[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 169 (Wednesday, September 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53706-53707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-21786]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2010-0072]


Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate: Agency Information 
Collection Activities: Submission for Review; Information Collection 
Request for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and 
Technology TechSolutions Program

AGENCY: Science and Technology Directorate, DHS.

ACTION: 30-day notice and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The TechSolutions Program was established by the Department of 
Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate to 
provide information, resources and technology solutions that address 
mission capability gaps identified by the emergency response community. 
The

[[Page 53707]]

goal of TechSolutions is to field technologies that meet 80% of the 
operational requirement, in a 12 to 15 month time frame, at a cost 
commensurate with the proposal. Goals will be accomplished through 
rapid prototyping or the identification of existing technologies that 
satisfy identified requirements. Through the use of data collection 
forms, TechSolutions will collect submitter and capability gap 
information from first responders (Federal, State, local, and tribal 
police, firefighters, and emergency medical service) through the 
TechSolutions Web site. The information will be used to address 
reported capability gaps, leading to improved safety and productivity. 
The DHS invites interested persons to comment on the following forms 
and instructions (hereinafter ``Forms Package'') for the TechSolutions 
program: (1) Submit a Capability Gap (DHS Form 10011 (04/07)), (2) 
Information Request (DHS Form 10012 (04/07)), and (3) User Registration 
(DHS Form 10015 (04/07)). Section 313 of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (Pub. L. 107-296) established this requirement. This notice and 
request for comments is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until October 1, 
2010.
    Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be 
addressed to Desk Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, 
Science and Technology Directorate, and sent via electronic mail to 
[email protected] or faxed to (202) 395-6974. Please include 
docket number DHS-2010-0072 in the subject line of the message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery Harris (202) 254-6015 (Not a 
toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Please note that the Forms Package includes 
three forms for collecting submitter and capability gap information 
from first responders (Federal, State, local, and tribal police, 
firefighters, and emergency medical service). As explained herein, 
these separate forms are intended to be flexible and permit DHS S&T to 
address reported capability gaps, leading to improved safety and 
productivity without undue bureaucratic burden. The Department is 
committed to improving its TechSolutions processes and urges all 
interested parties to suggest how these materials can further reduce 
burden while seeking necessary information under the Act. DHS is 
particularly interested in comments that:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Suggest ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and
    (4) Suggest ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submissions of responses.
    The Forms Package will be available on the Tech Solutions Web site 
found at (https://www.techsolutions.dhs.gov). The user will complete 
the forms online and submit them through the Web site.

Overview of This Information Collection

    (1) Type of Information Collection: Information Collection 
Revision.
    (2) Title of the Form/Collection: TechSolutions Submit a Capability 
Gap, Information Request, and User Registration.
    Agency Form Number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department of Homeland Security sponsoring the collection: DHS Science 
and Technology Directorate, Submit a Capability Gap (DHS Form 10011 
(04/07), Information Request (DHS Form 10012 (04/07), and User 
Registration (DHS Form 10015 (04/07).
    (3) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit 
institutions, and state, local or tribal government; the data collected 
through the TechSolutions Forms Package will be used to address 
reported capability gaps, leading to improved safety and productivity 
for first responders.
    (4) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond:
    a. Estimate of the total number of respondents: 391.
    b. An estimate of the time for an average respondent to respond: 
.42 burden hours.
    c. An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: 39 burden hours.

    Dated: August 24, 2010.
Tara O'Toole,
Under Secretary for Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2010-21786 Filed 8-31-10; 8:45 am]
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