02-16045. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Surveys, Focus Groups, and Other Customer Service Data Collections

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before August 26, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6608, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 or via the Internet at [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Phyllis Boyd, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 3220, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-3220, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

In accordance with Executive Order 12862, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a non-regulatory agency of the Department of Commerce, proposes to conduct a number of surveys—both quantitative and qualitative. The surveys will be designed to determine the kind and the quality of products, services, and information our key customers want and expect, as well as their satisfaction with and awareness of existing products, services, and information. In addition, NIST proposes other customer service satisfaction data collection that include, but may not be limited to focus groups, reply cards that accompany product distributions, and web-based surveys and dialogue boxes that offer customers the opportunity to express their level of satisfaction with NIST products, services, and information and for ongoing dialogue with NIST. NIST will limit its inquiries to data collections that solicit strictly voluntary opinions and will not collect information that is required or regulated. No assurances of confidentiality will be given. However, it will be completely optional for survey participants to provide their name or affiliation information if they wish to provide comments for which they elect to receive a response. In addition, NIST will provide no electronic tracking and will set no cookies for web-based customer responses.

II. Method of Collection

NIST will collect this information by electronic means, as well as by mail, fax, telephone, and person-to-person interaction.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0693-0031.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: NIST customers, which may include businesses, academic institutions, associations, researchers, and other individuals, organizations, or institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: Less than 2 minutes for a response card; 2 hours for focus group participation. The average response time is expected to be less than 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,022.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Public: 0.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection. They also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: June 20, 2002.

Madeleine Clayton,

Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.