83 FR 2821 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery

MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 13 (January 19, 2018)

Page Range		2821-2822
FR Document		2018-00844

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, is planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), entitled: ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery'' and identified by OMB Control No. 3124-0015, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). This collection was developed as part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process for seeking feedback from the public on service delivery. MSPB is soliciting comments on this extension, without change, of a previously approved collection set to expire on April 30, 2018. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the collection to the OMB.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 13 (Friday, January 19, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2821-2822]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00844]


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MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative 
Feedback on Agency Service Delivery

AGENCY: Merit Systems Protection Board.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, is 
planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), entitled: ``Generic Clearance 
for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery'' 
and identified by OMB Control No. 3124-0015, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). This collection was developed as 
part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process for 
seeking feedback from the public on service delivery. MSPB is 
soliciting comments on this extension, without change, of a previously 
approved collection set to expire on April 30, 2018. The purpose of 
this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission 
of the collection to the OMB.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by March 
20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by using only one of the following methods:
    (1) Email. Submit comments to [email protected].
    (2) Mail. Submit comments to Jennifer Everling, Acting Clerk of the 
Board, Merit Systems Protection Board, 1615 M Street NW, Washington, DC 
20419.
    (3) Fax. Submit comments to (202) 653-7130.
    All comments must reference OMB Control No. 3124-0015. Regardless 
of the method used for submitting comments or material, all submissions 
will be posted, without change, to MSPB's website (www.mspb.gov) and 
will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, 
submitting this information makes it public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Everling, Acting Clerk of the 
Board, Merit Systems Protection Board, 1615 M Street NW, Washington, DC 
20419; phone: (202) 653-7200; fax: (202) 653-7130; or email: 
[email protected]. You may contact the Office of the Clerk of the Board for 
copies of the proposed collection of information at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The proposed information collection activity provides a means to 
obtain qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, 
timely manner, in accordance with MSPB's commitment to improving 
service delivery. Qualitative feedback is information that provides 
useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but are not statistical 
surveys 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. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and 
actionable communications between MSPB 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 MSPB's services will be unavailable.
    The MSPB will only submit a collection 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 non-controversial 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 MSPB;
     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.

    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 non-response bias, the protocols for data collection, and any 
testing procedures that were or will be undertaken prior to fielding 
the 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, information collections 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.
    Title: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback 
on Agency Service Delivery.
    OMB Number: 3124-0015.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension, without change, of a 
currently approved information collection.
    ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on April 30, 
2018. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.
    Abstract of Proposed Collection: This collection is part of a 
Federal

[[Page 2822]]

Government-wide effort to streamline the process for seeking feedback 
from the public on service delivery and provides a means to obtain 
qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely 
manner, in accordance with MSPB's commitment to improving service 
delivery. Responses to any collection of information under this ICR are 
voluntary.
    Affected Public: Individuals and Households; Businesses and 
Organizations; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Frequency of Responses: Once per request.
    Estimated Total Average Number of Responses for Each Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,500.
    Estimated Total Cost: $50,100.
    Comments: Comments should be submitted as indicated in the 
ADDRESSES caption above. Comments are solicited to: (a) Evaluate 
whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of MSPB, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility; (b) evaluate the accuracy of MSPB's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
(d) minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) evaluate 
the estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information. Burden 
means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by 
persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide information 
to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review 
instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and 
systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying 
information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and 
providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to 
a collection of information, to search data sources, to complete and 
review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise 
disclose the information.

Jennifer Everling,
Acting Clerk of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2018-00844 Filed 1-18-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7401-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2018 / Notices 2821

