by Meghan Maury
RFI of the Week: RFI on Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Areas in Statistical Data, Analysis, and Research at the USDA. The USDA is requesting input on opportunities, challenges, and emerging areas in statistical data, analysis, and research produced by the Economic Research Service (ERS), the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and the Office of the Chief Economist's World Agricultural Outlook Board (OCE-WAOB). This information will help inform USDA as they consider future program direction, new initiatives, and potential funding opportunities.
Comments due April 9.
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Health
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part F Dental Services Report. This form is used to apply for funding of non-reimbursed costs incurred in providing oral health care to clients with HIV and to report annual program data. HRSA is revising the form to remove gender identity questions and to remove the component of the form on "people and communities disproportionately impacted by HIV."
Comments due March 30.
Labor and Employment
Occupational Requirements Survey. This survey collects information about the duties, responsibilities, and job tasks for a sample of occupations for each sampled employer, which are used by the SSA to update occupational requirements data in administering the SSDI and Supplemental Security Income programs.
Comments due March 27.Job Corps Application Data. This form is used to collect information from Job Corps applicants, including demographic information. In March 2025, DOL made changes to this form without accepting public comment, including removing gender identity data collection and removing an acknowledgement of expectation that read "I understand that I will be living in a diverse and inclusive environment and sharing a dormitory with other students." This notice formalizes those changes.
Comments due March 25.
Data Access, Data Sharing, and Matching Programs
AmeriCorps and SSA Data Sharing and Matching Agreement. Under this program, AmeriCorps will share information with SSA to verify the Social Security numbers of applicants, to confirm that applicants meet eligibility requirements, and to “verify their statements” regarding their citizenship status.
Comments due March 30.EIA Data Access Agreement (DAA). In order for researchers to access confidential data onsite at EIA's headquarters, they must fulfill all requirements for becoming temporary agents of EIA. To fulfill these requirements, a Data Access Agreement (DAA) must be signed between EIA and the researcher's employing institution, and the team members must complete EIA's CIPSEA training and sign a Non-disclosure Agreement, affirming their U.S. citizenship and their commitment not to disclose confidential data to unauthorized parties.
Comments due March 30.FCC + CMS Data Sharing and Matching Agreement. FCC and CMS are entering into a data sharing and matching agreement that will allow FCC to verify the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Under this agreement, FCC will share the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security Number, date of birth, first and last name. The National Verifier will transfer these data elements to the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services which will respond either “yes” or “no” that the individual is enrolled in a qualifying assistance program: Medicaid administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Comments due March 27.Dept of State and Treasury Data Sharing Agreement. Under this agreement, the Dept of State is modifying seven of its records systems to allow for sharing data with the Dept of Treasury for purposes of identifying, preventing, or recouping fraud and improper payments, to the extent permissible by law.
Comments due March 30.The FCC is entering into a slew of data sharing and matching agreements this month. Agreements with states/territories are “intended to verify the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP);” agreements related to specific programs (included in parentheticals) both allow for data sharing with law enforcement and with the Department of Treasury for the purposes of verifying benefit and payment eligibility under relevant related Federal Government systems such as Treasury's “Do Not Pay” portal verification system. Listings and their comment due dates include:
FCC + Michigan Data Sharing and Matching Agreement (March 26)
FCC + Puerto Rico Data Sharing and Matching Agreement (March 27)
FCC + Wisconsin Data Sharing and Matching Agreement (March 27)
FCC and Treasury Data Sharing Agreement (Financial Operations) (March 27)
FCC and Treasury Data Sharing Agreement (Affordable Connectivity Program) (March 27)
FCC and Treasury Data Sharing Agreement (Lifeline Program) (March 27)
FCC and Treasury Data Sharing Agreement (Telecom Relay Service) (March 27)
FCC and Treasury Data Sharing Agreement (Business Contacts) (March 27)
NRC and Treasury Data Sharing Agreement. This notice allows NRC to share data from three of its records systems - including those that hold grant information and information on finances and debt management - with Treasury for purposes of reviewing payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System to identify, prevent, or recover improper payments.
Comments due March 26.
Also of Note:
RFI Related to Comprehensive Regulations To Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH). This RFI requests input on regulatory actions that could be implemented to make CMS "more effective in crushing fraud." While not focused exclusively on data or data sharing, the questions included in the RFI address issues like enhanced identity proofing and citizenship requirements, using tech to identify potential fraud/waste/abuse, addressing "high risk services" like housing stabilization and behavioral health services.
Comments due March 30.