2022 Supporting Statement for MRC Program Capability Assessment_clean (002)

Supporting Statement
for
Medical Reserve Corps Unit Profile and Reports (Revision)
OMB No. 0990-0302
Office of the Secretary/Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and
Response/
Office of the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary/Division of Emergency
Management and Medical Operations
/ Medical Reserve Corps Program

Goal of study
 In order to continue supporting the MRC units in communities across
the United State, detailed information about the MRC units, including
unit and user demographics, contact information (regular and
emergency), volunteer numbers, unit characteristics and information
about activities is needed by the MRC Program. MRC Unit Leaders
are asked to update this information on the MRC website at least
quarterly, and to participate in a Technical Assistance Assessment at
least annually. This collection informs resources and tools developed
to support MRC units’ ability to respond to disasters in their
communities.
How data will be used:
 The MRC Program uses MRC unit data in reports and presentations,
and analyzes the data to assess the maturation of the program, confirm
that MRC units are carrying out activities that increase the resilience
of their local community, and to best tailor the technical assistance
provided to MRC units
Methods of collection
 Four on-line data collection tools are utilized
Respondent population
 MRC Unit Leader of each of the 748 MRC units across the nation
Analysis techniques
 Data are aggregated at the state, local, regional, and national level for
use in publications or reports.

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A.

Justification
1. Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary
Medical Reserve Corps units are currently located in 748 communities across the United
States and represent a resource of more than 300,000 volunteers. This OMB revision
request is for 3 years.
The data collection remains broken down into four smaller collection tools eliminating
duplication and increasing usability for respondents while maintaining quarterly reporting
expectations for two of the collection tools and annual reporting for the remaining two
tools. In reducing duplication of information from the Factors for Success and Unit
Profile some of the past questions were combined to one tool that is now reviewed and
answered annually instead of quarterly.
In order to support MRC units in communities across the United States, detailed
information about the MRC units, including unit and user demographics, contact
information (non-emergency and emergency), volunteer numbers, unit characteristics and
information about activities is needed by the MRC Program. MRC Unit Leaders are
asked to update unit profile and activity reporting on the MRC website at least quarterly,
and to participate in a Technical Assistance Assessment using the Capability Assessment
while completing and reviewing Factors for Success at least annually. This collection
informs resources and tools developed as part of national programing, identify trends,
unit capabilities and target technical assistance to support MRC units’ preparedness to
respond to disasters in their communities
Senior Officials within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and
Response as well as other governmental partners are keenly interested in the status of the
MRC network. The information provided by MRC units as part of their unit profiles
allows us to keep these Senior Officials informed.
Since the original OMB request was made, the Medical Reserve Corps has been
authorized by Congress in the Public Health Service Act, Section 2813, as modified by
the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019
(Pub. L. 116-22). (see attachment A)
2. Purpose and Use of Information Collection
The MRC Program uses MRC unit data in reports and presentations and analyzes the data
to assess the maturation of the program, confirm that MRC units are carrying out
activities that increase the preparedness of units to respond and the preparedness of their
local community as well as best tailor the technical assistance provided to MRC units. In
addition, these data serve as an important recruitment tool for the individual MRC units.
The MRC Program is contacted often by individuals interested in volunteering with a
local MRC unit; because of the data collected, the MRC Program is able to direct
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potential volunteers or others looking to partner with a local MRC unit to the MRC
public website (www.aspr.hhs.gov/mrc) to find the unit name, address, name of
sponsoring organization and point of contact for all local MRC units and an up-to-date
count of its volunteers. The Factors for Success collection self-assessment tool allows
the MRC unit leader to identify strengths and weaknesses within their own MRC unit and
facilitate technical assistance from MRC Program Regional Liaisons to address their
weaknesses while sharing their strengths with the MRC network. The Capabilities
Assessment provides a snapshot of an MRC unit’s ability to perform a given function to
address needs within their communities.
3. Use of Improved Information Technology and Burden Reduction
Three of the four MRC unit data collection tools are electronically entered by MRC Unit
Leaders via the MRC website. Each MRC Unit Leader chooses a unique username and
password and they can access the website from any computer with an internet connection.
Upon instances where internet connection is unavailable to the MRC website a backup
paper copy may be completed by MRC units and will be entered by MRC program staff
eliminating duplicate data entry by the respondents under the intermediary records
process. The Capabilities Assessment is completed using a spreadsheet.
4. Efforts to Identify Duplication and Use of Similar Information
Only MRC Unit Leaders can provide the requested information. The data entered by
MRC Unit Leaders is unique to their MRC unit. Therefore, the MRC Program cannot
use any other data source to collect this information.
5. Impact on Small Businesses or Other Small Entities
90 of the 748 MRC units, self-identify as 501(c) 3 non-profit corporations. There is no
differentiation between data collection requirements from 501(c) 3 MRC units and units
that are not a non-profit corporation.
6. Consequences of Collecting the Information Less Frequent Collection
MRC Unit Leaders are asked to review and update their unit profile data and user profile
which is new for this submission, and Unit Activity Reporting on the MRC website at
least quarterly, and to complete and review Factors for Success in a Technical Assistance
Assessment done at least annually. If the profiles are not updated at least quarterly, then
it risks becoming outdated and not useful to potential MRC volunteers or the MRC
Program. Since the MRC Program uses this data to for reports and presentations,
outdated information would cause inaccurate information to be portrayed. After
completion of the Factors for Success and the Capabilities Assessment the MRC
Regional Liaisons provides targeted technical assistance for the MRC unit in the unit’s
specific areas of strength and weakness. Without inputting or updating their data, this
technical assistance would be less targeted and applicable to the individual unit.
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7. Special Circumstances Relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5
There are no special circumstances.
8. Comments in Response to the Federal Register Notice/Outside Consultation
A 60-day Federal Register Notice was published Thursday, March 17, 2022, page 1525515256. (see attachment B) No comments were received.
9. Explanation of any Payment/Gift to Respondents
No payment or gifts are provided to MRC Unit Leaders for providing data.
10. Assurance of Confidentiality Provided to Respondents
Unit data will be kept private to the extent allowed by law. Some MRC unit profile data
is publicly displayed on the MRC website. This includes the unit name, location, point of
contact, name of sponsoring organization and an up-to-date count of its volunteers.
These data serve as a recruitment tool for individuals who may be interested in joining a
specific MRC unit.
MRC State Coordinators have access to MRC unit data germane to the State.
11. Justification for Sensitive Questions
No sensitive data is collected.
12. Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours (Total Hours & Wages)
Estimated Annualized Burden Table
Forms
Type of
Number of
(If
Respondent Respondents
necessary)
Unit
Profile
Capability
Assessment

