Supporting Statement

Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act

Special Nutrition Programs (SNP)

Justification for Adding

USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center

Cooperative Agreement

List of Approved Programs Using Uniform Grant Application for

Non-Entitlement Discretionary Grants,

OMB Control Number 0584-0512

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

This RFA announces the availability of funds for one new cooperative agreement for FY 2015-2019 with a public or private Academic or Research Institution. In this funding cycle, the USDA anticipates awarding up to $2,500,000 in grant funding to support singular or modular (collaboration among multiple entities) efforts to improve nutrition program coordination in States with the highest number of persistently poor rural counties.

The purpose of this RFA is to select an institution/organization (i.e. Accredited University or Research Center) that can establish a USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center. The role of this Center will be to develop and administer a series of sub-grants pertinent to the purposes of this grant, coordinate relevant grant-related activities among sub-grantees and researchers, conduct an evaluation of program coordination efforts in the Rural counties represented that utilizes a community involvement framework, and widely disseminate information on communities’ implementation strategies and evaluation findings.

The Grantee will be responsible for awarding sub-grants to either States or persistently poor counties for the purposes of increasing cross-program coordination efforts among Child nutrition and other food assistance programs. Each sub-grantee will be expected to utilize their grant funds to conduct: 1) a needs assessment in their community and 2) implement a coordinated strategy based on findings from the needs assessment to facilitate improvements in nutrition program coordination. Each sub-grantee must also agree to provide the Grantee and FNS with program participation data and other data specified by the Grantee as necessary for the Grantee to evaluate the overall effectiveness of funded nutrition program coordination efforts while taking into account external factors.

Grant funds will be made available on a competitive basis, subject to availability of federal funds. Only one application per institution will be accepted and only one award will be made to one applicant. FNS will post the Request for Application (RFA) package for the USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center Cooperative Agreement on its website on or about September 1, 2014 at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd and on www.grants.gov.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate how the agency has actually used the information received from the current collection.

The primary users of the information collected from the applicants are FNS and other Federal staff who will serve on a panel to systematically review, evaluate, and approve the grant and recommend the applicants most likely to meet program objectives and are most responsive to the solicitation. The selection criteria are contained in the RFA package. This process will occur only once during fiscal year 2014.

The following grants.gov forms are required of grant applicants. They can be obtained at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html.

• (B) Research and Related Forms: R&R Family

1. Research & Related Application (SF-424)

2. R&R FedNonFed Budget; [R&R Sub-award Budget Attachment(s)Form, if applicable]

3. Assurance-Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)

4. Federal Financial Report (SF-425)

5. SF LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities)

The required OMB form can be obtained at the following website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/grants/sflllin.pdf.

In addition, the applicant must submit the following Departmental Forms:

• AD-1047 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension

• AD-1048 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions

• AD-1049 Certificate Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements Alternative 1 (Note that there is a version of this form for Individuals: AD-1050 and a version for State Agencies: AD-1052)

These forms are at the USDA Forms site: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/policy-directives-records-forms/forms-management/approved-computer-generated-forms.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

In compliance with the E-Government Act 2002, FNS offers applicants the opportunity to receive and provide information electronically. Applicants may receive the RFA package by downloading the application from the FNS website or by downloading the application from the www.grants.gov website. All applicants will apply for this opportunity directly through www.grants.gov. There will be no exceptions. FNS will not accept emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications. FNS estimates that approximately 100% of the grant awardees will report financial data electronically through FNS’ Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS) at https://fprs.fns.usda.gov/Home/Reminder.aspx.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Question 2.

There is no similar data collection effort available. This program solicitation is new and unique. Every effort has been made to avoid duplication. FNS has reviewed USDA reporting requirements, state administrative agency reporting requirements, and special studies by other government and private agencies.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities (Item 5 of OMB Form 83-I), describe any methods used to minimize burden.

The information requested is held to the minimum amount required. FNS has determined that the requirements for this information collection do not adversely impact small businesses or other small entities since eligible applicants for this RFA are limited to public or private research or academic institutions.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted, or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

FNS will seek minimal information that will be critical in selecting the most promising grantees. This includes information of applicant’s existing infrastructure and security policies to perform program objectives and to ensure program integrity after grant is awarded. The consequence for not collecting the information is the inability to establish which proposal meets program objectives while adhering to data privacy per the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

• requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

• requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

• requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

• in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

• requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

• requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

There are no special circumstances. The collection of information is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8 (d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior years. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

A 60-day notice was published in the Federal Register on July 27, 2012, (Volume 77,

Number 145, page 44210-44212) soliciting comments on FNS’s intent to request Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a uniform grant application package for FNS

discretionary grant programs that is a revision of the previously approved package. FNS

received one public comment in response to the Federal Register notice regarding where

online details on FNS grant recipients, grant purpose, accomplishments and period of

performance were located by requested by the writer. FNS prepared a written response to

the commenting party.

