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)

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, 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