[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 177 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52814-52815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21030]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the emergency provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: International Trade Administration.
    Title: Market Research to Broaden and Deepen U.S. Exporter Base.
    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number(s): ITA-8710; ITA-8711; ITA-8712; and ITA-8713.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Burden Hours: 1,800.
    Number of Respondents: 4,000.
    Average Hours per Response: 15 minutes, ITA-8710 and ITA-8713; and 
30 minutes, ITA 8711 and ITA-8712.
    Needs and Uses: Expanding U.S. exports is a national priority 
essential to improving U.S. trade performance. The Department of 
Commerce (DOC), International Trade Administration (ITA), U.S. 
Commercial Service (CS) serves as the key U.S. government agency 
responsible for promoting exports of goods and services from the United 
States, particularly by small and medium-sized enterprises, and 
assisting U.S. exporters in their dealings with foreign governments.
    Section 4721 of 15 U.S. Code contains several provisions that 
direct the CS to, ``identify United States businesses with the 
potential to export goods and services and provide such businesses with 
advice and information on establishing export businesses.'' As

[[Page 52815]]

such, the long-term performance goal of the CS is to ``broaden and 
deepen the U.S. exporter base.''
    Furthermore, the CS is mandated by the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 to improve program performance and achieve better 
results for the American people. Based on this mandate, the CS 
developed new metrics driven by the 2008 Program Assessment Rating Tool 
(PART) to measure the effectiveness and impact of the CS at broadening 
and deepening the U.S. exporter base.
    In order to collect information that establishes the baseline 
metrics for some of these new performance measures and provides data 
points for determining how to meet program performance goals, the CS 
requests approval to conduct market research on prospective and 
existing U.S. exporters using the following four surveys:
    1. Commercial Service Brand Analysis and Strategy Survey (Form ITA-
8710): The CS must increase awareness of our organization and the 
services provided to U.S. companies. Currently, there is no research 
available about CS awareness and brand position. This survey was 
designed to measure four new performance metrics (awareness, 
consideration, transaction and loyalty) related to broadening and 
deepening the U.S. exporter base.
    2. Market Segmentation Survey of Moderate U.S. Exporters--
Manufacturers (Form ITA-8711): The CS must gain market knowledge and 
generate statistically valid characterizations about the needs of 
exporting companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. 
This survey was designed to identify different segments of U.S. 
manufacturers so that the organization can measure our ability to 
broaden and deepen the exporter base of each unique segment.
    3. Market Segmentation Survey of U.S. Exporters--Service Providers 
(Form ITA-8712): CS must gain market knowledge and generate 
statistically valid characterizations about the needs of exporting 
companies. This survey was designed to identify different segments of 
U.S. service providers so that the organization can measure our ability 
to broaden and deepen the exporter base of each unique segment.
    4. Market Evaluation Survey of Non-Exporting Companies (Form ITA-
8713): CS must gain market knowledge and generate statistically valid 
characterizations about the needs of non-exporting companies. This 
survey was designed to uncover the needs of U.S. companies that are not 
currently exporting so that the CS can measure the organization's 
ability to turn non-exporters into exporters.
    The information will be used to improve and better target services 
provided to the public. Without this information, the CS is unable to 
measure program performance and systematically determine the needs and 
benefits desired of U.S. companies and how best to meet these needs in 
order to broaden and deepen the U.S. exporter base.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: One-time, annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, (202) 395-3897.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to OMB Desk Officer, David Rostker, FAX number (202) 395-5806, or 
[email protected].

    Dated: September 5, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-21030 Filed 9-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P