FNS staff often discuss the availability of the various grant opportunities and the grant application requirements with potential applicants at various national or regional meetings.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than re-enumeration of contractors or grantees.

There are no plans to provide cash payments or gifts to respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

Provision of the application information requested is entirely voluntarily. The collection of this information is for the purpose of aiding in the review of applications prior to grant award decisions and for management of grants. This information will be used within FNS and may be disclosed outside FNS as permitted by the Privacy Act under certain situations, including disclosures to the public as required by the Freedom of Information Act. All activities associated with the agreement respect the existing policy with regard to privacy. FNS will work with the Grantee and ensure that any release of such information is done under the terms and conditions of the existing Freedom of Information Act that requires the Grantee to release permission and is informed of the use of the information.

Grantees who are awarded a grant under this RFA will be required to submit the SF-425 forms. All of the SF-425 forms are stored in a secured database. Therefore, grant awardees must obtain authorization to submit the form into FPRS. The applications for authorization contain personal identifying information on individuals doing business with the Food and Nutrition Service. Therefore, the Food and Nutrition Service published USDA e-Authentication Service (system of records) July 26, 2006 in the Federal Register Volume 71 page 42346 to specify the uses to be made of the information in this collection.  Access to records is limited to those persons who process the records for the specific uses stated in this Privacy Act notice.  Records are kept in physically secured rooms and/or cabinets. Paper records are segregated and physically secured in located cabinets. Various methods of computer security limit access to records in automated databases.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior or attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

There are no questions of a sensitive nature included in this data collection.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated.

1. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13 of OMB Form 83-I.

B) Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories.

FNS estimates that approximately ten (10) respondents will submit an application for the USDA Rural Child Poverty Nutrition Center Cooperative Agreement. It is estimated that the average applicant will spend 40 hours developing their proposal. This is based on the general fact that applicants will have about four weeks to complete their proposals. Both public or private, research or academic institutions are eligible to submit a final proposal for this RFA.

A.12.1 Estimate of Hours Burden on Respondents for Application

Pre-Award Burden

Affected Public	Estimated No. of Respondents	Frequency of Response	Total Annual Responses	Estimated Time (Hours) to complete each Application	Total Estimated Burden Hours
Research or Academic institutions	10	1	10	40	400
Total Burden	10	1	10	40	400

Pre-Award Burden Summary:

Number of Respondents: 10

Responses per respondent: 1

Total Annual Response: 10

Hours per Response: 40

Total Burden Hours: 400

Respondents have a full range of discretion in how they design and develop their proposal. FNS has provided guidance in the RFA on required items and on the evaluation criteria for proposals. Pre-award hourly estimates identified above are used as the basis for determining total annual cost burden to respondents of the application.

The post-award burden hours are based on the production of quarterly progress reports, quarterly phone calls, annual reports, a final written report and submission of a report to a peer reviewed journal and attendance at two in-person conferences/workshops. Grant activities are expected to last for three years.

The progress reports will ask for a description of the activities that took place during the previous period and report any deviations and difficulties. One grant will be

awarded under this RFA. The total estimated burden is reflected in the following table:

A.12.2 Post-Awardees Burden Estimates Estimate of Hours Burden on Respondents for Application (Affected Public: Academic or Research Institutions)

Affected Public	Instrument	Number Respondents	Number Annual Response	Total Annual Response	Hours per Response	Total Annual Burden
Research or Academic institutions	Quarterly Reports and Financial Reports	1	4	4	4	16
	Quarterly Conference Calls	1	4	4	2.25	9
	Submission of a report to a peer-reviewed journal and one final report publishable on the FNS web page	1	1	1	200	200
	Annual Reports	1	1	1	5	5
	Research & Related Application SF-424	1	1	1	58.00	58.00
	Assurance for Non-Construction Programs SF-424 B	1	1	1	.25	.25
	Disclosure of Lobbying Activities SF-LLL	1	1	1	.50	.50
	SF-425 Financial Reporting (Quarterly)	1	4	4	1.50	6.00
	SF-425 Final Written Report	1	1	1	10	10
	Conferences/ Workshops	1	1	1	16	16
	Total	1	----	20	----	320.75

Post Award Reporting Burden Summary:

Number of Respondents: 1

Responses per respondent: 20

Total Annual Response: 20

Hours per Response: 16.0375

Total Burden Hours: 320.75

Pre-and Post Award Reporting Burden Summary:

Number of Respondents: 10

Responses per respondent: 3

Total Annual Response: 30

Hours per Response: 24.025

Total Burden Hours: 720.75

A.12.3 Post-Awardees RecordkeepingBurden Estimates Estimate of Hours Burden on Respondents for Application (Affected Public: Academic or Research Institutions)

