[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 52 (Friday, March 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14942-14943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05713]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2021-0008; OMB No. 1660-0025]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Non-Disaster (ND) Grants System

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: 60 Day Notice of Reinstatement and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites 
the general public to take this opportunity to comment on a 
reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved information 
collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
this notice seeks comments concerning the Non-Disaster (ND) Grants 
System.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 18, 2021.

ADDRESSES: To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please submit 
comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2021-0008. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket 
ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material, 
all submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include any 
personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this 
information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy and 
Security Notice that is available via the link on the homepage of 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Everett Yuille, Branch Chief for 
Systems and Business Support, Grant Operations Division, Grant Programs 
Directorate, FEMA, at (202) 786-9457. You may contact the Information 
Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of 
information at email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 2 CFR, Part 200, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principals, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards, establishes uniform administrative requirements, 
cost principles, and audit requirements for the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA). It is necessary to standardize FEMA's grant 
administration processes to minimize the burden for State and local 
partners and other recipients to manage grants such as:
     The Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program;
     The National Dam Safety Program (NDSP);
     The National Incident Management System (NIMS);
     The National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response 
System Readiness Cooperative Agreement;
     The Community Assistance Program--State Support Services 
Elements (CAP-SSSE);
     The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP);
     The Emergency Management Baseline Assessment Grant 
(EMBAG);
     The Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP)/
Continuing Training Grants (CTG);
     The Homeland Security Preparedness Technical Assistance 
Program (HSPTAP);
     The National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP); 
and
     The State Fire Training Systems Grant Program.
    Because FEMA currently relies on separate systems, which are 
neither integrated, nor capable of supporting the full lifecycle of 
FEMA non-disaster grants (announcement through close-out), FEMA must 
separately collect and collate program, financial, and performance data 
from the two systems as well as external sources, to inform policy 
makers and assist decision-making at all levels. By fully integrating 
and automating these systems through

[[Page 14943]]

ND Grants (https://portal.fema.gov), FEMA will obtain more efficient 
and effective operations that better serve the needs of both internal 
and external stakeholders.
    With the Non-Disaster (ND) Grants System, FEMA implements a single, 
integrated, web-based, grants data collection and management system, 
combining all existing grant management functions of both grants 
systems, manual processes, and incorporate any additional functionality 
required by the Department of Homeland Security. This will result in 
the capability to manage all activities associated with non-disaster 
grants processes within a single full lifecycle grants management 
system. This system will ease the burden on grantees, providing them 
the functionality to manage their organization, more easily submit 
their applications online, and report on their performance toward 
completing their objectives. The new system will interface with 
Grants.gov and applicants will be notified via email to enter the 
system and review their applications. Grantees will then attach the 
detailed budget worksheet and the investment justifications.
    With ND Grants, FEMA seeks to meet the intent of the E-Government 
initiative, authorized by Public Law 106-107 passed on November 20, 
1999, that requires that all government agencies both streamline grant 
application processes and provide a mechanism to electronically create, 
review, and submit a grant application via the internet. The E-
Government initiative is further governed by the E-Government Act of 
2002, Public Law 107-347.

Collection of Information

    Title: Non-Disaster (ND) Grants System.
    Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement, with change, of a 
previously approved information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0025.
    FEMA Forms: Non-Disaster (ND) Grants System.
    Abstract: ND Grants is a web-based grants management system that 
fulfills FEMA's strategic initiative to consolidate the entire non-
disaster grants management lifecycle into a single system. Currently, 
ND Grants has functionality that supports the grantee application 
process, award acceptance, amendments, and performance reporting.
    Affected Public: State, Tribal, or local government; non-profits; 
institutions of higher education; hospitals; and for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 2,380.
    Number of Responses: 52,598.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 26,299 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $1,422,776.
    Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.
    Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: $0.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $24,588,479.

Comments

    Comments may be submitted as indicated in the ADDRESSES caption 
above. Comments are solicited to (a) evaluate whether the proposed data 
collection is necessary for the proper performance of the agency, 
including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) 
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 used; (c) enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) 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, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Millicent L. Brown,
Senior Manager, Records Management Branch, Office of the Chief 
Administrative Officer, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2021-05713 Filed 3-18-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-78-P