NonSub Change - Interim Burden Increase_Nov 2020

To: Jordan Cohen

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

From: Molly Jones

Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE)

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Date: November 9, 2020

Subject: NonSubstantive Change Request – Formative Data Collections for ACF Research (OMB #0970-0356)

This memo requests approval of nonsubstantive changes to the approved overarching generic clearance, Formative Data Collections for ACF Research (OMB #0970-0356).

Background

The Formative Data Collections for ACF Research generic was created to allow ACF to conduct a variety of formative data collections to inform future research and evaluation activities. ACF has used this umbrella generic clearance since 2008 and has found it very useful to inform research, evaluation, and technical assistance efforts. The current approval for this overarching generic expires in June 2021 but ACF has reached the previously approved burden estimates faster than anticipated. This is due to the usefulness of this tool in general, expanding ACF research and evaluation portfolio, and the unforeseen and unprecedented situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The overarching generic has allowed project teams to collect information to inform research plans during the pandemic, which has been incredibly useful.

We are currently in the process of submitting a request to revise and extend data collection under this generic clearance. The 60-day Federal Register Notice related to this revision request is scheduled to publish on November 3, 2020. We intend to submit the request for the revision as soon as possible once the initial comment period is complete and any comments have been addressed, as needed. Until that time, however, we would like the opportunity to continue some generic information collections that were already in development and we intended to submit within the next couple months. For that reason, we are currently requesting a nonsubstantive change for a minor burden increase.

Overview of Requested Changes

We are requesting an interim increase in burden of 1,300 hours. This amount is based on ACF’s plans for submissions under this generic clearance through January 2021. We anticipate three requests within this timeframe.

Time Sensitivities

We need to submit any pending generic information collection requests prior to the full revision request being submitted to OMB. We intend to submit the full request as soon as possible after the 60 day comment period in early January.