AFFECTED PUBLIC	(b) Form Number or activity	(c ) No. Recordkeepers	(d) No. Records Per Respondent	(e) Est. Total Annual Records (cxd)	(f) Hours Per Recordkeeper	(g) Total Burden (exf)
State Agencies	RECORDKEEPING
	SF-425 Final Report	1	1	1	0.05	0.01
	SF-424	1	1	1	0.05	0.01
	SF-424 B	1	1	1	0.07	0.07
	SF-LLL	1	1	1	0.11	0.11
	SF-425 Financial Reporting	1	4	4	0.1169	0.4676
Post Award Recordkeeping Total Burden Estimates		1	-	8	-	0.6776

Post Award Recordkeeping Burden Summary:

Number of Respondents: 1

Responses per respondent: 8

Total Annual Response: 8

Hours per Response: 0.08345

Total Burden Hours: 0.6776

The total estimated burden hours for pre & post-award reporting and post award recordkeeping is 720.75 rounded up to 721 (pre-award 400 burden hours + 320.75 post-award + 0.6776 recordkeeping burden hours). The total estimated number of responses for pre & post reporting and recordkeeping is 38 total annual responses (pre-award 10 responses + post-award responses 20 and post award recordkeeping response 8).

A.12.4 Estimates of Annualized Cost to Respondents for Application

Affected Public	Type of Respondent	Number of Respondents	Frequency of Response	Estimated Total Annual Responses	Average Time per Response (hours)	Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours	Hourly Wage Rate	Total Respondent Cost
Research or Academic institutions	Pre-Award Researcher	10	1	10	40	400	$28.97	$11,588.00
	Post-Award Reporting	1	20	20	16.0375	320.75	$28.97	$9,092.23
	Post-Award Recordkeeping	1	8	8	0.08862	0.6776	$28.97	$19.63
Total Burden		10	-	38	-	721.75	$28.97	$20,899.75

The total estimated annual cost to respondents is $20,899.75. FNS estimates that most respondents will utilize at least one full time member at a cost of $28.97 per hour. The range for this estimate may vary significantly but FNS believes the cost-per-hour estimate is the most practicable and represents the national rate for Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Others - Occupation Code 19-3099 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Wages May 2011).

The total Pre-award costs were determined by adding the total number of applicants times the total number of hours times the total hourly costs or as follows: 10 (number of applicants) x 1 frequency of responses =10 total annual responses x 40 hours =400 total annual burden hours x $28.97 = $11,588.00

Pre-award costs are determined to total $11,588. Pre-award costs are one-time only costs. Wage rates were determined using http://www.bls.gov/bls/wages.htm website.

Total Post-award costs for routine reporting are based on awarding one grant 1 x 20 frequency of responses =20 total annual responses x 16.09487 hours per response = 320.75 burden hours x $28.97 = $9,292.12 Post award costs are annual costs which will apply for the duration of the project (3 years).

Post award recordkeeping costs are 0.6776 burden hours x $28.83 = $19.63 these annual costs are for the duration of the project.

13. Provide estimates of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information (do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in questions 12 and 14). The cost estimates should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component annualized over its expected useful life, and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component.

There are no capital/start-up or ongoing operation/maintenance costs associated with this

information collection.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Provide a

description of the method used to estimate cost and any other expense that would

not have been incurred without this collection of information.

The estimated annual cost to the Federal Government is $14,649.00. The estimated pre-award cost to process and review applications is $9,766.00. This is based on an estimate of 20 hours of labor to process and review each application package.

The estimate assumes an hourly cost per staff person of $48.83 per hour (the average

salary for GS-13, step 5 employee). This labor estimate includes 2 hours by grants

management and program staff to process an application, 15 hours total by 3 Federal

employees to conduct a thorough technical review of each application, and 3 hours

by the grants and program officers to document the technical reviews and prepare the

recommendations for award. It is estimated that 10 applications will be received, and

thus 200 hours will be needed to process and review these applications.

For the one proposal anticipated to be awarded, Federal labor costs will total $4,883.00. This is based on approximately 75 hours spent providing technical assistance to the grantee and 25 hours reviewing the 7 program reports to be produced by the grantee (4 quarterly progress reports, 2 annual reports, and 1 final report), for a total of 100 hours.

(75 hours +25 hours= 100 hours X 1 grantee X $48.83 per hour = $4,883.00). Costs other than salary costs are negligible. Wage rates were determined based on the Office of Personnel Management salary table for FY 2014, for a GS 13, Step 5 employee in the Washignton, DC area.

Total Annualized Pre-Award Cost to the Government	$9,766.00
Total Annualized Post Award Cost to the Government	$4,883.00
Total Annualized Cost to the Federal Government	$14,649.00

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13

or 14 of the OMB Form 83-1.

This request will decrease the current burden inventory by -720.75 burden hours (rounded up to 721) and responses by -38 total annual responses .

16. For collections of information whose results are planned to be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.

FNS will publicize summary information of the applicant that receives grant funding at http://www.fns.usda.gov/

17. If seeking approval not to display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that this display would be inappropriate.

The agency plans to display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection on all instruments.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the OMB 83-I" Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act”.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.