Agency Information Collection Activities: Evaluation of Technology Modernization for SNAP Benefit Redemption Through Online Transactions for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 36515-36516 [2018-16220]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2018 / Notices
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–9410.
Fax: (202) 690–7442.
Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.),
should contact USDA’s TARGET Center
at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).
Done at Washington, DC.
Paul Kiecker,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018–16197 Filed 7–27–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Evaluation of Technology
Modernization for SNAP Benefit
Redemption Through Online
Transactions for the USDA Food and
Nutrition Service
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on
this proposed information collection.
This collection is a new collection to
test the feasibility of online purchasing
for SNAP through Evaluation of
Technology Modernization for SNAP
Benefit Redemption through Online
Transactions for the USDA. The final
report will synthesize findings across
pilots and detailed appendix chapters
will integrate implementation and
integrity evaluation findings for each
pilot. This collection includes in-depth
interviews with key informants,
including SNAP online retailers and
their web service providers, the
designated third-party processor for the
pilots, EBT processors, and State
Agency EBT coordinators; and
preparation and transmission of data
from retailers and their web service
providers, EBT processors, the thirdparty processor, and state SNAP
agencies.
SUMMARY:
Written comments must be
received on or before September 28,
2018.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
DATES:
Comments may be sent to:
Eric Williams, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014,
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may
also be submitted via fax to the attention
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:33 Jul 27, 2018
Jkt 244001
of Eric Williams at 703–305–2576 or via
email to Eric.Williams@fns.usda.gov.
Comments will also be accepted through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov, and follow
the online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for Office of Management and Budget
approval. All comments will be a matter
of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection
should be directed to Eric Williams at
703–305–2576.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments
are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions that were
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize
the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to
respond, including use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Title: Evaluation of Technology
Modernization for SNAP Benefit
Redemption through Online
Transactions for the USDA Food and
Nutrition Service.
OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) offers
nutrition assistance to low-income
individuals and families and provides
economic benefits to communities. The
Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill)
mandated the Online Purchasing Pilots
to test the feasibility and implications of
allowing retail food stores to accept
SNAP benefits through online
transactions. Prior to the pilots, SNAP
benefits could only be redeemed in
person. The Farm Bill provided FNS
and its stakeholders an opportunity to
begin modernizing benefit redemption
through online purchasing for SNAP.
For customers using SNAP, online
shopping may increase access to healthy
and affordable foods, save time, and
reduce other barriers to better nutrition.
Current participating retailers can offer
online shopping, and online merchants
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
36515
can gain the opportunity to serve SNAP
customers. For program integrity, online
shopping represents opportunities to
identify suspicious behavior, but also
new ways that benefit misuse and fraud
may occur.
To test the feasibility of online
purchasing for SNAP, FNS established
eight online purchasing pilots and
requested volunteers on September 15,
2016 (OMB Control No.: 0584–0606,
expiration date 3/31/2019) for the
Evaluation of Technology
Modernization for SNAP Benefit
Redemption through Online
Transactions (Evaluation of Online
Purchasing Pilots). Through this
evaluation, FNS seeks to learn how the
pilots operate, the implementation
challenges and lessons learned, the
characteristics of SNAP online
customers, the risks and benefits of
online purchasing for the integrity of
SNAP, and the requirements for
expansion.
Through the Evaluation of Online
Purchasing Pilots, the research team
will address FNS’ two interrelated
objectives: the analyses of the pilots’ (1)
implementation and (2) integrity.
Implementation study questions relate
to: The SNAP online transaction
approaches; the process, challenges, and
lessons of implementation; the
characteristics of SNAP households that
shop online; and the level of effort for
stakeholders (e.g., retailers, states, EBT
processors). Integrity study questions
focus on: Delivery patterns and their
relationship to customer addresses and
retailer locations; customer profiles and
their relationship to EBT cards and
SNAP households; customer shopping
patterns; and problems such as refunds
and cart abandonment. To meet these
two overarching objectives, the research
team will collect and analyze qualitative
data from key informants and
quantitative administrative data about
online transactions, retailers, and SNAP
households that will be provided by
FNS, retailers, and state SNAP agencies.
The implementation and integrity
analyses will inform FNS’ decisions
about whether and how to make SNAP
online purchases more widely available,
and how to ensure that protections
against abuse remain strong or grow
stronger. Eight retailers in eight states
are participating in the pilot, we
anticipate 100 percent participation.
