2011-24049. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; NIST Three-Year Generic Request for Customer Service-Related Data Collections

AGENCY:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce (DOC), 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.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before November 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or a copy of the collection instruments and instructions should be directed to Darla Yonder, Management Analyst, NIST, [phone] or via e-mail to [e-mail].

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 type and quality of the 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 collections that include, but may not be limited to focus groups, reply cards that accompany product distributions, and Web-based surveys and dialog 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 options 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.

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 Control Number: 0693-0031.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved information collection).

Affected Public: Business or for-profit organizations, individuals or households, not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.

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

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,500.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to 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 through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

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

Dated: September 14, 2011.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.