[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 38 (Monday, February 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9617-9618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3826]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. section 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program 
helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired 
format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed.

[[Page 9618]]

    Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning its 
proposed use of a modified version of the OMB-approved Standard Form 
269A, ``Financial Status Report (Short Form).'' This modified form is 
and would be exclusively used for financial reporting on grants awarded 
for the AmeriCorps program. This modified financial status report is 
currently in use by AmeriCorps grantees in the same format for which 
comments are being now being solicited. Grantees in the AmeriCorps 
program use the modified Standard Form 269A to report cumulative 
financial status and activity, typically over a semi-annual period 
specified by the grant award provisions.
    The modified Standard Form 269A for AmeriCorps grantees differs 
from the regular Standard Form 269A in only one respect. On lines 10b 
and 10c where total ``Recipient share of outlays'' and ``Federal share 
of outlays'' are normally reported, respectively, the modified form 
requires two sub-total amounts to be recorded. Lines 10b and 10c are 
each split into (1) ``Member Support'' and (2) ``Operational Expense'' 
categories of outlays. It is necessary to collect sub-totals rather 
than totals to maintain adequate federal financial management integrity 
since member support and operational expense categories of grantee 
spending require different rates at which the grantee must provide 
matching funds (recipient share).
    Copies of the information collection requests can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed in the address section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the individual and office 
listed in the ADDRESSES section by April 29, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the title of the 
information collection activity, by any of the following methods:
    (1) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community 
Service, Attention: Ms. Margaret Rosenberry, Director, Office of Grants 
Management, Room 9805, 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525.
    (2) By hand delivery or by courier to the Corporation's mailroom at 
Room 6010 at the mail address given in paragraph (1) above, between 9 
a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    (3) By fax to: (202) 565-2850, Attention Ms. Margaret Rosenberry, 
Associate Director.
    (4) Electronically through the Corporation's e-mail address system: 
[email protected] with the subject line of the message indicating, 
``Public Comment on AmeriCorps Modified SF-269A Form.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Rosenberry, (202) 606-5000, 
ext. 124, or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corporation is particularly interested 
in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are expected to respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses).

Background

    AmeriCorps program regulations set the matching funds (recipient 
share) requirements for participant benefits (also known as member 
support) and other AmeriCorps program costs (also known as operational 
expense) at different matching rates. These rates are currently set at 
15% and 33%, respectively, with the member support component requiring 
cash match only.

Current Action

    The Corporation seeks to extend a currently approved collection 
using a modified Standard Form 269A. Other than re-labeling the form 
with a more descriptive title to differentiate its use from the 
unmodified Standard Form 269A, and re-labeling the types of outlays to 
also be more descriptive, the modified form is unchanged from existing 
use. The Corporation requires 100% electronic reporting. The current 
modified form is due to expire on March 31, 2005.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: AmeriCorps Financial Status Report; Standard Form 269A 
(Modified)
    OMB Number: 3045-0103.
    Agency Number: SF 424-NSSC.
    Affected Public: Current and prospective recipients of AmeriCorps 
program grants.
    Total Respondents: 732.
    Frequency: Semi-annually, with few exceptions.
    Average Time Per Response: Estimated at 2.0 hours. Grantees using 
electronic financial reporting tools provided by the Corporation may 
reduce the average time per response by up to 75%.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,928 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: February 22, 2005.
Margaret Rosenberry,
Director, Office of Grants Management.
[FR Doc. 05-3826 Filed 2-25-05; 8:45 am]
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