[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45590-45591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18706]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Hollings 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (HMEP) Program Application 
Requirements

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

[[Page 45591]]

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 October 1, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 Diane Henderson at 301-975-5105 or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The objective of NIST HMEP centers is to enhance productivity, 
technological performance, and strengthen the global competitiveness of 
small- and medium-sized U.S. based manufacturing firms.
    Manufacturing extension centers are part of the HMEP national 
system of extension service providers. Currently, the HMEP national 
system consists of over 400 centers and field offices located 
throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Information regarding 
HMEP and these centers is available on-line at http://www.nist.gov/mep/.
    The objective of the projects funded under this program is to 
provide manufacturing extension services to primarily small- and 
medium-sized manufacturers in the United States. These services are 
provided through the coordinated efforts of a regionally-based 
manufacturing extension center and local technology resources.
    The focus of a center is to provide those manufacturing extension 
services required by the small- and medium-sized manufacturers in its 
service region utilizing the most cost effective, local, leveraged 
resources for those services. It is not the intent of this program that 
the centers perform research and development.
    This request is for the information collection requirements 
associated with submission of proposals for NIST HMEP funding. The 
intent of the collection is to meet statutory requirements for NIST 
HMEP, as well as compliance with 15 U.S.C. 278k, as implemented in 15 
CFR Part 290.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper or electronically via www.grants.gov.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0693-0056.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission
    Affected Public: U.S.-based not-for-profit institutions or 
organizations (universities, state and local governments); consortia of 
non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12.
    Estimated Time per Response: 112 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,344.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $100.

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: July 26, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-18706 Filed 7-31-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P