[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 198 (Thursday, October 14, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 55733-55734] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-26727] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Proposed Project Title: Objective Progress Report (OPR). OMB No.: 0980-0155. [[Page 55734]] Description: OPR information is collected to provide the Administration for Native Americans with programmatic progress reports on discretionary grant projects to meet ANA's legislatively required evaluation of grantee locally-determined grant objectives. This collection also complies with Department of Health and Human Services regulations and policies requiring grantees to submit progress reports and agencies to perform grant oversight. The information is collected in a narrative format without the use of a government form. Grantees compose a narrative explaining the status of the funded, grantee-identified project objective(s). Project objectives are listed on an Objective Work Plan (OWP) which is approved and funded for each grant. An enclosure with every grant award provides instructions on completing and submitting the OPR. Native American Program Specialists use the OPR information to perform legislatively required Federal program oversight such as evaluate project and grantee performance, identify project outcomes suitable for use in program evaluation and Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) analysis, and to identify grantees and projects that require more detailed Federal training and/or technical assistance. OPRs are used in ANA competitive grant programs such as Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS), Native American Languages Preservation, Environmental Regulatory Enhancement, etc. The Administration for Native Americans simplified the way OPR information is collected. Until June 1999, OPRs were transcribed onto a government designed form where every project objective was listed; grantees often worked to fill in space under each objective to accommodate the volume of information they believed was required. Grantees now use their letterhead and present the level of detail they deem appropriate. Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government. Annual Burden Estimates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Average burden Instrument Number of responses per hours per Total burden respondents respondent response hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Objective Progress Report (OPR):............ 300.0 2.0 1.5 900.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 900. In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection. The Department specifically requests comments 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; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication. Dated: October 7, 1999. Bob Sargis, Acting Reports Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 99-26727 Filed 10-13-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184-01-M