[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 154 (Friday, August 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37576-37577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16940]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


Patent Examiner Employment Application

ACTION: Proposed extension of an existing information collection; 
comment request.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on a 
proposed extension of an existing information collection: 0651-0042 
(Patent Examiner Employment Application).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 10, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0042 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records and Information Governance 
Division Director, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, United 
States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 
22313-1450.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information 
should be directed to LaRita Jones, Chief of the Workforce Employment 
Division, Office of Human Resources, United States Patent and Trademark 
Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-145; by telephone at 571-
272-6196; or by email to [email protected] with ``0651-0042 
comment'' in the subject line. Additional information about this 
collection is also available at http://www.reginfo.gov under 
``Information Collection Review.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    In the current employment environment, information technology 
professionals and engineering graduates are in great demand. The USPTO 
is in direct competition with private industry for the same caliber of 
candidates with the requisite knowledge and skills to perform patent 
examination work. The use of automated online systems during 
recruitment allows the USPTO to remain competitive, meet hiring goals, 
and fulfill the agency's Congressional commitment to reduce the 
pendency rate for the examination of patent applications.
    The USPTO uses the Monster Hiring Management (MHM) system to 
rapidly review applications for employment of entry-level patent 
examiners. Using MHM saves time by eliminating paper applications; 
reducing by several weeks the time Office of Human Resources staff need 
to spend processing and reviewing applications. Given the time 
sensitive hiring needs of the Patent Examining Corps, the MHM system 
provides increased speed and accuracy during the employment process.
    The MHM online application collects supplemental information to an 
candidate's USAjobs application. This information assists the Human 
Resource Specialists and hiring managers in determining whether an 
applicant possesses the basic qualification requirements for the patent 
examiner position. From the information collected, the MHM system 
creates an electronic real-time candidate inventory on applicants' 
expertise and technical knowledge, which allows the USPTO to 
instantaneously review applications from multiple potential applicants.
    The use of the MHM online application fully complies with 5 U.S.C. 
2301, which requires adequate public notice to assure open competition 
by guaranteeing that necessary employment information will be 
accessible and available to the public on inquiry. It is also fully 
compliant with Section 508 (29 U.S.C. 794(d)), which requires agencies 
to provide disabled employees and members of the public access to 
information that is comparable to the access available to others.

II. Method of Collection

    With the use of MHM, the applicant's information is collected 
electronically from the application. The USAJobs.gov Web site provides 
the online job announcement that links the applicant to the application 
and the MHM system. The application is completed online and then 
transmitted to the USPTO via the Internet.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0651-0042.
    IC Instruments and Forms: There are no forms associated with this 
collection.

[[Page 37577]]

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,660 responses per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the 
employment application takes approximately 30 minutes (0.50 hours) to 
complete (See Table 1 below). This includes the time to gather the 
necessary information, respond to the MHM prompts, and submit the 
completed request to the USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 5,330 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: $239,690. 
The USPTO expects that engineers and scientists will complete these 
applications. The professional hourly rate for these respondents is 
estimated at an hourly rate of $44.97. This rate is the median hourly 
wage in May 2016 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program estimates for 
engineers ($43.75; OES 17-2000) and scientists ($46.19; OES 19-2099). 
Using this hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the total respondent 
cost burden for this collection is $239,690.00 per year.

                                                           Table 1--Annual Hourly Cost Burden
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                                                                                             Estimated                                       Estimated
            IC #                           Item                   Estimated time for          annual         Estimated       Estimated     annual hourly
                                                                     response (hr)           responses     annual burden    hourly rate        cost
                                                                          (a)                   (b)             (c)             (d)             (e)
                                                                                                               (a) x (b)                       (c) x (d)
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1..........................  Patent Examiner Employee         0.50 (30 minutes).........          10,660           5,330          $44.97     $239,690.00
                              Application.
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..................  ...............................  ..........................          10,660           5,330  ..............     $239,690.00
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    Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: $0.00. 
There are no filing fees or start-up, maintenance, record keeping, or 
postage costs associated with this information collection.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they will also become a matter of public record.
    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 the practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including 
hours and costs) 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, e.g., the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Marcie Lovett,
Records and Information Governance Division Director, Office of the 
Chief Technology Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2017-16940 Filed 8-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P