[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55729-55730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22111]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information 
Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks 
comments from the public regarding the burden estimate below, or any 
other aspect of the ICR.

DATES: Comments on this Information Collection Request must be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 10-29, Parklawn 
Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
draft instruments, email [email protected] or call the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer at (301) 443-1984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the information request collection title 
for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: Uniform Project Description 
and Application Guide--SF 424 Non-Construction.
    OMB No. 0915-xxxx--New.
    Abstract: The Health Resources and Services Administration is 
requesting clearance for the Uniform Project Description (UPD) and 
Application Guide to be used in conjunction with the SF-424 Non-
Construction application kit by program offices to solicit application 
information for grants and cooperative agreements.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The HRSA SF-424 
Application Guide provides detailed standard instructions to help 
applicants prepare and submit applications electronically to HRSA 
through Grants.gov. The Guide is used in conjunction with the HRSA UPD 
that provides a menu of narratives from which the program office can 
select for inclusion within a program-specific grant or cooperative 
agreement funding opportunity announcement (FOA). UPD text options 
selected for use in a given FOA define the required project description 
portion to the applicant. The ability to pick and choose standard 
language that is appropriate for any given FOA reduces the burden 
associated with application preparation by eliminating irrelevant 
portions of the application for a given announcement. In addition, it 
provides consistency in the application review process.
    Much of the information required in applications for project grants 
and cooperative agreements is required by HHS Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements at the following 
citations: 45 CFR part 74, 45 CFR part 92, applicable program 
regulations in 42 CFR chapters I and IV, and applicable administrative 
regulations in 45 CFR subtitle A.
    HRSA program offices, grants management officials, and expert non-
federal and federal panel reviewers use the collected information 
provided through grant applications to select and award discretionary 
grants. Program offices use the information to ensure that the 
authorizing legislation and applicable program regulations will be 
implemented through any funded project, and that applicant entities are 
eligible to receive HRSA funds. Expert non-federal and federal 
objective review panelists score the information provided in 
applications as they evaluate applications in the context of the FOA's 
published criteria to ensure that the best proposed projects are 
recommended for funding. Grants management officials use the 
information to ensure appropriate federal stewardship of federal grant 
funds and that proposed budgeted project costs are allowable, 
allocable, and reasonable.
    Likely Respondents: Eligible organizations may include state, 
local, and Indian Tribal governments; institutions of higher education; 
other non-profit organizations (including faith-based, community-based, 
and Tribal organizations); and hospitals. In limited cases, foreign 
organizations may apply.
    Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by 
persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide the 
information requested. This includes the time needed to review 
instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and 
systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying 
information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and 
providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to 
a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and 
review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise 
disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for 
this Information Collection Request are summarized in the table below.

[[Page 55730]]



                                     Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                      Average
                                     Number of       Number of         Total        burden per     Total burden
            Form name               respondents    responses per     responses     response  (in       hours
                                                    respondent                        hours)
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SF-424 Non-Construction UPD and            3,500               1           3,500             145         507,500
 SF-424 Application Guide.......
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    Total.......................           3,500               1           3,500             145         507,500
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    HRSA specifically requests comments on (1) the necessity and 
utility of the proposed information collection for the proper 
performance of the agency's functions, (2) the accuracy of the 
estimated burden, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected, and (4) the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology to 
minimize the information collection burden.

    Dated: September 5, 2013.
Bahar Niakan,
Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.
[FR Doc. 2013-22111 Filed 9-10-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P