OSHS Cooperative Agreement Supporting Statement

BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics Cooperative Agreement Application Package

OMB Control Number 1220-0149

OMB Expiration Date: 06-30-2024

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR

BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics Cooperative Agreement Application Package

OMB CONTROL NO. 1220-0149

This information collection request (ICR) seeks an extension of the BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics Cooperative Agreement (CA) Application Package. BLS requests to incorporate standard updates, such as updated reference dates and routine annual editorial changes. A detailed list of changes will be provided in the revised CA.

1. JUSTIFICATION

1. 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 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) awards funds to agencies in many of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam to assist them in operating the Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) cooperative statistical program covering the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). SOII and CFOI have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) separately, as follows:

Program OMB Number Expiration
SOII 1220-0045 10/31/2024
CFOI 1220-0133 11/30/2025

The OSHS CA is the vehicle through which State Grant Agencies (SGAs) are awarded funds. The CA package includes application instructions and materials, as well as financial reporting, closeout and other administrative requirements, as spelled out in Title 2 Part 200 of the Code of Federal Regulations (hereinafter cited as 2 CFR 200), Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, and as published by the Department of Labor in Title 2 Part 2900. Federal Assistance is encouraged by Public Law 91-596, the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The OSHS CA application package attached here for approval is representative of the package sent every year to the state agencies. Under this ICR, the BLS submits any changes to the CA package to OMB on an annual basis through a non-substantive change request, along with a description of the changes. If OMB determines that the changes are substantive, the BLS will publish a 30-day notice in the Federal Register describing the changes and allowing the public an opportunity to comment. This ICR includes the FY 2024 CA due to the timing of the FY 2025 budget approval process. Once the FY 2025 President’s Budget is released, the draft FY 2025 CA will be included in this ICR (if timing permits) or submitted via a non-substantive change request.

2. 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.

Information collected under the CA is used by Federal, regional, and national office staffs to determine if the SGAs agree to the deliverables, program performance requirements, and quality assurance requirements spelled out in the program work statements, and to carry out their fiduciary responsibilities to negotiate the CA funding levels with the SGAs, monitor their financial and programmatic performance, and monitor their adherence to administrative requirements imposed by 2 CFR 200 and other grants-management-related regulations. Information collected is also used for planning and budgeting at the Federal level and in meeting Federal-reporting requirements (e.g., those of the Federal Assistance Awards Data System and the Federal Aid to States Report).

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, 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.

All cooperative agreement applications and amendments are submitted via GrantSolutions.

The OSHS Budget Information Form (BIF) provides the SGA’s planned use of the funds awarded under the CA. The BIF is completed and submitted by the SGAs in GrantSolutions.

The quarterly financial reports (BLS-OSHS2) are submitted by the SGAs via email to the BLS regional offices.

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 A.2 above.

The BLS conducts periodic administrative reviews in order to identify areas of duplication and to determine ways in which administrative requirements can be simplified or streamlined. During these reviews, the BLS regional staffs provide comments that they have received from the states in their regions, if any, as well as their own suggestions for improving grants management systems. Together, with comments and recommendations from national office personnel, areas of change are identified, and policies and procedures are adjusted, where and when appropriate. Administrative changes that are related to the information collected from the grantees may be made, as needed, each fiscal year, and will be provided to the OMB upon request. Information that is collected is directly related to the award of Federal financial assistance to the states each fiscal year and, as such, is specific to the grantee, program requirements delineated in the work statements, and level and fiscal year of funding. Thus, no similar information exists.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

As stated previously, the collection of information involves only SGAs, the designated eligible applicants/recipients of Federal financial assistance for the BLS OSHS cooperative statistical program. No small businesses or other small entities are involved.

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.

Funds that are appropriated for the OSHS cooperative statistical program as part of the Department of Labor's appropriation are generally one-year funds. Consequently, CAs must be negotiated and awarded every fiscal year, which means that SGAs must submit their applications for the funds available.

If the BLS simply provided funds to the SGAs as grants, the primary concern would be to assure that the SGA’s cash management was appropriate. In that case, the Federal Financial Report, Standard Form (SF) 425 would provide the needed information. The BLS, however, provides funds to the SGAs by using cooperative agreements to assist them in producing state and local area occupational safety and health statistics information and sample data for use in national estimates. The BLS charge is to obtain the best data it can with the funds available. The SF-425 provides the aggregate, total amount that was spent by the grantee on the major programs, but no detailed information. To fulfill its fiduciary duty to the American public, the BLS must monitor spending to ensure funding is sufficient to negotiate subsequent fiscal year agreements, and to assess the states' proposed budgets the following year, and as a way of costing out program modifications.

