4040-0004 ICR SS 2019 v1

Supporting Statement
Data Collection for
SF-424 Application for Financial Assistance
SF-424 4040-0004
The SF-424 Application for Financial Assistance is an OMB-approved collection
(4040-0004). This information collection will be utilized by 26 Federal agencies
and additional grant-making entities. We are requesting a 3-year clearance of
this form and classification as a Common Form.
A. Justification
1. Need and Legal Basis
The Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM) leads efforts at
government-wide grants management to assure that Federal grants to
non-Federal entities are managed properly and spent in accordance with laws
and regulations. Working cooperatively with Federal grant-making agencies and
non-Federal entities, OFFM establishes policies and guidelines through OMB's
Uniform Administrative Requirements. Grants.gov serves as a repository for
Federal grant-related forms on behalf of OMB OFFM.
OMB Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards, establish the reporting requirements fulfilled
by this form.
2. Information Users
The form is used by non-Federal entities to apply for grants, and by Federal
grants management staff to evaluate applicants for Federal financial assistance.
3. Improved Information Technology
Federal awarding agencies have the option of allowing recipients to use
electronic submission of alternate forms. Although agencies can allow recipients
to submit electronically, or via other forms, they are only approved to collect the
information approved under this information collection.
4. Duplication of Similar Information
There is no other source for the information reported on this form.
5. Small Businesses
The information requirements do not pertain to small business or other small
entities.
6. Less Frequent Collection
No less frequent collection is feasible.
7. Special Circumstances
OMB Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards establish the requirements fulfilled by this
form.

8. Federal Register Notice/Outside Consultation
The Grants.gov Program Management Office managed by HHS published the
current SF-424 Application for Financial Assistance collection (4040-0004) for
public comment in the Federal Register for 60-day comment on April 22, 2019
(84 FR 16677) and for 30-day public comment on July 19, 2019 (84 FR 34907).
Interested individuals were invited to send comments regarding any aspect of
this collection of information. No public comments were received.
9. Payment/Gift to Respondents
Not applicable since there is no payment to respondents, other than
remuneration of grantees.
10. Confidentiality
The grant-making agencies will maintain the authoritative copy of all application
materials and data. The information will be consistent with OMB policies related
to the administration of Federal grants as well as agency policies and practices
for access to electronic and paper records. If application forms are submitted
through the Grants.gov Apply mechanism, Grants.gov will maintain only
transmission records pertaining to the files. Grants.gov will not maintain
application materials and data.
11. Sensitive Questions
Not applicable since there are no sensitive questions.
12. Burden Estimate
As this is a Common Form, burden is reported only for HHS. By aggregating the
agency’s estimates as reported from the Grants.gov data call, an estimate of the
total burden of the information collection was developed.
HHS receives approximately 20,803 applications annually and estimate that it
takes applicants approximately 1 hour on average to complete each application.
Cumulatively, HHS reports that the total burden to applicants to be approximately
20,803 hours.
Section A. Estimated Annualized Burden Hours to Respondents
SF-424 Application for Financial Assistance Estimated Annualized
Burden to Respondents
AGENCY
HHS
TOTAL

IC NAME

Number of
Annual
Respondents

SF-424 Application
for Financial
20803
Assistance
20803

Number of
Responses
per
Respondent
1

Total Annual
Responses

Average
Burden on
Respondent
per Response
in Hours

20803

1

20803

Total Burden
Hours

20803
20803

Section B. Cost to the Respondent
SF-424 Application for Financial Assistance Estimated Annualized
Cost to Respondents
Cost To Respondents
AGENCY

Type of
Respondent

HHS

Grant Writer

Hourly Wage Rate
$ 30.00
TOTAL

Total Burden
Hours
20803
20803

Total
Respondent
Cost
$624090
$624090

The Estimated Annualized Cost to Respondents assumes that the Hourly Wage
Rate for a grant writer is $30. The Total Burden Hours times the Hourly Wage
Rate produces the Total Respondent Cost which is $624,090.
13. Capital Costs
There is no projected incremental increase in the cost burden to respondents and
record keepers associated with the use of the SF-424 Application for Financial
Assistance.
14. Cost to the Federal Government
The proposed SF-424 Application for Financial Assistance is based on an OMBapproved from currently in use. There is no projected incremental increase in the
cost burden to the Federal Government with the implementation of the renewed
SF-424 Application for Financial Assistance. Each agency currently has existing
personnel, systems and processes (or other resources) in place to receive and
review their grant applications. Any additional cost for agency system
development, maintenance and enhancements should not be attributed to use of
the SF-424 Application for Financial Assistance, and therefore its use is not
expected to alter annualized Federal costs.
Cost to Government

Total Annual
Responses

Agency
Personnel Time
to Review
(Hours)

Total Burden
Hours on
Agency
Personnel

20803

1

20803

Estimated
Average
Annual Cost
Grants
to Federal
Administrative Government
Hourly Salary
for Form
Review
$39

$811317

Agency personnel time to review the form is estimated at 1 hour per form. Based
on 20,803 responses per year, then 20,803 hours are estimated personnel hours
to review. Grants administrative personnel generally are in the GS9 - 15 range.
Based on a step one average of these grades, an average hourly salary is $39
per hour. Therefore, 20,803 hours x $39 = $811,317 of estimated annual cost to
the federal government to review the form.

15. Program or Burden Change
The increase in burden is due to an increase in the number of submissions of the
SF-424 Discretionary form for grants.
16. Publication and Tabulation Dates
There are no publication plans for collected data including summarizing or
tabulating by Grants.gov.
17. Expiration Date
Three years from OMB approval.
18. Certification Statement
Not applicable since there are no exceptions to the certification.
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
No statistical methods are employed in this information collection.