[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]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Annual                                    
 Type of      No. of       Frequency per     Hours per      Total Hours 
 Survey     Respondents      Response        Responses                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mail/                                                                   
 telepho                                                                
 ne                                                                     
 surveys   20,000               1                .30        6,000       
Total                                                       6,000       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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