MRC Unit
Leader

748

Number of
Responses
per
Respondent
4

MRC Unit
Leader

748

1

4

Average
Burden
hours per
Response
15/60

Total
Burden
Hours

30/60

374

748

Factors for

MRC Unit

Success

Leader

Unit

MRC Unit

Activity

Leader

748

1

30/60

374

748

4

15/60

748

Reporting
Total

10

Estimated Annualized Cost to Respondents
Type of
Total Burden
Respondent
Hours
MRC Unit Leader
3
Total

Hourly
Wage Rate
$ 35.38

2,244

Total Respondent Costs
$79,392
$79,392

13. Estimates of other Total Annual Cost Burden to Respondents or
Recordkeepers/Capital Costs
There is no cost burden on MRC Unit Leaders to update their MRC unit profile.
14. Annualized Cost to Federal Government
The total average annual cost to the Federal Government for this information collection is
$142,000.00. This is the estimated annualized cost for the website project manager who
is an MRC Program Office employee.
15. Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments
The overall burden has decreased due to decrease in the number of approved MRC units
from 889 in 2018 and 748 in 2022. The number of questions asked of respondents has
been decreased with some merged into Factors for Success and Unit Profile thus allowing
for more updates to be done annually to ensure data collection is meeting programmatic
needs without being burdensome on respondents. In addition, the program continues to
maintain the data collection as four specific collection tools. Each unit is now being
asked to input a smaller amount of data on a quarterly basis that eliminates duplication
and increases usability for the respondents.

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16. Plans for Tabulation and Publication and Project Time Schedule
The MRC Program strongly encourages MRC units, academic institutions, and other
stakeholder organizations to publish articles and reports to increase the visibility of the
MRC and promote volunteerism. The MRC Program will also seek opportunities to
publish articles and reports about the MRC. When MRC unit data are used, it will be in
an aggregated format at a state, regional or national level.
17. Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate
Not applicable.
18. Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
There are no exceptions to the certification.

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