[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3569-3570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1280]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

[OMB No. 3206-0005]


Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Proposed Clearance of 
Revised Information Collections

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and 
Budget a request for clearance of these information collections:
     Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, Standard Form 
85 (SF 85);
     Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions, Standard Form 
85P (SF 85P);
     Supplemental Questionnaire for Selected Positions, 
Standard Form 85P-S (SF 85P-S);
     Questionnaire for National Security Positions, Standard 
Form 86 (SF 86);
     Continuation Sheet for Questionnaires SF 86, 85P, and 85, 
Standard Form 86A (SF 86A);
     Certification Statement for SF 86, Standard Form SF 86C 
(SF 86C); and
     Parallel, electronic versions of the SF 85, SF 85P, and SF 
86, including

[[Page 3570]]

accompanying releases, housed in a system named e-QIP (Electronic 
Questionnaires for Investigations Processing)
    These information collections are completed by applicants for, or 
incumbents of, Government positions, or positions for the Government 
under contract, or by military personnel. The collections are used as 
the basis of information for background investigations to establish 
that such persons are suitable for:
     Employment or retention in employment;
     Employment or retention as contractor; or eligible for:
     A public trust position; or
     Employment or retention as a Federal employee, Federal 
contractor or military personnel in a sensitive or national security 
position requiring access to classified national security information 
or special nuclear information or material.
    When use is necessary, the SF 86A is used in lieu of blank paper as 
a continuation of the form with which its use is associated and not for 
any unique purpose exclusive from the associated form.
    Comments are particularly invited on:
     Whether this collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of functions of the Office of Personnel 
Management and its Center for Federal Investigative Services, which 
administers background investigations;
     Whether our estimate of the public burden of this 
collection is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; 
and
     Ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on those who are to respond, through use of the 
appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
     Ways in which we can enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected.
    The SF 85, SF 85P, SF 85P-S, SF 86, SF 86A, and SF 86C are 
completed by both employees of the Federal Government and individuals 
not employed with the Federal Government, including Federal 
contractors, and military personnel.
    Federal employees are defined as those individuals who are employed 
as civilian or military personnel with the Federal Government. Non-
Federal employees include members of the general public and all 
individuals employed as Federal and military contractors, or 
individuals otherwise not directly employed by the Federal Government.
    It is estimated that 17,000 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 85 annually. Each form takes approximately 30 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual public burden is 8,500 hours.
    It is estimated that 49,000 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 85P annually. Each form takes approximately 60 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual burden is 49,000 hours.
    It is estimated that 3,600 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 85P-S annually. Each form takes approximately 10 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual burden is 600 hours.
    It is estimated that 56,000 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 86 annually. Each form takes approximately 90 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual burden is 84,000 hours.
    It is estimated that 16,000 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 86A annually. When this continuation form is used, however, no 
public burden estimate is provided as it is included with the time 
computed with the associated security questionnaire.
    It is estimated that 1,200 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 86C annually. Each form takes approximately 15 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual burden is 300 hours.
    e-QIP (Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing) is 
a Web-based system application that houses or will house electronic 
versions or the SF 86, SF 85P, SF 85P-S, and SF 85. The SF 86 is in 
full production and the SF 85P, SF 85P-S and SF 85 will be available 
for full production by early 2005. This Internet data collection tool 
is used in place of--not in addition to--the paper versions of these 
forms. Individuals using the e-QIP versions will enjoy more 
convenience, faster processing time, and immediate data validation to 
ensure accuracy of their personal history information. The data 
requested on these forms is consistent with that requested on their 
paper counterparts. e-QIP is a newly implemented system, which accounts 
for approximately 5% of all security forms submitted at this time. As 
implementation among Federal agencies expands, it is anticipated that 
the percentage of all security forms processed through e-QIP will 
exceed 50% by 2006.
    While e-QIP will significantly enhance the processing of security 
questionnaires for processing of background investigations, we do not 
expect an immediate discernable change to the public burden hours from 
those cited above for identical paper versions of the forms.
    For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on 
(202) 606-8358, Fax (202) 418-3251, or e-mail at [email protected]. 
Please be sure to include a mailing address with your request.

DATES: Comments on this proposal should be received within 60 calendar 
days from the date of this publication.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to: Kathy Dillaman, Deputy 
Associate Director, Center for Federal Investigative Services, U.S. 
Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E. Street, Room 5416, Washington, 
DC 20415.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATION CONTACT:  Doug 
Steele--Program Analyst, Standards and Evaluations Group, Center for 
Federal Investigative Services, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 
(202) 606-2325.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Kay Coles James,
Director.
[FR Doc. 05-1280 Filed 1-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-38-P