[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40974-40975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15011]


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

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request for Revised 
Information Collection: OPM Form 1203-AW, Occupational Questionnaire 
OPM Form 1203-AW, OPM Form 1203-FX, Occupational Questionnaire OPM Form 
1203-FX, and OPM Form 1203-EZ, Occupational Questionnaire OPM Form 
1203-EZ

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public 
Law 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of 
Personnel Management (OPM) submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget a request for review of a revised information collection for 
Occupational Questionnaire (OPM Forms 1203-AW, 1203-FX and 1203-EZ). 
The Occupational Questionnaire is an optical scan form designed to 
collect applicant information and qualifications in a format suitable 
for automated processing and to create applicant records for an 
automated examining system. Each version of this form contains a unique 
scan form identifier in the upper left-hand corner for the scanning 
equipment to recognize which version is being used. The 1203 series was 
commonly referred to as the Qualifications and Availability Form C. OPM 
has re-titled the series as Occupational Questionnaire, to fit a more 
generic need. OPM uses these forms to carry out its responsibility for 
open competitive examining for admission to the competitive service in 
accordance with section 3304, of title 5, United States Code.
    OPM Form 1203-AW is a scan form that contains a unique control 
number pre-printed within the footer of the form that is scanned in 
along with the applicant's information. It is OPM's intention to phase 
out this version of the Occupational Questionnaire during fiscal year 
2002. Applicants will be asked to use OPM Form1203-FX or 1203-EZ in its 
place. OPM will

[[Page 40975]]

officially cancel Form 1203-AW at that time.
    OPM Form 1203-FX is a seven page version of the Occupational 
Questionnaire that allows the applicant to transmit via facsimile. This 
version does not contain a unique control number pre-printed within the 
footer of the form. However, this revised version will be phased in to 
allow continued acceptance of the existing version dated October 1998, 
making the existing version still usable. (See the comments identified 
below for what changes were made.)
    OPM Form 1203-EZ is a three page version that is shorter and is 
transmittable via facsimile. This version does not contain a unique 
control number pre-printed within the footer of the form.
    A comment request for these forms was published in the Federal 
Register on August 6, 2001 [FR Doc. 01-19551]. During the initial 60-
day comment request period, OPM received no comments.
    OPM has revised the Occupational Questionnaire to include the 
following: (1) Updated the Privacy Act and Public Burden Statements; 
(2) slightly re-designed the forms for scanning technology; (3) 
improved the sections that allow overseas applicants to enter foreign 
addresses and phone numbers; (4) removed the requirement for the 
applicant to sign and date (since this is a scan form that only 
recognizes certain characters written in blocks and filled-in bubbles); 
(5) added ``Date of Birth'' to all versions; (6) updated the Veterans' 
Preference section; and (7) changed the title of this series from 
``Qualifications and Availability Form'' (commonly referred as the 
``Form C'') to ``Occupational Questionnaire'.
    Upon clearance from the Office of Management and Budget, the 
Occupational Questionnaire will be available via OPM's web site and 
OPM's USAJOBS web site. The form will be made available electronically 
as a fillable Adobe Acrobat Reader (.PDF) file and fillable on-line 
when applying on OPM's USAJOBS web site (when applicable). A 
transmittal memo from OPM will be sent to all Federal agency personnel 
directors via the Human Resources Management Council, announcing the 
approved, revised form and where/how to obtain it.
    For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on 202-
606-8358, fax at 202-418-3251, or e-mail at [email protected]. Please 
include a mailing address with your request.

DATES: Comments on this proposal should be received on or before July 
15, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to--

U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Employment Service, ATTN: Rob 
Timmins, 1900 E Street, NW., Room 1425, Washington, DC 20415-9820, E-
mail: [email protected], and
Office of Management & Budget, Office of Information & Regulatory 
Affairs, ATTN: Joseph Lackey, OPM Desk Officer, New Executive Office 
Building, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.

Office of Personnel Management.
Kay Coles James,
Director.
[FR Doc. 02-15011 Filed 6-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-38-P