[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.
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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]
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