[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 251 (Wednesday, December 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80445-80447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-31144]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

[OMB Control No. 3206-0005]


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request for 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, 85P, and 86, Standard Form 86a (Sf 86a); and 
Certification Statement for SF 86 (SF 86C)

AGENCY: 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 Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM) submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a 
request for review and clearance of the revised collection of 
information, Questionnaires for National Security, Public Trust, and 
Non-Sensitive Positions (OMB Control No. 3206-0005), which includes the 
following electronic, on-line collection instruments:

[[Page 80446]]

     Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, Standard Form 
85 (SF 85);
     Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions, Standard Form 
85P (SF 85P); and
     Questionnaire for National Security Positions, Standard 
Form 86 (SF 86).
    This notice also announces that the Office of Personnel Management 
(OPM) submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a request to 
discontinue clearance of the Continuation Sheet for Questionnaires SF 
85, 85P, and 86, Standard Form 86A (SF 86A), the Certification 
Statement for SF 86, Standard Form SF 86C (SF 86C); and the 
Supplemental Questionnaire for Selected Positions, Standard Form 85PS 
(SF 85PS), which were formerly included in the collection (OMB Control 
No. 3206-0005).
    These information collections are completed by respondents for, or 
incumbents of, Government positions or positions for the Government 
under contract, or by military personnel. The collections are used as 
the basis for background investigations to establish that such persons 
are:
     Suitable for employment or retention in the position;
     Suitable for employment or retention in a public trust 
position;
     Suitable for employment or retention in a national 
security position; and
     Eligible for access to classified national security 
information.
    We are discontinuing request for clearance of the SF 86A, SF 86C, 
and SF 85PS, and propose that these collections be eliminated. The SF 
86A is currently used as a continuation of the form with which its use 
is associated and not for any unique purpose exclusive from the 
associated form. It is proposed that the SF 86A be eliminated as it is 
not necessary when e-QIP is used. Additionally, GSA has requested that 
the Standard Forms be available to customers in electronic format only. 
They will no longer be stocking the paper forms. The SF 86C is 
currently used in lieu of completing a new SF 86 to allow the 
individual to indicate that there have been no changes in the data 
provided on the most recently filed SF 86 or to allow the individual to 
easily provide new or changed information. The electronic format of the 
proposed SF 86 eliminates the need for a separate SF 86C. It is 
proposed that the SF 85PS be eliminated because the questions formerly 
on the SF 85PS now reside on the SF 85P.
    The SF 85, SF 85P, and SF 86 are completed by both employees of the 
Federal Government and individuals not employed with the Federal 
Government, to include Federal and military contractors. 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 47,700 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 85 annually. Each form takes approximately 100 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual public burden is 79,500 hours.
    It is estimated that 98,700 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 85P annually. Each form takes approximately 150 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual burden is 246,750 hours.
    It is estimated that 21,800 non-Federal individuals will complete 
the SF 86 annually. Each form takes approximately 150 minutes to 
complete. The estimated annual burden is 54,500 hours.
    e-QIP (Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing) is 
a web-based system application that currently houses electronic 
versions of the SF 85, SF 85P, and SF 86. This internet data collection 
tool provides faster processing time and immediate data validation to 
ensure accuracy of the respondent's personal information. The e-
Government initiative mandates that agencies utilize e-QIP for all 
investigations and reinvestigations.
    A variable in assessing burden hours is the nature of the 
electronic application. The electronic application includes branching 
questions and instructions which provide for a tailored collection from 
the respondent based on varying factors in the respondent's personal 
history. The burden on the respondent is reduced when the respondent's 
personal history is not relevant to a particular question, since the 
question branches, or expands for additional details, only for those 
persons who have pertinent information to provide regarding that line 
of questioning. As such, the burden on the respondent will vary 
depending on whether the information collection relates to the 
respondent's personal history.
    Additionally, once entered, a respondent's complete and certified 
investigative data remains secured in the e-QIP system until the next 
time the respondent is sponsored by an agency to complete a new 
investigative form. Upon initiation, the respondent's previously 
entered data (except `yes/no' questions) will populate a new 
investigative request and the respondent will be allowed to update 
their information and certify the data. In this instance, time to 
complete the form is reduced significantly.
    The 60-day Federal Register Notice was published June 23, 2008 
(Volume 73, Number 121, pages 35421-35422). The following Federal 
agencies or agency organizations made comments during the public 
comment period: Social Security Administration, Joint Security and 
Suitability Reform Team, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Agency for International 
Development, Department of Homeland Security, Central Intelligence 
Agency, Department of Transportation, Office of the Director of 
National Intelligence, Department of State, Department of State Mental 
Health Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defense Personnel 
Security Research Center, Department of Energy, and internal 
commentators from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The 
vast majority of comments were from OPM internal commentators and 
focused on administrative issues related to the formatting of the 
instructions and questions on the former paper collection. Most 
comments from other agencies focused on changes to the collection of 
mental health treatment information relative to treatment resulting 
from service in a military combat environment.
    Comments which most substantially affected the proposed revisions 
of the SF 85P and SF 86 were considered in light of the intent of 
Executive Order 13467 to align using consistent standards to the extent 
possible policies and procedures relating to suitability, contractor 
employee fitness, eligibility to hold a sensitive position, access to 
federally controlled facilities and information systems, and 
eligibility for access to classified information. As a result of 
reforms to investigative processes, the SF 85, SF 85P, and SF 86 were 
expanded to collect from the respondent more accurate and relevant 
information that is of investigative and adjudicative significance 
earlier in the investigative process, thus increasing the length of the 
collections. As a result of public comment, significant and substantial 
changes were made to the SF 85, SF 85P, and SF 86. Such changes to the 
SF 85 include revision to questions 9, 10, 17, 18, 21, and the addition 
of new questions 19, 20, and 22. These question numbers reflect 
renumbering to accommodate the addition of new areas of questioning. 
Changes to the SF

[[Page 80447]]

85P include revisions to questions 9, 10, 15, 17b, 18, 20c, 22, 23, 24, 
25, 26 and the addition of questions 19, 20a, 20b, 21, 27, 28, and 29. 
Changes to the SF 86 include revisions to questions 19, 20a, 20b, 20c, 
21, 22, 23, 24, and 29. Due to the extensive nature of the comments, 
they have been consolidated in a matrix and are available upon request.
    For copies of this proposal, contact Mary-Kay Brewer on 703-305-
1002, Fax 703-603-0576, or e-mail at [email protected]. Please be 
sure to include a mailing address with your request.

DATES: Comments on this proposal should be received within 30 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 5416, Washington, DC 
20415, [email protected]; and John W. Barkhamer, Desk Officer, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503.

For Information Regarding Administrative Coordination Contact: Mary-Kay 
Brewer, Program Analyst, Operational Policy Group, Federal 
Investigative Services Division, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 
703-305-1002.

Michael W. Hager,
Acting Director.
 [FR Doc. E8-31144 Filed 12-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-53-P