reproduction cost), payable to the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: • Personally identifiable information (PII)
United States Treasury. Jennifer Everling, Acting Clerk of the is collected only to the extent necessary and
Board, Merit Systems Protection Board, is not retained;
Jeffrey Sands, • Information gathered will be used only
1615 M Street NW, Washington, DC
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement internally for general service improvement
Section, Environment & Natural Resources
20419; phone: (202) 653–7200; fax: (202) and program management purposes and is
Division. 653–7130; or email: mspb@mspb.gov. not intended for release outside of MSPB;
[FR Doc. 2018–00833 Filed 1–18–18; 8:45 am]
You may contact the Office of the Clerk • Information gathered will not be used for
of the Board for copies of the proposed the purpose of substantially informing
BILLING CODE 4410–15–P
collection of information at: mspb@ influential policy decisions; and
mspb.gov. • Information gathered will yield
qualitative information; the collections will
MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: not be designed or expected to yield
BOARD The proposed information collection statistically reliable results or used as though
the results are generalizable to the population
activity provides a means to obtain
Agency Information Collection of study.
qualitative customer and stakeholder
Activities: Proposed Collection; Feedback collected under this generic
feedback in an efficient, timely manner,
Comment Request; Generic Clearance clearance provides useful information,
in accordance with MSPB’s
for the Collection of Qualitative but it does not yield data that can be
commitment to improving service
Feedback on Agency Service Delivery generalized to the overall population.
delivery. Qualitative feedback is
AGENCY: Merit Systems Protection information that provides useful This type of generic clearance for
Board. insights on perceptions and opinions, qualitative information will not be used
Notice and request for
ACTION: but are not statistical surveys that can be for quantitative information collections
comments. generalized to the population of study. that are designed to yield reliably
This feedback will provide insights into actionable results, such as monitoring
SUMMARY: The Merit Systems Protection customer or stakeholder perceptions, trends over time or documenting
Board (MSPB), as part of its continuing experiences and expectations, provide program performance. Such data uses
effort to reduce paperwork and an early warning of issues with service, require more rigorous designs that
respondent burden, is planning to or focus attention on areas where address: The target population to which
submit an Information Collection communication, training or changes in generalizations will be made, the
Request (ICR) to the Office of operations might improve delivery of sampling frame, the sample design
Management and Budget (OMB), products or services. These collections (including stratification and clustering),
entitled: ‘‘Generic Clearance for the will allow for ongoing, collaborative and the precision requirements or power
Collection of Qualitative Feedback on actionable communications between calculations that justify the proposed
Agency Service Delivery’’ and identified MSPB and its customers and sample size, the expected response rate,
by OMB Control No. 3124–0015, as stakeholders. It will also allow feedback methods for assessing potential non-
required by the Paperwork Reduction to contribute directly to the response bias, the protocols for data
Act of 1995 (PRA). This collection was improvement of program management. collection, and any testing procedures
developed as part of a Federal that were or will be undertaken prior to
Government-wide effort to streamline The solicitation of feedback will target
areas such as: Timeliness, fielding the study. Depending on the
the process for seeking feedback from degree of influence the results are likely
the public on service delivery. MSPB is appropriateness, accuracy of
information, courtesy, efficiency of to have, such collections may still be
soliciting comments on this extension, eligible for submission for other generic
without change, of a previously service delivery, and resolution of
issues with service delivery. Responses mechanisms that are designed to yield
approved collection set to expire on quantitative results.
April 30, 2018. The purpose of this will be assessed to plan and inform
As a general matter, information
notice is to allow 60 days for public efforts to improve or maintain the
collections will not result in any new
comment preceding submission of the quality of service offered to the public.
system of records containing privacy
collection to the OMB. If this information is not collected, vital
information and will not ask questions
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
feedback from customers and
of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
comments received by March 20, 2018. stakeholders on MSPB’s services will be
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs,
unavailable.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by using and other matters that are commonly
only one of the following methods: The MSPB will only submit a considered private.
(1) Email. Submit comments to collection for approval under this Title: Generic Clearance for the
mspb@mspb.gov. generic clearance if it meets the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on
(2) Mail. Submit comments to Jennifer following conditions: Agency Service Delivery.
Everling, Acting Clerk of the Board, • The collections are voluntary; OMB Number: 3124–0015.
Merit Systems Protection Board, 1615 M • The collections are low-burden for Type of Information Collection:
Street NW, Washington, DC 20419. respondents (based on considerations of total Extension, without change, of a
(3) Fax. Submit comments to (202) burden hours, total number of respondents, currently approved information
653–7130. or burden-hours per respondent) and are low- collection.
All comments must reference OMB cost for both the respondents and the Federal ICR Status: This ICR is currently
Control No. 3124–0015. Regardless of Government; scheduled to expire on April 30, 2018.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

the method used for submitting • The collections are non-controversial An Agency may not conduct or sponsor,
comments or material, all submissions and do not raise issues of concern to other
Federal agencies;
and a person is not required to respond
will be posted, without change, to • Any collection is targeted to the to, a collection of information, unless it
MSPB’s website (www.mspb.gov) and solicitation of opinions from respondents displays a currently valid OMB control
will include any personal information who have experience with the program or number.
you provide. Therefore, submitting this may have experience with the program in the Abstract of Proposed Collection: This
information makes it public. near future; collection is part of a Federal

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Document Created: 2018-01-19 02:42:52
Document Modified: 2018-01-19 02:42:52

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		Notice and request for comments.
Dates		Consideration will be given to all comments received by March 20, 2018.
Contact		Jennifer Everling, Acting Clerk of the Board, Merit Systems Protection Board, 1615 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20419; phone: (202) 653-7200; fax: (202) 653-7130; or email: [email protected] You may contact the Office of the Clerk of the Board for copies of the proposed collection of information at: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 2821