To
assist Federal agencies to release information of interest to consumers,
to increase public awareness of the availability of this information,
and to provide telephone service to the public so that they may
address questions about Federal programs and services to a single
point.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Dissemination of Technical Information. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Provides
a quarterly catalog of selected government publications of consumer
interest in English. Publishes the biennial Consumer Action Handbook,
which helps the public find the best source for solving consumer
problems. Maintains a nationwide toll-free contact center to respond
to telephone inquiries from the general public regarding Federal
programs or activities. Maintains several websites including info.gov,
kids.gov, childcare.gov, afterschool.gov, and the primary site www.pueblo.gsa.gov.
The pueblo site provide 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.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Anyone can request information.
Pre-application
Coordination: None. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: For responses to questions about
the Federal government, telephone the Federal Consumer Information
Center at 1-800-333-4636 (TTY 1-800-326-2996) 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 and always
available. For Federal consumer information, telephone 1-888-8-PUEBLO,
write to the Federal Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009,
or visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov on the Internet.
Award
Procedure: Not applicable.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
None.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 47-4549-0-3-376.
Obligations:
(Salaries and expenses) FY 01 $6,989,490, FY 02 est $7,813,000
and FY 03 est $13,237,000 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. These costs
are as follows: FY 01 $2,795,000, FY 02 est $2,910,000 and FY
03 est $2,709,000. 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, 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: Not applicable.
During fiscal year 2001, a quarterly Consumer Information Catalog
was compiled, news releases were prepared, public service announcements
were distributed to broadcast and print outlets, 5.5 million publications
were developed and distributed to the public, and approximately
2.1 million telephone inquiries were answered. In fiscal year 2002
and 2003, FCIC will prepare quarterly Consumer Information Catalogs,
maintain and enhance the websites, produce a new edition of the
Consumer Action Handbook, continue to distribute consumer publications
nationwide, and continue to respond to consumer inquiries through
a toll-free call center. FCIC also plans to start receiving and
processing e-mail from the public via its National Contact Center.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
The Consumer Information Catalog, and the Consumer Action Handbook
are free. Government publications listed in the Catalog either are
available free or are offered for sale at prices indicated. There
is a user fee of $2.00 per total order when ordering free publications.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters
Office: Director, Federal Consumer Information
Center, General Services Administration, Washington, DC 20405.
Telephone: (202) 501-1794.
