Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments; Clearance of a New Information Collection(s): Voluntary Web-Based Questionnaire of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Firms, 81671 [2015-32859]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 81671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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: https://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; marc.pentino@dot.gov.

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