FR 2024-30210

The document in question is a notice from the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It outlines the agency's intention to revise the current information collection process for the Rural Development Cooperative Agreements (RDCA) Program. This move is in line with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which ensures that government agencies do not overburden the public with mandatory information collections. Comments on the proposed revisions are sought from the public and should be submitted by February 18, 2025.

General Summary

The RBCS aims to improve how information is gathered for the RDCA Program, which seeks to boost programs supporting rural areas. These development efforts involve cooperative agreements that the USDA has been authorized to form under federal law. The notice seeks public feedback on the usefulness, accuracy, and potential burden of the information collection process. The OMB (Office of Management and Budget) controls the approval of these information collections, which indicates a focus on minimizing unnecessary or redundant data gathering.

Significant Issues and Concerns

One major concern arising from the document is the estimated public reporting burden of 1.65 hours per response. Without detailed clarification about the specifics of the information being collected, assessing this burden's appropriateness is challenging. This opacity might discourage public participation or contribute to inefficient processing.

Another point of uncertainty involves the criteria for classifying proposals as "unique or innovative," thereby allowing them direct entry into cooperative agreements without the usual competitive processes. The lack of clear definitions and examples for terms such as "solicited" and "unsolicited" proposals may also create confusion, potentially leading to issues of fairness and transparency in selecting agreement partners.

The document's instructions for submitting comments can appear complex due to multi-step processes and optional features, possibly posing a barrier for some users. While inviting various forms of feedback, it remains unclear how the USDA plans to incorporate or acknowledge this input beyond its inclusion in the OMB request.

Impact on the Public

Broadly speaking, this document has the potential to affect the public positively by refining the processes that manage cooperative agreements for rural development. Lowering administrative burdens and enhancing coordination could lead to more efficient allocation of resources and better outcomes for rural communities.

However, the perceived complexity and lack of transparency in the proposal handling process might deter public engagement. If the public perceives that their comments are not meaningfully considered or integrated into the agency's plans, there could be reluctance to engage with future USDA initiatives.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Key stakeholders, such as regional consortia of higher education, academic health and research institutes, or economic development entities, stand to benefit from a more streamlined information collection process. A reduction in paperwork burdens could allow these entities to focus more on substantive development activities rather than administrative compliance.

However, these stakeholders may also face challenges due to ambiguities in the current proposal classification and evaluation processes. Clear guidance and transparent criteria are essential to ensure fair opportunity and access to cooperative agreements, thus preventing any adverse effects due to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of the program's requirements.

Overall, while the intentions behind the document's proposed changes are presumably beneficial, clarity, transparency, and user-friendliness will be crucial to gaining public trust and achieving the desired improvements.