Appendix D.3. Example FNS RO Pretest Email

Appendix D.3. Example FNS RO Pretest Email

OMB Number: 0584-0613

Expiration Date: 09/30/2019

Dear [insert RO contact name]:

2M Research Services and Mathematica Policy Research are conducting the Child Nutrition Reducing Burden Study on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The purpose of this study is to identify the best means of efficiently consolidating burden in the school meals programs, including reporting and administrative requirements and simplifying regulations for School Food Authorities (SFAs) and State Agencies (SAs).

The study is developing new content for its two brief (~20 minutes) surveys – one that will be administered to State Child Nutrition (CN) directors and the other to SFA directors. Pretesting is a critical component of the survey development. Pretesting enables FNS to ask the best possible questions and make the most efficient use of SA and SFA staff time. Mathematica will ask pretest participants to complete the survey and debriefing interview by telephone to discuss their impressions. Because this is a congressionally mandated study with a firm timeline, pretest activities will need to occur between November 15 and November 17, 2017. Mathematica will schedule a one-hour interview with pretest participants on one of these three days.

I am requesting your support in contacting three State CN Directors and confirming their ability to participate in the pretest between November 15 and November 17, 2017. The State CN directors will also be asked to identify SFA directors who are able to participate in the pretest (between November 15 and November 17, 2017). By Tuesday, October 24, please contact the State CN Directors listed below by providing them with the attached letter via email. If a State CN Director listed below is unable or unwilling to participate in the pretest, please suggest an alternate state and provide contact information.

• STATE, contact name, contact email, and contact phone number

• STATE, contact name, contact email, and contact phone number

• STATE, contact name, contact email, and contact phone number

By Monday, October 30, please forward the requested information in the attached letter to me at [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this important research effort.

Sincerely,

Jinee Burdg, MPP, RD, LDN

USDA Food & Nutrition Service

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0584-0613. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 6 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Office of Policy Support, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302, ATTN: PRA (0584-0613). Do not return the completed form to this address.