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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15737-15739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6364]

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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (the 
Corporation), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to 
provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to 
comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be 
provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial 
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, 
and the impact of collection requirement on respondents can be properly 
assessed.
    Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning its 
National Performance Measurement Assessment through a proposed survey 
and follow up interview of AmeriCorps State and National grantees and 
State Commissions. The purpose of this data collection is for CNCS to 
understand the tools and processes grantees and commissions have used 
to select, implement and report program performance using pilot 
measures developed for programs receiving AmeriCorps grants in 2010 and 
2011. CNCS will use the results of this assessment to inform the 
ongoing adoption of AmeriCorps grantee measures as well as new 
performance measurement efforts within other CNCS programs. Completion 
of this information collection is considered completely voluntary and 
is not

[[Page 15738]]

required to be considered for or to obtain grant funding support from 
any CNCS program.
    Copies of the information collection request can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed in the addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the individual and office 
listed in the ADDRESSES section by May 15, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the title of the 
information collection activity, by any of the following methods:
    (1) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community 
Service, Strategy Office, Attention Joscelyn Silsby, Research and 
Evaluation Specialist, Room 10906A; 1201 New York Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20525.
    (2) By hand delivery or by courier to the Corporation's mailroom at 
Room 8100 at the mail address given in paragraph (1) above, between 9 
a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    (3) By fax to: (202) 202-606-3464, Attention: Joscelyn Silsby, 
Research and Evaluation Specialist.
    (4) Electronically through www.regulations.gov. Individuals who use 
a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY-TDD) may call 1-800-833-
3722 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joscelyn Silsby, (202) 606-6772, or by 
email at jsilsby@cns.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corporation is particularly interested 
in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are expected to respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses).

Background

    The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is 
seeking timely feedback from State and National AmeriCorps grantees and 
State Service Commissions regarding the National Performance Measures 
Pilot to help the agency (1) improve guidance materials and technical 
assistance regarding performance measurement and (2) effectively use 
the measures for internal management and external accountability.
    In order to achieve its strategic objectives, CNCS must create 
effective services, products, and communications materials for program 
partners (sponsors and grantees) pursuant to its goals. Performance 
measures are imbedded in objectives under each of the goals of CNCS's 
2011-2015 Strategic Plan.
    The three-year National Performance Measures Pilot will be 
completed in FY 2012; in FY 2013 AmeriCorps will begin to implement a 
standard set of national grantee measures. AmeriCorps staff, state 
service commissions, and grantees have been preparing for this shift in 
performance measurement over the past three years.
    When fully implemented, the national performance measures are 
intended to (1) focus AmeriCorps-funded programs on producing 
measurable outcomes and (2) make it possible to assess and report the 
overall impact of performance in key areas outlined in the Serve 
America Act. These areas include Disaster Services, Economic 
Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship, Healthy Futures, and 
Veterans and Military Families.

Current Action

    This is a new information collection request by the Corporation for 
National and Community Service. An online survey and follow-up 
interview will be conducted with two categories of respondents: (1) 
State service commissions, sponsored by State or Tribal governments, 
and (2) nonprofit organizations awarded AmeriCorps grants in 2010 and 
2011. Data collection will occur among respondents at the commission or 
grantee organization who are responsible for the oversight and 
implementation of performance measurement and evaluation activities.
    Grantees implementing programs through a state service commission 
are referenced in the instruments and sampling plan as ``State 
Competitive'' grantees or ``subgrantees.'' Multi-state grantees are 
referenced as ``National Direct'' grantees.
    Type of Review: New.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: National Performance Measurement Assessment.
    OMB Number: New.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: State Service Commissions and Grantees in 
AmeriCorps State and National.
    Total Respondents: 243.
    Frequency: All possible respondents (n=243) will receive and be 
asked to complete the online survey. A randomly selected sub-set of 36 
respondents will be asked to participate in follow-up interviews.
    Average Time per Response: 42 minutes (279 total responses/196.5 
total burden hours).

                                                  Burden Hours
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                                                                    Number of     Participation       Burden
                     Category of respondent                        respondents     time  (min)        (hours)
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State Service Commissions--survey..............................              51               30            25.5
State Service Commissions--follow-up interview.................              12               45             9.0
Grantees--survey...............................................             192               45           144.0
Grantees--follow-up interview..................................              24               45            18.0
                                                                ------------------------------------------------
    Totals.....................................................             243  ...............    196.5 hours`
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    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 196.5 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $56,716.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.

[[Page 15739]]

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: March 9, 2012.
John Kim,
Acting Chief Strategy Officer, Office of Strategy and Special 
Initiatives.
[FR Doc. 2012-6364 Filed 3-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-$$-P
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