[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44210-44213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18323]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Uniform Grant Application Package for Discretionary 
Grant Programs

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on this proposed information collection. This collection is a revision 
of a currently approved collection.
    The purpose of the Uniform Grant Application Package for 
Discretionary Grant Programs is to provide a standardized format for 
the development of all Requests for Applications for discretionary 
grant programs released by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Agency 
and to allow for a more expeditious OMB clearance process.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 25, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions that were used; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: Lael 
Lubing, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 732, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may 
also be submitted via fax to the attention of Lael Lubing at

[[Page 44211]]

703-605-0363 or via email to [email protected]. Comments will 
also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments electronically.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Lael Lubing 
at 703-305-2048.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Uniform Grant Application Package for Discretionary Grant 
Programs.
    Form Number: SF-425.
    OMB Number: 0584-0512.
    Expiration Date: September 30, 2012.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: FNS has a number of discretionary grant programs. 
(Consistent with the definition in 7 CFR part 3016, the term ``grant'' 
as used in this notice includes cooperative agreements.) The 
authorities for these grants vary and will be cited as part of each 
grant application solicitation. The purpose of the revision to the 
currently approved collection for the Uniform Grant Application Package 
for Discretionary Grant Programs is to continue the authority for the 
established uniform grant application package and to update the number 
of collection burden hours. The uniform collection package is useable 
for all of FNS' discretionary grant programs to collect information 
from grant applicants that are needed to evaluate and rank applicants 
and protect the integrity of the grantee selection process. All FNS 
discretionary grant programs will be eligible, but not required, to use 
the uniform grant application package. Before soliciting applications 
for a discretionary grant program, FNS will decide whether the uniform 
grant application package will meet the needs of that grant program. If 
FNS decides to use the uniform grant application package, FNS will note 
in the grant solicitation that applicants must use the uniform grant 
application package and that the information collection has already 
been approved by OMB. If FNS decides not to use the uniform grant 
application package or determines that it needs grant applicants to 
provide additional information not contained in the uniform package, 
then FNS will publish a notice soliciting comments on its proposal to 
collect different or additional information before making the grant 
solicitation.
    The uniform grant application package will include general 
information and instructions; a checklist; a requirement for the 
program narrative statement describing how the grant objectives will be 
reached; the Standard Form (SF) 424 series that request basic 
information, including budget information and a disclosure of lobbying 
activities certification (SF-LLL). In addition, grantees are required 
to submit the SF-425. The SF-425 is approved by OMB; however, reporting 
and recordkeeping burden hours associated with this form must be 
accounted for in each agency's information request packages.
    The proposed information collection covered by this notice is 
related to the requirements for the program narrative statement. The 
requirements for the program narrative statement are based on the 
requirements for program narrative statements described in section 
1c(5) of the OMB Circular A-102 and will apply to all types of 
grantees--State and Local governments, Indian Tribal organizations, 
Non-Profit organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, and For-
Profit organizations. The information collection burden related to the 
SF-424 series, and the lobbying certification forms have been 
separately approved by OMB.

Reporting Burden

    Affected Public: (State, Local, and Tribal Government, 
Universities, Business-for and not-for-profit).

Pre-Award

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,505.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1505.
    Hours per Response: 80.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 120,400.

Post Award

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 296.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: 5.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1480.
    Hours per Response: 2.25.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 3,330.
    Grand Total Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 123,730.

Recordkeeping Burden

    Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 296.
    Estimated Number of Records: 5.
    Estimated Annual Records: 1,480.
    Estimated Annual Hours per Recordkeeper: .1169.
    Estimated Total Annual Recordkeeping Burden: 173.
    Estimated Grand Total for Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 
124,199.
    Total Annual Reporting Hours: 123,730.
    Total Recordkeeper Responses: 296.
    Total Recordkeeping Hours: 173.



