FR 2021-00441

The document at hand is a notice from the Corporation for National and Community Service, also known as AmeriCorps, inviting public comments on a proposed survey titled the "AmeriCorps External Reviewer Survey." This survey aims to gather feedback from individuals who have participated as External Reviewers or External Panel Coordinators in evaluating AmeriCorps' grant applications. The collected information is intended to help AmeriCorps enhance its grant competition processes. Public comments were invited until February 11, 2021.

General Summary

The primary purpose of the document is to notify the public of the proposed information collection and to request public feedback. The AmeriCorps External Reviewer Survey is a new initiative intended to solicit opinions from those directly involved in the AmeriCorps grant review process. This feedback is projected to improve the overall quality and efficacy of grant competitions by identifying areas that need enhancement.

Significant Issues and Concerns

One notable aspect missing from the document is a detailed explanation for the absence of public comments during the initial 60-day comment period. This lack of engagement could suggest potential issues in communication or public interest.

Furthermore, the document estimates that 250 individuals will participate in the survey, cumulatively spending about 60 hours. This division of time appears low and lacks detail on the methodology of this calculation, warranting further clarification for accurate assessment of respondent burden.

Additionally, while the document mentions that survey results will be used to improve grant competitions, it provides no specific details on what potential improvements could be made or how the data will be employed to influence decisions.

There is also some ambiguity in the instructions for accessing the survey through the reginfo.gov website, which could hinder public participation and response.

Public Impact

The proposed survey could have broad implications for the AmeriCorps program, as it seeks to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its grant processes. Improved grant competitions may lead to better-funded projects, ultimately benefiting communities and individuals served by AmeriCorps initiatives.

However, the lack of public engagement, as evidenced by the absence of comments in the initial period, might impact the representativeness of the feedback collected, potentially leading to improvements that do not reflect the full range of stakeholder concerns and insights.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For stakeholders such as current and past External Reviewers and Panel Coordinators, the survey offers a platform to voice their experiences and suggest improvements. If executed effectively, their feedback could lead to tangible changes in the grant application processes, making future reviews more efficient and user-friendly.

Conversely, potential inefficiencies in the survey's dissemination and a lack of detailed information about the improvements it seeks to achieve could diminish its impact. Stakeholders may feel their input is not sufficiently guiding meaningful changes if the process lacks transparency about how feedback will be acted upon or if the survey's reach is limited.

In summary, while the intention behind the AmeriCorps External Reviewer Survey is positive, ensuring effective communication, transparency, and public engagement will be critical for its success. Addressing these concerns can maximize its utility and impact on AmeriCorps' grant processes.