Justification for Change Request

Justification for Change

3137-0093

Native American Library Services Basic Grant Program

IMLS is requesting a change to a previously approved clearance in order to update the Notice of Funding Opportunity description. This updated grant program clearance is requesting the same expiration date of 07/31/2018.

Request abstract:

The information collection in this package includes the guidelines and instructions to apply for the IMLS FY18 grant program “Native American Library Services Basic Grant Program”.

Justification for the Native American Library Services Basic Grant Program

IMLS is submitting a non-substantive change request this year to change the narrative instructions and dates for the new submission cycle. This request reflects the new set of deadlines and updates to the program description. In the description, IMLS has increased the ceiling of the available awards from $6000 to up to $10,000 to allow for increased funding relating to Native American libraries’ operational costs, caused by inflation or other operational reasons, Also, in keeping with our other IMLS grant programs, including all the other Native American-focused programs, IMLS is asking the applicants this year to use our already approved IMLS Budget spreadsheet form (3137-0092), only the one year portion of the form for one year awards. The Native American Budget Form (3137-0098) will be discontinued.

IMLS is sensitive to not increasing the burden on responding tribes, however, if the larger amount is requested, applicants may spend more time on the application, so we noted that the burden could increase from two to three hours. For the FY19 submission which will include the request for a new three year approval, we will have taken a sample of the responding grantees to this NOFO and will be able to verify any changes in the burden estimate.