Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Mobile Payment Pilots (MPPs), 57634-57637 [2021-22552]
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the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; ways to enhance the
quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and 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 regarding this information
collection received by November 17,
2021 will be considered. Written
comments and recommendations for the
proposed information collection should
be submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Rural Housing Service
Title: Community Facilities Grant
Program—7 CFR 3570–B.
OMB Control Number: 0575–0173.
Summary of Collection: The Rural
Housing Service is authorized by
Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1926), as amended, to make grants to
public agencies, nonprofit corporations,
and Indian tribes to develop essential
community facilities and services for
public use in rural areas. These facilities
include schools, libraries, childcare,
hospitals, clinics, assisted-living
facilities, fire and rescuer stations,
police stations, community centers,
public buildings, and transportation.
The Department of Agriculture through
its Community Programs strives to
ensure that facilities are available to all
rural communities.
Need and Use of the Information:
Rural Development field offices will
collect information from applicant/
borrowers and consultants. This
information is used to determine
eligibility, project feasibility, and to
ensure borrowers operate on a sound
basis and use loan and grant funds for
authorized purposes. Failure to collect
the information could result in
improper determinations of eligibility,
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improper use of funds, and or unsound
loans.
Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions.
Number of Respondents: 1,272.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 17,680.
Title: Rural Rental Housing Program,
7 CFR part 3560.
OMB Control Number: 0575–0189.
Summary of Collection: The purpose
of the Rural Rental Housing Program is
to provide adequate, affordable, decent,
safe, and sanitary rental units for very
low-, low-, and moderate-income
households in rural areas. The Rural
Housing Service (RHS) is authorized to
collect the information needed to
administer these various programs
under Title V of the Housing Act of
1949, Section 515 Rural Rental Housing,
Sections 514 and 516 Farm Labor
Housing loans and grants, and Section
521 Rental Assistance.
Need and Use of the Information:
Information is completed by developers
and potential borrowers seeking
approval of rural rental housing loans
with assistance of professional such as
attorneys, architects, and contractors
and the operation and management of
MFH properties in an affordable, decent,
safe, and sanitary manner. The forms
and information provide the basis for
making determinations of eligibility and
the need and feasibility of the proposed
housing. The information collected by
RHS is used to plan, manage, evaluate,
and account for Government resources.
The reports are required to ensure the
proper and judicious use of public
funds.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for profit: Individual or
households; Not-for-profit institutions;
State, Local, or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 589,500.
Frequency of Responses:
Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly;
Monthly, Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 1,072,242.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021–22579 Filed 10–15–21; 8:45 am]
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Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) Mobile Payment
Pilots (MPPs)
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Rural Housing Service
BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on the
proposed information collection. This is
a request for a new collection to conduct
demonstration pilot projects to test the
redemption of SNAP benefits through
mobile payment technologies and issue
a request for volunteers (RFV) to solicit
applications from SNAP State agencies
(State agencies) for these pilots.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before December 17,
2021.
SUMMARY:
ADDRESSES:
• Preferred Method: Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://
www.regulations.gov, and follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
• Email: RPMDHQ-WEB@USDA.GOV.
• Mail: Send comments to Shelly
Pierce, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1320
Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) 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 Shelly Pierce, at
703–605–4400 or via email to RPMDHQWEB@USDA.GOV.
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 198 / Monday, October 18, 2021 / Notices
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Title: SNAP Mobile Payment Pilots
(MPPs) and Request for Volunteers
(RFV).
Form Number: None.
