Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act,
Pub. L. No. 116-136 (March 27, 2020), authorizes the Secretary of
Education to allocate formula grant funds to participating
institutions of higher educations (IHEs). Section 18004(c) of the
CARES Act allows the IHEs to use up to one-half of the total funds
received to cover any costs associated with the significant changes
to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus (with
specific exceptions). This information collection request includes
the certification and agreement that must be submitted by an IHE in
order to request institutional aid funds allocated under the CARES
Act. This information collection request was previously approved as
an emergency clearance in order to comply with the requirements of
the CARES Act and expedite the release of funds to IHEs and
students with pressing financial needs due to the pandemic. The
Department of Education is now requesting an extension of that
emergency clearance under normal clearance procedures.
Respondent and burden increases
include grantees who did not receive institutional aid funding
under the CARES Act or the Coronavirus Response and Relief
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 but will be eligible to apply
for similar funding under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. We
expect 50 applicants at 5 hours each, for a total of 250
hours.
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:
(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;
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.