Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; U.S. Department of Education Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) Data Collection, 4931 [2024-01500]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 4931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01500]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2024-SCC-0015]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; U.S. 
Department of Education Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) Data 
Collection

AGENCY: Office of Finance and Operations (OFO), Department of Education 
(ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Department is proposing a new information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 25, 2024.

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the 
information collection listed in this notice, please use https://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2024-SCC-0015. 
Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal 
mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov 
site is not available to the public for any reason, the Department will 
temporarily accept comments at [email protected]. Please include the 
docket ID number and the title of the information collection request 
when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that 
comments submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. 
Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail 
or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Strategic 
Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 4C210, 
Washington, DC 20202-8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Pedro Romero, 202-453-7886.

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: U.S. Department of Education Build America, 
Buy America Act (BABAA) Data Collection.
    OMB Control Number: 1894-NEW.
    Type of Review: A new ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 470.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 4,700.
    Abstract: In accordance with section 70914 of the Build America Buy 
America Act (Pub. L. 117-58, Sec. 70901-70953) (BABAA), grantees funded 
under Department of Education (the Department) programs that allow 
funds to be used for infrastructure projects (infrastructure programs), 
i.e., construction and broadband infrastructure, may not use their 
grant funds for these infrastructure projects or activities unless they 
comply with the following BABAA sourcing requirements:
    1. All iron and steel used in the infrastructure project or 
activity are produced in the United States.
    2. All manufactured products used in the infrastructure project or 
activity are produced in the United States.
    3. All construction materials are manufactured in the United 
States.
    The Department may, in accordance with sections 70914(b) and (d), 
70921(b), 70935, and 70937 of BABAA, and the Office of Management and 
Budget Memorandum M 24-02, Implementation Guidance on Application of 
Buy America Preference in Federal Financial Assistance Programs for 
Infrastructure, approve waivers to BABAA sourcing requirements under 
programs it has identified as infrastructure programs when it 
determines that exceptions to these requirements apply. The Department 
may approve these waivers, subject to notice and comment requirements 
and the Office of Management and Budget Made in America Office (MIAO) 
review.
    The information submitted by grantees using the BABAA Data 
Collection Form will be used by the Department to track the type of 
waivers (i.e., agency level waivers or approved grantee waivers) 
implemented by grantees. The data may also be used for reporting 
purposes.

    Dated: January 22, 2024.
Stephanie Valentine,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and 
Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, 
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-01500 Filed 1-24-24; 8:45 am]
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