Affected Public: State, Local and
Tribal Agencies; Business-for-profit.
Respondent Types: The study
includes in-depth interviews with a
total of four respondent groups. Three
are business respondents: (1) Personnel
from online retailers, including project
managers, customer service managers,
E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM
30JYN1
36516
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2018 / Notices
staff who handle fulfillment of orders,
IT personnel or third-party web service
providers; (2) EBT processor staff; and
(3) third-party processor staff. The
fourth state SNAP agency staff,
including State Agency EBT
coordinators. Staff from two of these
respondent groups (retailers or their
third-party web service providers and
state SNAP agencies) will also provide
data files for the quantitative analysis.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
The total estimated number of
respondents is 177. This includes: 24
retailer staff who handle the fulfillment,
shipping, and delivery of EBT customer
orders; 24 retailer customer service
managers; 16 retailer IT personnel or
third-party web service providers; 32
retailer project managers; 16 retailer
personnel who completed the pilot
application; 8 retailer/web provider data
managers; 8 retailer/web provider staff
who will prepare and transfer the
detailed transaction file; 8 retailer/web
provider staff who will prepare and
transfer the aggregated file; 6 EBT
processor managers; 3 third-party
processor personnel; 16 State agency
EBT coordinators; 8 State Agency SNAP
program or data staff.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: The total estimated number
of responses is 2.232 responses per
respondent. Retailer personnel
(personnel who handle the fulfillment,
shipping, and delivery of EBT customer
orders, customer service managers, IT
personnel or third-party web service
providers, project managers, and
personnel who completed the pilot
application) will respond to one inperson interview or one telephone
interview. Managers for two EBT
processors will respond to one inperson interview and two telephone
interviews for a total of three responses
each. Third-party processor managers
will respond to one in-person interview
and two telephone interviews. State
EBT coordinators will respond to one
in-person interview. Retailer or web
Estimated
number respondent
Respondent
Retailer personnel who handle the fulfillment, shipping, and delivery of EBT
customer orders .................................................................................................
Retailer customer service managers ....................................................................
Retailer IT personnel or third-party web service provider personnel ...................
Retailer project managers .....................................................................................
Retailer personnel who completed the pilot application .......................................
Retailer/web provider data managers who will participate in file transfer discussion ....................................................................................................................
Retailer/web provider staff who will prepare and transfer the detailed transaction file ...........................................................................................................
Retailer/web provider staff who will prepare and transfer the aggregated file .....
Third-Party processor personnel ...........................................................................
EBT processor managers .....................................................................................
State agency EBT coordinators ............................................................................
State agency SNAP program/data staff who will participate in file transfer discussion and initial programming ........................................................................
State agency SNAP program/data staff ................................................................
Total Reporting Burden ..................................................................................
Dated: July 19, 2018.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–16220 Filed 7–27–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Food and Nutrition Service
Request for Information: State
Administrative Expense Allocation
Formula for Child Nutrition Programs
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice; request for information.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:33 Jul 27, 2018
Jkt 244001
Responses
annually per
respondent
Fmt 4703
Estimated
average number of hours
per response
Estimated total
hours
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
24.00
24.00
16.00
32.00
16.00
1.00000
1.00000
1.00000
1.50000
1.00000
24.000
24.000
16.000
48.000
16.000
8
3.00
24.00
2.00000
48.000
8
8
3
6
16
9.00
9.00
3.00
3.00
1.00
72.00
72.00
9.00
18.00
16.00
1.00000
1.00000
2.00000
2.00000
1.00000
72.000
72.000
18.000
36.000
16.000
8
8
1.00
8.00
8.00
64.00
21.00000
1.00000
168.000
64.000
177
........................
395
........................
622
This is a request for
information from State agencies
administering Child Nutrition programs
and State distributing agencies to learn
about the successes, challenges, and
needs for the State Administrative
Expense (hereafter referred to as ‘‘SAE’’)
allocation formula. It is not a request for
proposal and does not commit the
Government to issue a solicitation, make
an award, or pay any costs associated
with responding to this announcement.