OMB Number: 0584–NEW.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Assigned.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: Section 4006(e) of the
Agricultural Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115–
334) authorizes the Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) to allow up to five Mobile
Payment Pilots (MPPs) to allow the use
of personal mobile devices, such as
cellular phones, tablets and smart
watches in place of SNAP Electronic
Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to conduct
SNAP transactions. Respondents (SNAP
State agencies (State agencies) and their
SNAP business partners) will conduct
pilots to test the use of mobile payment
technologies for the redemption of
SNAP benefits by SNAP households at
participating retailers, in order to
determine their feasibility and
implications for program integrity. FNS
will conduct these projects to evaluate
whether allowing mobile payments is in
the best interest of the Program, and to
therefore, recommend allowing their use
to the Secretary. The information
collected in the pilot evaluation (to be
submitted for OMB approval under a
separate information collection request)
will help FNS determine the success of
and best practices for the use of mobile
payment technologies to redeem SNAP
benefits. This information will inform
Program design, standards, rulemaking,
and guidance for approval of SNAP
mobile payment technologies as well as
Departmental decisions and
recommendations to Congress with
respect to requiring all State EBT
systems to accept mobile payment
technologies in the future.
To achieve these objectives, FNS
requests OMB approval to: (1) Issue a
Request for Volunteers (RFV) to solicit
applications from up to 53 SNAP State
agencies to participate in these MPPs;
and (2) select up to 5 State agencies that
apply to implement a MPP in their
State. This information collection
request seeks OMB approval only for the
RFV application process and
implementation of MPP by State
agencies. Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act, FNS will seek a separate
OMB approval to evaluate the results of
completed MPPs under a separate 60day Federal Register Notice and
information collection request.
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1. Assumptions
It is impossible for FNS to know in
advance the design and structure of
pilots that may be proposed or the
specific activities each State and
associated partners will undertake in
their preparation of the RFV application
or in conducting an MPP. Therefore, we
have provided general estimates based
on an assumed pilot model. Actual
pilots may vary widely from this model
and include a variety of potential
stakeholders; this information collection
does not intend to establish a standard
model; this model will be used
throughout this notice simply for ease of
estimation. If there is substantive
changes to this data collection request,
the agency will seek OMB approval to
revise this information collection
request following the Paperwork
Reduction Act process. The estimates
below are based on a model in which
one State agency partners with an
average of four (4) stakeholder
businesses (2 retailers, 1 EBT processor,
and 1 mobile payment vendor) and
recruits 1,000 SNAP participants per
pilot proposal. It is important to note for
burden estimation purposes that while
there are numerous retailer and mobile
payment vendors the States may choose
to partner with, there are only 4 EBT
processors nationally. Therefore, EBT
processors may partner with multiple
pilot proposals submitted by the various
State agencies; this has been considered
in our estimation.
2. RFV Application Process
FNS will issue a RFV to solicit an
estimate of 53 applications for an up to
eighteen (18) month pilot. In order to
participate in the Mobile Payment Pilot,
interested States first need to submit a
letter of intent as discussed in the RFV,
followed by an RFV application. This
response will include all documents
required in the RFV, such as a detailed
work plan (as outlined in Appendix
AA), the Application Checklist
(Appendix A), which ensures
completeness, and the Assurances
(Appendix B), which ensures State
Applicant compliance with pilot
requirements. In preparation for
completing the RFV Application, State
agencies are expected to coordinate with
business partner stakeholders, including
EBT processors, retailers, and other
contractors. FNS estimates that up to 53
State SNAP agencies may apply through
the RFV process, and that each State
agency will require 20 hours to prepare
and submit their RFV application
electronically to FNS. In addition, FNS
estimates that each of the 53 State
agencies may require 80 hours of
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coordination and planning activities
with each of their business partner
organizations before submitting an
application. The information collected
through the RFV application process
will help FNS determine each State
agency’s eligibility to participate in a
MPP, evaluate their proposed pilots,
and select candidates to participate in
the pilot. FNS will verify that Applicant
States/Territories with mobile payment
capability meet requirements laid out in
the RFV Application. Those that pass
the verification process will be rated
based on a structured evaluation process
described in the RFV. Up to five (5) of
the best rated Applicant States will be
invited to participate in the pilot; as
defined in RFV Section 3.2 Participant
Selection. Ideally, selected State agency
participants will represent a variety of
different types of mobile payment
technologies. Following selection of
State agency participants, the pilot
period will last a total of eighteen (18)
months, and Pilot Participants (State
agencies and associated business
partner organizations) will join on a
rolling basis with the condition that
they must each participate for a
minimum of nine (9) months.
