3206_2406 SFS_supporting_Statement_A July 2021

CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service (SFS) Registration system
OMB No. 3206-0246
Justification – Part A Supporting Statement
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Include
identification of any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.
The Scholarship for Service (SFS) Program was established by the National Science Foundation,
collaboration with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Homeland
Security, in accordance with section 302 of the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, as amended
(15 U.S.C. 7442). This initiative reflects the critical need for Information Technology (IT)
professionals, industrial control system security professionals, and security managers in Federal, State,
local, and tribal governments. The program provides selected colleges and universities scholarship
grants to attract students to the information assurance and cybersecurity field. Students identified by
their institutions for SFS Scholarships must meet selection criteria established by the participating
institution and SFS eligibility requirements set forth in 15 U.S.C. 7442(f)). Each scholarship recipient,
as a condition of receiving a scholarship under the program, enters into an agreement under which the
recipient agrees to participate in meaningful summer internship opportunities or other meaningful
temporary appointments in the Federal information technology and cybersecurity workforce during
the scholarship period, and work for a period equal to the length of the scholarship, following receipt
of the student's degree, in the cyber security mission of –
(1) an executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5);
(2) Congress, including any agency, entity, office, or commission established in the legislative branch;
(3) an interstate agency;
(4) a State, local, or Tribal government;
(5) a State, local, or Tribal government-affiliated non-profit that is considered to be critical
infrastructure (as defined in section 5195c(e) of title 42); or
(6) as provided by subsection (b)(3)(B), a qualified institution of higher education.
The Scholarship for Service Management Board overseas the SFS Program and is composed of
representatives from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Homeland Security
(DHS), and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). NSF administers the issuance of grants
process component. The scholarship component (including the placement and tracking of
participants) of the SFS Program is administered by OPM.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NSF and OPM authorizes and tasks OPM with
providing the operational framework for the placement and tracking of students throughout the
academic phase, post-graduation government employment obligation phase, and the retention phase.
The SFS system is an automated online application, located at http://sfs.opm.gov that collects and
maintains information provided by participating students, agency officials from participating agencies,
and representatives from participating academic institutions.
There are five types of SFS application system users and the SFS functions each type of user can
access through the website. These include the general public Internet user, Students/SFS participants,
Principal Investigator and those investigators who must gain access to the SFS system by filling out
an on-line registration form, agency officials, and the administrators of the SFS program office.
Operationally, this is an interagency program administered by NSF in collaboration with OPM who
share primary responsibility for managing the program. The NSF is responsible for reviewing and
processing the proposals and OPM is responsible for providing appropriate program related
procedures for the screening, placement, and continuing career development of the scholarship
recipients. The collection of information is necessary to allow for OPM to fully perform its
responsibilities under this program.
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used.
The information collection is used by OPM’s Human Resources Solutions Division to register
scholarship recipient’s education and experience background and to provide this information to
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potential government employers. Students are selected by participating universities/colleges to
receive the scholarship. Once selected and approved, the student is provided instructions on how to
register their profile and resume on-line. Approved agency officials and approved academic
institution officials are then able to retrieve resumes, including contact information, of the scholarship
recipients through a password protected website.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical or other technological collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
The SFS system makes the entire SFS registration process fully automated. The following
information is collected for Student Participants: Full name, Social Security Number (SSN),
signature, date of birth, Mother’s maiden name, full address, phone number, email address, complete
emergency contact information, university/college attending, degree funded, field of study, expected
completion date, date available for internship, date available for post-graduation commitment, high
school background, post high school education background, current certifications, cybersecurity
employment information and history, resume information, demographic information (gender,
ethnicity, race), US Armed Forces status, Internship and Post-graduation placement information to
include agency name, sub agency name, job title, salary range and pay plan/series/grade.
The following information is collected for agency officials: Agency name, sub agency name, full
name, agency address, work location, work phone number, work fax number, work email address, and
agency website.
The following information is collected for academic institution officials: Full name,
university/college, department/field, address, fax number, phone number, email address, website, SFS
award information, institution demographics.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already
available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.
The SFS registration is filed individually. Duplication is minimized.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe the
methods used to minimize the burden.
Not applicable. The collection of information for agency officials is the same regardless of how large
or small the agency is.
6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not
conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing
burden.
In return for the scholarship, selected students must work for a Government agency or affiliated
nonprofit organization, or for a qualified higher education institution, for 1 to 3 years depending on
the length of their scholarship. 44 U.S.C. 7442 requires periodically reporting on the success of
recruiting individuals for scholarships under the law and on hiring and retaining those individuals in
the public sector cyber workforce. Less frequent collection of the information could decrease the
success of the program and make it much more difficult to place students successfully and meet
requirements of Public Law 113-274 and the NDAA
7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in
a manner:
•
•
•

requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;
requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than
30 days after receipt of it;
requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;
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•
•
•
•

•

requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grantin-aid, or tax records, for more than three years;
in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results
that can be generalized to the universe of study;
requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by
OMB;
that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute
or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent
with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for
compatible confidential use; or
requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets, or other confidential information
unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's
confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

Not applicable. Collection of information for SFS application system users is voluntary, only
requested to be completed once, and once approved by the SFS Program Office, users may update
information as needed.
8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publications in the
Federal Register of the agency’s notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the
information collection prior to submission to OMB.
On April 1, 2021, a 60 Day Federal Register Notice was published at 86 FR 17219. There were no
comments received.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents other than reenumeration of
contractors or grantees.
Not applicable. No payments or gifts are provided to respondents as part of this information
collection.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
An annual review of the IT system or electronic information collection is conducted as required by the
Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). Security controls are monitored monthly
and annually tested as required by FISMA. Personnel using the system have been trained and made
aware of their responsibilities for protecting the PII being collected and maintained. Respondents are
notified that the information collected may be furnished to government agencies and other entities to
facilitate their employment. Information collected is password protected. Links to the Privacy Act
Statements are provided on the website.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature such as sexual behavior
and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.
This information collection does not include questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior
and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.
We estimate the collection of information for registering and creating an online resume to be 45
minutes to 1-hour in length of time for respondents to answer questions. We estimate the number of
applications to be 761 per year over the next three years for a total of 2,283. We estimate the total
number of hours to be 761 per year for a total of 2,283 over the next three years.

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Form Name

SFS
Registration
Page

Form
Num
ber

32060246

No. of
Responde
nts

761

No. of Responses
per Respondent

1

Avg.
Burden
per
Respons
e (in
minutes)
e
60

Total
Annua
l
Burde
n (in
hours)
2,283
per
year

Average
Hourly
Wage
Rate

Total
Annual
Responde
nt Cost

$16.35*

$12,442
per year

*Respondents submitting this collection of information are students receiving an annual living stipend
in lieu of working. Average Hourly Wage calculated based on living stipend of $34,000 divided by
2080 hours.
13. Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting
from the collection of information.
There is no cost to the respondent.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government
The annualized total cost to the Federal government to collect and manage the collection of
information is approximately $300,000. This cost was determined by employee salary hours devoted
to the monitoring, maintenance, and technical support of the data collection.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported on the burden
worksheet.
Each year NSF awards grants to additional universities to use for scholarships under the SFS program
which increases the number of students that receive scholarships. Each student awarded a scholarship
must register their profile and resume with the SFS website for the successful facilitation of their
placement with a government agency.
16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and
publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time
schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of
information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.
Not applicable. The results of this information collection are not published.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information
collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
Not applicable. The expiration date for OMB approval will be displayed on the SFS application
system.
18. Explain each exception to the topics of the certification statement identified in Item 19,
“Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions”
No exceptions.

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