[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49581-49582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24753]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 98N-0747]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Customer/Partner Service Surveys
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an
opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain
information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information,
including each proposed extension of an existing collection of
information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the
notice. This notice solicits comments on voluntary customer/partner
service surveys to implement Executive Order 12862.
DATES: Submit written comments on the collection of information by
November 16, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information to
the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration,
5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should
be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading
of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: JonnaLynn P. Capezzuto, Office of
Information Resources Management (HFA-250), Food and Drug
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-4659.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor.
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506
(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information
including each proposed extension of an existing collection of
information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To
comply with this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed
collection of information set forth below.
With respect to the following collection of information, FDA
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy
of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (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, when appropriate, and other forms of
information technology.
Customer/Partner Service Surveys
Under section 903 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21
U.S.C. 393), FDA is authorized to conduct research relating to
regulated articles and to conduct educational and public information
programs relating to responsibilities of the agency. Executive Order
12862, entitled ``Setting Customer Service Standards,'' directs Federal
agencies that ``provide significant services directly to the public''
to ``survey customers to determine the kind and quality of services
they want and their level of satisfaction with existing services.'' FDA
is seeking OMB clearance to conduct a series of surveys to implement
Executive Order 12862. Participation in the surveys will be voluntary.
This request covers customer service surveys or regulated entities,
such as food processors; cosmetic, drug, biologic and medical device
manufacturers; consumers; and health professionals. The request also
covers partner surveys of State and local governments.
FDA will use the information gathered from these surveys to
identify strengths and weaknesses in service to customers/partners and
to make improvements. The surveys will assess timeliness,
appropriateness, accuracy of information, courtesy, and problem
resolution in the context of individual programs.
FDA projects 14 customer/partner service surveys per year, with a
sample of between 50 and 6,000 customers each. Some of these surveys
will be repeats of earlier surveys, for purposes of monitoring
customer/partner service and developing long-term data.
FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as
follows:
Table 1.--Estimated Annual Reporting Burden1
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Annual
Type of No. of Frequency per Hours per Total Hours
Survey Respondents Response Responses
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Mail/
telepho
ne
surveys 20,000 1 .30 6,000
Total 6,000
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\1\ There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs
associated with this collection of information.
[[Page 49582]]
These estimates are based on the number of customer/partner service
surveys FDA has conducted since January 26, 1998.
Dated: September 9, 1998.
William K. Hubbard,
Associate Commissioner for Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. 98-24753 Filed 9-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F