3. Mobile Payment Pilot
Implementation
Per the requirement in Section
4006(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2018
(Pub. L. 115–334) FNS will limit the
number of MPPs selected to 5, and each
MPP will operate for a maximum of 12
months. FNS estimates that, based on
the assumed model in this notice, each
State agency may require 80 hours to
conduct the following activities during
each month of implementation of an
MPP (as applicable). These activities
include;
1. Design of mobile payment integration
and changes to EBT systems and
functionality to accommodate mobile
payments,
2. Testing of EBT systems to ensure
compatibility,
3. Provision of technical assistance and
support to SNAP households that participate
in an MPP, and/or
4. Coordination with EBT processors,
SNAP retailers, and mobile payment
contractors.
FNS estimates that, based on the
assumed model in this notice, each of
the 5 State agencies may issue 1
recruitment notice for the MPP to 5,000
individuals who are members of SNAP
households in each State for a total of
25,000 individuals. These notices may
be issued to SNAP households
electronically or via mail, depending on
the State. Generation and issuance of
each notice by the State agency is
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 198 / Monday, October 18, 2021 / Notices
expected to take approximately 3
minutes (0.05 hours). FNS also
estimates that each of the 25,000
individual household members will
require up to 3 minutes (0.05 hours) to
read the recruitment notice for
participation in the pilot. FNS estimates
that approximately 5,000 of the
recruited participants will opt to
participate in the pilot (1,000 per State)
and that each of the 5,000 participants
will require 15 minutes to enroll in an
MPP. Potential enrollment activities for
SNAP household respondents are based
on the assumed model in this
information collection may include
calling or emailing the State agency to
indicate interest, reviewing instructions,
downloading an application (as known
as app), technical assistance, and/or
enrolling in the app.
Reporting Burden for State Agencies
Affected Public: State SNAP agencies.
Reporting Burden for Businesses
Affected Public: Business
(Respondent Types: EBT Stakeholders
(EBT Processors, SNAP Retailers,
Mobile Payment Vendors or
Contractors).
Estimated Number of Respondents:
163.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 2.63.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
429.40.
Estimated Time per Response: 80
hours per response.
Estimated
number of
respondents
Estimated
number of
responses
annually per
respondent
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 34,352 hours.
Reporting Burden for Individual
Households
Affected Public: SNAP Recipients.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
25,000.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.2 responses.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
30,000 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .08
hour.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 2,500 hours.
Recordkeeping Burden for State
Agencies
There is no recordkeeping or thirdparty reporting burden associated with
this information collection.
Estimated
total annual
responses
Estimated
avg. number
of hours per
response
Estimated
total annual
hours
Respondent type
Activity
State SNAP Agencies.
Request for Volunteers—Preparation
and Submission of Application.
Request for Volunteers—Stakeholder
Coordination.
Mobile Payment Pilot—Design &
System Changes.
Mobile Payment Pilot—System Testing.
Mobile Payment Pilot—Issue Recruitment Notices.
Mobile Payment Pilot—Implementation & Support.
Mobile Payment Pilot—Stakeholder
Coordination.
............................................................
53.00
1.00
53.00
20.00
1,060.00
53.00
1.00
53.00
80.00
4,240.00
5.00
12.00
60.00
80.00
4,800.00
5.00
12.00
60.00
80.00
4,800.00
5.00
5,000.00
25,000.00
0.08
2,075.00
5.00
12.00
60.00
80.00
4,800.00
5.00
12.00
60.00
80.00
4,800.00
53.00
478.23
25,346.00
1.05
26,575.00
Request for Volunteers—Coordination.
Mobile Payment Pilot—Coordination
Request for Volunteers—Coordination.
Mobile Payment Pilot—Coordination
Request for Volunteers—Coordination.
Mobile Payment Pilot—Coordination
............................................................
