81 FR 72619 - Notice of Request for a Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 203 (October 20, 2016)

Page Range		72619-72620
FR Document		2016-25403

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the National Science Foundation's intention to request a revision to and an extension of approval of an information collection associated with qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback on service delivery by the National Science Foundation.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72619-72620]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25403]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Request for a Revision to and Extension of Approval of 
an Information Collection; Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service 
Delivery

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Revision to and extension of approval of an information 
collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the National Science Foundation's intention to request 
a revision to and an extension of approval of an information collection 
associated with qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback on 
service delivery by the National Science Foundation.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by December 19, 
2016 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 1265, Arlington, VA 
22230, or by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or 
send email to [email protected]. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-(800) 877-8339, which is 
accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including 
federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Comments: Written 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 of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; or (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Title: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback 
on Agency Service Delivery.
    OMB Number: 3145-0215.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2017.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.
    Abstract: The proposed information collection activity provides a 
means for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to garner qualitative 
customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in 
accordance with the Agency's commitment to improving service delivery.
    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. 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. This collection will allow for ongoing, collaborative and 
actionable communications between the

[[Page 72620]]

Agency 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 Agency's services will be unavailable.
    NSF will only submit a collection for approval under this generic 
clearance if it meets the following conditions:
    [cir] The collection is voluntary;
    [cir] The collection is low-burden for respondents (based on 
considerations of total burden hours, total number of respondents, or 
burden-hours per respondent) and is low-cost for both the respondents 
and the Federal Government;
    [cir] The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues 
of concern to other Federal agencies;
    [cir] The 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;
    [cir] Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected only 
to the extent necessary and is not retained;
    [cir] Information gathered is intended to be used only internally 
for general service improvement and program management purposes and is 
not intended for release outside of NSF (if released, NSF must indicate 
the qualitative nature of the information);
    [cir] Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of 
substantially informing influential policy decisions; and
    [cir] Information gathered will yield qualitative information; the 
collection will not be designed or expected to yield statistically 
reliable results or used as though the results are generalizable to the 
population of study.
    Feedback collected under this generic clearance provides useful 
information, but it does not yield data that can be generalized to the 
overall population. This type of generic clearance for qualitative 
information will not be used for quantitative information collections 
that are designed to yield reliably actionable results, such as 
monitoring trends over time or documenting program performance. Such 
data uses require more rigorous designs that address: The target 
population to which generalizations will be made, the sampling frame, 
the sample design (including stratification and clustering), the 
precision requirements or power calculations that justify the proposed 
sample size, the expected response rate, methods for assessing 
potential nonresponse bias, the protocols for data collection, and any 
testing procedures that were or will be undertaken prior to fielding 
this study. Depending on the degree of influence the results are likely 
to have, such collections may still be eligible for submission for 
other generic mechanisms that are designed to yield quantitative 
results.
    As a general matter, this information collection 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.
    Below we provide the National Science Foundation's projected 
average estimates for the next three years:
    Affected Public: Individuals and Households, Businesses and 
Organizations, State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Average Expected Annual Number of activities: 25.
    Respondents: 500 per activity.
    Annual responses: 7,500.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request
    Average minutes per response: 30.
    Burden hours: 6,250.

    Dated: October 17, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-25403 Filed 10-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

72620 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 203 / Thursday, October 20, 2016 / Notices

