[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 121 (Monday, June 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35421-35422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14100]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

[OMB No. 3206-0005]


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

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 85PS (SF 85PS); Questionnaire for National Security Positions, 
Standard Form 86 (SF 86); Continuation Sheet for Questionnaires Sf 
85, Sf 85p, and SF 86, Standard Form 86A (SF 86A); and Certification 
Statement for SF 86 (SF 86C)
AGENCY: U.S. 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 U.S. Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) a request for clearance of these information collections:
     Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, SF 85;
     Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions, SF 85P;
     Supplemental Questionnaire for Selected Positions, SF 
85PS;
     Questionnaire for National Security Positions, SF 86;
     Continuation Sheet for Questionnaires SF 85, SF 85P, and 
SF 85PS, SF 86A;
     Certification Statement for SF 86, SF 86C; and
     Parallel, electronic versions of the SF 85, SF 85P, SF 
85PS, and SF 86, including accompanying releases, housed in a system 
named e-QIP (Electronic Questionnaires for Investigative 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 Federal 
employment;
     Fit based on character and conduct for employment or 
retention as a contractor;
     Suitable for a public trust position;
     Suitable for or retention in national security positions 
as defined in 5 CFR 732;
     Eligible for or retention in positions requiring access to 
classified information under Executive Order 12968;
     Eligible for employment or retention as a Federal 
employee, Federal contractor or military personnel.
    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

[[Page 35422]]

performance of functions of the U.S. OPM and its Federal Investigative 
Services Division, which administers background investigations;
     Whether our estimate of the public burden of this 
collection is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology;
     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; and
     Ways in which we can enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected.
    The SF 85, SF 85P, SF 85PS, 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 45,100 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 85 annually. Each form takes approximately 30 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual public burden is 22,600 hours.
    It is estimated that 87,400 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 85P annually. Each form takes approximately 60 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual burden is 87,400 hours.
    It is estimated that 10,600 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 85PS annually. Each form takes approximately 10 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual burden is 1,800 hours.
    It is estimated that 190,100 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 86 annually. Each form takes approximately 120 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual burden is 380,200 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.
    The total estimated annual number of responses for all forms in 
this collection is 350,400. The estimated annual burden is 492,300 
hours.
    e-QIP (Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing) is 
a Web-based system application that houses electronic versions or the 
SF 85, SF 85P, SF 85PS, and SF 86. This internet data collection tool 
is used in place of and not in addition to the paper versions of these 
forms. Individuals using e-QIP 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. 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. However, 
we expect to have separate, estimated figures for publication in the 
30-day Federal Register Notice.
    In FY 2007, the total number of e-QIP users totaled 622,300. This 
includes 40,000 submitted on the SF 85; 69,000 on the SF 85P; and 
513,300 on the SF 86.
    For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on 
(202) 606-8358, Fax (202) 418-3251 or e-mail to [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, Associate 
Director, Federal Investigative Services Division, U.S. Office of 
Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW., Room 2H31, Washington, DC 
20415.
    For Information Regarding Administrative Coordination--Contact: 
Mary-Kay Brewer, Program Analyst, Operational Policy Group, Federal 
Investigative Services Division, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 
(202) 606-1835.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Howard Weizmann,
Deputy Director.
 [FR Doc. E8-14100 Filed 6-20-08; 8:45 am]
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