The demand for data changes; programs are not static. The information in the requested financial reports is vital if the BLS is to make a reasonable estimate of what changes in program content or procedures will cost so that the BLS can make informed judgments on how much of the demand for data can be met with the available funds. Not collecting financial information, or collecting it less frequently, would jeopardize the financial position of the BLS, as well as its ability to produce the occupational injury and illness information that is needed by other Federal agencies as input to their programs, and by economists, program planners, academicians and others, both inside and outside of the government.

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;

• requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-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 statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• that includes a pledge of confidentially 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 secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentially to the extent permitted by law.

These data will be collected in a manner that is consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5. The application for benefits is collected annually and financial reports are collected quarterly. The respondents are not required to prepare a written response to a collection of information in less than 30 days. Respondents are not required to maintain records for more than three years. The collection does not involve a statistical survey and does not involve the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by the OMB. No pledge of confidentiality is given to the respondent. No proprietary trade secret or other confidential information is required by the grantor agency in connection with this submission.

8. 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.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years -- even if the collection-of-information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

No public comments were received as a result of the Federal Register Notice published on December 8, 2023 (88 FR 85657).

The BLS consults annually with its six regional offices to improve the data requirements. Instructions are refined and clarified annually, mainly based on suggestions received from representatives of participating state agencies. BLS intends to continue this process annually.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

Not applicable; no gifts or payments are involved.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

Not applicable; no assurance of confidentiality is provided to respondents, because no confidential data are being collected under this information collection.

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 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; no questions of a sensitive nature are involved.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. General, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

• If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form.

• Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item 14.

The estimate is based on actual experience. The burden may vary depending on grantee participation in both the SOII and CFOI. Not all states participate in both the SOII and CFOI. This estimate is based on a maximum of all jurisdictions that participate in both the SOII and CFOI. Therefore, the information collection is less burdensome.

The OSHS FRW – B: AAMCs are required only from those SWAs that receive funds for additional activities to maintain currency (AAMCs). The number of AAMCs each year is dependent on the additional activities that are needed to keep the programs current, and the amount of funding available. Therefore, the number of respondents for the OSHS FRW – B: AAMCs may vary significantly from year to year. On average, the burden hours expended on the various parts of the application package are distributed as follows:

Estimated Annualized Respondent Cost and Hour Burden

Activity	No. of Respondents	No. of Responses per Respondent	Total Responses	Average Burden (Hours)	Total Burden (Hours)	Hourly Wage Rate	Total Burden Cost
BLS-OSHS Work Statements	55	1	55	2	110	$56.78	$6,245.80
OSHS Budget Information Form	55	1	55	1.5	82.5	$56.78	$4,684.35
BLS-OSHS2	55	4	220	1	220	$56.78	$12,491.60
BLS-OSHS TCF	55	1	55	8/60	7.3	$56.78	$414.49
OSHS Budget Variance Form	20	1	20	15/60	5	$56.78	$283.90
BLS-OSHS FRW – A: Base Programs	55	1	55	25/60	22.9	$56.78	$1,300.26
BLS-OSHS FRW – B: AAMCs	5	1	5	25/60	2.1	$56.78	$119.24
BLS-OSHS Property Listing	28	1	28	25/60	11.7	$56.78	$664.33
Total	55		493		461.5		$26,203.97

To arrive at a full cost of the information collection burden, the total hours were multiplied by the full compensation cost wage of $56.78, which is derived from the average weekly wage for Public Administration employees in State and local government. (See Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC), a product of the National Compensation Survey data at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ecec_09122023.pdf). The average annualized cost is $26,203.97.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14).

• The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of service component. The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information. Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.

• If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate.

• Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government, or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.

Not applicable. This collection necessitates no capital and start-up costs. State agencies provide budget information and financial reporting information using data from existing accounting and management information systems at the state level. All operation and maintenance costs of such accounting and management information systems are “part of customary and usual business or private practices.”

14. Provide estimates of the annualized cost 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), any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 into a single table.

Total annualized Federal government costs for the financial and administrative management of the $7.6 million OSHS cooperative statistical program are estimated to be approximately $0.7 million in FY 2024, of which $0.5 million is for compensation and benefits for national and regional office personnel.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

There is no change to the annual reporting and recordkeeping burden hours.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulations, 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 collection will not be published for statistical use.

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 BLS will display the expiration date for the OMB approved information collections.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.”

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