Summary Level Recap--Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government, Universities, and Business-for and Not-
                          for-Profit Annual Discretionary Grants/Cooperative Agreements
                        A.12-1--Reporting Burden for Pre-Award Estimates of Burden Hours
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                                       Total
                                     estimated     Frequency of        Total      Estimated time
        Type of applicant            number of     response per      estimated      (hours) to       Estimated
                                    respondents     respondent        annual       complete each   burden hours
                                    (responses)                      responses      application
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State & Local Government........             916               1             916              80          73,280
Indian Tribal Governments.......              29               1              29              80           2,320
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SUB-TOTAL STATE, LOCAL &                 945             N/A             945             N/A          75,600
     INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS..
                                 ===============================================================================
Non-profit Organizations........             500               1             500              80          40,000

[[Page 44212]]

 
Universities....................              10               1              10              80             800
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    SUB-TOTAL NON-PROFIT                     510             N/A             510             N/A          40,800
     ORGANIZATIONS..............
                                 ===============================================================================
Produce Groups..................              50               1              50              80           4,000
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    SUB-TOTAL BUSINESS OR OTHER               50             N/A              50             N/A           4,000
     FOR-PROFIT.................
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        SUB-TOTAL...............           1,505  ..............           1,505  ..............         120,400
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                        A.12-1a Reporting Burden for Post-Award Estimates of Burden Hours
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                                                     Number of
             Action                  Number of        annual       Total annual      Hours per     Total annual
                                    respondents      response        response        response         burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quarterly Progress and Financial             212               4             848            2.25        1,908.00
 Reports........................
Annual Final Report.............             212               1             212            2.25          477.00
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    SUB-TOTAL STATE, LOCAL &                 212             N/A           1,060             N/A        2,385.00
     TRIBAL GOVERNEMENTS........
                                 ===============================================================================
Quarterly Progress and Financial              78               4             312            2.25          702.00
 Reports........................
Annual Final Report.............              78               1              78            2.25          175.50
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    SUB-TOTAL NON-PROFIT                      78             N/A             390             N/A          877.50
     ORGANIZATIONS..............
                                 ===============================================================================
Quarterly Progress and Financial               6               4              24            2.25           54.00
 Reports........................
Annual Final Report.............               6               1               6            2.25           13.50
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    SUB-TOTAL BUSINESS OR OTHER                6             N/A              30             N/A           67.50
     FOR-PROFIT.................
Recordkeeper Responses..........             N/A             N/A             296             N/A             N/A
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        Post-Award Total                     296             N/A           1,776             N/A        3,330.00
         Reporting Annualized
         Burden Estimates.......
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                     A.12-1b--Recordkeeping Burden for Post-Award Estimates of Burden Hours
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                                                     Number of
             Action                  Number of        annual       Total annual      Hours per     Total annual
                                    respondents      response        response        response         burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quarterly Progress and Financial             212               4             848           .1169           99.13
 Reports........................
Annual/Final Report.............             212               1             212           .1169           24.78
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    SUB-TOTAL STATE, LOCAL &                 212             N/A           1,060             N/A          123.91
     TRIBAL GOVERNEMENTS........
                                 ===============================================================================
Quarterly Progress and Financial              78               4             312           .1169           36.47
 Reports........................
Annual/Final Report.............              78               1              78           .1169            9.12
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    SUB-TOTAL NON-PROFIT                      78             N/A             390             N/A           45.59
     ORGANIZATIONS..............
                                 ===============================================================================
Quarterly Progress and Financial               6               4              24           .1169            2.80
 Reports........................
Annual/Final Report.............               6               1               6           .1169             .70
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    SUB-TOTAL BUSINESS OR OTHER                6             N/A              30             N/A            3.50
     FOR-PROFIT.................
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        Post-Award Total                     296             N/A           1,480             N/A          173.00
         Annualized
         Recordkeeping Burden
         Estimates..............
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[[Page 44213]]

    Dated: July 20, 2012.
Robin D. Bailey Jr.,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-18323 Filed 7-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P