[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 164 (Friday, August 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58284-58285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18360]


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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--Extension

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

ACTION: Notice.

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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 October 
24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N39, 5600 Fishers 
Lane, Rockville, Maryland 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 Joella Roland, the 
HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, at (301) 443-3983.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the ICR title for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: Standardized Work Plan (SWP) 
Form for Use with Applications to the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) 
Research and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements OMB No. 0906-
0049--Extension.
    Abstract: BHW requires applicants for training and research grants 
and cooperative agreements to submit work plans via the SWP form. 
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. After awards are made, recipients 
complete a Quarterly Progress Update (QPU) to provide information to 
BHW on a quarterly basis on each activity listed in the SWP.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Information collected by 
the SWP form and QPUs 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.
    The QPU is completed via HRSA's Electronic Handbook system and

[[Page 58285]]

prompts recipients to report on progress of activities that were 
submitted using the SWP in the original application. The QPU 
automatically populates 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 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 is 
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 allows 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 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 
extension approval comports with the regulatory requirement imposed by 
45 CFR 75.206(a), Paperwork clearances.
    Likely Respondents: Respondents are applicants for, and recipients 
of, 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 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. 2023-18360 Filed 8-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P