[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44974-44975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19510]


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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comments Requested

AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

ACTION: Notice of the OMB review of information collection and 
solicitation of public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) has recently submitted to OMB for review 
the following proposal for collection of information under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 2, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments should be submitted 
to the Office of Information and Management Affairs, Attention: Lauren 
Wittenberg via fax at (202) 395-6974 or by e-mail at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    In a Federal Register notice published April 8, 2003 [68 FR 17090], 
OMB proposed using as the standard set of data elements and definitions 
for applications as the existing Standard Form 424 (SF-424), 
Application for Federal Assistance, data elements and definitions and 
five additional data elements. After consultation with the public, OMB 
is adding four of the five proposed data elements to the SF-424 and 
intends to establish this data set as the standard for grant 
applications. The use of the standard data elements will be implemented 
through the electronic grants application process of Grants.gov for E-
APPLY, which is scheduled for October 2003 deployment and is part of 
the implementation of the Federal Financial Assistance Management 
Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107).
    Based upon the 22 comments received, OMB has determined there is a 
need for further evaluation of the comments regarding several matters 
including the proposed assurance language, ``Type of Applicant'' 
information, and the budget section of the SF-424. Therefore, OMB is 
requesting the SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-424C and SF-424D be extended while 
these comments are being considered and addressed. OMB is requesting a 
revision to the SF-424 to add four data elements (DUNS number; e-mail 
address; facsimile number; and Applicant Type, Not-for-Profit). In 
addition, OMB recognizes that a transition period is needed to provide 
agencies time to adapt their applications to the revised SF-424 form 
and phase out the use of the old forms; OMB is seeking a transition 
period. Upon completion of the analysis of the comments and 
recommendations from the grants community, the SF-424 suite of forms 
will be revised accordingly. OMB will publish a new 60-day notice to 
solicit comments on the revised SF-424 suite of forms.

B. Comments and Responses

    OMB received 22 comments on the proposed standard set of data 
elements and the proposed assurance statement. Comments were received 
from 11 Federal agencies, four non-profit organizations, two state 
governments, four universities and university-related organizations, 
and one individual. Overall the comments supported the establishment of 
application data standards and indicated there is still a need for more 
evaluation and consideration of the comments to ensure a well-defined 
SF-424 is available for use.
    A number of comments received suggest further analysis is needed 
for clarification or the addition of more contact points to the forms. 
In addition, comments submitted by Federal agencies identified the need 
for additional ``Type of Applicant'' data and also suggested alignment 
to other Federal sources, e.g., Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) and the Financial Assistance Award Data System (FAADS). OMB will 
evaluate these comments and conduct an analysis on ``Type of 
Applicant'' information. The analysis must be done in context with the 
process of applying for Federal assistance to ensure definitions and 
applicant data are consistent. The comments will be reviewed, addressed 
and submitted for public comment.
    Some Federal comments focused on changing the budget format of the 
SF-424 based upon Federal program needs. Comments from the public 
sector

[[Page 44975]]

recommended more consistency between financial accounting terms and 
development of budget for grant applications. The comments are 
significant enough that a separate evaluation needs to be done to 
determine if the budget categories and forms need to be adjusted to 
meet the needs of the grants community. The review shall determine what 
action or change, if any, may be made to the SF-424A and SF-424C. Any 
change would be reflected in a proposed notice requesting public 
comment.
    The proposed consolidated assurance language included on the SF-
424, as proposed in the April 8, 2003 Federal Register notice, raised 
several significant comments. These comments are being evaluated 
separately and will be addressed in a separate notice for public 
comment. The assurance language is currently found on the SF-424B and 
SF-424D and can be considered separately and will have no impact upon 
the implementation of the SF-424 for the October E-APPLY deployment. 
OMB is beginning the process of review of the assurance language at 
this time and will submit the proposed resolution for public comment.
    Action to further evaluate the comments is being undertaken by OMB. 
It is the intention of OMB to continue to work with the public and 
Federal agencies to address the comments and to ensure the Federal 
government is developing standard data application packages that are 
simplified and streamlined in a manner intended by Pub. L. 106-107.

Sheila O. Conley,
Acting Deputy Controller.
[FR Doc. 03-19510 Filed 7-30-03; 8:45 am]
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