81 FR 3097 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Requested-Review of Child Nutrition Data and Analysis for Program Management

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 12 (January 20, 2016)

Page Range		3097-3099
FR Document		2016-01005

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection to review and document State and School Food Authority (SFA) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) Management Information Systems (MIS) in order to provide FNS with a baseline assessment of the MIS system and to inform FNS regarding how States and SFAs use data systems beyond fulfilling FNS reporting requirements.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3097-3099]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01005]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Requested--Review of Child Nutrition Data and Analysis for 
Program Management

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection to 
review and document State and School Food Authority (SFA) National 
School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) 
Management Information Systems (MIS) in order to provide FNS with a 
baseline assessment of the MIS system and to inform FNS regarding how 
States and SFAs use data systems beyond fulfilling FNS reporting 
requirements.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received on or before 
March 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited 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, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions that were used; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be submitted through one of the following methods:
     Preferred method: Submit information through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submissions.
     Mail: Submissions should be addressed to Dennis Ranalli, 
Social Science Policy Analyst, Office of Policy Support, FNS, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be emailed to 
[email protected].
    All information properly and timely submitted, using one of the 
methods described above, in response to this request will be included 
in the record and will be made available to the public on the Internet 
at http://www.regulations.gov. Please be advised that the substance of 
the information provided and the identity of the individuals or 
entities submitting it will be subject to public disclosure.
    All written comments will be open for public inspection at the FNS 
office located at 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, 
Room 1014, during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 
Monday through Friday). All responses to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval. All comments will be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Dennis 
Ranalli at 703-305-2149 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Review of Child Nutrition Data and Analysis for Program 
Management.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not yet determined
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act of 1946 
and Child Nutrition Act of 1966 provide the legislative authority for 
the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and

[[Page 3098]]

School Breakfast Program (SBP). These programs provide federal 
financial assistance and USDA foods to public and non-profit private 
schools and residential childcare institutions to facilitate serving 
meals that meet nutritional standards. At the State level, State 
education agencies (SEAs) administer NSLP/SBP. At the local level, 
School Food Authorities (SFAs) operate these programs through 
agreements with SEAs. SFAs use Management Information Systems (MIS) of 
varying levels of sophistication to collect the range of information 
required to implement and manage school food service programs.
    The information SFAs collect include meal production, labor cost, 
food cost, inventory and other data needed to manage their operations. 
SFAs also collect reimbursable meal counts and other information for 
obtaining NSLP/SBP reimbursements and meeting State reporting 
requirements. SFAs are accountable for meeting NSLP/SBP standards, 
maintaining food safety standards, ensuring proper use of funds, and 
managing meal services within a budget.
    Current State and federal data collection requirements for the 
NSLP/SBP have grown from manual paper-based reporting and early 
computer eras that were characterized by concerns to minimize paperwork 
and reporting burden. While SFAs collect a wide array of data to 
enhance local administration, SEAs request and aggregate a subset of 
this data and ultimately report only a small part of it to the Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS) as State data.
    The purpose of this study is to review and document the management 
information systems of State education agencies and School Food 
Authorities. Specifically, the study will present a baseline assessment 
of the MIS systems based on data collected:
    [ssquf] Objective 1: Determine the baseline ``as is'' functionality 
of State education agencies (SEA) and School Food Authority (SFA) 
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/School Breakfast Program (SBP) 
data management information systems.
    [ssquf] Objective 2: Assess when State and local NSLP/SBP data 
management information systems were developed, and the expected 
longevity of these systems.
    [ssquf] Objective 3: Determine the typical costs of developing, 
maintaining, modifying and replacing State and local NSLP/SBP data 
management information systems.
    [ssquf] Objective 4: Outline the data elements that State and SFA 
NSLP/SBP data management systems collect and generate, beyond those 
reported to FNS, to administer and manage the NSLP and SBP at the State 
and SFA levels.
    [ssquf] Objective 5: Assess what proportion of States and SFAs 
collect or generate NSLP/SBP management data that they do not report to 
FNS.
    [ssquf] Objective 6: Describe how long these data elements are 
retained and how frequently they are updated.
    [ssquf] Objective 7: Determine the functions that these data 
element serve. Describe the types of access, analysis, and standard or 
ad-hoc report generation supported by State and local NSLP/SBP data 
systems.
    [ssquf] Objective 8: Describe the technical and other challenges 
SFA and State administrators face in NSLP/SBP data collection, 
aggregation, and reporting. Describe the perceptions of these officials 
of the quality of the reported data.
The purpose of this project is to review and document SFA and State 
NSLP/SBP management information systems by conducting:
    1. A census of all State agencies responsible for administering 
NSLP/SBP, and
    2. A Web survey of a nationally representative sample of small, 
medium and large SFAs.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government. Respondent 
groups identified include: (1) Data managers from State agencies that 
administer school meal programs in all 50 States and the District of 
Columbia and (2) a sample of SFA administrators or data managers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
unique respondents is 5,091. FNS expects that one representative from 
each State school meals agency will participate in the State agency 
survey. In addition, FNS expects that two respondents from each SFA 
will be needed to complete the SFA survey because this survey will seek 
information on a range of aspects of the MIS of SFAs. Based on this, 
FNS estimates that the total number of unique respondents for this 
study will include 51 representatives from State school meals agencies; 
4,032 administrators and data managers from small, medium, and large 
SFAs; and 1,008 non-respondents. The study will contact 2,520 SFAs with 
an expected response rate of 80%, which will result in 2,016 completed 
Web surveys.
    Estimated Frequency of Responses per Respondent: 3.16.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 16,062.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes (0.17 hours). The estimated 
response time varies from three minutes to one hour. The census of 
State school meal agencies will take 60 minutes (1 hour) to complete. 
All representatives will receive prior notification of the survey. The 
estimated burden of this notification is 5 minutes (0.08 hours). For 
the Web survey of SFAs, all potential respondents will receive prior 
notification, which will require 5 minutes (0.08 hours) to read. It is 
anticipated that two respondents from each SFA will respond--the 
administrator and data manager. Estimated time of response for SFA 
administrators is 12 minutes (0.2 hours). The estimated time of 
response for SFA data managers (or equivalent) is 48 minutes (0.8 
hours). Estimated time for non-respondents is 3 minutes (0.05 hours). 
Non-respondents include those who attempt the survey but do not 
complete or decline to participate. There will be three follow-up 
activities for both the census and the Web survey. The estimated burden 
for each follow-up activity is 3 minutes (0.05 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,743.09 hours.
    See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type 
of respondent.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Frequency of    Total annual   Estimated avg.     Estimated
           Respondent               Estimated #      response        responses    # of hours per    total hours
                                    respondent      (annually)      (Col. bxc)       response       (Col. dxe)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Census
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Census Notification.............              51               1              51            0.08            4.08
Representative of State school                51               1              51            1.00           51.00
 meals agencies.................
Census Follow-up 1..............              36               1              36            0.05            1.79
Census Follow-up 2..............              28               1              28            0.05            1.40
Census Follow-up 3..............              20               1              20            0.05            1.02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 3099]]

