Supporting Statement Partnership Fund

Supporting Statement to Accompany New Information Collection: Partnership Fund for Program Integrity Innovation Pilot Idea Template

A. Justification

1. The Partnership Fund seeks to identify pilot projects to improve the service delivery, payment accuracy, and administrative efficiency of state-administered Federal assistance programs, while also reducing access barriers for eligible beneficiaries. The Partnership Fund for Program Integrity Innovation (Partnership Fund) was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-117). An appropriation of $32.5 million provides money to pilot and evaluate promising innovations that confront these challenges in Federal, state and/or local administration. The purpose of the Partnership Fund is to identify and evaluate innovations in programs jointly administered by Federal and state agencies and in other program areas where Federal-state cooperation would be beneficial. OMB coordinates and manages the Partnership Fund for the purpose of conducting pilot projects that test these innovations. The pilots will emphasize the Partnership Fund’s four goals: service delivery, program integrity, administrative efficiency, and program access.

2. The proposed pilot idea summary template is intended for use by those wishing to submit pilot ideas for consideration. It outlines the specific information required by the Partnership Fund to make informed decisions in the pilot selection process. Pilot ideas to advance the Partnership Fund’s goals are being solicited from all stakeholders, including the general public. If approved under the Paperwork Reduction Act, it will be used to solicit ideas from stakeholders outside the Federal government both as a general template and as an online form for idea solicitations through the Partnership Fund web site, www.partner4solutions.gov. Currently, general ideas may be submitted via e-mail to [email protected], or through www.partner4solutions.gov. The Partnership Fund is funded through FY 2012 and will continue to accept pilot idea proposals on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted. The Partnership Fund must comply with a statutory requirement that all pilot projects, when taken together, be cost neutral.

3. The template is currently in use by Federal agencies based on OMB guidance.

4. There is no other source for the information reported on this form.

5. This information collection does not have a significant impact on small businesses or other small entities.

6. The information collection is voluntary. Individuals or organizations, including Federal agencies, who have pilot ideas for the Partnership Fund should submit their ideas using this template.

7. Individuals or organizations may submit multiple ideas.

8. The 60-day public comment notice on the extension of this form was published in the Federal Register on Monday, June 6, 2011 [76 FR 32375].

9. The 30-day public comment notice on the extension of this form was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 [76 FR 61753]

11. No such payments or gifts contemplated for respondents.

12. No confidentiality is provided.

13. No sensitive information is collected.

14. The Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 600 (300 respondents multiplied by 2 average burden hours per response).

15. – 18. Not applicable.

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods – Not applicable.