Supporting Statement SIF PFS App Instructions

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSIONS

 

A. Justification

A1. Need for Information Collection

The Corporation for National and Community Service’s (CNCS) FY 2014 appropriations included a provision for the Social Innovation Fund to make awards for Pay for Success projects. We immediately began discussions internally and with key stakeholders to determine the appropriate approach to making these awards. In consultation with the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, CNCS determined that a grant competition was the most appropriate approach.

We explored using the approved traditional Social Innovation Fund application instructions, as well as the approved CNCS universal application instructions. However, both would have required modifications in order to be used for this new grant program.

If normal clearance procedures are followed, CNCS will lose the opportunity to conduct this pilot, as funds must be obligated by September 30, 2014. There will not be sufficient time to complete this grant competition this fiscal year if we were to follow the standard OMB clearance procedure.

Public harm is reasonably likely to occur if normal clearance procedures are followed. Without expedited clearance of this information collection, CNCS and the Social Innovation Fund will not be able to meet the expectations of Congress and other stakeholders that it start this pilot grant program this fiscal year.

A2. Use of Information

The information collected constitutes an application to CNCS for grant funding. CNCS evaluates the application and makes funding decisions through the CNCS grant review and selection process. CNCS assembles panels of experts to evaluate new applications. CNCS staff analyze the results of the panel evaluations. Based on these analyses, the CNCS Chief Executive Officer and Board determine which applications to support with grant funds. 

 A3. Minimize Burden: Use of Improved Technology to Reduce Burden

Applicants apply online to CNCS for grant funds using the CNCS secure system eGrants.

A4. Non-Duplication

There are no other sources of information by which CNCS can meet the purposes described in A2 (above). Both the application instructions for the traditional SIF program and the CNCS universal application instructions contain specifications that do not apply to this new pilot grant program.

 

A5. Minimizing Economic Burden for Small Businesses or Other Small Entities

This collection of information does not impact small businesses because they are not eligible to apply for grants. There is no economic burden to any other small entities beyond the cost of staff time to develop the grant application. This is minimized to the degree possible by only asking for the information absolutely necessary to make responsible grant approval decisions.

A6. Consideration of Collection

If this information is not collected, CNCS will be unable to fulfill the expectation that it conduct this new grant competition this fiscal year. CNCS uses the information collected to make grant decisions and to evaluate requests for continued funding. The information collection requires an initial application for funding in the first year. Because funds are awarded on an annual basis, this information cannot be collected less frequently.

A7. Special circumstances that would cause information collection to be collected in the specified ways.

There are no special circumstances that would require the collection of information in the ways specified.

 A8. Provide copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the Agency’s notice.

A Notice of Emergency Request for Clearance was published xxxxx, p. xxx.

 

 A9. Payment to Respondents

There are no payments or gifts to respondent

  

A10. Confidentiality

Information provided by respondents is subject to the Privacy Act and the instrument includes a Privacy Notice. The information requested on the Social Innovation Fund Pay for Success Pilot Application Instructions is collected pursuant to 42 U.S.C 12592 and 12615 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 as amended and 42 U.S.C. 4953 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 as amended, and42 U.S.C. 12639. Purposes and Uses - The information requested is collected for the purposes of reviewing grant applications and granting funding requests. Routine Uses - Routine uses may include disclosure of the information to federal, state, or local agencies pursuant to lawfully authorized requests. In some programs, the information may also be provided to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to determine the existence of any prior criminal convictions. The information may also be provided to appropriate federal agencies and Department contractors that have a need to know the information for the purpose of assisting the Department’s efforts to respond to a suspected or confirmed breach of the security or confidentiality or information maintained in this system of records, and the information disclosed is relevant and unnecessary for the assistance. Executive Summaries of all compliant applications received and applications of successful applicants will be published on the CNCS website as part of ongoing efforts to increase transparency in grantmaking. This is described in more detail in the Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity/Availability. The information will not otherwise be disclosed to entities outside of the Social Innovation Fund and the Corporation for National and Community Service without prior written permission. Effects of Nondisclosure - The information requested is mandatory in order to receive benefits.

A11. Sensitive questions

 The information collection does not include questions of a sensitive nature.

 

A12. Hour burden of the collection

We expect approximately 20 respondents to apply for grant funding. The frequency of response will not be greater than once per year, and should not exceed 30 hours of effort per respondent. There is no estimated annual hour burden outside of the customary and usual business practices. Total burden for this collection will be 600 hours.

 

A13. Cost burden to the respondent

There is no annual cost burden to respondents.

 

A14. Cost to Government

There is no annual cost burden to the Government outside of customary and usual business practices.

A15. Reasons for program changes

Program changes have occurred due to the FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

 

 A16. Publication of results

Not applicable because the results of the grant competition will not be published. 

 

A17. Explain the reason for seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection.

Not applicable.

 

 A18. Exceptions to the certification statement

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

3