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| 39.009 FEDERAL CITIZEN INFORMATION CENTER |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Executive Order 11566, October 26, 1970; Public Law 95-491, 40 U.S.C. 751. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To provide citizens direct access to information about and from their government through an array of information channels including USA.gov and other targeted websites, the National Contact Center, and print materials distributed through Pueblo, Colorado. Also provides agencies government-wide with easy and cost-effective access to contact center services through the USA Contact. Also provides guidance and support to web and contact center managers across the government through Web Manager University and through the organization and management of interagency steering committees. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Dissemination of Federal Information. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Maintains a nationwide toll-free contact center to respond to telephone and e-mail inquiries from the general public regarding Federal programs or activities. Maintains several websites including USA.gov, pueblo.gsa.gov kids.gov, and consumeraction.gov. USA.gov is the official Internet portal to all U.S. government information and services. It is the most comprehensive place available online for U.S. government information and services, including federal grants and loans. The Pueblo site provides 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 sites. Provides a quarterly catalog of selected government and private sector publications of consumer interest in English. Publishes the Consumer Action Handbook, which helps the public find the best source for solving consumer problems. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| General public. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| General public. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| None. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| For responses to questions about the Federal government, call the Federal Citizen Information Center at 1 (800) FED INFO (333-4636) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Recorded responses to the most popular topics are always available. For access to federal government information online or to e-mail an inquiry about government services, visit USA.gov. For printed materials, visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov to read or order publications online, or call 1-888-8-PUEBLO (878-3256), or write to the Federal Citizen Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009. To subscribe to free e-mail newsletters, visit USA.gov or to subscribe to the free quarterly Catalog, visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov. |
| Award Procedure |
| None. |
| Deadlines |
| None. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| None. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| None. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| None. |
| Reports |
| None. |
| Audits |
| None. |
| Records |
| None. |
| Account Identification |
| 47-4549-0-3-376. |
| Obligations |
| (Salaries and expenses) FY 07 $14,789,000; FY 08 $17,328,000; and FY 09 estimate $36,558,000 for FCIC. (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 and for providing contact center services. These costs are as follows: FY 2007 $13,890,000 actual; FY 2008 $10,167,000 estimate; and FY 2009 estimate $10,450,000. Public Law 98-63 established a revolving fund for the Consumer Information Center (CIC). Under this fund, FCIC activities are financed from the following: Annual appropriations from the general funds of the Treasury, reimbursements from agencies for distribution of publications and contact center services, 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 FCIC activities. All are available as authorized in appropriation acts without regard to fiscal year limitations.). |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| None. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| During fiscal year 2007, the Federal Citizen Information Center had more than 222 million citizen touchpoints through a variety of channels including USA.gov and other websites, the National Contact Center program, distribution of printed materials through Pueblo, CO, as well as e-mail and web chat inquiries and subscription mailings. In support of these efforts, FCIC prepared and distributed 4 editions of the Consumer Information Catalog, maintained and enhanced the websites, produced and distributed a new edition of the Consumer Action Handbook along with the first Spanish language edition, prepared and distributed news releases and public service announcements to broadcast and print outlets, continued to distribute consumer publications nationwide, and continued to respond to citizen inquiries through a toll-free contact center and e-mail from the public directed to USA.gov. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| With a few exceptions, services and printed materials obtained through the Federal Citizen Information Center are free to the public. Some government publications listed in the Catalog are offered for sale at prices indicated and there is a user fee of $2.00 per total order when ordering free publications through the Catalog via telephone or mail. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| None. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Director, Federal Citizen Information Center, General Services Administration, 1800 F Street, NW (XCC) Washington, DC 20405. Telephone: (202)501-1794. |
| Web Site Address |
| USA.gov; Pueblo.gsa.gov; ConsumerAction.gov; Kids.gov; USAServices.gov; gobiernoUSA.gov; consumidor.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 40.002, Government Publications Sales and Distribution. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| None. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| None. |
|
General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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