[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 209 (Friday, October 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56176-56177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26155]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Malcolm 
Baldrige National Quality Award and Examiner Applications

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

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 December 21, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 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 Pamela P. Wong, Baldrige National Quality Program, 
Administration Building, Room 615, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1020, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 
20899-1020; telephone (301) 975-4504, fax (301) 948-3716, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 56177]]

I. Abstract

    The Department of Commerce is responsible for the Baldrige National 
Quality Program and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality (BNQP) Award. 
Directly associated with this Award is the Board of Examiners, an 
integral part of the Baldrige National Quality Program. NIST manages 
the Baldrige Program. An applicant for the Malcolm Baldrige National 
Quality Award is required to perform two steps: (1) The applicant 
organization certifies that it meets eligibility requirements; and (2) 
the applicant organization prepares and completes an application form 
and the application process. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality 
Award Program Office will assist with or offer advice on any questions 
or issues that the applicant may have concerning the eligibility 
process or in completing the self-certification forms. NIST will use 
the application package to assess and provide feedback on the 
applicant's quality and performance practices.
    The application to be a member of the Board of Examiners is a one-
step process. Each year the Award Program recruits highly skilled 
experts in the fields of manufacturing, service, small business, health 
care, education, and nonprofit, the six Award eligibility categories, 
to evaluate the applications that the Program receives. Examiners serve 
for a one-year term; participation on the board is entirely voluntary.

II. Method of Collection

    Award applicants must comply in writing according to the Baldrige 
Award Application Forms available at http://www.baldrige.nist.gov/Award_Application.htm. The application for the 2009 Board of Examiners 
can be found at http://www.baldrige.nist.gov/Examiner_Application.htm. 
It is submitted electronically.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0693-0006.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; not-
for-profit institutions; and individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 900. (100 Applicants for the 
Malcolm Baldrige Award, 800 Applicants for the Board of Examiners).
    Estimated Time per Response: 74 hours for Applications for the 
Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award, and 1 hour for the Applications for the 
Board of Examiners.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,200
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $125,000 ($1,250 for each of 
the 100 Awardees--costs are for duplication and mailing).

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: October 27, 2009.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-26155 Filed 10-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P