Information Collection; Submission for OMB Review, Comment Request, 36533-36534 [2013-14461]

Agencies

• Corporation for National and Community Service

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36533-36534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14461]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Information Collection; Submission for OMB Review, Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has 
submitted a public information collection request (ICR) entitled the 
Senior Corps Progress Report (PPR) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13, 
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting 
documentation, may be obtained by calling the Corporation for National 
and Community Service, Wanda Carney, at (202) 606-6934 or email to 
wcarney@cns.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TTY-TDD) may call 1-800-833-3722 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 
p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted, identified by the title of the 
information collection activity, to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB Desk Officer for the 
Corporation for National and Community Service, by any of the following 
two methods within 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal 
Register:
    (1) By fax to: (202) 395-6974, Attention: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB Desk 
Officer for the Corporation for National and Community Service; or
    (2) By email to: smar@omb.eop.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, 
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;
     Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and
     Propose ways to 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.

Comments

    A 60-day Notice requesting public comment was published in the 
Federal Register on December 10, 2012. This comment period ended on 
February 10, 2013. A total of 99 public comments were received from 
this Notice.

Summary of Comments by Category and CNCS Response

    Category 1: Statements of Support for a PPR Update. A total of 26 
comments included statements of support for an updated PPR: Nineteen 
commenters support updating the PPR to align with new performance 
measures and 7 commenters shared that the PPR is a valuable reporting 
tool.
    Response: CNCS agrees with the need to align the PPR with new 
performance measures and also the overall value of the PPR.
    Category 2: Burden. CNCS received 72 comments citing semi-annual 
reporting will increase reporting burden, and that CNCS should retain 
an annual reporting cycle. Nineteen comments stated that a semi-annual 
PPR would take too much time away from other project management 
responsibilities. Four of the 19 comments specifically noted that 
grantee time is needed to shift service activities to new National 
Performance Measures or to focus on RSVP Competition. Eight of the 19 
comments noted that a Senior Corps project director's time and project 
management abilities are already stretched due to recent budget cuts 
which have resulted in reduced staff time and reduced travel budgets
    Response: CNCS recognizes the time needed to support other Senior 
Corps project management responsibilities, and agree that requesting a 
full PPR every six months does not result in benefits that outweigh the 
additional administrative burden imposed. CNCS proposes the following 
refinements to semi-annual reporting: Only grantees that have adopted 
the new standard performance measures will be required to report semi-
annually. These grantees comprise 33 percent of the Senior Corps 
portfolio in FY 2013; 66 percent in FY 2014; and 100 percent in FY 
2015. The increase in percentage is due to the phased in approach of 
the required performance measures. In this way, grantees not yet 
operating under the performance measures requirements will retain their 
original annual reporting cycle until the time that they compete for a 
new grant (RSVP only) or submit a renewal for a new grant (FGP and SCP 
only).
    CNCS will require only demographic and performance measure output 
data reports on the mid-year PPR, rather than the full PPR. Completing 
only the sections that address the performance and results will provide 
the data needed by CNCS to gauge progress, but will abbreviate the mid-
year PPR submission.
    Category 3: Lack of useful data to justify increase in burden. A 
total of 26 comments stated that a semi-annual PPR is unnecessary 
because performance measure data includes an annual target. Thus, a 
semi-annual report would not yield useful data. Eighteen of these 
comments stated that information reported on a semi-annual PPR would 
unfairly be used as a measure towards progress on achieving final 
targets. Two of the comments stated that commenters believed CNCS would 
not use the data reported.
    Response: CNCS recognizes that performance measure targets are a 
goal to be achieved at the end of a 12-month period. However, 
information reported on a semi-annual PPR provides information used to 
determine whether the project is on track to achieve the target on 
time. The data will be used to determine adequate progress during the 
project period to assess whether an administrative renewal or 
competition is the appropriate next step for RSVP projects. The data 
submitted at the mid-point each year will also allow CNCS to access 
data needed for key documents, such as the Congressional Budget 
Submission.
    Category 4: Burden on volunteer stations, which are the 
organizations where the volunteers are placed. A total of 15 comments 
expressed concern about an additional reporting burden on volunteer 
stations. One comment stated that the project would be at risk of 
losing volunteer stations due to an increased reporting burden. Two 
comments cited technology issues at the volunteer stations may present 
challenges to gathering reporting information from volunteer stations.
    Response: CNCS recognizes the potential increase in volunteer 
station burden due to additional reporting. Rather than asking for a 
full PPR to be submitted every six months, CNCS will compromise with a 
requirement for only demographic and output information to be reported 
on the six-month PPR.

[[Page 36534]]

    Category 5: Time Estimate. A total of nine comments stated that the 
estimated time to complete the PPR is too low.
    Response: The time required to complete the PPR is limited to the 
time needed to enter the PPR information into the PPR module in eGrants 
and does not include the time invested in project management, 
performance measures monitoring, or gathering the performance measures 
and PPR data. However, we concur that the full burden should be 
reviewed, particularly since respondents will use new eGrants system 
functionality under this PPR version.
    Category 6: CNCS Staff Oversight. A total of two comments stated 
that CNCS staff would not have time to react to and provide feedback on 
a semi-annual report.
    Response: Prior to the recent move to annual PPRs, CNCS staff 
provided feedback on semi-annual and annual PPRs. Time to provide 
feedback has not been an issue for CNCS staff in the past.
    Category 7: Suggestion for Performance Metric for Achievement. One 
comment suggested that grantees self-report whether they are on target 
to achieve the end of year goal, rather than reporting quantifiable 
data against the performance measures.
    Response: Data that cannot be supported with quantifiable 
information would not provide enough useful information for CNCS.
    Category 8: Other. One commenter stated that Senior Corps is a 
waste of government money and recommends closing out Senior Corps 
grants and programs.
    Response: This comment is outside the scope of the information 
request.
    Description: CNCS is seeking approval of the Senior Corps Progress 
Report (PPR), which is used by grantees of the Senior Corps' programs 
(RSVP, Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs) address and 
fulfill legislated program purposes; meet OMB Progress Report 
Requirements; meet agency program management and grant requirements; 
track and measure progress to benefit the local project and its 
contributions to senior volunteers and the community; and to report 
progress toward work plan objectives agreed upon in the granting of the 
award. The PPR also includes a Progress Report Supplement (PRS), which 
is administered annually to all Senior Corps grantees. This PRS survey 
collects data from all grantees that is then aggregated to develop 
snapshots about Senior Corps volunteers, such as demographic 
characteristics, reasons for separating from the program, and service 
hours per week.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: Senior Corps Progress Report (PPR).
    OMB Number: 3045-033.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: Senior Corps grantees.
    Total Respondents: 1,250.
    Frequency: Semi-annual for PPR. Annual for PRS.
    Average Time per Response: 14 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 17,500.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.

    Dated; June 12, 2013.
Erwin Tan,
Director, Senior Corps.
[FR Doc. 2013-14461 Filed 6-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P