Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
OMB Control Number 3245-0110
SBA Form 1366, Borrower’s Progress Certification
This submission covers the SBA Form 1366, Borrower's Progress Certification, and associated record-keeping requirements. The purpose of this submission is to request OMB renewal authorization of this form.
A. Justification
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.
SBA’s disaster loan proceeds are available to restore or replace a borrower’s primary residence, personal or business property as nearly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. The disaster program regulations and procedures require borrowers to submit and maintain records to show that loan proceeds were used solely for authorized purposes. In addition, prior to subsequent disbursement of funds, borrowers are required to provide certain certifications regarding no substantial adverse change(s) in borrower’s financial condition, or the amount of fees previously reported as being paid to borrowers’ agents. See 13 CFR 123.7 and 123.12, and Disaster Assistance Program SOP, 50 30, ¶ 123 (e). The pertinent portions of each authority are attached.
SBA Form 1366 provides a simple format for borrowers to organize and present the documentation and information to SBA to show how loan funds have been used in the disaster restoration, and to provide the necessary certifications prior to subsequent disbursements. The form was developed in response to an expressed need by the borrowers for a concise way to document the use of loan proceeds and make the required certifications.
SBA has made a few grammatical and minor clarifying changes to the instructions only; there has been no substantive change to the information requested.
Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.
Form 1366 provides assurances to SBA that loan proceeds are used for authorized purposes only. The information collected includes (1) exceptions to the certifications, and/or (2) a listing of expenditures and copies of certain receipts. Exceptions to the certifications might involve credit factors and would be referred to a loan officer for review. All information related to the use of proceeds is reviewed by Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA) legal section (attorneys and support staff) to assure that loan proceeds have been used as authorized. Representatives of the SBA’s Inspector General and other auditors also use the information collected on Form 1366 and the records which borrowers are required to retain for audit trail purposes. Evidence of misuse of proceeds would be used by U.S. Attorneys and the Office of Inspector General prosecuting for misuse of loan proceeds.
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 the burden
The Form 1366 is currently available online at www.sba.gov for downloading and printing. For loans requiring multiple disbursements, Form 1366 is generally filed an average of 1.5 times during the course of the loan. We currently require a hard copy of the form with an original signature for fraud prevention purposes, or a fax of a hard copy where an original signature is on file in the office for comparison purposes.
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 item 2 above.
Because the records regarding expenses by borrowers for repair or replacement are only kept by borrowers, there is no duplication in SBA’s files and any similar information that might be available could not be substituted. If Form 1366 is submitted on multiple occasions the information is not cumulative but is specific to use of disbursed funds not previously reported. In other words, the borrower is not asked to submit the same information more than once. Minimal duplication (borrower name, loan number, etc.) is necessary to distinguish and organize records appropriately.
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 respondents to this information collection include small businesses; however the information collection does not impose a substantial burden on these respondents. Record-keeping requirements are not in excess of usual and customary records maintained by businesses for internal management and tax and securities law purposes. The information collected is limited to specific program requirements and has been designed to minimize paperwork while satisfying legal and policy mandates.
Describe the consequence to the 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.
The information collection is conducted only as needed. If the record-keeping and reporting requirements were not imposed, SBA would not have a basis for assuring proper data documentation of loans and proper use of loan proceeds, or that subsequent disbursements are prudent and justified. Failure to conduct this collection of information could also impair SBA’s ability to conduct audits or take actions in cases of misuse. When loan proceeds are not used properly, SBA effectively subsidizes loans for purposes unrelated to the disaster, and which should be privately financed. As the disaster-damaged property is generally the collateral securing the loan, misuse of loan proceeds can also weaken the value of the collateral securing the loan.
Some borrowers have complained about accounting for the use of loan proceeds and requested that loan funds be disbursed to them for use as they desire. SBA must perform due diligence in order to assure that the loan funds are only used to repair or replace damaged property in the case of physical disasters. Any other uses would be illegal and are subject to a statutory civil penalty. These loans cannot be considered in the nature of indemnification for losses.
Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner, etc.
There are no special circumstances.
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. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views.
The required Federal Register notice soliciting public comments was published on January 25, 2013 at 78 FR 5554. The comment period closed March 26, 2013, and no comments were received.
Routine observations, particularly in closing workshops conducted by SBA, and direct feedback from borrowers indicate that estimates of public burden hours are valid and the format in which the information is requested is reasonable and simplified.
Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
There are no payments made or gifts given to respondents.
Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
Confidentiality is generally based on the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act. SBA will keep the information collected confidential to the extent permitted by law.
Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, specific uses to be made of the information, explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
No questions of a sensitive nature are asked in this information collection; however because certain loan records are retrieved by a personal identifier, SBA maintains a Privacy Act system of record to protect the disclosure of information that is covered by that act. See SBA 20 – Disaster Loan Case Files.
Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information, well as the hour cost burden. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour and cost burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated.
Burden estimates are based on typical mix of secured and unsecured disaster loans over the past 4 fiscal years, that is, FY 2009 through 2012.
SBA approved 16,526 disaster loans annually on average during this period. Following is an average per year for all loans during this period:
14,259 home: 6,471 unsecured
7,788 secured
2,267 businesses: 822 unsecured
1,445 secured
TOTAL 16,526
PUBLIC BURDEN
HOURS
For the Form 1366, the public burden includes organizing records of expenditures and compiling that information as directed on the form, and it includes copying and providing certain receipts as directed by the form.
The public burden is generally limited to secured loans, as few unsecured loans have multiple disbursements. For secured loans, the average number of disbursements is about 2.5. The Form 1366 is required for each subsequent (other than initial) disbursement, for an average of 1.5 uses for each secured loan (respondent). This average is based on past experience with the form. The anticipated number of secured loans (average) is 9,233. With 1.5 uses per respondent, the Form 1366 would be used 13,850 per year on average.
Based on feedback and previous experience, the Form 1366 is estimated to require about 0.5 hours per response, for total estimated burden hours of 6,925 (1.5 x 9,233 = 13,850 x .5 = 6,925).
COST
The cost to the public is determined on the same basis as that for the Government, which is at the GS-9 level. Costs for the Form 1366 are estimated to be as follows:
Total estimated burden hours of 6,925 x 24.74 cost per hour (based on GS 9, step 1, expertise required) = $171,325.
The estimated public cost for Form 1366 is $171,325.
Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. Do not include hour cost burden from above.
There is no capital and start-up cost component. No additional annual costs beyond those identified in #12 above are anticipated.
Provide estimates of annualized costs to the Federal Government. Also provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, including a quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.
Total Agency burden hours are also based on the number of respondents. The processing time (to review and act upon the information and documentation submitted by borrowers in accordance with Form 1366) for the Agency is estimated to be an average of 1 hour per response. The total Agency burden hours is calculated as follows:
1 hour average processing time per response x 13,850 uses = 13,850 total Agency burden hours
The typical grade level required
to process this form is GS 9, Step 1.
13,850 uses x $24.74 (GS 9, step 1) per hour = $342,649 x 130% provision for overhead and operational expenses = $445,444 total estimated Agency cost.
Explain reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I.
Public burden hours decreased by 26,554 and public burden cost decreased by $637,193 as compared to the previous submission due to a decrease in disaster activity (decrease in the number of uses of the form). The differences are caused strictly by adjustments; there are no program changes causing this burden to be different than in the previous submission.
For collection of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and pubication. Address complex analytical techniques. Provide time schedules for the entire project.
Not applicable. No publication is planned and no statistical methods will be employed.
If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, excplain the reasons why the display would be inappropriate.
Expiration will be displayed
Explain each exception to the certiifcation statement identified in Item 19, “Certfication for Paperwork Reduction Act Submission,” of OMB Form 83-I.
There are no exceptions to the certification statement.
Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods.
N/A
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Bridget Dusenbury |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-29 |