4.00
10.60
42.40
80.00
3,392.00
4.00
106.00
12.00
1.00
48.00
106.00
80.00
80.00
3,840.00
8,480.00
10.00
53.00
12.00
1.00
120.00
53.00
80.00
80.00
9,600.00
4,240.00
5.00
164.00
12.00
2.76
60.00
452.00
80.00
80.00
4,800.00
36,160.00
25,000.00
1.00
25,000.00
0.05
1,250.00
State Agency
Subtotal.
EBT Processors ...
SNAP Retailers ....
Mobile Payment
Vendor.
Business Subtotal.
SNAP Recipients
Individual/
Household
Subtotal.
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Estimated Number of Respondents: 53
State agencies.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 478.23.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
25,346.
Estimated Time per Response: 1.05.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 26,575 hours.
Totals .....
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Mobile Payment Pilot—Review Recruitment Notice.
Mobile Payment Pilot—Complete Enrollment.
............................................................
5,000.00
1.00
5,000.00
0.25
1,250.00
25,000.00
1.20
30,000.00
0.08
2,500.00
............................................................
25,216.00
2.21
55,775.40
1.14
63,427.00
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 198 / Monday, October 18, 2021 / Notices
Cynthia Long,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–22552 Filed 10–15–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
White River National Forest; Colorado;
El Jebel Administrative Sites, Upper
and Lower Parcels, Conveyance
Project—Withdrawal of Notice of Intent
To Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY:
Forest Service, Agriculture
(USDA).
Notice; withdrawal.
ACTION:
The White River National
Forest (WRNF) is withdrawing its
Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the El Jebel Administrative Sites,
Upper and Lower Parcels, Conveyance
Project. The original NOI was published
in the Federal Register on December 7,
2016. The WRNF has decided to change
the proposed action of the project. With
the change in the proposed action the
preliminary analysis indicates there will
not be effects that rise to a level of
significance that would warrant an EIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning this notice should
be directed to Jennifer Schuller at
jennifer.schuller@usda.gov or by phone
at 970–404–3163.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf/
hard-of-hearing (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service (FRS)
at 1–800–877–8339, 24 hours a day,
every day of the year, including
holidays.
SUMMARY:
Dated: October 12, 2021.
Barnie Gyant,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. 2021–22574 Filed 10–15–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Notice of Public Meetings of the
Arkansas Advisory Committee
U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights.
ACTION: Announcement of meeting.
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
AGENCY:
Agenda
Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act that
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:28 Oct 15, 2021
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the Arkansas Advisory Committee
(Committee) will hold a virtual (online)
meeting Friday, November 5, 2021 at
1:00 p.m. Central Time. The purpose of
the meeting is for the Committee to hear
testimony regarding civil rights and
IDEA compliance and implementation
in Arkansas schools.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Friday, November 5, 2021 from 1–3 p.m.
Central Time.
ADDRESSES:
Web Access (audio/visual): Register
at: https://bit.ly/2YEQ7QR.
Phone Access (audio only): 800–360–
9505, Access Code 2760 3397 7872.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Melissa Wojnaroski, Designated Federal
Officer, at mwojnaroski@usccr.gov or
(202) 618–4158.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members
of the public may join online or listen
to this discussion through the above
call-in number. An open comment
period will be provided to allow
members of the public to make a
statement as time allows. Callers can
expect to incur regular charges for calls
they initiate over wireless lines,
according to their wireless plan. The
Commission will not refund any
incurred charges. Individuals who are
deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing may
also follow the proceedings by first
calling the Federal Relay Service at
1–800–877–8339 and providing the
Service with the conference call number
and conference ID number.
Members of the public are entitled to
submit written comments; the
comments must be received in the
regional office within 30 days following
the meeting. Written comments may be
emailed to Melissa Wojnaroski at
mwojnaroski@usccr.gov.
Records generated from this meeting
may be inspected and reproduced at the
Regional Programs Unit Office, as they
become available, both before and after
the meeting. Records of the meeting will
be available via www.facadatabase.gov
under the Commission on Civil Rights,
Arkansas Advisory Committee link.
