[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 211 (Monday, November 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67412-67413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27860]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

[Document Identifier: HHS-OS-4040-New-60D]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Public Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of 
Health and Human Services, announces plans to submit a new Information 
Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, OS seeks comments 
from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other 
aspect of the ICR.

DATES: Comments on the ICR must be received on or before January 4, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to 
[email protected] or by calling (202) 690-6162.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information Collection Clearance 
staff, [email protected] or (202) 690-6162.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the document identifier HHS-OS-4040-New-60D 
for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: DATA Act Sec. 5. 
``Simplifying Federal Award Reporting'' Grants Pilot.
    Abstract: Public Law 113-101, The Digital Accountability and 
Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act) expands the Federal Funding 
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 by increasing 
accountability and transparency in Federal spending. Section 5 of the 
DATA Act (``Sec. 5. Simplifying Federal Award Reporting'') tasks the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish a 
pilot program (Sec. 5 (b)).
    OMB has designated the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) as the executing agent of the pilot program. Within HHS, the DATA 
Act Program Management Office (PMO) (DAP) has been established under 
the Office of the

[[Page 67413]]

Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR) in order to 
implement this pilot program. ASFR/DAP, in coordination with 
Grants.gov, is requesting a generic clearance for the purpose of 
conducting tests under the pilot program to obtain qualitative and 
quantitative data and gain an understanding of the burden imposed on 
Federal recipients.
    The DAP has designed several test models to evaluate recipient 
burden and assess quality of data. The goal of these test models is to 
determine whether new technology, data standards, processes, and forms 
aid in reducing recipient burden and increase the accuracy and quality 
of the data submitted. Under this clearance, a variety of methods 
(surveys, focus groups, etc.) could be used to collect data, with the 
exact nature of the questions currently undetermined. DAP expects these 
questions to include, but not be limited to, topics pertaining to the 
Standard Form (SF) 424, the Consolidated Federal Financial Reports, and 
the expanded Single Audit form (SF-SAC). If this data is not collected, 
the requirements of the DATA Act Section 5 pilot will not be met. The 
types of collections that this generic clearance covers include, but 
are not limited to:
     Surveys,
     Focus Groups,
     Other qualitative methods such as interviews, small 
discussion groups, and case studies.
    Likely Respondents: Recipients of Federal contracts, grants, and 
sub-awards.

                                    Total Estimated Annualized Burden--Hours
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                                        Estimated annual reporting burden
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                                                                     Annual
              Type of collection                   Number of     frequency per      Hours per       Total hours
                                                  respondents       response         response
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Surveys, Focus Groups, and other qualitative               300               1            56.25           16,875
 methods......................................
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    Total.....................................             300  ...............  ...............          16,875
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    OS 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.

Darius Taylor,
Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-27860 Filed 10-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-37-P