FR 2025-03308

The document in question is a notice issued by the Department of the Treasury regarding its intention to submit information collection requests to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department is seeking comments from the public on these requests. The public has until March 31, 2025, to provide feedback.

General Overview

This notice pertains to two primary information collection activities. The first involves a routine extension of information collection that supports the award of public contracts for supplies and services. The collection is essential for fulfilling legal and regulatory obligations related to federal acquisitions. The second activity is related to the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) program, which allocated grants to transportation service providers affected by COVID-19. The notice highlights that funds have been fully distributed, and reporting obligations have been completed, although recipients must retain records for three years.

Significant Issues and Concerns

The document raises several important concerns that warrant attention:

1. Lack of Detailed Calculations: The notice does not explain how the Treasury calculated the estimated number of respondents and annual burden hours for both collections. This omission makes it challenging to assess whether the burdens placed on the public are justified or consistent with past experiences.

2. Vague Time Estimates: For the information collection related to public contracts, the time per response is described only as "varies," without providing even a rough average or range. This lack of specificity leaves businesses uncertain about the amount of time commitment they might face.

3. Missing Outcomes and Benefits: The document lacks a clear articulation of the tangible outcomes or benefits these information collections provide, especially in compliance with the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act.

4. Post-Distribution Accountability: While the CERTS program has distributed all allocated funds, there's no discussion on the impact or effectiveness of the program, leaving questions about grant efficiency and objectives.

5. No Feedback Incorporation: There is no mention of incorporating public feedback from previous information collection rounds, making it unclear if and how public comments have influenced past or current processes.

Impact on the Public

The broader public impact of these collections revolves around administrative burdens placed on businesses, particularly those that might interact with the Federal Treasury through contracts or were involved in the CERTS program. For businesses required to submit proposals for public contracts, participations demand varying amounts of time and resources that might not have been transparently communicated.

Stakeholder Impacts

Businesses Involved in Treasury Contracts: These companies may face uncertainties regarding how long it will take to comply with proposal submissions, potentially affecting smaller businesses disproportionately if they lack resources for flexible deployment of hours.

Transportation Service Providers: Those who received CERTS funds dealt with clear guidelines during the program. However, continued record retention requirements appear somewhat ambiguous, given the lack of ongoing submission obligations.

In summary, while the intention of reducing paperwork burdens is clear, more precise data, clearer communication, and transparency regarding feedback integration and program outcomes could provide significant value not only to the stakeholders involved but also to public transparency and accountability standards.

The Federal Register document outlines financial allocations specifically related to the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) program. According to the document, $2 billion has been allocated for grants to eligible providers of transportation services under this program. These recipients include motorcoach companies, school bus companies, passenger vessel companies, and pilotage companies.

Financial Allocations

The document states that the funds are provided under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which was signed into law on December 27, 2020. The financial allocation is structured to support businesses that experienced significant revenue losses due to COVID-19. The grant funds must be used primarily for payroll costs and other eligible operating expenses.

Relation to Identified Issues

One of the issues identified in the document is the lack of detailed information on the outcomes or benefits achieved from the funds distributed through the CERTS program. While it notes that all grant funds have been disbursed and reporting requirements have been completed, no data is provided about the impact of these financial distributions. A more comprehensive evaluation of how the $2 billion in grants affected the recipients’ businesses and the overall efficiency of the fund allocation would help assess the success of the program.

Additionally, the document specifies that recipients are required to retain records for three years after the funds are expended or returned to the Treasury. However, it does not clarify why this record retention is necessary if no further reporting duties are being upheld. This requirement may suggest a potential audit process or another form of review that has not been explicitly outlined.

Overall, the financial references highlight a substantial allocation aimed at aiding transportation service providers hit by the pandemic. However, the lack of detailed follow-up information regarding the effectiveness and impact of this allocation leaves questions unanswered regarding the efficacy of such financial interventions. The emphasis on record retention without further clarification also introduces potential concerns about transparency and ongoing oversight.