Grant App justification A IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries-cb

A. Justification: Notice of Funding Opportunity: IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and
Libraries, OMB Control Number 3137-XXXX
1. Necessity of the Information Collection
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) requests a new clearance for the IMLS
CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries grant program for its grant program processes under
the Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collections in this package include one Notice of
Funding Opportunity and instructions necessary to apply for IMLS support as part of the agency’s
CARES Act grant programs.
Background:
Application Notices of Funding Opportunities: IMLS uses an iterative review process for each set
of Notices of Funding Opportunities in every fiscal year. The process is defined in IMLS’s Grants
Administration Manual, and it is designed to ensure that key stakeholders and agency officials review
and authorize proposed Notices of Funding Opportunities. In FY 2007, text common to all of IMLS
grant program applications was rewritten to provide consistent information and language across all
these program documents. Beginning in FY2013, IMLS complied with the Plain Writing Act of 2010
to provide “clear government communication that the public can understand and use.” We at the
Institute of Museum and Library Services are committed to writing new documents in plain language,
using the Federal Plain Language Guidelines.
IMLS recognizes the challenges facing museums and libraries at this time, including the adaptations
and adjustments that will be necessary to rebuild staffing, reopen facilities, and address the needs of
communities affected by the impact of a global crisis.
The goal of this grant program is to support the role of museums and libraries in responding to the
coronavirus pandemic in ways that meet the immediate and future COVID-19 needs of the
communities and audiences they serve.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Pub. L. 116-136 [March 27,
2020]) has provided funds to the Institute of Museum and Library Services “to prevent, prepare for,
and respond to coronavirus…to expand digital network access, purchase internet accessible devices,
and provide technical support services” for the benefit of communities impacted by the public health
emergency.
The IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries grant program invites project proposals
that focus on preserving jobs, training staff, addressing the digital divide, planning for reopening, and
providing technical support and capacity building for digital inclusion and engagement while
prioritizing services for high-need communities. We encourage efforts to develop programs, tools,
models, partnerships, and other resources that will address immediate concerns and have the potential
to inspire and benefit museums and libraries throughout the nation.
2. Purposes and Uses of the Data
The information collected by IMLS is used by the agency to carry out its grant programs. The
information is used by IMLS staff to validate applicant eligibility, identify and assign peer reviewers,
manage grant competitions, award discretionary and formula-based grants, and administer and
monitor its grants. It is also used by the agency for strategic planning, performance analysis, and to
provide information to the Administration and to Congress. Data elements subject to FOIA also
provide information about IMLS’s grant applications and programs to individuals outside the agency,

and may be used by applicants to validate their project ideas or application strategies, to follow trends
in their fields, and to identify effective practice that can be widely adapted to improve the quality of
museum and library services in the United States. IMLS intends to make final grant reports available
via its website and so informs grantees.
3. Use of Information Technology
IMLS is committed to the use of improved information technology to improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of its programs, while reducing burden on potential applicants. Applicants can
download the IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries Notice of Funding Opportunity,
and application instructions online. IMLS requires all applicants to apply for IMLS awards online
through Grants.gov.
4. Efforts to Identify Duplication
All IMLS grant application Notices of Funding Opportunities and publications are annually reviewed
through an internal clearance process, which requires review by several different offices within the
agency, including the program offices, the Office of General Counsel, and the Office of Grants Policy
and Management. This annual review process protects against duplication.
5. Method Used to Minimize Burden on Small Businesses
Participation is entirely voluntary. No small businesses are impacted, but some applicants for IMLS
funding are small non-profit organizations. Every effort has been made to streamline processes and
instructions and to simplify the application and reporting processes. The agency’s internal clearance
process ensures that no undue burden is placed on any applicant for IMLS funding.
6. Consequences of Less Frequent Data Collection
This collection of information is essential to IMLS in meeting its statutory mission to award Federal
financial assistance under the Museum and Library Act (20 U.S.C. Section 9101 et seq.), to identify
needs and trends in museum, library, and information services, and to prevent, prepare for, and
respond to coronavirus under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
(Pub. L. 116-136 [March 27, 2020]).

7. Special Circumstances
No special circumstances require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the
guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6
8. Consultations Outside the Agency
IMLS uses several different mechanisms to consult with persons outside the agency. Contact
information for program officers is widely distributed and easily accessible from the IMLS website,
and grantees and potential applicants are encouraged to communicate frequently with these experts.
In addition, program officers convene nationwide conference calls and webinars to answer questions
and take input. IMLS program staff also travel to national, regional, and local meetings of potential
applicants to discuss program requirements. Finally, agency staff consults informally with its
communities throughout the year, including regular meetings with the Chiefs of State Library
Administrative Agencies, semiannual information meetings hosted for representatives of key
professional associations, and IMLS convenings for other purposes.
During the grant application review process, outside experts are asked to review applications and

discuss the agency’s forms, instructions, and process. These experts are consulted by IMLS staff
regarding the clarity and value of the Notices of Funding Opportunities and informally comment on
the burden of response required by applicants.
IMLS notes and evaluates suggestions for revising Notices of Funding Opportunities and reporting
forms received from applicants responding to the invitation for comments found in the burden
statement contained in each information collection. Efforts are continually made to shorten and
simplify application instructions and forms in response to suggestions made by respondents.
9. Payments or Gifts to Respondents
No payments or gifts are provided to any of the respondents.
10. Assurance of Confidentiality
No assurance of confidentiality is provided. Grant files are subject to FOIA requests and are handled
on a case-by-case basis. IMLS intends to make final grant reports available via its website and so
informs grantees.
11. Justification for Sensitive Questions
There are no questions of a sensitive nature.
12. Estimate of Hour Burden to Respondents
The estimated number of respondents is 300. This number was estimated based on an assessment of
the number of applicants for IMLS grants in FY 2020, the most recent year for which data are
available. The number of annual burden hours is estimated to be 13,500, based on estimates of the
average number of hours an applicant will need to review instructions, search existing data sources,
gather and maintain the data needed, and complete and review the narrative components of the
application.
13. Estimate of Cost Burden to Respondents
The estimated cost to applicants is $377,190.00. The average cost per hour is based on $27.94, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics average mean hourly wage of librarians and museum curators. The
estimated burden hour cost per application is 45 hours for the IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums
and Libraries (45 hours x $27.94).
Note: The cost for completion of forms associated with applications is accounted for in the ICR for
clearance for the general grant program application and post-award report form clearance.
The two cost components for total capital/start-up and operation/maintenance/purchase of services are
not applicable.
14. Estimate of Costs to Federal Government
The annualized cost to IMLS is estimated at $15,684.36. The agency is estimated to receive 300 total
applications. Approximately 348 hours (varies from 1 to 3.5/hour average time to process one
complete application) are spent by IMLS staff reviewing and processing each response at an average
wage of $45.07.
15. Explanation of Change in Burden

This is a new submission. There are no program changes or cost adjustments.
16. Statistical Usage
Not applicable.
17. Request to Not Display Expiration Date
Not applicable. The expiration date will be displayed.
18. Exception to Certification Statement
No exceptions to the certification statement apply to the IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and
Libraries.