[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70631-70632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-3500]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Outside Assessment of DOC Compliance Program

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction

[[Page 70632]]

Act of 1995, Pub. L.104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 7, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork, Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th & 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to: Pamela Woods, Trade Compliance Center, Room 3043, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 
20230; Phone Number: (202) 482-1191.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    In 2003, the Department of Commerce's (DOC's) International Trade 
Administration (ITA) conducted a bureau-wide Customer Satisfaction 
Survey covering all ITA program units, related to the citizen-centered 
objectives of the President's Management Agenda. The results were used 
to set a baseline for performance metric reporting and tracking and to 
better understand the customer base it serves. ITA's Market Access and 
Compliance (MAC) program survey report identified gaps between a high 
level of customer awareness yet low customer use of fair trade and 
market access services. Findings also indicated that a substantial 
customer base is unaware of the specific services that the DOC 
Compliance Program offers.
    In response to the survey findings, MAC is undertaking a customer 
service analysis to find out in more specific terms and greater detail, 
what MAC's Trade Compliance Center's (TCC's) customers expectations 
are. This will enable the TCC to answer: ``What Do Customers Want from 
the DOC's Compliance Program?'' Information about the TCC can be found 
on its website at http://www.export.gov/tcc.
    The purpose of this outside assessment is to obtain customer and 
potential customer views regarding the DOC Compliance Program to 
determine:
     If the TCC offers the right set of services to assist U.S. 
exporters to overcome foreign trade barriers.
     If MAC is aware of exporter needs.
     If the right MAC programs are in place to meet identified 
needs.
     If MAC services are properly promoted to maximize 
efficiency and effectiveness.
    An enhanced customer satisfaction program or other service 
improvements might result from this data collection initiative.

II. Method of Collection

    The Department of Commerce's (DOC) International Trade 
Administration (ITA) is making great strides in monitoring ITA's 
customer satisfaction and advancing a strategic approach to delivering 
value to its customers. The Trade Agreements Compliance unit has 
contracted with Charney Research to issue a questionnaire and host 
focus group interviews to gather strategic feedback from core and 
target TCC customers. These surveys will assess reactions to MAC's 
publicly available tools, informational outreach efforts, customer 
service regarding compliance casework, and new initiatives for 
exporters.
    Contractor will conduct two online focus groups with a total of 
about two dozen exporting businesses, first, to obtain ``open ended'' 
qualitative information on foreign trade barrier assistance needs, 
outreach demands or opportunities, and market access/compliance values 
from exporting customer base with program/service contact experiences. 
Subsequently, mass questionnaires yielding at least 250 survey 
responses will seek to collect ``closed end'' quantitative data about 
customer base identify among the exporting public, best means to 
deliver promotional campaigns to the private sector, ways to raise user 
awareness and interactive engagement, reactions to tools available, and 
perceptions of TCC program and services offered. Narrative experiences 
derived from focus group participants will be incorporated into survey 
questions to validate results and benchmark decision points for 
government officials.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0625-XXXX.
    Form Number: ITA-XXX.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: U.S. Exporters and their Business Representatives, 
categorized as either active customers, prospective customers, or 
untapped customers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 274.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours for focus group participants 
and 15 minutes for survey respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 110.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: $7,300.

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

    Dated: December 1, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E4-3500 Filed 12-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-01-P