[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 71 (Thursday, April 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 19731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7473]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership (MEP) Program Evaluation Survey

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), DOC.

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 take this opportunity to comment 
on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 
(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 13, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Room 6625, 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) and instructions 
should be directed to Romain Tweedy, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, 100 Bureau Drive, 
Stop 4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, (301) 975-8824 (phone) (301) 
963-6556 (fax), [email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sponsors 
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a national network of 
locally based manufacturing extension centers working with small 
manufacturers to help them improve their productivity, improve 
profitability and enhance their economic competitiveness.
    The specific information obtained from clients about the impact of 
MEP services is essential for NIST officials to evaluate program 
strengths and weaknesses and plan improvements in program effectiveness 
and efficiency. This information is not available from existing 
programs or other sources. The collection of information is currently 
conducted by Synovate, Inc. This submission under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act represents a request for an extension of a currently 
approved collection.

II. Method of Collection

    Clients have three options for completing the survey, Computer 
Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), Interactive Voice Response 
(IVR), or via the Internet.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0693-0021.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,083.
    Estimated Annual Cost to the Public: $0.

IV. Requests 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 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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 8, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-7473 Filed 4-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-CN-P