DoD, NSF, and SBA Open Comment Windows on Data Collections and Disaster Loans

DoD Information Collections: Security Assistance Network and Military Youth Study

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition & Security), identified in the notice as the "Department of War" (DoW), has published a 60-day notice seeking public comment on a proposed information collection for the Security Assistance Network (SAN), carrying OMB Control Number 0704-0555. Comments are due by December 21, 2026.

The notice describes the SAN as a web-based database used to exchange Security Cooperation training information among overseas Security Cooperation Offices, Geographical Combatant Commands, Military Departments, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, DoW Schoolhouses, Regional Centers, and International Host Nation Organizations. The Security Cooperation Training Management System (SC-TMS), hosted on the SAN, is the tool used by the Security Cooperation community to manage International Military Student (IMS) training data. According to the document, International Military Student Information (IMSI) collected through the system is used by the International Military Student Officer (IMSO) at each training installation to prepare for the arrival and stay of international training students in the U.S. The collection also supports issuance of invitational travel orders, student screening, and determining students' recreational activities, dietary restrictions, and related preferences. Security Cooperation Officers collect biographical data from IMS over the phone or in person and enter it into SC-TMS; data may also be uploaded automatically from the Regional Center Persons Activity Management System (RCPAMS) and the Defense Security Assistance Management System (DSAMS), though the notice states the majority of IMS data is input directly by the Security Cooperation Officer. System access is via username and password, or via Common Access Card and pin for active DoW civilian, military, or contractor members. The notice estimates 43,980 respondents, each responding once annually, for 43,980 annual responses, with an average burden per response of 15 minutes and a total annual burden of 10,995 hours.

Separately, DoD has submitted a 30-day notice to OMB for a new collection titled "Pure Power" (OMB Control Number 0704-MFPP), with comments due by November 19, 2026. The document describes this study as designed to assess the unique social, emotional, and behavioral needs of military-connected youth, directly aligning with the administration's focus on service member readiness, retention, and optimized quality of life for their families. The collection is voluntary and affects individuals and households. The notice estimates 17 respondents, each responding 128 times per year, for 2,176 annual responses, at an average burden of 2 minutes per response, totaling 72.5 annual burden hours.

NSF TIP Directorate: Evidence and Evaluation Framework

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has published a notice announcing plans to establish a new information collection — the Evidence and Evaluation Measurement Generic Clearance for the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), designated OMB Control No. 3145-NEW. Written comments must be received by December 21, 2026. NSF states it will prepare an OMB clearance submission for a period of no longer than 3 years following the comment period.

The document explains that TIP was established by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to strengthen the Nation's innovation ecosystem. TIP advances three broad strategic priorities: accelerating critical and emerging technologies, building a competition-ready workforce, and expanding the geography of American innovation, through partnerships spanning academia, industry, government, nonprofit organizations, and other sectors. The Framework will encompass data collection across three broad areas of TIP investment: technology translation, workforce development, and regional innovation ecosystems. The notice explains that existing administrative data can provide information about awards and selected outputs but may not capture the activities, experiences, conditions, and outcomes necessary to understand TIP investments and their results — a gap the Framework is intended to address.

Within the technology translation area, the document states that data may include project and organizational characteristics, intellectual property development, technology validation and testing, commercialization activities, partnerships, follow-on investments, adoption barriers and risks, and other indicators. Workforce development and regional innovation ecosystem data will similarly reflect activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts relevant to those areas. The Framework will also support survey pretesting, pilot testing, focus groups, and testing of alternative data collection approaches. For each individual collection under the generic clearance, TIP will submit a separate request to OMB and obtain approval prior to implementation. NSF estimates approximately 3,000 principal investigators will respond annually, at an average burden of one hour per respondent, for an estimated annual reporting burden of approximately 3,000 hours, or 9,000 hours over the three-year clearance period. Respondents are described as generally having the education and/or experience level commensurate to a university associate professor.

SBA Disaster Loans: New Hampshire and Utah

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has published notices for two Presidential major disaster declarations, both dated October 7, 2026, making SBA disaster loan assistance available to private non-profit organizations in affected areas.

For New Hampshire (FEMA-4947-DR), the declared incident is a severe storm and flooding. The primary county determined to be adversely affected is Carroll. The disaster number assigned for physical damage is 219706 and for economic injury is 219710. For Utah (FEMA-4948-DR), the declared incident is the Cottonwood Fire, flooding, and mudslides. The primary counties determined to be adversely affected are Beaver and Piute. The disaster number assigned for physical damage is 219686 and for economic injury is 219690.

In both cases, private non-profit organizations providing essential services of a governmental nature may file disaster loan applications online through the MySBA Loan Portal or in person at locally announced locations. Both notices set interest rates of 3.625 percent for physical damage and economic injury loans, applicable to private non-profit organizations regardless of credit availability elsewhere.

What to Watch

• November 19, 2026: Deadline for comments to OMB on the DoD "Pure Power" military youth study collection (30-day notice).
• December 21, 2026: Deadline for public comments on both the DoD Security Assistance Network (SAN/SC-TMS) 60-day collection notice and the NSF TIP Evidence and Evaluation Measurement Framework notice.

Related

• Civic AI hub
• Five Federal Agencies Seek Public Comment on Information Collection Renewals Across Agriculture, Environment, and Marine Science
• NCUA Bans Reputation Risk in Supervision; FDA Files Flour Irradiation Petition
• Education Dept. Extends Funding for 43 American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Projects Through Sept. 2027