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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

39.009:  Federal Consumer Information Center

Objectives:  To assist Federal agencies to release information of interest to consumers, to increase public awareness of the availability of this information, and to provide phone service to the public so that they may address questions about Federal programs and services to a single point.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

39.009 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Anyone can request information.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  General public.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

39.009 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  For responses to questions about the Federal government, phone the Federal Consumer Information Center at 1-800-688-9889 (TTY 1-800-326-2996) from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. For Federal consumer information, phone 1-888-8-PUEBLO, write to the Federal Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009, or log on to www.pueblo.gsa.gov.

Award Procedure:  Not applicable.

Deadlines:  None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Not applicable.

Appeals:  Not applicable.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Not applicable.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Not applicable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Not applicable.

39.009 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 11.650 National Technical Information Service;
• 36.001 Fair Competition Counseling and Investigation of Complaints;
• 40.002 Government Publications Sales and Distribution.

39.009 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

During fiscal year 1999 a quarterly Consumer Information Catalog was compiled, news releases were prepared, public service announcements were distributed to broadcast and print outlets, and about 2.7 million phone inquiries were answered. In fiscal year 2000 and 2001 FCIC will prepare quarterly Consumer Information Catalogs, enhance the web site www.pueblo.gsa.gov, produce a new edition of the Consumer's Resource Handbook, continue to distribute consumer publications nationwide and continue to respond to consumer inquiries through a toll-free call center.

39.009 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Type of Assistance:  Dissemination of Technical Information.

Obligations:  (Salaries and expenses) FY 99 for CIC $3,227,480 and for FIC $3,700,000; FY 00 est for CIC $3,362,000 and for FIC $3,700,000; and FY 01 est for combined FCIC $7,517,000. (Note: In addition to these amounts, other Federal agencies and private sector entities pay the cost of reimbursing the Government Printing Office for distribution of free consumer publications from Pueblo, Colorado. These costs are as follows: FY 99 $3,341.222: FY 00 est$3,233,000: and FY 01 est $3,019,000. Public Law 98-63 established a revolving fund for the Consumer Information Center (CIC). Under this fund, CIC activities are financed from the following: Annual appropriations from the general funds of the Treasury, reimbursements from agencies for distribution of publications, user fees collected from the public, gifts to defray the cost of printing, publishing, and distributing informational and educational materials and any other income incident to CIC activities. All are available as authorized in appropriation acts without regard to fiscal year limitations.

Budget Account Number:  47-4549-0-3-376.

Authorization:  Executive Order 11566, October 26, 1970; Public Law 95-491, 40 U.S.C. 751.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  The Consumer Information Catalog, the Consumer's Resource Handbook, and a brochure describing the Federal Information Center program are free. Government publications listed in the Catalog either are available free or are offered for sale at prices indicated. There is a $2.00 user fee on orders for one or more free publications.

39.009 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Director, Consumer Information Center, General Services Administration, Washington, DC 20405. Phone: (202) 501-1794. Internet address: www.pueblo.gsa.gov.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

39.009 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Not applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Provides a quarterly catalog of selected government publications of consumer interest in English. Publishes the biennial Consumer's Resource Handbook, which helps the public find the best source for solving consumer problems. Maintains a toll-free call center to respond to inquiries from the general public regarding Federal programs or activities. Maintains a web site, www.pueblo.gsa.gov, with access to the full text of hundreds of the most helpful and popular Federal documents and links to thousands of useful Federal and private sector resources.

39.009 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  None.

Audits:  None.

Records:  None.