[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 236 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85897-85898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27122]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2023-0032; OMB No. 1660-NW170]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection, 
Comment Request; Generic Clearance for FEMA's Standardized Grants 
Performance Reporting

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

ACTION: 60-Day notice of new collection and request for comments.

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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 new 
information collection. In accordance with the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning 
FEMA's grants performance reporting.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 9, 2024.

ADDRESSES: To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please submit 
comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2023-0032. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket 
ID. Regardless of the method used to 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 a link on the homepage of 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cassandra Henry, Ph.D., CGMS, 
Monitoring and Compliance Branch, Risk Management Division, Grant 
Programs Directorate, FEMA, at 202-257-2308 or 
[email protected]. You may contact the Information 
Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of 
information at email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Code of Federal 
Regulations (see 2 CFR 200.301 and 200.329), Federal awarding agencies 
must measure each recipient's performance to show achievement of 
program goals and objectives, share lessons learned, improve program 
outcomes, and foster adoption of promising practices. The Foundations 
for Evidence-Based Policy-Making Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-435) 
(``Evidence Act'') established processes for the Federal Government to 
modernize and increase impacts of reporting activities. To achieve 
these aims, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is changing 
its programmatic reporting to facilitate better and more consistent 
data collection. FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) Risk 
Management Division (RMD) developed standard performance reporting

[[Page 85898]]

instruments under this new generic collection for use across FEMA's 
grant programs. These instruments will replace the current quarterly 
performance reporting that does not have a standard format.
    Grant performance reporting is a Federal requirement; standardized 
instruments under this generic collection will serve as the minimum 
performance reporting requirement for all programs. FEMA grants will 
collect both performance and project effectiveness measures via the 
required instruments under this new generic collection. Each FEMA grant 
program will collect only relevant, useful data. FEMA will utilize a 
standard framework under this generic collection but will not require 
each program to create the same end-product. Programs will tailor grant 
performance reporting instruments based on the grant's specific 
objectives, activities, indicators, targets, and reporting measures 
most appropriate for each program's funding objectives. Instruments 
under this generic collection are not intended to replace all existing 
information collection instruments that are programmatic or statutorily 
specific (i.e., existing grant specific reporting).

Collection of Information

    Title: Generic Clearance for FEMA's Standardized Grants Performance 
Reporting.
    Type of Information Collection: New information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-NW170.
    FEMA Forms: Not Applicable.
    Abstract: Performance reporting is required for recipients of 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants. However, the scope 
and detail of previous performance reporting varied across different 
FEMA grant programs. FEMA is changing its programmatic reporting to 
facilitate better data collection. The instruments under this generic 
collection will satisfy the minimum performance reporting requirement 
for all programs while introducing a common performance reporting 
framework. Individual grant programs will use this framework as a 
starting point and then develop tailored program-specific instruments 
based on the program's objectives, activities, indicators, and targets. 
Each FEMA grant program will collect only relevant, useful data. 
Performance data is used by FEMA to track recipient progress, monitor 
project execution, evaluate program outcomes, and respond to requests 
from Congress.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; Private 
Sector.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,200.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 24,800.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 744,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $41,753,280.
    Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.
    Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: $0.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $10,104,456.

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; 
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 Brown Wilson,
Records Management Branch Chief, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2023-27122 Filed 12-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-78-P