must arrive early and bring a photo I.D. to ensure adequate 
time for USDA security to clear you to enter the building. The GPC 
encourages organizations to attend and to invite their staffs and 
members to attend the meeting in person or via Webcast.
    Overview: This meeting will serve as an opportunity for the public 
to view and discuss the six proposed government-wide post-award forms 
for recipients of federal financial assistance: (1) Federal Financial 
Report; (2) Performance Progress Report; (3) Performance Progress 
Report for Research Programs; (4) Tangible Personal Property; (5) Real 
Property Status; (6) and Inventions Report. Prior to the March 8 
Webcast meeting, these proposed forms will be posted on the Federal 
Grants Streamlining Initiative (FGSI) Web site at https://www.grant.gov/
aboutgrants/grants_news.jsp.
    For Further Information About the GPC Webcast: Questions on the 
webcast should be directed to Charisse Carney-Nunes, National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230; e-mail, 
GPCWebcast@nsf.gov. Information and materials that pertain to this 
Webcast meeting, including the call-in telephone number, the agenda, 
and the six proposed forms will be posted on the FGSI Web site at 
https://www.grant.gov/aboutgrants/grants_news.jsp under the March 8 
Meeting Materials. The call-in telephone number may be used only DURING 
the live Webcast. The link to view the Webcast will be posted on this 
site, along with Webcast Instructions. Approximately one week following 
the Webcast meeting, the GPC will post a transcript for the hearing-
impaired. Also, after the meeting, a link to its recording will be 
posted on the FGSI Web site for at least 90 days.
    Comments Submission Information: You may submit comments during the 
Webcast meeting via telephone or e-mail. The e-mail address for 
comments both during and after the Webcast is GPCWebcast@nsf.gov. You 
may submit comments for ten working days following the March 8 meeting. 
All Webcast comments pertaining to the six proposed forms will be 
retained for consideration during the process of finalizing the forms 
prior to submitting them to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for formal approval.
    Because the federal grant making agencies may use these forms to 
collet information from ten or more recipients of federal financial 
assistance (awardees), OMB approval/clearance must be obtained prior to 
their being used as information collection instruments (Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose of the Webcast meeting: The purpose of the meeting is to 
continue the GPC's efforts to update and inform grant stakeholders 
about the GPC's past and ongoing activities related to the FGSI in 
accordance with Public Law (Pub. L.) 106-107.
    Specifically, the March 8 webcast meeting will serve as an 
opportunity to solicit feedback and clarify any interested 
stakeholders' issues or concerns regarding the six proposed government-
wide post-award forms.
    Meeting structure and agenda: The March 8 Webcast meeting will have 
the following structure and agenda:
    (1) Welcome by the host agency, USDA;
    (2) Introduction and update by the Chair of the GPC;
    (3) Update and explanation of forms from the post-award work group; 
and
    (4) Participants' discussion, questions and comments.

As a result of stakeholder input received from the GPC's first webcast 
on October 25, 2006, the GPC has invited stakeholder organization 
representatives to present comments and questions relating to the post-
award forms. Additionally, 60-75 minutes are scheduled for general 
participant input. Finally, please note that predecisional, internal 
governmental, and other nonpublic information cannot be discussed.
    Background: Background about the FGSI is set forth in the Federal 
Register published on September 13, 2006 (71 FR 54098). The GPC post-
award work group is responsible for streamlining policies and practices 
that pertain to federal monitoring of awardees and awardee performance, 
required reporting, and payments. The six forms to be discussed during 
the GPC's March 8 Webcast meeting are post-award work group products. 
These forms were developed to simplify reporting requirements; 
standardize, consolidate, and strengthen grant reporting; and improve 
the overall delivery of services to awardees.

    Dated: February 9, 2007.
Joanna Rom,
Acting Chair, Grants Policy Committee of the U.S. Chief Financial 
Officer Council.
[FR Doc. 07-674 Filed 2-13-07; 8:45 am]
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