[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 161 (Monday, August 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 48536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13706]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


International Trade Specialist Counseling Session Survey

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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 Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(2)(A)).

Dates: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 20, 
2006.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to: Joseph Carter, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; Phone number: (202) 482-3342; E-mail: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The International Trade Administration's U.S. Commercial Service is 
mandated by Congress to help U.S. businesses, particularly small and 
medium-sized companies, export their products and services to global 
markets. As part of its mission, the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) 
currently uses ``Quality Assurance Surveys'' to collect feedback from 
U.S. business clients that use U.S. Commercial Service pay-for-use 
products/events provided by the organization's international offices. 
These surveys ask the client to evaluate the U.S. Commercial Service on 
its customer service provision. Results from the surveys are used to 
make improvements to the agency's business processes in order to 
provide better and more effective export assistance to U.S. companies. 
In addition to collecting client feedback for pay-for-use products/
events provided by the U.S. Commercial Service's international offices, 
the U.S. Commercial Service would like to institutionalize Counseling 
Session Surveys to obtain client feedback from U.S. businesses that 
have engaged in ``counseling sessions'' with CS International Trade 
Specialists in the domestic offices (known as U.S. Export Assistance 
Centers). Counseling sessions occur when an International Trade 
Specialist from one of the U.S. Commercial Service's domestic offices 
works with a client to determine their international marketing 
interests and provide ``global trade solutions''.
    The purpose of the attached survey is to collect feedback from U.S. 
businesses that receive counseling from domestic International Trade 
Specialists of the U.S. Commercial Service. This information will be 
used for program improvement, strategic planning, and allocation of 
resources. Survey responses will be used to assess client satisfaction, 
assess priorities, and identify areas where service levels and benefits 
differ from client expectations. In providing these counseling 
services, the U.S. Commercial Service promotes the goods and services 
of small and medium-sized U.S. businesses in foreign markets.

II. Method of Collection

    The data collection method chosen for the counseling session 
quality assurance survey is an e-mail message delivering a hot link to 
a web enabled survey. If the client does not respond to the survey 
within two weeks, another e-mail reminder is sent to the client.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0625-0253.
    Form Number: ITA-4154P.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: U.S. companies that are recruited by the U.S. 
Commercial Service.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1700.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 284 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: The estimated annual cost for this 
collection is $9596.00.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for 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, 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: August 15, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-13706 Filed 8-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P