03-25440. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

Title: Uniform Project Description (UPD) for Discretionary Grant Application Form.

OMB No: 0970-0139.

Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has more than 40 discretionary grant programs. The proposed information collection form would be a uniform discretionary application form usable for all of these grant programs to collect the information from grant applicants needed to evaluate and rank applicants and protect the integrity of the grantee selection process. All ACF discretionary grant programs would be eligible but not required to use this application form. The application consists of general information and instructions; the Standard Form 424 series that requests basic information, budget information and assurances; the Program Narrative requesting the applicant to describe how these objectives will be reached; and certifications. Guidance for the content of information requested in the Program Narrative is found in OMB Circulars A-102 and A-110.

Respondents: Applicants for ACF Discretionary Grant Programs.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours
UPD	4,133	1	4	16,532
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours				16,532

In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer, E-mail address: [e-mail]. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, and including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.

Dated: October 1, 2003.

Robert Sargis,

Reports Clearance Officer.