SUPPORTING STATEMENT – Part A
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT AND 5 CFR 1320
OMB 0412-XXXX
Collection Title: USAID Science Champion Award for ISEF-Affiliated Fairs Winning Project Submission Form
PART A. JUSTIFICATION
Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.
The Research Division within the Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub (ITR), under the Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships and Innovation (IPI), manages the Agency's involvement in the annual Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Serving as a Special Award Organization at ISEF since 2014 has allowed us to recognize and award students with the USAID Science for Development Award. In the lead up to ISEF, students compete in high school science fairs that are members of the global network of the Society for Science. USAID also awards the Science Champion Award at these fairs. Winners of this award are selected by the high school science fairs’ judges and awards committees for projects that could potentially impact a global development challenge. Science Champions receive an award certificate, a letter from USAID, and an invitation to a virtual group conversation with USAID staff. They are also encouraged to complete a Science Champion Award pledge on how they plan to use science to change the world. In order to provide accurate accounting for these awards, we need to collect information from the fairs' judges and awards committees.
Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.
The information will be collected by members of Judging Committees of science fairs participating in our award program via electronic Google form. This information has and will be used by the Fellowships Team in the Research Division in the IPI Bureau (IPI/ITR/R) to track who received the award, for what science projects, and to reach out to award recipients and their advisors to invite them to the virtual conversation with USAID (which is part of the award itself). All information is kept private and confidential with the Fellowships Team.
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, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
Electronic submission of responses is possible and encouraged via submission of Google form. The form is available on the Internet for public printing, if preferred by the user. The results of the information collection will not be made available to the public because the data pertains to USAID award management specifically. The form only collects information that is expressly relevant and necessary for the use described above.
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.
This is a unique award, with award recipients being chosen out of a unique annual pool of participants, so there will be no duplication.
If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
Not Applicable.
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.
The USAID Science Champion Award cannot be administered without collecting this information, as the specific awardees are identified by Judging Committees of science fairs participating in the award program.
Explain any special circumstances for the information collection.
Not Applicable.
If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication 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. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.
The 60-Day Notice was published on March 19, 2024, on page 19567. The 30-Day Notice was published on June 18, 2024, on page 51492. Only one comment was received under the 30-Day Notice, which did not address the form specifically, only general concerns about government spending. This specific form does not present any additional costs, so this concern is not relevant in this case. At the recommendation of the Information and Records Division (M/MS/IRD), as this comment did not address the form itself, we simply acknowledged receipt of the comment.
Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
Not applicable.
Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If the collection requires a Systems of Records Notice (SORN) or Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), those should be cited and described here.
The data will only be accessible to team members on a need to know basis. The form has a statement reminding participants to not include any unsolicited Personally Identifiable Information. No SORN or PIA are required.
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 justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
Not applicable.
Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.
Collection Name |
# Of Respondents |
# Of Responses Per Year |
Average Participation Time |
Total Annual Burden (in hours) |
USAID Science Champion Award for ISEF-Affiliated Fairs Winning Project Submission Form |
90 |
90 |
5 minutes |
7.5 hours |
Totals |
90 |
90 |
5 minutes |
7.5 hours |
Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected on the burden worksheet).
There will be no cost burden to respondents. There will be no costs beyond the normal labor costs for staff. Use of this form significantly reduces the burden of record keepers.
Provide estimates of annualized costs to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. If there will be no costs beyond the normal labor costs for staff, state that here.
There will be no costs beyond the normal labor costs for staff.
Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported on the burden worksheet.
Not applicable.
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.
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.
Explain each exception to the topics of the certification statement identified in “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.” (See Pg. 2 of the OMB 83-I form)
Not applicable.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2024-07-30 |