[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 5400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02388]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / 
Notices  

[[Page 5400]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Improving Customer Service

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Request for information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Consistent with Executive Order 13781, ``Comprehensive Plan 
for Reorganizing the Executive Branch,'' and using the authority of the 
Secretary to reorganize the Department under section 4(a) of 
Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1953, the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) is soliciting public comment on a proposed realignment of the 
Departmental Administration organization that will improve customer 
service, better align functions within the organization, and ensure 
improved strategic decision-making.

DATES: Comments and information are requested on or before March 2, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this notice. All submissions must refer to ``Improving Customer 
Service'' to ensure proper delivery.
     Electronic Submission of Comments. Interested persons may 
submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov. USDA strongly encourages commenters to 
submit comments electronically. Electronic submission of comments 
allows the commenter maximum time to prepare and submit a comment, and 
ensures timely receipt by USDA. Commenters should follow the 
instructions provided on that site to submit comments electronically.
     Submission of Comments by Mail, Hand delivery, or Courier. 
Paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to the Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Administration, USDA, Jamie L. Whitten 
Building, Room 240-W, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Johanna Briscoe, 202-720-291, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USDA is committed to operating efficiently, 
effectively, and with integrity, and minimizing the burdens on 
individuals, businesses, and communities for participation in and 
compliance with USDA programs. USDA works to support the American 
agricultural economy to strengthen rural communities; to protect and 
conserve our natural resources; and to provide a safe, sufficient, and 
nutritious food supply for the American people. The Department's wide 
range of programs and responsibilities touches the lives of every 
American every day.

I. Executive Orders 13781

    Executive Order 13781, ``Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the 
Executive Branch'', is intended to improve the efficiency, 
effectiveness, and accountability of the executive branch. The 
principles in the Executive Order provide the basis for taking actions 
to enhance and strengthen the delivery of USDA programs.

II. Reorganization Actions

    Secretary Perdue intends to take actions to strengthen customer 
service and improve efficiencies at USDA by taking the following 
actions:
     Establishing a Customer Experience Office within the 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration to coordinate 
agency actions that will improve customer service across the 
Department;
     Establishing the Office of Property and Fleet Management, 
and realigning the property, fleet, and hazardous materials management 
functions of the Office of Procurement and Property Management (OPPM) 
into the new office;
     Realigning the workers' compensation and safety program 
out of OPPM into the Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM);
     Transferring the directives program and records management 
function from the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to the 
Office of the Executive Secretariat (OES);
     Realigning the classified network management and the 
controlled unclassified information functions from OCIO to the Office 
of Homeland Security (OHS); and
     Renaming OPPM the Office of Contracting and Procurement.

III. Request for Information

    USDA is seeking public comment on these actions and notes that this 
notice is issued solely for information and program-planning purposes. 
While responses to this notice do not bind USDA to any further actions, 
all submissions will be reviewed by the appropriate program office, and 
made publicly available on http://www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: January 31, 2018.
Donald Bice,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-02388 Filed 2-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-90-P