2023-16415. Agency Information Collection Activity: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery (VBA, VHA, NCA)

AGENCY:

Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

DATES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before October 2, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 or email to [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900–0770” in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 266–4688 or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900–0770” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.

With respect to the following collection of information, VA invites comments on: (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of VA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of VA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology.

Authority: Public Law 104–13; 44 U.S.C. 3501–3521.

Title: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery (VBA, VHA, NCA).

OMB Control Number: 2900–0770.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Executive Order 12862 directs Federal agencies to provide service to the public that matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector. In order to work continuously to ensure that our programs are effective and meet our customers' needs, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeks to obtain OMB approval of a generic clearance to collect qualitative feedback on our service delivery for Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA); Veterans Health Administration (VHA); and National Cemetery Administration (NCA). By qualitative feedback, we mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study.

The proposed information collection activity provides a means to garner qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the Administration's commitment to improving service delivery. This feedback will provide insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service, or focus attention on areas where communication, training, or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or services. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative, and actionable communications between the VA and its customers and stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the improvement of program management.

The solicitation of feedback will target areas such as: timeliness, appropriateness, accuracy of information, courtesy, efficiency of service delivery, and resolution of issues with service delivery. Responses will be assessed to plan and inform efforts to improve or maintain the quality of service offered to the public. If this information is not collected, vital feedback from customers and stakeholders on the provision of services will be unavailable to the Agency.

The Agency will only submit information collections for approval under this generic clearance if it meets the following conditions:

• The collections are voluntary;
• The collections are low-burden for respondents (based on considerations of total burden hours, total number of respondents, or burden-hours per respondent) and are low-cost for both the respondents and the Federal Government;
• The collections are noncontroversial and do not raise issues of concern to other Federal agencies;
• Any collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions from respondents who have experience with the program or may have experience with the program in the near future;
• Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected only to the extent necessary and is not retained;
• Information gathered will be used only internally for general service improvement and program management purposes and is not intended for release outside of the agency;
• Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of substantially informing influential policy decisions; and
• Information gathered will yield qualitative information; the collections will not be designed or expected to yield statistically reliable results or used as though the results are generalizable to the population of study.

The types of collections that this generic clearance covers include, but are not limited to, Program Satisfaction Surveys; Focus Groups; Customer Comment Cards; Small Discussion Groups of customers, potential customers, delivery partners, or other stakeholders; Cognitive Laboratory Studies, such as those used to refine questions or assess usability of a website; Qualitative Customer Satisfaction Surveys, such as post-transaction surveys and opt-out web surveys; In-person Observation Testing, such as website or software usability tests; and Patient Surveys. As a general matter, information collections under this clearance will not result in any new system of records containing privacy information and will not ask questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Businesses and Organizations; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Annual Burden: 256,000 total hours.

Program Satisfaction Surveys: 75,000.

Focus Groups: 32,000.

Customer Comment Cards: 7,500.

Small Discussion Groups: 2,750.

Cognitive Laboratory Studies: 30,000.

Qualitative Customer Satisfaction Surveys: 62,500.

In-Person Observation Testing: 6,000.

Patient Surveys: 40,250.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent:

Program Satisfaction Surveys: 30 minutes.

Focus Groups: 60 minutes.

Customer Comment Cards: 30 minutes.

Small Discussion Groups: 30 minutes.

Cognitive Laboratory Studies: 60 minutes.

Qualitative Customer Satisfaction Surveys: 30 minutes.

In-Person Observation Testing: 30 minutes.

Patient Surveys: 30 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Once.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 450,000 total.

Program Satisfaction Surveys: 150,000.

Focus Groups: 32,000.

Customer Comment Cards: 15,000.

Small Discussion Groups: 5,500.

Cognitive Laboratory Studies: 30,000.

Qualitative Customer Satisfaction Surveys: 125,000.

In-Person Observation Testing: 12,000.

Patient Surveys: 80,500.

By direction of the Secretary.

Maribel Aponte,

VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration/Data Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.