2020-12589. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection; eComments Requested; Extension Without Change of Previously Approved Collection OJP Solicitation Template

AGENCY:

Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice.

ACTION:

60-Day notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until August 10, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have additional comments especially on the estimated public burden or associated response time, suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact Jennifer Yeh, [phone], Office of Audit, Assessment, and Management, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, DC 20531 or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:

—Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Office of Justice Programs, 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 used;

—Evaluate whether and if so how the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected can be enhanced; and

—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.

Overview of This Information Collection

1. Type of Information Collection: Extension to 1121-0329.

2. The Title of the Form/Collection: OJP Solicitation Template.

3. The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department sponsoring the collection: No form number available. Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice.

4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: The primary respondents are state agencies, tribal governments, local governments, colleges and universities, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, and faith-based organizations. The purpose of the solicitation template is to provide a framework to develop program-specific announcements soliciting applications for funding. A program solicitation outlines the specifics of the funding program; describes requirements for eligibility; instructs an applicant on the necessary components of an application under a specific program (e.g., project activities, project abstract, project timeline, proposed budget, etc.); outlines program evaluation and performance measures; explains selection criteria and the review process; and provides registration dates, deadlines, and instructions on how to apply within the designated application system. The approved solicitation template collection also includes the OJP Budget Detail Worksheet; the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) Tribal Narrative Profile, Budget Detail Worksheet and Demographic Form; and the Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (FCQ).

The extension includes a more streamlined version of the solicitation template collection, whereas the agency moved static instructions and guidance that do not frequently change from year to year to a Grant Application Resource Guide web page. The result is a more concise, user-friendly solicitation document that draws closer attention to the program-specific details and requirements in order to reduce confusion for the applicant. Additionally, it enables the agency to revise static guidance on the web page as necessary, reducing the need to re-issue program solicitations already released to the public.

5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: It is estimated that information will be collected annually from approximately 10,000 applicants. Annual cost to the respondents is based on the number of hours involved in preparing and submitting a complete application package. Mandatory requirements for an application under the OJP and CTAS Standard Solicitation Template include a program narrative; budget details and narrative, via the OJP standard BDW; Applicant Disclosure of Pending Applications; Applicant Disclosure of High Risk Status; and the FCQ. With the exception of the Tribal Narrative Profile and added Demographic form, the mandatory requirements for an application under the CTAS Solicitation Template are the same as those for OJP. Optional requirements can be made mandatory depending on the type of program to include, but not limited to: Documentation related to Administration priority areas of consideration (e.g., Documentation of Enhanced Public Safety in Qualified Opportunity Zones), project abstract, indirect cost rate agreement, tribal authorizing resolution, timelines, logic models, memoranda of understanding, letters of support, resumes, and research and evaluation independence and integrity. The estimated public reporting burden for this collection of information remains at up to 32 hours per application. The 32-hour estimate is based on the amount of time to prepare a research and evaluation proposal, one of the most time intensive types of application solicited by OJP.

6. An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The estimated public burden associated with this application is 320,000 hours.

If additional information is required contact: Melody Braswell, Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405A, Washington, DC 20530.

Dated: June 3, 2020.

Melody Braswell,

Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.