Intro to the Information Collection Request (ICR)
by Melanie Klein
An Information Collection Request (ICR) is a federal agency’s request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), agencies must justify why the information is needed and how it will be used.
Federal agencies are required to submit an ICR whenever they create, renew, modify, or discontinue an information collection. Each ICR includes a description of the collection, supporting materials and documentation (such as forms, surveys, or scripts), and proof that the agency has met the requirements of the PRA.
The ICR is submitted to the The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within OMB for review and approval. OIRA grants approval for a maximum of three years, after which the collection must be renewed through a new ICR submission.
ICRs are publicly available on RegInfo.gov, and additional guidance can be found in the FAQs.
Why They Are Important
ICRs play a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability in federal data collection. When federal agencies collect information from 10 or more "persons" (which includes individuals, businesses, and state, local, and tribal governments), they must submit an ICR to ensure that it fulfills their statutory missions, avoids unnecessary or duplicative requests, and minimizes burden on the American public. Additionally, Federal Register Notices (FRNs) and the opportunity for public comments provide a formal way for the public to be informed of proposed ICRs and participate in the process.
ICRs also serve as a key resource for tracking changes to federal data collections. The availability of detailed documentation, such as data collection instruments and methodologies, allows the general public to identify revisions in a timely manner. These may include revisions prompted by Executive Orders or statistical policies like OMB's Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD 15), which are often submitted as "nonsubstantive" or "nonmaterial" changes to a currently approved collection.[1] Furthermore, ICRs can help determine if a data collection has expired without renewal or has been intentionally discontinued. By reviewing ICRs, the public can better understand what data is being collected, how it evolves over time, and whether data collections have become inactive–often in response to shifting priorities and updated standards.
How To Use The Tool
Our ICR tracking tool offers a user-friendly view of ICRs that have been recently submitted, reviewed, or are nearing expiration. By aggregating key data from individual ICRs, the tool allows users to view the current status of each request, including submission, conclusion, and expiration dates, details on whether any changes were made, authorizing statutes, and more. Users can search for specific information and filter results based on various criteria. If seeking additional information, various text fields are hyperlinked to the full ICR on RegInfo.gov and associated resources. The tool is updated on a daily basis to reflect the most current information available.