LIHEAP Grantee Needs Assessment

OMB Control No: 0970-0442	ICR Reference No: 201310-0970-002
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: HHS/ACF	Agency Tracking No: 20699
Title: LIHEAP Grantee Needs Assessment
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 10/28/2013
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 12/18/2013
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 10/22/2013
Terms of Clearance: Approved with the addition of Part B.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2014	6 Months From Approved
Responses	52	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	86	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: This information collection is a direct response to recommendations for strengthening LIHEAP program integrity made by the Government Accountability Office in 2010 and the LIHEAP Program Integrity Work Group, which consisted of a sample of LIHEAP grantees. The purpose of this data collection is to gauge the capacity of LIHEAP grantees to perform two critical tasks. 1. To implement third-party verification of household data obtained during the LIHEAP intake process, in order to strengthen program integrity by reducing the risk of making LIHEAP benefit payments to ineligible households or in the wrong amount. These risks arise in large part when there are errors or fraud in the reporting of household members' identity and income during the LIHEAP intake process.

Emergency Justfication: The information collection is a direct response to recommendations for strengthening LIHEAP program integrity made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2010 and the LIHEAP Program Integrity Work Group which consisted of a sample of LIHEAP grantees. The information collection for both contracts are essential tasks and are initially required in order for the contractor to proceed with the major development of the web based data collection tool and the implementation of the program integrity recommendations such as third party verification of household data. Clearance for the questionnaire could not be sought prior to the award of the contracts, because the content development of the instrument was as requirement under the two new contracts that DEA entered into. DEA is finalizing the questionnaire content for those assessments and can submit them as soon as OMB is ready to receive them. At the same time, other tasks under the contracts are contingent upon the information collected by the survey. Without an expedited clearance, successful completion of the contract tasks is at risk. Contractors have projected that they will need to begin data collection through this questionnaire in October 2013 in order to proceed with the other tasks on a timely manner and meet their legal obligations per the contracts with our office. Contractors are expected to submit other required deliverables that depend on the results of this questionnaire no later than April 18, 2014. These deliverables are needed in order for grantees to make preparations in time to begin the performance measures data collection on October 1, 2014. The normal OMB clearance process would not be completed until after these contractual deadlines. According to the 5 C.F.R. Part 1320.13, an agency head or Senior Official, or their designee, may request OMB to authorize emergency processing of submissions of collections of information in writing. Specifically, if the agency cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures because an unanticipated event occurred, expedited processing may be used. In the instant case, P.L. 110-351 gives ACF a very narrow window in which to provide technical assistance prior to the effective date of the new sections of the Act. If we are unable to obtain expedited clearance for the information collection, the contractors' ability to deliver their required tasks and outputs will be severely compromised and affect the planned training and technical assistance services to grantees.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name LIHEAP Grantee Needs Assessment 1 Needs Assessment

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	52	0	0	52	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	86	0	0	86	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new ICR.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $59,749

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Robert Sargis 2026907275

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 10/22/2013

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