[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57221-57222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20234]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request Information Collection Request Title: 
Standardized Work Plan Form for Use With Applications to the Bureau of 
Health Workforce Research and Training Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements OMB No. 0906-0049--Revision

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 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 ICR should be received no later than November 
16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N136B, 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 Lisa Wright-
Solomon, 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: Standardized Work Plan Form 
for Use with Applications to the Bureau of Health Workforce Research 
and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements, OMB No. 0906-0049--
Revision
    Abstract: HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce requires applicants of 
training and research grants and cooperative agreements to submit work 
plans via the Standardized Work Plan (SWP) form.
    The information in the SWP describes the timeframes and progress 
required during the grant period of performance to address each of the 
needs detailed in the Purpose and Need section of the application, as 
required in the Notice of Funding Opportunity announcement.
    Applicants use the SWP form when they submit their proposals, and 
award recipients and Project Officers use the SWP information to assist 
in monitoring progress once HRSA makes the awards. HRSA proposes a 
revision to the SWP to include a Quarterly Progress Update (QPU) for 
award recipients to provide information to HRSA on a quarterly basis on 
each activity listed in the SWP.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The information collected 
by the SWP form standardizes and streamlines the data used by HRSA in 
reviewing applications and monitoring awardees. The form asks 
applicants to provide a description of the activities or steps the 
applicant will take to achieve each of the objectives proposed during 
the entire period of performance. The current standardized format and 
data submission by applicants increases efficiency in reviewing, 
awarding, and monitoring each project.
    This revision to the information collection will incorporate an 
additional form for participants, the Quarterly Progress Update (QPU). 
The QPU will be completed via HRSA's Electronic Handbook (EHB) and will 
prompt recipients to report on the progress of activities that were 
submitted using the SWP in the original application. The QPU will 
automatically populate activities from the recipient's SWP form on a 
quarterly basis. For each activity listed in the submitted SWP for any 
particular quarter within the project period, recipients will select 
and submit a single selection response for each activity status from a 
pull-down menu with five options: Activity is on Schedule, Activity is 
Complete, Timing is off track, Activity will be missed if action is not 
taken, and Activity cannot be achieved. The information provided will 
be utilized by the program staff to regularly assess overall progress 
of program requirements and analyze data in order to monitor award 
recipient compliance and track progress against proposed targets and 
goals. The information gathered will allow for an improved and more 
efficient method for identifying whether projects' goals are being 
advanced or achieved, as set forth in 45 CFR 75.342. Program staff will 
also use information provided over the period of performance to see 
emerging trends and to assess whether an award recipient requires 
technical assistance to address challenges that the award recipient may 
be experiencing with the implementation of the project. Seeking OMB 
approval comports with the regulatory requirement imposed by 45 CFR 
75.206(a), Paperwork clearances.
    Likely Respondents: Respondents are recipients of HRSA BHW's 
research and training grants and cooperative agreements.
    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

[[Page 57222]]

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 ICR are 
summarized in the table below.

                                     Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Number of                    Average burden
            Form name                Number of     responses per       Total       per response    Total annual
                                    respondents     respondent       responses      (in hours)     burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standardized Work Plan..........           1,000               1           1,000            1.00           1,000
Quarterly Progress Update Form..           1,000               4           4,000             .10             400
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................       \1\ 1,000  ..............           5,000  ..............           1,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 1,000 Standardized Work Plan respondents reflects the number of new grant applications submitted
  annually. The 1,000 Quarterly Progress Update respondents reflects the current volume of funded, active
  grants.

    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.

Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2020-20234 Filed 9-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P