01-15403. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Director, Administration and Management, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense.

ACTION:

Notice.

In compliance with section 35006(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Director, Administration and Management announces a public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of any Defense Agency or DoD Field Activity, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of DoD's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or forms of information technology.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by August 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed information collection should be sent to Director, Administration and Management, Directorate for Organizational and Management Planning, ATTN: Mark Munson, 1950 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1950; e-mail: [e-mail]; telephone: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please contact the Directorate for Organizational and Management Planning at [phone]/1143.

Title and OMB Number: Secretary of Defense Biennial Review of Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities; 0704-[To Be Determined].

Needs and Uses: Section 192(c) of Title 10, U.S.C., requires that the Secretary of Defense review the services and supplies provided by each Defense Agency and Department of Defense (DoD) Field Activity. The purposes of the Biennial Review are to ensure the continuing need for each Agency and Field Activity and to ensure that the services and supplies provided by each entity is accomplished in a more effective, economical, or efficient manner than by the Military Departments. A standard organizational-customer survey process serves as the principal data-gathering methodology in the Biennial Review. As such, it provides valuable information to senior officials in the Department regarding the levels of satisfaction held by the organizational customers of the approximately 20 Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities covered by the Biennial Review.

Affected Public: Business or Other For-Profit; Not-For-Profit Institutions.

Annual Burden Hours: 500.

Number of Respondents: 2,000.

Responses Per Respondent: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.

Frequency: Biennially.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

The Biennial Review employs a survey to assess organizational-customer satisfaction with the associated business line and addresses overall responsiveness to customer requirements, satisfaction with specific products and services, and quality of coordination with organizational customers. The survey identifies distinct areas of business (business lines) for all Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities participating in the Review, creates lists of organizational customers specific to each business line, and uses a set of standard evaluation questions across all business lines. Respondents covered by this announcement are private-sector customers of these business lines, such as for the Federal Voting Assistance Program and Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Dated: June 12, 2001.

Patricia L. Toppings,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.