All submitted information shall remain
with the Government and will not be
returned. All responses will become
part of the public record and will not be
held confidential.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
is seeking information on the SAE
Frm 00004
Total annual
responses
24
24
16
32
16
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
provider data managers will participate
in three meetings to discuss the format
and transfer of each of two types of files
(detailed transaction file and aggregated
file). These respondents will transmit
detailed and aggregated data files nine
times. State agency SNAP program or
data staff will each participate in
discussion and initial programming of
the SNAP case record file data transfer
once and provide eight update files.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
395.
Estimated Time per Response: 1.6
hours is the average estimated time per
participant. However, response times
varies from 1 hour to 21 hours per
response and depending on respondent
group, as shown in the table below.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 37,800 minutes (630
hours). See the table below for estimated
total annual burden for each type of
respondent.
Sfmt 4703
allocation formula for the Department’s
oversight and management of Child
Nutrition Programs (CNP), specifically
the National School Lunch Program
(NSLP), School Breakfast Program
(SBP), Child and Adult Care Food
Program (CACFP), Special Milk Program
(SMP) and the Food Distribution
Program for schools (FDP). To better
understand the availability and use of
SAE funds, FNS is requesting
information from CNP State
administering agencies, State
distributing agencies, and CNP affiliate
associations about SAE allocation,
reallocation, fund uses, and fund
restrictions at the State level.
The objectives of this request for
information are to:
E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM
30JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36515-36516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16220]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Evaluation of
Technology Modernization for SNAP Benefit Redemption Through Online
Transactions for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on this proposed information collection. This collection is a new
collection to test the feasibility of online purchasing for SNAP
through Evaluation of Technology Modernization for SNAP Benefit
Redemption through Online Transactions for the USDA. The final report
will synthesize findings across pilots and detailed appendix chapters
will integrate implementation and integrity evaluation findings for
each pilot. This collection includes in-depth interviews with key
informants, including SNAP online retailers and their web service
providers, the designated third-party processor for the pilots, EBT
processors, and State Agency EBT coordinators; and preparation and
transmission of data from retailers and their web service providers,
EBT processors, the third-party processor, and state SNAP agencies.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 28,
2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Eric Williams, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room
1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to
the attention of Eric Williams at 703-305-2576 or via email to
[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov, and
follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will
be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection should be directed to Eric
Williams at 703-305-2576.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
that were used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Title: Evaluation of Technology Modernization for SNAP Benefit
Redemption through Online Transactions for the USDA Food and Nutrition
Service.
OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
offers nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and families and
provides economic benefits to communities. The Agricultural Act of 2014
(Farm Bill) mandated the Online Purchasing Pilots to test the
feasibility and implications of allowing retail food stores to accept
SNAP benefits through online transactions. Prior to the pilots, SNAP
benefits could only be redeemed in person. The Farm Bill provided FNS
and its stakeholders an opportunity to begin modernizing benefit
redemption through online purchasing for SNAP. For customers using
SNAP, online shopping may increase access to healthy and affordable
foods, save time, and reduce other barriers to better nutrition.
Current participating retailers can offer online shopping, and online
merchants can gain the opportunity to serve SNAP customers. For program
integrity, online shopping represents opportunities to identify
suspicious behavior, but also new ways that benefit misuse and fraud
may occur.
To test the feasibility of online purchasing for SNAP, FNS
established eight online purchasing pilots and requested volunteers on
September 15, 2016 (OMB Control No.: 0584-0606, expiration date 3/31/
2019) for the Evaluation of Technology Modernization for SNAP Benefit
Redemption through Online Transactions (Evaluation of Online Purchasing
Pilots). Through this evaluation, FNS seeks to learn how the pilots
operate, the implementation challenges and lessons learned, the
characteristics of SNAP online customers, the risks and benefits of
online purchasing for the integrity of SNAP, and the requirements for
expansion.
Through the Evaluation of Online Purchasing Pilots, the research
team will address FNS' two interrelated objectives: the analyses of the
pilots' (1) implementation and (2) integrity. Implementation study
questions relate to: The SNAP online transaction approaches; the
process, challenges, and lessons of implementation; the characteristics
of SNAP households that shop online; and the level of effort for
stakeholders (e.g., retailers, states, EBT processors). Integrity study
questions focus on: Delivery patterns and their relationship to
customer addresses and retailer locations; customer profiles and their
relationship to EBT cards and SNAP households; customer shopping
patterns; and problems such as refunds and cart abandonment. To meet
these two overarching objectives, the research team will collect and
analyze qualitative data from key informants and quantitative
administrative data about online transactions, retailers, and SNAP
households that will be provided by FNS, retailers, and state SNAP
agencies. The implementation and integrity analyses will inform FNS'
decisions about whether and how to make SNAP online purchases more
widely available, and how to ensure that protections against abuse
remain strong or grow stronger. Eight retailers in eight states are
participating in the pilot, we anticipate 100 percent participation.
Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Agencies; Business-for-
profit.
Respondent Types: The study includes in-depth interviews with a
total of four respondent groups. Three are business respondents: (1)
Personnel from online retailers, including project managers, customer
service managers,
[[Page 36516]]
staff who handle fulfillment of orders, IT personnel or third-party web
service providers; (2) EBT processor staff; and (3) third-party
processor staff. The fourth state SNAP agency staff, including State
Agency EBT coordinators. Staff from two of these respondent groups
(retailers or their third-party web service providers and state SNAP
agencies) will also provide data files for the quantitative analysis.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 177. This includes: 24 retailer staff who handle the
fulfillment, shipping, and delivery of EBT customer orders; 24 retailer
customer service managers; 16 retailer IT personnel or third-party web
service providers; 32 retailer project managers; 16 retailer personnel
who completed the pilot application; 8 retailer/web provider data
managers; 8 retailer/web provider staff who will prepare and transfer
the detailed transaction file; 8 retailer/web provider staff who will
prepare and transfer the aggregated file; 6 EBT processor managers; 3
third-party processor personnel; 16 State agency EBT coordinators; 8
State Agency SNAP program or data staff.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The total estimated
number of responses is 2.232 responses per respondent. Retailer
personnel (personnel who handle the fulfillment, shipping, and delivery
of EBT customer orders, customer service managers, IT personnel or
third-party web service providers, project managers, and personnel who
completed the pilot application) will respond to one in-person
interview or one telephone interview. Managers for two EBT processors
will respond to one in-person interview and two telephone interviews
for a total of three responses each. Third-party processor managers
will respond to one in-person interview and two telephone interviews.
State EBT coordinators will respond to one in-person interview.
Retailer or web provider data managers will participate in three
meetings to discuss the format and transfer of each of two types of
files (detailed transaction file and aggregated file). These
respondents will transmit detailed and aggregated data files nine
times. State agency SNAP program or data staff will each participate in
discussion and initial programming of the SNAP case record file data
transfer once and provide eight update files.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 395.
Estimated Time per Response: 1.6 hours is the average estimated
time per participant. However, response times varies from 1 hour to 21
hours per response and depending on respondent group, as shown in the
table below.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 37,800 minutes (630
hours). See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each
type of respondent.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Estimated Responses Total annual average number Estimated
Respondent number annually per responses of hours per total hours
respondent respondent response
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retailer personnel who handle 24 1.00 24.00 1.00000 24.000
the fulfillment, shipping, and
delivery of EBT customer orders
Retailer customer service 24 1.00 24.00 1.00000 24.000
managers.......................
Retailer IT personnel or third- 16 1.00 16.00 1.00000 16.000
party web service provider
personnel......................
Retailer project managers....... 32 1.00 32.00 1.50000 48.000
Retailer personnel who completed 16 1.00 16.00 1.00000 16.000
the pilot application..........
Retailer/web provider data 8 3.00 24.00 2.00000 48.000
managers who will participate
in file transfer discussion....
Retailer/web provider staff who 8 9.00 72.00 1.00000 72.000
will prepare and transfer the
detailed transaction file......
Retailer/web provider staff who 8 9.00 72.00 1.00000 72.000
will prepare and transfer the
aggregated file................
Third-Party processor personnel. 3 3.00 9.00 2.00000 18.000
EBT processor managers.......... 6 3.00 18.00 2.00000 36.000
State agency EBT coordinators... 16 1.00 16.00 1.00000 16.000
State agency SNAP program/data 8 1.00 8.00 21.00000 168.000
staff who will participate in
file transfer discussion and
initial programming............
State agency SNAP program/data 8 8.00 64.00 1.00000 64.000
staff..........................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Reporting Burden...... 177 .............. 395 .............. 622
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: July 19, 2018.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16220 Filed 7-27-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
