[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 41 (Thursday, March 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12661-12662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04421]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Pilot and Test Data

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service, operating 
as AmeriCorps, has submitted a public information collection request 
(ICR) entitled Generic Clearance for the Collection of Pilot and Test 
Data for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the individual and office 
listed in the ADDRESSES section by April 5, 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 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of this ICR, with applicable 
supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling Amy Borgstrom at 
202-422-2781 or by email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of AmeriCorps, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions;
     Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and
     Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments

    A 60-day Notice requesting public comment was published in the 
Federal Register on Monday, November 30 at 85: 76543. This comment 
period ended January 29, 2021. No comments were received.
    Title of Collection: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Pilot 
and Test Data.
    OMB Control Number: 3045-0163.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 350.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 10,500 minutes.
    Abstract: AmeriCorps seeks to renew the current information 
collection. The information collection will enable pilot testing of 
survey instruments in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with 
the Administration's commitment to improving service delivery. By pilot 
testing we mean information that provides useful insights on how 
respondents interact with the instrument, but are not statistical 
surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the 
population of study. This feedback will provide insights into customer 
or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and expectations regarding 
prospective studies. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly 
to the improvement of research program management.
    The Agency will only submit a collection for approval under this 
generic clearance if it meets the following conditions:
     The collections are voluntary;
     The collections are low-burden for respondents (based on 
considerations of total burden hours, total number of respondents, or 
burden-hours per respondent) and are low-cost for both the respondents 
and the Federal Government;
     The collections are non-controversial and do not raise 
issues of concern to other Federal agencies;
     Any collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions 
from respondents who have experience with the program or may have 
experience with the program in the near future;
     Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected 
only to the extent necessary and is not retained;
     Information gathered will be used only internally for 
general service improvement and program management purposes and is not 
intended for release outside of the agency;
     Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of 
substantially informing influential policy decisions; and
     Information gathered will yield qualitative information; 
the collections will not be designed or expected to yield statistically 
reliable results or used as though the results are generalizable to the 
population of study.
    Feedback collected under this generic clearance provides useful 
information, but it does not yield data that can be generalized to the 
overall population. This type of generic clearance for qualitative 
information will not be used for quantitative information collections 
that are designed to yield reliably actionable results, such as 
monitoring trends over time or documenting program performance. Such 
data uses require more rigorous designs that address the target 
population to which generalizations will be made, the sampling frame, 
the sample design (including stratification and clustering), the 
precision requirements or power calculations that justify the proposed 
sample size, the expected response rate, methods for assessing 
potential non-response bias, the protocols for data collection, and any 
testing procedures that were or will be undertaken prior to fielding 
the study. Depending on the degree of influence the results are likely 
to have, such collections may still be eligible for submission for 
other generic mechanisms that are designed to yield quantitative 
results.
    As a general matter, information collections will not result in any 
new system of records containing privacy information and will not ask 
questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, 
religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered 
private. The information collection will be used in the same

[[Page 12662]]

manner as the existing application. AmeriCorps also seeks to continue 
using the current application until the revised application is approved 
by OMB. The current application is due to expire on March 31, 20201.

    Dated: February 25, 2021.
Mary Hyde,
Director, Office of Research and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 2021-04421 Filed 3-3-21; 8:45 am]
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