[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 17182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06355]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


 Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 14, 2013.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Office of the Chief Financial Officer

    Title: Supplier Credit Audit Recovery.
    OMB Control Number: 0505-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The authority for this collection can be 
found in 115 Stat. 1186 Public Law 107-107- December 2001 Sec. 831. On 
March 10, 2010, the President signed a presidential memorandum 
directing all federal departments and agencies to expand and intensify 
their use of payment recapture audits. These audits offer specialized 
private auditors financial incentives to root out improper payments, 
and have been demonstrated through pilot programs to be highly 
effective. With new authorities made available in the Improper Payment 
Elimination and Recovery Act, it is anticipated that using the payment 
recapture audits will return at least $2 billion over the next three 
years to American taxpayers.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Office of the Chief Financial 
Officer (OCFO) will send annual letters to all vendors in an attempt 
collect payments. The letter is asking the vendors to review their 
records to verify no funds are due back to USDA for goods or services 
provided by these vendors. If the information is not collected OCFO 
would not be able to identify the root cause of improper payments and 
would not be able to accomplishment this without verification of 
suspected overpayments to suppliers or vendors.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 300,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion .
    Total Burden Hours: 600,000.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-06355 Filed 3-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-KS-P