Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form Form	New
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form Form	New
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form Form	New
CARES Act refund form emergency memo 1.4.21--signed.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-01-07
CARES Act improper payments - supporting statement.docx Supporting Statement A	2021-01-07

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
245251	Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form Form	New
245250	Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form Form	New
245249	Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form Form	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No:	ICR Reference No: 202101-1840-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: ED/OPE	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 01/13/2021
Date Submitted to OIRA: 01/08/2021

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	6 Months From Approved
Responses	5,138	0
Time Burden (Hours)	5,138	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: Under the CARES Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), the Department has made over 12,000 awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support emergency financial aid to students and institutional costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. This form will be used by institutions that have improperly drawn down funds from their award accounts to provide the Department with information regarding funds being returned to correct these improper payments.

Emergency Justfication: Under the current unprecedented national health emergency, Congress and the President have come together to offer relief to those individuals and industries affected by the COVID-19 virus under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act. Under the CARES Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) has made over 12,000 awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support emergency financial aid to students and institutional costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. In the course of monitoring these grant awards, the Department has determined that over 700 IHEs have improperly drawn down funds from their award accounts, totaling over $202 million in funds that must now be returned. Furthermore, during the time that these funds have been drawn down, grantees are earning additional interest in excess of the $500 annual cap prescribed by 2 CFR § 200.305(b) of the Uniform Guidance. The Department is concerned that this excess interest, without an expeditious inventory and response by our grantees, may be difficult to account. Therefore, in order to process the return of these funds more efficiently and prevent any further earnings beyond the interest cap, we are requesting emergency approval of a short form that will allow the grantee to provide the Department with information regarding the funds being returned.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 116 - 136 18004 Name of Law: CARES Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: PL: Pub.L. 116 - 136 18004 Name of Law: CARES Act

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form	N/A	N/A
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form	N/A	N/A
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Improper Payments Information Form	N/A	N/A

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	5,138	0	0	5,138	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	5,138	0	0	5,138	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new collection, thus, all burden is considered new.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Yes

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 01/08/2021

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