Renewal of OMB Approval for Quarterly Allocation
Estimates, Form ACF-535
THIS CONTAINS INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN LIHEAP INFORMATION MEMORANDUM TRANSMITTAL
NO. LIHEAP-IM-2008-2, DATED 1/15/08
TO: LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)
GRANTEES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
SUBJECT: Renewal of OMB Approval for Quarterly Allocation
Estimates, Form ACF-535
RELATED Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act, Title XXVI
REFERENCES: of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981,
Public Law 97-35, as amended; Notice of request
for comments on the proposed Quarterly Allocation
Estimates Form ACF-535, as published in the
Federal Register on January 9, 2008 (73 FR 1617);
LIHEAP-AT-2007-7, dated 7/19/07, Estimates of
Quarterly Obligations for the FY 2008 Low Income
Home Energy Assistance Program; OMB Control No.
0970-0037 (Expiration Date - July 31, 2008); and
Section 3506 (C)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of l995.
PURPOSE: To request comments and suggestions on the
Quarterly Allocation Estimates, Form ACF 535.
BACKGROUND: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has
previously approved the collection of quarterly
estimates data for use by the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) for the LIHEAP program.
That approval expires on July 31, 2008 and will
need to be re-approved.
CONTENTS: HHS is now seeking re-approval from OMB for the
Quarterly Allocation Estimates Form, ACF-535. We
are asking LIHEAP grantees for their input and
comments on this form. The form is the same form
used previously and has not been altered.
The data covered by this re-approval request are
quarterly estimates of obligations that LIHEAP
grantees anticipate will be made each quarter
during the upcoming federal fiscal year. Grantee
participation in this data collection is voluntary.
Where grantees do not provide quarterly estimate
information, grant awards will be made in the
amount of 25 percent of the grantee's allocation
in four quarterly grant awards.
This data collection is relevant only for states,
including the District of Columbia. All other
grantees (Tribes and Territories) usually receive
their entire allocation in one grant award early in
the program year.
The information collected is used to substantiate
requests to OMB for the release of funds for low
income energy assistance payments and to make
awards based on the timing of each grantee's needs.
The availability of funding is dependent on
Congressional action to provide funding through an
appropriation or continuing resolution and the
apportionment of funds by OMB.
On January 9, 2008, an information collection
notice was published in the Federal Register
(73 FR 1617) requesting comments and suggestions
about the proposed Quarterly Allocation Estimates,
Form ACF-535. A copy of the notice and the
proposed form are attached.
Comments and suggestions received by March 3, 2008
(60 days after publication of the notice) will be
considered. At that time, the Quarterly Allocation
Estimates Form will be submitted to OMB for
approval, along with a summary of any comments
received and actions taken on them.
The Department specifically requests comments on:
(a) whether the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information; (c) the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden
of the collection of information on respondents,
including through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Please review the proposed Quarterly Allocation
Estimates, Form ACF-535. All comments and
suggestions should be identified by the title of
the information collection, i.e., Quarterly
Allocation Estimates, Form ACF-535, and sent in
writing to:
Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Administration
Office of Information Services, 370
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447
E-mail address: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov
ATTACHMENTS: (1) Federal Register Notice, Vol. 73, No. 6, page
1617, published on January 9, 2008.
(2) Proposed Quarterly Allocation Estimates
Form ACF-535
INQUIRIES TO: Nick St. Angelo, Director
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447
Telephone: (202) 401-5306
Fax: (202) 401-5661
E-mail: nick.stangelo@acf.hhs.gov
__________________/s_________
Nick St. Angelo
Director
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services
