[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53883-53884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26814]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and 
Readiness).

ACTION: Notice.

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

    In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel 
and Readiness) announces public information collection and seeks public 
comment on the provisions thereof. 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 burden of the proposed information collection; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information 
collection on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by December 
7, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed 
information collection should be sent to the Office of the Under 
Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) (Force Management 
Policy), Defense Commissary Agency, Plans and Policy Directorate, 
Analysis and Evaluation Division, ATTN: Mr. Herman Weaver, 1300 E. 
Avenue, Fort Lee, Virginia 23801-6300.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request information on this proposed information collection or to 
obtain a copy of the proposed and associated collection instruments, 
please write to the above address, or call (804) 734-8322.

    Title and OMB Control Number: Commissary Evaluation and Utility 
Surveys-Generic Clearance,'' OMB Control Number 0704--[To be 
determined.]
    Needs and Uses: DeCA will conduct a variety of surveys to include, 
but not necessarily limited to customer satisfaction, transaction based 
comment cards, transaction based telephone interviews, commissary 
sizing, and patron migration. The information collected will provide 
customer perceptions, demographics, and will identify agency operations 
that need quality improvement, provide early detection of process or 
system problems, and focus attention on areas where customer service 
and functional training, new construction/renovations, and changes in 
existing operations that will improve service delivery.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Annual Burden Hours: 4,167.
    Number of Respondents: 50,000.
    Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Average Burden per Response: 5.
    Frequency: On occasion.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

(All respondents are authorized patrons by DoD regulations, unless 
otherwise described)

Commissary Sizing Survey

    Surveys will support commissary renovation and new construction 
based on perceptions (aisles, bakery, fish, deli, etc.) of patrons and 
will include demographics and sale projections.

Possible Facility Sites

    Patrons will input their answers to questions concerning where they 
would like new facility located, what configuration (mall, off-post, 
mini-marts, parking. etc.), and give their opinions on concerns that 
will affect their shopping experience. Will include demographics, 
populations maps, and distribution centers.

Patron Migration Survey

    These surveys will determine from our patrons which commissary they 
will migrate to and how sales will affect renovation of receiving 
facility. Surveys will assess other factors that may determine a need 
for mini-marts or other small grocery outlet.

BRAC and/or Closure Survey

    These surveys will also be given to local townships affected by 
base closures and its economic impact on surrounding communities, local 
governments, small and large businesses. The information collected will 
allow decisions to be made about keeping commissaries open, although, 
the base has closed or some alternative store for those patrons 
affected.

Commissary Operational Surveys

    These surveys will supply information on processes like TQM, 
Process Action Team objectives, internal coordination, and vender 
satisfaction. Also, how DeCA personnel and patron services such as new 
computer systems for checking groceries, how long patrons wait in line, 
store throughput and queuing, transaction based comment cards, and any 
new customer service DeCA may want to implement that will need patron 
support. The vehicle for any survey whether it is by interview or 
mailing will not burden the patron over fifteen minutes. The Customer 
Service Evaluation System (CSES) that uses the Commissary Customer 
Service Survey may be included under this heading.

Market Basket Surveys

    These surveys support the differences between commissary and 
private sector supermarket prices and the average savings to the 
commissary patron. Also,

[[Page 53884]]

we can determine price differences between OCONUS and CONUS 
commissaries. The patron will give their perceptions on their savings 
in the commissary versus local supermarkets.

Awareness Surveys

    These surveys allow the customer and DeCA to communicate with each 
other on issues that will make their shopping experience user-friendly. 
Telephones in aisles for price checks and location of products, TV 
videos in front of store for specials, market products, and educate 
patrons on their benefit are just a few areas to keep the patron 
informed. Customer service is making the patron aware of new and 
innovative alternatives to issues that will communicate their desires.

    Dated: September 30, 1998.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 98-26814 Filed 10-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M