Panelist Profile Data Collection Supporting Statement

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Justification - Supporting Statement
1. Necessity of Information Collection
The National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) mission is “to strengthen the creative
capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for
arts participation.” With the advice of the National Council on the Arts and advisory
panels, the NEA Chair establishes eligibility requirements and criteria for the review
of applications for funding. Section 959 (c) of the NEA’s enabling legislation, as
amended, directs the NEA Chair to utilize advisory panels to review applications and
to make recommendations to the National Council on the Arts, which in turn makes
recommendations to the NEA Chair.
The legislation requires the NEA Chair “(1) to ensure that all panels are composed,
to the extent practicable, of individuals reflecting a wide geographic, ethnic, and
minority representation as well as to (2) ensure that all panels include representation
of lay individuals who are knowledgeable about the arts…” These panels are
considered to be committees under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA),
which also requires that committees be balanced geographically and ethnically. In
addition, the membership of each panel must change substantially from year to year
and each individual is ineligible to serve on a panel for more than three consecutive
years. To assist with efforts to meet these legislated mandates regarding
representation on advisory panels, the NEA has established a database of names,
addresses, areas of expertise and other basic information on individuals who are
qualified to serve as panelists for the NEA.
The Panelist Profile Data Collection, for which clearance is requested, is used to
gather basic information from qualified individuals recommended by the arts
community; arts organizations; Members of Congress; the general public; local, state
and regional arts organizations; NEA staff, and others.
2. Needs and Uses of Information
Information provided in the Panelist Profile Data Collection is entered into the eGMS
(electronic grants management system), a database of names, addresses, areas of
expertise and other basic information on individuals who are qualified to serve as
panelists for the NEA. This system is used by NEA staff in the selection and
approval of panelists to ensure that the legislative mandates cited above are fulfilled.
Short biographies are kept on file to supplement the information contained in the
database. In addition to providing a more detailed picture of an individual’s suitability
for a particular panel, the biography also provides specifics about the individual’s
affiliations that are helpful in avoiding possible conflicts of interest with the
applications to be reviewed.
3. Uses of Information Technology

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The use of information technology has been a prime consideration in the design of
this data collection. Our eGMS allows individuals to enter and submit their
information online themselves, rather than with a fillable PDF form.
4. Efforts to Identify Duplication
The National Endowment for the Arts has carefully analyzed existing data collections
to make certain that there is no duplication with the information requested.
In order to keep information current, periodic updates by individuals will be
requested.
5. Minimizing the Burden in Small Businesses or Small Entities
Not Applicable
6. Consequences of Not Conducting Data Collection
Information collected through the use of the Panelist Profile Data Collection is
necessary to fulfill the NEA’s obligation to ensure that the panels adhere to the
requirements of FACA and the NEA’s legislation to provide review panels that are
geographically and racially and ethnically diverse. The database also allows us to
ensure that, in accordance with our Congressional mandate, no panelist serves for
more than three consecutive years. In addition, through our data collection activities
we widen the pool of potential panelists who demonstrate diverse ethnic and artistic
backgrounds. If the NEA abandoned its data collection efforts, the NEA’s ability to
fulfill Congress’ mandates would be severely hampered. Any failure to do periodic
updates will result in outdated and inaccurate information in the database.
7. Special Circumstances
An individual who wants to be considered for inclusion in the database will complete
this data collection once. In order to keep information current, periodic updates will
be requested. Additionally, as individuals serve on panels, they are requested to
review the information currently on file, and to update the information as necessary.
This is to ensure that the records are kept as accurate as possible.
8. Public Comment and Consultation Outside the Agency
The collection is conducted consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6. A notice
in the Federal Register was published on April 22, 2024 (89 FR 29367), to solicit
comments on the approval of the Panelist Profile Data Collection. No comments
were received.
9. Payment to Respondents

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Not Applicable
10. Assurance of Confidentiality
Assurance of confidentiality is provided under the terms of the Privacy Act of 1974.
11. Questions of a Sensitive Nature
Some items are potentially sensitive (relating to race and/or ethnicity, gender,
disability, and languages spoken), but these are optional, and that is indicated on the
data collection.
12. Estimated Hour Burden of Respondents
The estimated burden to respondents for this collection is explained in table A-1
below:
A-1 Estimated Response Burden of Data Collection Activities
Hour Burden to Respondents
Number of
Potential
Panelists

1000

x

Time to Complete
Data Collection

x

10 minutes

=

Total Annual Hour
Burden to Respondents

=

167 hours

Annualized Cost

There is no cost to the respondent other than that of their time (10 minutes) to respond.
13. Cost Burden to Respondent
Not applicable. There are no annual costs to respondents or record keepers
resulting from this collection of information.
14. Cost to the Federal Government
All Panelist Profile Data is reviewed by employees of the Federal Government,
therefore no additional cost is incurred to the government in terms of contracting.
Since the data collection is electronic, no mailing costs will be incurred.
15. Explanation of Changes

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The following changes are being proposed: 1.) Race and/or Ethnicity Standards
have been updated to reflect government-wide changes announced by OMB on
March 28, 2024. This is an optional question. To reduce burden on the public and to
the agency, and to best align these standards with the data’s intended use (to
ensure broad diversity across NEA panels consistent with the agency’s legislation),
NEA proposes to adopt the “Minimum Categories Only and Examples” option.
Additionally, NEA’s existing technology used for the data collection cannot currently
support implementation of the “Minimum Categories, multiple detailed checkboxes
and write-in responses” option—if NEA were to implement this option, therefore, the
public would need to use an additional form or method of data collection for this
question that would add undue burden. 2.) Gender options have been updated
consistent with recommendations from the Office of the Chief Statistician of the
United States published on January 11, 2023. This is an optional question.
Instructions for other questions have been updated to clarify information for
individuals and reduce reporting burden.
16. Statistics
Not applicable. We do not plan to publish data.
17. Seeking Approval to Not Display OMB Expiration date
Not applicable. We are not seeking this approval.
18. Exception to the Certificate Statement
Not applicable. There are no exceptions to the certification statements.