[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 37930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14934]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership (MEP) Client Impact Survey

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, 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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 2, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., 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 and instructions should 
be directed to Kenneth P. Voytek, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 
4800, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-4800, 301-975-4614 (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 
fifty-nine (59) locally based manufacturing extension centers working 
with small manufacturers to help them improve their productivity, 
profitability, and enhance their overall economic competitiveness.
    NIST MEP surveys all clients provided substantive services and 
collects data on sales, investment, cost savings, and jobs impacts as 
well as a limited set of qualitative questions. NIST MEP surveys center 
clients for two primary purposes:
     To collect aggregate information on program performance 
indicators to report to various stakeholders on program performance. 
The survey provides information about the quantifiable impacts that 
clients attribute to the services provided by MEP centers. NIST MEP 
also conducts other episodic studies to evaluate the system's impact 
that corroborate and complement the survey results.
     To provide center-specific program performance and impact 
information for center use. Centers use this information to communicate 
results to their own stakeholders, at both the state and federal level. 
Center management and NIST MEP use these results to evaluate center 
performance and effectiveness. The MEP Center Review Criteria and 
review process place strong emphasis on a center's ability to 
demonstrate impacts based on the survey results.
    The specific information obtained from clients about the impact of 
MEP services is essential for NIST officials to monitor and report on 
program performance and plan program improvements aimed at improving 
program efficiency and effectiveness. This information is not available 
from existing programs or other sources. The collection of information 
is currently conducted by a contractor. This submission under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act represents a request for an extension of a 
currently approved collection.

II. Method of Collection

    The survey data will be collected through a combination of phone 
and web-based surveys.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0693-0021.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 8 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,067.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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 cost) 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 other 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: June 26, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-14934 Filed 7-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P