[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42982-42983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17239]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Submission for Review: Information Collection; Questionnaire for 
Non-Sensitive Positions (SF 85)

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: 60-Day Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Federal Investigative Services (FIS), U.S. Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies 
the opportunity to comment on an information collection request (ICR), 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 3206-NEW, for 
Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, Standard Form 85 (SF 85). As 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 
U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. L. 104-
106), OPM is soliciting comments for this collection. The Office of 
Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of OPM, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of OPM's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed

[[Page 42983]]

collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    4. 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.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until September 16, 
2013. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.1.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the proposed information collection to the Federal Investigative 
Services, Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20415, Attention: Donna McLeod or sent via email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this ICR, with applicable 
supporting documentation, may be obtained by contacting the Federal 
Investigative Services, Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20415, Attention: Donna McLeod or sent via email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive 
Positions, SF 85, housed in a system named e-QIP (Electronic 
Questionnaires for Investigative Processing), is an information 
collection completed by applicants for, or incumbents of, Federal 
Government civilian or military positions, or positions in private 
entities performing work for the Federal Government under contract. The 
collection is used as the basis of information:
     by the Federal Government in conducting background 
investigations of persons under consideration for non-sensitive, low-
risk positions as defined in Executive Order 10450 and 5 CFR part 731;
     by agencies in determining whether a person performing 
work for or on behalf of the Federal Government under a contract should 
be deemed eligible for logical or physical access or fit to perform the 
work anticipated, if the contract provides for such an adjudication.
    The SF 85 is completed by civilian employees of the Federal 
Government, military personnel, and non-federal employees, including 
Federal contractors and individuals otherwise not directly employed by 
the Federal Government but who perform work for or on behalf of the 
Federal Government. It is estimated that 55,040 non-Federal 
individuals, will complete the SF 85 annually for investigations 
conducted by OPM. The SF 85 takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. 
The estimated annual burden for this form when used in OPM 
investigations is 27,520 hours.
    Verbiage was added to the Authorization for Release of Information 
authorizing the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify 
respondent's Social Security Number and provide the results to OPM. 
Clarifying language was added to the Authorization for Release of 
Information to specify that sources of information may include 
publically available electronic information. This ICR also requests 
categorizing the form as a common form. OPM will continue to estimate 
the burden based on all Federal agencies that submit the SF 85 to OPM 
for investigation. Once OMB approves the use of this common form, all 
Federal agencies using the form not in connection with an OPM 
investigation may request use of this this common form without 
additional 60 or 30 day notice and comment requirements. At that point, 
each agency will account for its number of respondents and the burden 
associated with the agency's use. No other changes are proposed.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Elaine Kaplan,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-17239 Filed 7-17-13; 8:45 am]
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