Agency and its customers and generalizations will be made, the electronically will increase efficiency
stakeholders. It will also allow feedback sampling frame, the sample design and be more convenient for operators.
to contribute directly to the (including stratification and clustering), This ICR Plan is the second of two
improvement of program management. the precision requirements or power required notices, pursuant to OMB
The solicitation of feedback will target calculations that justify the proposed regulations concerning approvals of
areas such as: Timeliness, sample size, the expected response rate, information collections. This notice
appropriateness, accuracy of methods for assessing potential again describes the nature of the
information, courtesy, efficiency of nonresponse bias, the protocols for data information collection and its expected
service delivery, and resolution of collection, and any testing procedures burden and advises the public it may
issues with service delivery. Responses that were or will be undertaken prior to submit comments on this proposed
will be assessed to plan and inform fielding this study. Depending on the information collection to the OIRA desk
efforts to improve or maintain the degree of influence the results are likely officer for the NTSB.
quality of service offered to the public. to have, such collections may still be DATES: Submit written comments
If this information is not collected, vital eligible for submission for other generic regarding this proposed plan for the
feedback from customers and mechanisms that are designed to yield collection of information by November
stakeholders on the Agency’s services quantitative results. 21, 2016.
will be unavailable. As a general matter, this information
NSF will only submit a collection for ADDRESSES: Interested members of the
collection will not result in any new
approval under this generic clearance if system of records containing privacy public may submit written comments on
it meets the following conditions: information and will not ask questions the collection of information to the
Æ The collection is voluntary; of a sensitive nature, such as sexual OMB Desk Officer for the NTSB at
Æ The collection is low-burden for behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, Office of Management and Budget, 725
respondents (based on considerations of and other matters that are commonly 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503,
total burden hours, total number of considered private. or via fax: 202–395–5806, (this is not a
respondents, or burden-hours per Below we provide the National toll-free number), or email: OIRA-
respondent) and is low-cost for both the Science Foundation’s projected average submission@omb.eop.gov. Commenters
respondents and the Federal estimates for the next three years: are encouraged, but not required, to
Government; Affected Public: Individuals and send a courtesy copy of any comments
Æ The collection is non-controversial Households, Businesses and to the National Transportation Safety
and does not raise issues of concern to Organizations, State, Local or Tribal Board, Office of Aviation Safety, 490
other Federal agencies; Government. L’Enfant Plaza SW., Washington, DC
Æ The collection is targeted to the Average Expected Annual Number of 20594.
solicitation of opinions from activities: 25. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
respondents who have experience with Respondents: 500 per activity. Josh Lindberg, NTSB Office of Aviation
the program or may have experience Annual responses: 7,500. Safety, at (202) 314–6667.
with the program in the near future; Frequency of Response: Once per
Æ Personally identifiable information request SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
(PII) is collected only to the extent Average minutes per response: 30. accordance with OMB regulations that
necessary and is not retained; Burden hours: 6,250. require this Notice for proposed ICRs,
Æ Information gathered is intended to the NTSB herein notifies the public that
Dated: October 17, 2016.
be used only internally for general it may submit comments on this
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
service improvement and program proposed ICR Plan to the Office of
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Information and Regulatory Affairs
management purposes and is not Foundation.
intended for release outside of NSF (if (OIRA) Desk Officer for the NTSB. 5
[FR Doc. 2016–25403 Filed 10–19–16; 8:45 am] CFR 1320.10(a). This request for
released, NSF must indicate the
qualitative nature of the information); BILLING CODE 7555–01–P approval is not associated with a
Æ Information gathered will not be rulemaking activity.
used for the purpose of substantially This notice follows the first of the two
informing influential policy decisions; NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION required notices requesting comment,
and SAFETY BOARD which appeared in the Federal Register
Æ Information gathered will yield on July 7, 2015. 80 FR 38751. Comments
qualitative information; the collection Plan for Information Collection in response to the first notice were due
will not be designed or expected to Activity: Submission for OMB Review; by September 7, 2015. The NTSB did
yield statistically reliable results or used Comment Request not receive any comments.
as though the results are generalizable to AGENCY: National Transportation Safety A. Paperwork Reduction Act
the population of study. Board (NTSB).
Feedback collected under this generic Requirement
ACTION: Notice.
clearance provides useful information, In accordance with OMB regulations
but it does not yield data that can be SUMMARY: The NTSB is announcing it is that require this Notice for proposed
generalized to the overall population. submitting a plan for an Information ICRs, the NTSB herein notifies the
This type of generic clearance for Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of public that it may submit comments on
qualitative information will not be used Management and Budget (OMB) for this proposed information collection.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

for quantitative information collections approval, in accordance with the Title 5 CFR 1320.10(a) requires this
that are designed to yield reliably Paperwork Reduction Act. This ICR notice to ‘‘direct comments to the Office
actionable results, such as monitoring Plan describes a web-based report form of Information and Regulatory Affairs of
trends over time or documenting an aircraft operator may use to report a OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for [the
program performance. Such data uses serious incident as defined in NTSB NTSB]. A copy of the notice submitted
require more rigorous designs that regulations. Providing the option to to the Federal Register, together with
address: The target population to which permit operators to file reports the date of expected publication, shall

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Document Created: 2016-10-21 09:59:01
Document Modified: 2016-10-21 09:59:01

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.
Dates		Written comments on this notice must be received by December 19, 2016 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
Contact		Ms. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send email to [email protected] Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-(800) 877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including federal holidays).
FR Citation		81 FR 72619