Administration for Children and Families Uniform Project Description (UPD)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form 2 Streamlined Uniform Project Description (UPD) Form	New
Form 1 Uniform Project Description (UPD) Form	Modified
Attachment B-Alt_UPD for Pilot_Clean Final.docx Supplementary Document	2023-10-19
Change Memo - UPD Change Explanations.docx Justification for No Material/Nonsubstantive Change	2023-10-19
Attachment C_2022_Federal Assistance Listing Numbers Approved for UPD_01-28-2022.docx Supplementary Document	2022-10-31
Attachment B_Final UPD 2022-2025_07-01-2022.docx Supplementary Document	2022-10-31
Attachment A_45 CFR 75-Appendix I_01-28-2022.docx Supplementary Document	2022-01-31
UPD Supporting Statement_Revision 2022_0970-0139_10-31-2022_final.docx Supporting Statement A	2022-10-31

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
262888	Streamlined Uniform Project Description (UPD) Form	New
256678	Uniform Project Description (UPD) Form	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0970-0139	ICR Reference No: 202310-0970-009
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202210-0970-015
Agency/Subagency: HHS/ACF	Agency Tracking No: OA
Title: Administration for Children and Families Uniform Project Description (UPD)
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 10/19/2023

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2026	03/31/2026
Responses	3,218	3,218
Time Burden (Hours)	193,080	193,080
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

---

Abstract: The Uniform Project Description (UPD) is standard language and sections available for use by Administration for Children and Families (ACF) program offices to solicit the required project description and project budget information from applicants for specific funding opportunities. Applications are required for project grants and cooperative agreements as prescribed by HHS regulations 45 CFR § 75.203. The UPD provides a selection of text options for the program offices to choose from, which are used to communicate the application requirements for a specific grant or cooperative agreement notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), as required by 45 C.F.R. § 75.203, and Appendix I to Part 75 – Full Text of Notice of Funding Opportunity. The UPD is fundamental to ACF’s competitive award process. It ensures the provision of adequate information to support award decisions. The ability to select the appropriate standard language for a given NOFO reduces the burden of application preparation, by eliminating unnecessary portions of the application for a given announcement. In addition, it provides for consistency and objectivity in the application and review processes required by 45 C.F.R. § 75.204. ACF is testing a new, simplified format for its Notices of Funding Opportunity. This pilot will include 25 NOFOs in fiscal year 2024. As part of this pilot we plan to: • Rearrange the affected sections to provide a better flow and clearly delineate between portions that require a narrative, attachments, and other types of submissions, such as notices of intent. • Apply plain language principles to the content. As a result, we request approval for this non-substantive change to use an alternate version of the Uniform Project Description (UPD) (OMB #: 0970-0139) for 25 NOFOs. Other NOFOs will continue to use the currently approved UPD. In the revisions for the pilot: • We have changed no requirements. The revisions are to improve flow and readability only. We expect no increase in burden. In fact, in a prior test of a simplified NOFO, applicants reported a significant reduction in burden hours. • In some cases, portions were deleted simply to combine them into a single section. • We moved one highly detailed and fully standard section to the web. Moving the detail for preparing a line-item budget and justification ensures that the information is easily accessible for those not familiar with the process while ensuring consistent instruction across all NOFOs.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 31 USC 6301 Name of Law: General Assistance Administration
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 51676	10/31/2022
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 66711	11/04/2022
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Streamlined Uniform Project Description (UPD)	2	Uniform Project Description - Streamlined Pilot Version
Uniform Project Description (UPD)	1	Uniform Project Description

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	3,218	3,218	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	193,080	193,080	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: This nonsubstantive change request is to add a streamlined version of the UPD to pilot with 25 NOFOs. At this time, burden was broken out to show burden for the standard UPD approved in 2022 and the streamlined version separately, but overall burden estimates have not changed. Although burden estimates are not currently changing, ACF will monitor completion times and potentially update in the future.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $7,079,600

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Yes

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Yes

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 10/19/2023

---