 
Web Survey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey Notification.............           2,520               1           2,520            0.08          201.60
School Food Authority                      2,016               1           2,016            0.20          403.20
 Administrator..................
Survey Follow-up 1                         3,528               1           3,528            0.05          176.40
 (Administrator and Data
 Manager).......................
Survey Follow-up 2                         2,772               1           2,772            0.05          138.60
 (Administrator and Data
 Manager).......................
Survey Follow-up 3                         2,016               1           2,016            0.05          100.80
 (Administrator and Data
 Manager).......................
School Food Authority Data                 2,016               1           2,016            0.80        1,612.80
 Manager (or equivalent)........
School Food Authority                        504               1             504            0.05           25.20
 Administrator (Attempted)--Non-
 Response.......................
School Food Authority Data                   504               1             504            0.05           25.20
 Manager (or equivalent)--Non-
 Response.......................
    Total Reporting Burden......           5,091            3.16          16,062            0.17        2,743.09
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: January 13, 2016.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01005 Filed 1-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

3098 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 20, 2016 / Notices

School Breakfast Program (SBP). These D Objective 2: Assess when State and one representative from each State
programs provide federal financial local NSLP/SBP data management school meals agency will participate in
assistance and USDA foods to public information systems were developed, the State agency survey. In addition,
and non-profit private schools and and the expected longevity of these FNS expects that two respondents from
residential childcare institutions to systems. each SFA will be needed to complete
facilitate serving meals that meet D Objective 3: Determine the typical the SFA survey because this survey will
nutritional standards. At the State level, costs of developing, maintaining, seek information on a range of aspects
State education agencies (SEAs) modifying and replacing State and local of the MIS of SFAs. Based on this, FNS
administer NSLP/SBP. At the local NSLP/SBP data management estimates that the total number of
level, School Food Authorities (SFAs) information systems. unique respondents for this study will
operate these programs through D Objective 4: Outline the data include 51 representatives from State
agreements with SEAs. SFAs use elements that State and SFA NSLP/SBP school meals agencies; 4,032
Management Information Systems (MIS) data management systems collect and administrators and data managers from
of varying levels of sophistication to generate, beyond those reported to FNS, small, medium, and large SFAs; and
collect the range of information required to administer and manage the NSLP and 1,008 non-respondents. The study will
to implement and manage school food SBP at the State and SFA levels. contact 2,520 SFAs with an expected
service programs. D Objective 5: Assess what proportion response rate of 80%, which will result
The information SFAs collect include of States and SFAs collect or generate in 2,016 completed Web surveys.
meal production, labor cost, food cost, NSLP/SBP management data that they Estimated Frequency of Responses per
inventory and other data needed to do not report to FNS. Respondent: 3.16.
manage their operations. SFAs also D Objective 6: Describe how long these Estimated Total Annual Responses:
collect reimbursable meal counts and data elements are retained and how 16,062.
other information for obtaining NSLP/ frequently they are updated.
Estimated Time per Response: 10
SBP reimbursements and meeting State D Objective 7: Determine the functions
minutes (0.17 hours). The estimated
reporting requirements. SFAs are that these data element serve. Describe
response time varies from three minutes
accountable for meeting NSLP/SBP the types of access, analysis, and
to one hour. The census of State school
standards, maintaining food safety standard or ad-hoc report generation
meal agencies will take 60 minutes (1
standards, ensuring proper use of funds, supported by State and local NSLP/SBP
hour) to complete. All representatives
and managing meal services within a data systems.
D Objective 8: Describe the technical will receive prior notification of the
