[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41227-41228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15457]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Commerce 
Automated Job Application System

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 September 7, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork 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 
should be directed to the attention of Thomas R. Krieder, Computer 
Specialist, (202) 482-0537, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of 
Human Resources Management, IT Group, 14th & Constitution Ave, NW., 
Room 5004, Washington, DC 20230, or via e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Commerce automated job application system is a web-based 
software system that automates the vacancy announcement, application 
intake, application evaluation, and application referral processes, for 
positions in the Department of Commerce (DOC).
    In the current employment environment qualified job applicants for 
federal positions are in great demand. The DOC is in direct competition 
with private industry for the same caliber of candidates with the 
requisite knowledge and skills to fulfill the mission of the DOC. 
Consequently, it is imperative that every available technology be 
employed if the DOC is to remain competitive and meet hiring goals. The 
information provided by a job applicant will assist the Human Resources 
Specialists and hiring managers in determining whether an applicant 
meets the basic qualifications requirements and is best qualified for 
the position being filled. The job applicant may also voluntarily 
respond to two surveys. One survey is designed to identify how 
applicants learned about the job to which they applied. The second 
survey is to identify their user satisfaction and identify problems/
improvements which will make the system more user friendly. The 
information from both surveys provide data to improve the Commerce 
recruitment and outreach strategy to attract the best qualified job 
applicants. In addition, the electronic transmission will expedite the 
hiring process by reducing the time used in application evaluation, 
candidate referral and selection, and in the recruitment paperwork 
distribution/workflow process.
    The Commerce automated job application system will provide the DOC 
with a more user-friendly on-line employment application process and 
will enable the DOC to process hiring actions in a more efficient and 
timely manner. The on-line application will provide an electronic real 
time candidate list that will allow the DOC to review applications from 
applicants almost instantaneously. Given the immediate hiring needs of 
the DOC, time consumed in the mail distribution system or paper review 
of applications delays the decision-making process by several weeks. 
The continued use of the electronic application will maintain or 
increase the speed and accuracy in the employment process. It also 
streamlines labor and reduces costs.
    The use of the Commerce automated job application system fully 
meets the intent of 5 U.S.C. 2301, which requires that Federal 
personnel management be implemented consistent with merit system 
principles.
    Since the Commerce automated job application system will be used as 
an alternative form of employment application, the collection and use 
of the information requires Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval as outlined in Chapter 4, section A of the Delegated Examining 
Operations Handbook. The Handbook provides guidance to agencies under a 
delegated examining authority by the Office of Personnel Management 
(OPM), under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 1104.

II. Method of Collection

    Application information is collected electronically from the 
applicant through the Commerce automated job application system. 
Applicants may contact the DOC Web site on the Internet where they will 
find the on-line application and can fill out and submit the form 
electronically while connected to the Web site. Applicants who do not 
have access to a personal computer are directed to the servicing Human 
Resources Office for a paper version of the on-line announcement and 
application.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0690-0019.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, and the Federal 
Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: On average, the time to complete the 
on-line application is estimated to be 1 hour. But, depending on the 
situation, it could take as little as 10 minutes or as long as two 
hours to complete the on-line application. This is determined by the 
position for which the applicant is applying, and whether this is the 
applicant's first application in Commerce automated job application 
system, or if he or she already has a resume completed in Commerce 
automated job application system, which automatically fills in 
approximately 75% of the application's fields.

[[Page 41228]]

    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 30,000.
    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 30,2004.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-15457 Filed 7-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-17-P