Persons interested in the work of this
Committee are directed to the
Commission’s website, https://
www.usccr.gov, or may contact the
Regional Programs Unit at the above
email or street address.
I. Welcome & Roll Call
II. Panel II—IDEA Compliance and
Implementation in Arkansas School
III. Public Comment
VI. Adjournment
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57637
Dated: October 12, 2021.
David Mussatt,
Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit.
[FR Doc. 2021–22562 Filed 10–15–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Notice of Public Meeting of the New
York Advisory Committee
U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights.
ACTION: Notice of meetings.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act that
the New York Advisory Committee
(Committee) will hold meetings via
WebEx on the following Fridays from
1:00–2:15 p.m. ET: November 5, 2021;
November 19, 2021; December 3, 2021;
and December 17, 2021, for the purpose
of continuing to debrief testimony heard
related to the Committee’s project on
potential racial discrimination in
eviction policies and enforcement in
New York.
DATES: The meetings will be held the
following Fridays from 1:00–2:15 p.m.:
November 5, November 19, December 3,
and December 17, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Access details for these
meetings:
• To join by web conference please
click the link below; password is
USCCR: https://bit.ly/3urPkOp.
• To join by phone only, dial: 1–800–
360–9505; Access Code: 1996 82 6592#.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mallory Trachtenberg, DFO, at
mtrachtenberg@usccr.gov or 202–809–
9618.
SUMMARY:
Members
of the public can listen to the
discussion. This meeting is available to
the public through the following tollfree call-in number. An open comment
period will be provided to allow
members of the public to make a
statement as time allows. The
conference operator will ask callers to
identify themselves, the organizations
they are affiliated with (if any), and an
email address prior to placing callers
into the conference call. Callers can
expect to incur charges for calls they
initiate over wireless lines, and the
Commission will not refund any
incurred charges. Callers will incur no
charge for calls they initiate over landline connections to the toll-free
telephone number. Persons with hearing
impairments may also follow the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 198 (Monday, October 18, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57634-57637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22552]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Mobile Payment Pilots
(MPPs)
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on the proposed information collection. This is a request for a new
collection to conduct demonstration pilot projects to test the
redemption of SNAP benefits through mobile payment technologies and
issue a request for volunteers (RFV) to solicit applications from SNAP
State agencies (State agencies) for these pilots.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 17,
2021.
ADDRESSES:
Preferred Method: Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
Email: [email protected].
Mail: Send comments to Shelly Pierce, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place,
Alexandria, VA 22314.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 Shelly
Pierce, at 703-605-4400 or via email to [email protected].
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
[[Page 57635]]
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Title: SNAP Mobile Payment Pilots (MPPs) and Request for Volunteers
(RFV).
Form Number: None.
OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Assigned.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: Section 4006(e) of the Agricultural Act of 2018 (Pub. L.
115-334) authorizes the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to allow up to
five Mobile Payment Pilots (MPPs) to allow the use of personal mobile
devices, such as cellular phones, tablets and smart watches in place of
SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to conduct SNAP
transactions. Respondents (SNAP State agencies (State agencies) and
their SNAP business partners) will conduct pilots to test the use of
mobile payment technologies for the redemption of SNAP benefits by SNAP
households at participating retailers, in order to determine their
feasibility and implications for program integrity. FNS will conduct
these projects to evaluate whether allowing mobile payments is in the
best interest of the Program, and to therefore, recommend allowing
their use to the Secretary. The information collected in the pilot
evaluation (to be submitted for OMB approval under a separate
information collection request) will help FNS determine the success of
and best practices for the use of mobile payment technologies to redeem
SNAP benefits. This information will inform Program design, standards,
rulemaking, and guidance for approval of SNAP mobile payment
technologies as well as Departmental decisions and recommendations to
Congress with respect to requiring all State EBT systems to accept
mobile payment technologies in the future.