budget. survey. The estimated burden of this
and other challenges SFA and State
Current State and federal data notification is 5 minutes (0.08 hours).
administrators face in NSLP/SBP data
collection requirements for the NSLP/ For the Web survey of SFAs, all
collection, aggregation, and reporting.
SBP have grown from manual paper- potential respondents will receive prior
Describe the perceptions of these
based reporting and early computer eras notification, which will require 5
officials of the quality of the reported
that were characterized by concerns to minutes (0.08 hours) to read. It is
data.
minimize paperwork and reporting The purpose of this project is to review anticipated that two respondents from
burden. While SFAs collect a wide array and document SFA and State NSLP/SBP each SFA will respond—the
of data to enhance local administration, management information systems by administrator and data manager.
SEAs request and aggregate a subset of conducting: Estimated time of response for SFA
this data and ultimately report only a 1. A census of all State agencies administrators is 12 minutes (0.2 hours).
small part of it to the Food and responsible for administering NSLP/ The estimated time of response for SFA
Nutrition Service (FNS) as State data. SBP, and data managers (or equivalent) is 48
The purpose of this study is to review 2. A Web survey of a nationally minutes (0.8 hours). Estimated time for
and document the management representative sample of small, medium non-respondents is 3 minutes (0.05
information systems of State education and large SFAs. hours). Non-respondents include those
agencies and School Food Authorities. Affected Public: State, Local and who attempt the survey but do not
Specifically, the study will present a Tribal Government. Respondent groups complete or decline to participate.
baseline assessment of the MIS systems identified include: (1) Data managers There will be three follow-up activities
based on data collected: from State agencies that administer for both the census and the Web survey.
D Objective 1: Determine the baseline school meal programs in all 50 States The estimated burden for each follow-
‘‘as is’’ functionality of State education and the District of Columbia and (2) a up activity is 3 minutes (0.05 hours).
agencies (SEA) and School Food sample of SFA administrators or data Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Authority (SFA) National School Lunch managers. Respondents: 2,743.09 hours.
Program (NSLP)/School Breakfast Estimated Number of Respondents: See the table below for estimated total
Program (SBP) data management The total estimated number of unique annual burden for each type of
information systems. respondents is 5,091. FNS expects that respondent.

Frequency of Total annual Estimated avg. Estimated total
Estimated #
Respondent response responses # of hours per hours
respondent (annually) (Col. bxc) response (Col. dxe)

Census
tkelley on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Census Notification .............................................................. 51 1 51 0.08 4.08
Representative of State school meals agencies ................. 51 1 51 1.00 51.00
Census Follow-up 1 ............................................................. 36 1 36 0.05 1.79
Census Follow-up 2 ............................................................. 28 1 28 0.05 1.40
Census Follow-up 3 ............................................................. 20 1 20 0.05 1.02

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 20, 2016 / Notices 3099

Frequency of Total annual Estimated avg. Estimated total
Estimated #
Respondent response responses # of hours per hours
respondent (annually) (Col. bxc) response (Col. dxe)

Web Survey

Survey Notification ............................................................... 2,520 1 2,520 0.08 201.60
School Food Authority Administrator ................................... 2,016 1 2,016 0.20 403.20
Survey Follow-up 1 (Administrator and Data Manager) ...... 3,528 1 3,528 0.05 176.40
Survey Follow-up 2 (Administrator and Data Manager) ...... 2,772 1 2,772 0.05 138.60
Survey Follow-up 3 (Administrator and Data Manager) ...... 2,016 1 2,016 0.05 100.80
School Food Authority Data Manager (or equivalent) ......... 2,016 1 2,016 0.80 1,612.80
School Food Authority Administrator (Attempted)—Non-
Response ......................................................................... 504 1 504 0.05 25.20
School Food Authority Data Manager (or equivalent)—
Non-Response .................................................................. 504 1 504 0.05 25.20
Total Reporting Burden ............................................. 5,091 3.16 16,062 0.17 2,743.09

