The Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) Program Applications and Questionnaires

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

The Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) Program

Applications and Questionnaires

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the

continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5327, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

Phone number (202) 482-3272.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection instruments and instructions

should be directed to: Tracy M. Rollins, SABIT, Room 3319, Department

of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

20230; phone (202) 482-0073, fax (202) 482-2443.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) programs

of the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration

(ITA), is a key element in the U.S. Government's efforts to support the

economic transition of the Newly Independent States (NIS) of the former

Soviet Union. SABIT places business executives and scientists from the

Independent States in U.S. firms for one-to-six month internships to

gain firsthand experiences working in a market economy. This unique

private sector-U.S. Government partnership was created in order to tap

the U.S. private sector's expertise in assisting the NIS's transition

to a market economy while boosting U.S.-NIS long-term trade.

Under the ``regular'' (grants) SABIT program, qualified U.S. firms

will receive funds through a cooperative agreement with ITA to help

defray the cost of hosting interns. The information collected by the

Application is needed by the SABIT staff to recruit and screen

respondents and provide U.S. firms with a pool of eligible candidates

from which to select interns. Intern applications are required to

determine the suitability of candidates for SABIT internships. Feedback

surveys and end-of-internship reports are needed to enable SABIT to

track the success of the program as regards trade between the U.S. and

NIS, as well as to improve the content and administration of the

programs.

The closing date for applications and supplemental materials is

approximately 120 days after date of publication in the Federal

Register. Pursuant to section 632(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of

1961, as amended (the ``Act'') funding for the program will be provided

by the Agency for International Development (A.I.D.).

II. Method of Collection

The applications are sent to U.S. companies and intern candidates

via facsimile or mail upon request. Feedback surveys are given to

participating U.S. companies and interns at the completion of the

programs.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0225.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other non-profit, individuals (non-

U.S. citizens).

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,600.

Estimated Time per Response: 1.8 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,875.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $89,000.00.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden

(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on respondents, including through the use of

automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information

collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

[[Page 17985]]

Dated: April 7, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 98-9633 Filed 4-10-98; 8:45 am]

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