[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 239 (Friday, December 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80121-80122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27318]


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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.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, HRSA 
has submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Comments submitted 
during the first public review of this ICR have been provided to OMB. 
OMB will accept further comments from the public during the review and 
approval period. OMB may act on HRSA's ICR only after the 30 day 
comment period for this notice has closed.

DATES: Comments on this ICR should be received no later than January 
11, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    A 60-day Federal Register Notice was published in the Federal 
Register on September 15, 2020, Vol. 85, No. 179, pp.57221-57222. There 
were no public comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a copy of the clearance 
requests submitted to OMB for review, email Lisa Wright-Solomon, the 
HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer at [email protected] or 
call (301) 443-1984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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

[[Page 80122]]

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 clearance package will incorporate an 
additional form for participants, the QPU. The QPU is completed via 
HRSA's Electronic Handbook and prompts recipients to report on 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. 
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. 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: Recipients of HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce'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 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
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                                                     Number of                    Average burden
            Form name                Number of     responses per       Total       per response    Total annual
                                    respondents     respondent       responses      (in hours)     burden hours
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Standardized Work Plan (SWP)....           1,000               1           1,000            1.00           1,000
Quarterly Progress Update (QPU)            1,000               4           4,000             .10             400
 Form...........................
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    Total.......................       \1\ 1,000               -           5,000               -           1,400
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\1\ The 1,000 Standardized Work Plan (SWP) respondents reflects the number of new grant applications submitted
  annually. The 1,000 Quarterly Progress Update (QPU) 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. 2020-27318 Filed 12-10-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P