Dated: January 13, 2016. Room (2SE01), 201 14th Street on the agenda. Anyone who would like
Audrey Rowe, Southwest, Washington, DC. to bring related matters to the attention
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. Written comments may be submitted of the committee may file written
[FR Doc. 2016–01005 Filed 1–19–16; 8:45 am] as described under SUPPLEMENTARY statements with the committee staff
INFORMATION. All comments, including before or after the meeting. Written
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
names and addresses when provided, comments and requests for time to make
are placed in the record and are oral comments must be sent to W.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE available for public inspection and Stephen Hart, FRAC Designated Federal
copying. The public may inspect Officer, USDA Forest Service, Research
Forest Service comments received at USDA Forest and Development, 1400 Independence
Service—Washington Office. Please call Avenue SW., Mail Stop 1120,
Forestry Research Advisory Council ahead to 202–205–1665 to facilitate Washington, DC 20250–1120; via
entry into the building. fascimile to 202–401–1189, or via email
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: W. at shart@fs.fed.us.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
Stephen Hart, FRAC Designated Federal Meeting Accommodations: If you are
SUMMARY: The Forestry Research Officer, by phone at 202–205–0844 or a person requiring reasonable
Advisory Council (FRAC) will meet in via email at shart@fs.fed.us. accommodation, please make requests
Washington, DC The Council is required Individuals who use in advance for sign language
by Section 1441 of the Agriculture and telecommunication devices for the deaf interpreting, assistive listening devices
Food Act of 1981 to provide advice to (TDD) may call the Federal Information or other reasonable accommodation for
the Secretary of Agriculture on Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 access to the facility or proceedings by
accomplishing efficiently the purposes between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., contacting the person listed in the
of the Act of October 10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. Eastern Standard Time, Monday section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
582a, et seq.), commonly known as the through Friday. CONTACT. All reasonable
McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The accommodation requests are managed
Council also provides advice relative to purpose of the meeting is to: on a case by case basis.
the Forest Service research program, 1. Discuss current and emerging
Dated: January 12, 2016.
authorized by the Forest and Rangeland forestry and natural resources research
Carlos Rodriguez-Franco,
Renewable Resources Research Act of issues;
2. Provide a presentation and Acting Deputy Chief, Research &
1978 (Pub. L. 95–307, 92 Stat. 353, as Development.
amended; 16 U.S.C. 1600 (note)). FRAC discussion on budget outlooks and
program priorities of the USDA Forest [FR Doc. 2016–00882 Filed 1–19–16; 8:45 am]
information can be found at the
following Web site: http://fs.fed.us/ Service Research and Development and BILLING CODE 3411–15–P

research/about/forestry-research- USDA National Institute of Food and
council/. Agriculture; including the McIntire-
Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DATES: The meeting will be held
Program; and
February 23–24, 2016, at the following Rural Housing Service
3. Discuss anticipated matters that
times:
may include USDA engagement in Notice of Solicitation of Applications
• February 23, 2016, from 8:30 a.m.– natural resources-related research and
4:30 p.m. (NOSA) for the Section 533 Housing
education, partnerships with other
• February 24, 2016, from 8:30 a.m.– agencies, indisciplinary research,
Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year
11:30 a.m. 2016
research in urban forestry, wood
All FRAC meetings are subject to products development, and landscape- AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
tkelley on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

cancellation. For status of the meeting scale forest management. ACTION: Notice; correction.
prior to attendance, please contact the The meeting is open to the public.
person listed under FOR FURTHER The agenda will include time for people SUMMARY: This document corrects the
INFORMATION CONTACT. to make oral statements of three minutes closing deadline date that has changed
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in or less. Individuals wishing to make an since the initial Notice that appeared in
the USDA Forest Service—Washington oral statement should request in writing the Federal Register on December 29,
Office, Yates Building, Leopold Training by February 16, 2016, to be scheduled 2015, entitled ‘‘Notice of Solicitation of

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Document Created: 2016-01-19 23:44:17
Document Modified: 2016-01-19 23:44:17

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Written comments on this notice must be received on or before March 21, 2016.
Contact		Requests for additional information or copies of this information collection should be directed to Dennis Ranalli at 703-305-2149 or [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 3097

81 FR 3097 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Requested-Review of Child Nutrition Data and Analysis for Program Management

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREFood and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 12 (January 20, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service