To achieve these objectives, FNS requests OMB approval to: (1)
Issue a Request for Volunteers (RFV) to solicit applications from up to
53 SNAP State agencies to participate in these MPPs; and (2) select up
to 5 State agencies that apply to implement a MPP in their State. This
information collection request seeks OMB approval only for the RFV
application process and implementation of MPP by State agencies. Under
the Paperwork Reduction Act, FNS will seek a separate OMB approval to
evaluate the results of completed MPPs under a separate 60-day Federal
Register Notice and information collection request.
1. Assumptions
It is impossible for FNS to know in advance the design and
structure of pilots that may be proposed or the specific activities
each State and associated partners will undertake in their preparation
of the RFV application or in conducting an MPP. Therefore, we have
provided general estimates based on an assumed pilot model. Actual
pilots may vary widely from this model and include a variety of
potential stakeholders; this information collection does not intend to
establish a standard model; this model will be used throughout this
notice simply for ease of estimation. If there is substantive changes
to this data collection request, the agency will seek OMB approval to
revise this information collection request following the Paperwork
Reduction Act process. The estimates below are based on a model in
which one State agency partners with an average of four (4) stakeholder
businesses (2 retailers, 1 EBT processor, and 1 mobile payment vendor)
and recruits 1,000 SNAP participants per pilot proposal. It is
important to note for burden estimation purposes that while there are
numerous retailer and mobile payment vendors the States may choose to
partner with, there are only 4 EBT processors nationally. Therefore,
EBT processors may partner with multiple pilot proposals submitted by
the various State agencies; this has been considered in our estimation.
2. RFV Application Process
FNS will issue a RFV to solicit an estimate of 53 applications for
an up to eighteen (18) month pilot. In order to participate in the
Mobile Payment Pilot, interested States first need to submit a letter
of intent as discussed in the RFV, followed by an RFV application. This
response will include all documents required in the RFV, such as a
detailed work plan (as outlined in Appendix AA), the Application
Checklist (Appendix A), which ensures completeness, and the Assurances
(Appendix B), which ensures State Applicant compliance with pilot
requirements. In preparation for completing the RFV Application, State
agencies are expected to coordinate with business partner stakeholders,
including EBT processors, retailers, and other contractors. FNS
estimates that up to 53 State SNAP agencies may apply through the RFV
process, and that each State agency will require 20 hours to prepare
and submit their RFV application electronically to FNS. In addition,
FNS estimates that each of the 53 State agencies may require 80 hours
of coordination and planning activities with each of their business
partner organizations before submitting an application. The information
collected through the RFV application process will help FNS determine
each State agency's eligibility to participate in a MPP, evaluate their
proposed pilots, and select candidates to participate in the pilot. FNS
will verify that Applicant States/Territories with mobile payment
capability meet requirements laid out in the RFV Application. Those
that pass the verification process will be rated based on a structured
evaluation process described in the RFV. Up to five (5) of the best
rated Applicant States will be invited to participate in the pilot; as
defined in RFV Section 3.2 Participant Selection. Ideally, selected
State agency participants will represent a variety of different types
of mobile payment technologies. Following selection of State agency
participants, the pilot period will last a total of eighteen (18)
months, and Pilot Participants (State agencies and associated business
partner organizations) will join on a rolling basis with the condition
that they must each participate for a minimum of nine (9) months.
3. Mobile Payment Pilot Implementation
Per the requirement in Section 4006(e) of the Agricultural Act of
2018 (Pub. L. 115-334) FNS will limit the number of MPPs selected to 5,
and each MPP will operate for a maximum of 12 months. FNS estimates
that, based on the assumed model in this notice, each State agency may
require 80 hours to conduct the following activities during each month
of implementation of an MPP (as applicable). These activities include;
1. Design of mobile payment integration and changes to EBT
systems and functionality to accommodate mobile payments,
2. Testing of EBT systems to ensure compatibility,
3. Provision of technical assistance and support to SNAP
households that participate in an MPP, and/or
4. Coordination with EBT processors, SNAP retailers, and mobile
payment contractors.
FNS estimates that, based on the assumed model in this notice, each
of the 5 State agencies may issue 1 recruitment notice for the MPP to
5,000 individuals who are members of SNAP households in each State for
a total of 25,000 individuals. These notices may be issued to SNAP
households electronically or via mail, depending on the State.
