[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23462-23463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9444]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership (MEP) Management Information Reporting

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 June 18, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Deirdre McMahon, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology--Manufacturing Extension Partnership, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 
4800, 301-975-8328 (phone). In addition, written comments may be sent 
via email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Sponsored by NIST, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is 
a national network of locally-

[[Page 23463]]

based manufacturing extension centers working with small manufacturers 
to assist them improve their productivity, improve profitability and 
enhance their economic competitiveness. The information collected will 
provide the MEP with information regarding MEP Center performance 
regarding the delivery of technology, and business solutions to U.S.-
based manufacturers. The collected information will assist in 
determining the performance of the MEP Centers at both local and 
national levels, provide information critical to monitoring and 
reporting on MEP programmatic performance, and assist management in 
policy decisions. Responses to the collection of information are 
mandatory per the regulations governing the operation of the MEP 
Program (15 CFR parts 290, 291, 292, and H.R. 1274--section 2). The 
information collected will include center inputs and activities 
including services delivered, clients served, center staff, quarterly 
expenses and revenues, partners, strategic plan, operation plans, and 
client success stories. No confidentiality for information submitted is 
promised or provided.
    In order to reflect new initiatives and new data needs, NIST MEP 
has identified a need to revise its existing reporting processes by 
modifying existing reporting elements and adding additional elements 
that will enable NIST MEP to better monitor and assess the extent to 
which the Centers are meeting program goals and milestones.

II. Method of Collection

    The information will be collected from the MEP Centers through the 
MEP Enterprise Information System (MEIS), https://meis.nist.gov.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0693-0032.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
    Estimated Time per Response: 160 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,600.
    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: April 16, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-9444 Filed 4-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P