[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 244 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82487-82488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27916]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Advance Planning Document (APD) 
Process (OMB #0970-0417)

AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for 
Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office of 
Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is requesting an update to the Advance 
Planning Document (APD) process (OMB #0970-0417). OCSE proposes 
revisions to the annual burden estimates to reflect an increase in the 
number of states seeking approval to implement modernization solutions 
in efforts to replace antiquated legacy child support enforcement 
systems and to address an excess demand for emergency funding requests 
due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DATES: Comments due within 30 days of publication. OMB must make a 
decision about the collection of information between 30 and 60 days 
after publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, 
a comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it 
within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Description: The APD process, established at 45 CFR part 95, 
subpart F, is the procedure by which states request and obtain approval 
for Federal Financial Participation (FFP) in their cost of acquiring 
Automated Data Processing (ADP) equipment and services.
    State child support agencies are required to establish and operate 
a federally approved statewide ADP and information retrieval system to 
assist in child support enforcement. States are required to submit an 
initial APD containing information to assist the Secretary of the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in determining if the 
state computerized support enforcement project planning and 
implementation meets federal certification requirements needed for the 
approval of FFP. States are then required to submit annual APD updates 
to HHS to report project status and request ongoing FFP for systems 
development, enhancements, operations, and maintenance. As-needed APDs 
are also submitted to acquire FFP when major milestone are missed or 
significant changes to project schedules occur. Based on an assessment 
of the information provided in the APD, states that do not meet the 
federal requirements necessary for approval are required to conduct 
periodic independent verification and validation services for high-risk 
project oversight.
    In addition to the APDs providing HHS with the information 
necessary to determine the allowable level of federal funding for state 
systems projects, states also submit associated procurement and data 
security documents, such as the request for proposals (RFPs), 
contracts, contract amendments, and the biennial security review 
reports.
    Respondents: State child support agencies.

[[Page 82488]]



                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                   Total number   Average burden
           Instrument              Total number    of responses      hours per     Total burden    Annual burden
                                  of respondents  per respondent     response          hours           hours
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RFP and Contract................              50             4.5               4             900             300
Emergency Funding Request.......              21               1               2              42              14
Biennial Reports................              54             1.5             1.5           121.5            40.5
Advance Planning Document.......              44             3.6             120          19,008           6,336
Operational Advance Planning                  10               3              30             900             300
 Document.......................
Independent Verification and                   3              12              10             360             120
 Validation (ongoing)...........
Independent Verification and                   4               6              16             384             128
 Validation (semiannually)......
Independent Verification and                  10              12              30           3,600           1,200
 Validation (quarterly).........
System Certification............               3               3             240           2,160             720
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,158.50.

    Authority:  45 CFR part 95, subpart F.

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-27916 Filed 12-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-41-P