2026-04247: Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Administration for Children and Families Uniform Project Description

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)] [Notices] [Page 10613] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-04247] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families [Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0139] Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Administration for Children and Families Uniform Project Description

Agency

Office of Administration, Office of Grants Policy, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Action

Request for Public Comments. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting revisions and a one-year extension of the currently approved ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD) information collection (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #: 0970-0139, March 31, 2026, expiration date). This includes transitioning to use one simplified version of the UPD with edits to the language for clarification and plain language purposes. Two versions of the instructions remain in the proposed simplified version to accommodate two development methods. ACF is in the process of identifying more significant revisions to the UPD, which will be submitted through a future information collection request to OMB.

Dates

Comments due April 3, 2026.

Addresses

The public may view and comment on this information collection request at: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202602-0970-015. You can also obtain copies of the proposed collection of information by emailing [email protected]. Identify all emailed requests by the title of the information collection.

Supplementary Information

Description: The UPD provides a uniform format for applicants to submit project information in response to ACF discretionary Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFO). The UPD requires applicants to describe how program objectives will be achieved and provide a rationale for the project's budgeted costs. All ACF discretionary award programs are required to use the UPD. Since 2023, there have been two versions of the UPD: the traditional version and the simplified version (SimplerNOFOs). SimplerNOFOs were implemented as a pilot, as approved by OMB. SimplerNOFOs streamline the process for applicants and has been well received by programs and applicants. ACF has expanded use of the simplified version as a result. At this time, ACF is proposing to transition completely to the SimplerNOFO UPD, but will retain two sets of instructions for now due to the way NOFOs are currently developed. The distinction is made in the instructions with the labels ``SimplerNOFO'' v. ``Traditional NOFO''. ACF uses the information provided by applicants, along with other OMB-approved information collections (Standard Forms), to evaluate and rank applications. Use of the UPD protects the integrity of the ACF award selection process. This current request would extend OMB approval for an additional year, with the following changes: --Minor revisions for clarification and plain language purposes --Updated burden estimates to only include the SimplerNOFOs UPD. A larger revision effort is in process and will be submitted to OMB in the future. This future revision request will include two additional opportunities for public comment. Respondents: Applicants responding to ACF Discretionary NOFOs. Annual Burden Estimates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total number of Average burden Instrument Total number of responses per hours per Total/ Annual respondents respondent response burden hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Streamlined UPD............................ 2,672 1 57.9 154,709 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Authority: 2 CFR 200.204. Mary C. Jones, ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer. [FR Doc. 2026-04247 Filed 3-3-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184-01-P