[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 35630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15073]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Surveys To 
Support the Inadequate Interoperability Cost Analysis of the U.S. 
Capital Facilities Industry

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to comment on the continuing and 
proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 15, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) should be directed 
to the attention of Phyllis Boyd, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 3220, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-32210, 
(301) 975-4062. In addition, written comments may be sent via e-mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 

I. Abstract

    In accordance with Executive Order 12862, the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST), a nonregulatory agency of the 
Department of Commerce, proposes to conduct a number of surveys of the 
U.S. capital facilities industry, a sector of the U.S. construction and 
facilities management industry. The surveys, to be administered to 
capital facilities architects, general contractors, engineers, 
suppliers, software developers, and owner-operators, will be designed 
to gather quantitative data. This data will be used to calculate the 
efficiency loss, in dollars, of inadequate electronic interoperability 
in the capital facilities supply chain and in capital facilities life 
cycle management. Each aforementioned stakeholder group will be 
administered a unique survey tailored to their activities in the 
design, construction, and operation of capital facilities. The surveys 
will collect data on respondents' capital facilities projects, business 
processes involving the exchange of electronic and paper-based 
communication, information technology investments, and the amount of 
labor involved in managing information flows internally and externally. 
Respondents will also be offered the opportunity to freely comment on 
the extent to which interoperability issues impact their businesses and 
operations. The surveys will be voluntary and confidential. At no time 
will the data collected be disclosed to any third parties.

II. Method of Collection

    NIST will collect this information through an Internet survey 
housed on a Web site using 128-bit encryption. Respondents will create 
their own unique user IDs and passwords. If respondents indicate that 
they are available for further comment or for clarifying responses, 
they may be contacted via telephone or e-mail.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 225.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 113.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    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 will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, e.g., the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 10, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-15073 Filed 6-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-CN-P