2023-18360. 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 ...

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

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 [e-mail] 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 [e-mail] 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 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

Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Total responses	Average burden per response (in hours)	Total annual burden hours
Standardized Work Plan (SWP)	1,000	1	1,000	1.00	1,000
Quarterly Progress Update (QPU) Form	1,000	4	4,000	.10	400
Total	1  1,000		5,000		1,400
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.