[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59983-59984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23833]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Submission for Review: Information Collection 3206-NEW; 
Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, Standard Form 85 (SF 85)

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: 30-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),

[[Page 59984]]

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 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 October 30, 
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 Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street 
NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Jasmeet K. Seehra, 
OMB Desk Officer or sent by email to [email protected] or 
faxed to (202)395-6974; and Federal Investigative Services, U. S. 
Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street NW., Washington, DC 
20415, Attention: Donna McLeod or sent by 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, U. S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20415, Attention: Donna McLeod or sent by 
email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that OPM is submitting 
to OMB a request for review and clearance of the revised collection of 
information, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, SF 85, which is 
housed in a system named e-QIP (Electronic Questionnaires for 
Investigative Processing) and 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.
    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 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.
    The 60-day notice of the proposed information collection was 
published in the Federal Register on July 18, 2013 (Federal Register 
Notices/Volume 78, Number 138, page 42982-42983) as required by 5 CFR 
1320, affording the public an opportunity to comment on the form. A 
commenter from OPM recommend changing information collected in Section 
7, Citizenship, to mirror the collection found on the SF 86. This 
recommendation was not accepted at this time. OPM will need additional 
time to explore the feasibility of addressing this recommendation in a 
timely manner and comply with investigative coverage requirements.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Elaine Kaplan,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-23833 Filed 9-27-13; 8:45 am]
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