Generation and issuance of each notice by the State agency is
[[Page 57636]]
expected to take approximately 3 minutes (0.05 hours). FNS also
estimates that each of the 25,000 individual household members will
require up to 3 minutes (0.05 hours) to read the recruitment notice for
participation in the pilot. FNS estimates that approximately 5,000 of
the recruited participants will opt to participate in the pilot (1,000
per State) and that each of the 5,000 participants will require 15
minutes to enroll in an MPP. Potential enrollment activities for SNAP
household respondents are based on the assumed model in this
information collection may include calling or emailing the State agency
to indicate interest, reviewing instructions, downloading an
application (as known as app), technical assistance, and/or enrolling
in the app.
Reporting Burden for State Agencies
Affected Public: State SNAP agencies.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 53 State agencies.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 478.23.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 25,346.
Estimated Time per Response: 1.05.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 26,575 hours.
Reporting Burden for Businesses
Affected Public: Business (Respondent Types: EBT Stakeholders (EBT
Processors, SNAP Retailers, Mobile Payment Vendors or Contractors).
Estimated Number of Respondents: 163.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.63.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 429.40.
Estimated Time per Response: 80 hours per response.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 34,352 hours.
Reporting Burden for Individual Households
Affected Public: SNAP Recipients.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,000.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.2 responses.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 30,000 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: .08 hour.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,500 hours.
Recordkeeping Burden for State Agencies
There is no recordkeeping or third-party reporting burden
associated with this information collection.
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Estimated
Estimated number of Estimated Estimated avg. Estimated
Respondent type Activity number of responses total annual number of total annual
respondents annually per responses hours per hours
respondent response
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State SNAP Agencies.................... Request for Volunteers-- 53.00 1.00 53.00 20.00 1,060.00
Preparation and Submission of
Application.
Request for Volunteers-- 53.00 1.00 53.00 80.00 4,240.00
Stakeholder Coordination.
Mobile Payment Pilot--Design & 5.00 12.00 60.00 80.00 4,800.00
System Changes.
Mobile Payment Pilot--System 5.00 12.00 60.00 80.00 4,800.00
Testing.
Mobile Payment Pilot--Issue 5.00 5,000.00 25,000.00 0.08 2,075.00
Recruitment Notices.
Mobile Payment Pilot-- 5.00 12.00 60.00 80.00 4,800.00
Implementation & Support.
Mobile Payment Pilot-- 5.00 12.00 60.00 80.00 4,800.00
Stakeholder Coordination.
State Agency Subtotal.............. ............................... 53.00 478.23 25,346.00 1.05 26,575.00
EBT Processors......................... Request for Volunteers-- 4.00 10.60 42.40 80.00 3,392.00
Coordination.
Mobile Payment Pilot-- 4.00 12.00 48.00 80.00 3,840.00
Coordination.
SNAP Retailers......................... Request for Volunteers-- 106.00 1.00 106.00 80.00 8,480.00
Coordination.
Mobile Payment Pilot-- 10.00 12.00 120.00 80.00 9,600.00
Coordination.
Mobile Payment Vendor.................. Request for Volunteers-- 53.00 1.00 53.00 80.00 4,240.00
Coordination.
Mobile Payment Pilot-- 5.00 12.00 60.00 80.00 4,800.00
Coordination.
Business Subtotal.................. ............................... 164.00 2.76 452.00 80.00 36,160.00
SNAP Recipients........................ Mobile Payment Pilot--Review 25,000.00 1.00 25,000.00 0.05 1,250.00
Recruitment Notice.
Mobile Payment Pilot--Complete 5,000.00 1.00 5,000.00 0.25 1,250.00
Enrollment.
Individual/Household Subtotal...... ............................... 25,000.00 1.20 30,000.00 0.08 2,500.00
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Totals......................... ............................... 25,216.00 2.21 55,775.40 1.14 63,427.00
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[[Page 57637]]
Cynthia Long,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-22552 Filed 10-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
