Justification Non-Substantive Chge_Request

Justification for No-Substantive Change Request to OMB 1205-0507

ETA is requesting a non-substantive change to OMB# 1205-0507 to allow ETA to collect necessary outcomes specific to the 4^th round of H-1B Technical Skills Training (TST) grants.

Background

ETA administers the H-1B Technical Skills Training (TST) and Jobs and Innovation Accelerator (JIAC) Grant Programs. On March 1, 2013, ETA received OMB-approval for information collection to meet the reporting requirements recordkeeping and evaluation requirements for the H-1B Technical Skills Training (TST) and Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge (JIAC) grant program. There are four (4) rounds of H-1B TST grants and two (2) rounds of H-1B JIAC grants included under this approved PRA package. To date, three rounds of H-1B TST and two rounds of H-1B JIAC grants are active and reporting in alignment with this approved package. ETA anticipates announcing a 4^th round of H-1B TST in early fall 2014.

Justification

In preparation of the 4^th round of H-1B TST grants (also referred to as “Ready To Work”) being announced, we would like to request non-substantive changes to approval 1205-0507 to allow ETA to collect necessary outcomes included in the 4^th round of TST grants. While similar to previous H-1B TST and H-1B JIAC rounds, the 4^th round H-1B TST Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) slightly differs in some of the performance reporting definitions and outcome categories. Collecting of this information is necessary to determine the success of the 4^th round of H-1B TST grants. This request certainly only to reporting and record keeping requirements for the 4^th round of H-1B TST grantees and does not impact any of the currently active H-1B TST or H-1B JAIC grants, or evaluation requirements.

Non-Substantive Changes Requested

Non-substantive changes included in this request are: include: modification to some existing reporting definitions; the removal of some data elements; the addition of some new data elements; and, minor modification to text to adhere to current ETA language. These changes will only impact the 4^th round H-1B TST grants. Changes to the package are necessary to adhere to specific definitions included in the 4^th round H-1B TST SGA, as well as allow grantees to report additional services and activities that can be provided through this round of H-1B TST grants. There will be no changes to the burden hour estimates included in the original, approved package. Note, the new data elements do not increase the burden estimate by adding additional data elements that are required to be reported against, but allow addition options for grantees to choose from (in addition to data element options currently approved), when reporting service and training activities provided.

All changes related to this non-substantive change request are in track changes in the attached OMB-approved performance reporting materials, and include:

• H-1B Performance Reporting Handbook

• H-1B Standard QPR Form

• H-1B TST Quarterly Narrative Report

There are no changes to the information included supportive statement or FRN notice provided as part of the original OMB 1205-0507. All materials related to the original information collection request are available at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201201-1205-004