[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6534-6535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02989]



[[Page 6534]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Patent and Trademark Office


National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination 
Application

ACTION: Proposed 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: 0651-0060 
(National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Application).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0060 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: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to John Palafoutas, Program Manager, United States 
Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, 
by telephone at 571-272-8400, or by email at [email protected] with 
``0651-0060 comment'' in the subject line. Additional information about 
this information is also available at http://www.reginfo.gov under 
``Information Collection Review.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the highest 
honor for technological achievement bestowed by the President of the 
United States of America's leading innovations. Established by an Act 
of Congress in 1980, the medal of Technology was first awarded in 1985. 
The Medal is awarded annually to individuals, teams (of up to four 
individuals), companies, or divisions of companies. The Medal 
recognizes outstanding contributions to the Nation's economic, 
environmental and social well-being through the development and 
commercialization of technology products, processes and concepts, 
technological innovation, and development of the Nation's technological 
workforce.
    The purpose of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is 
to recognize those who have made lasting contributions to America's 
competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of life through 
technological innovation, and to recognize those who have made 
substantial contributions to strengthening the Nation's technological 
workforce. By highlighting the national importance of technological 
innovation, the Medal also seeks to inspire future generations of 
Americans to prepare for and pursue technical careers to keep America 
at the forefront of global technology and economic leadership.
    The National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination 
Evaluation Committee, a distinguished independent committee appointed 
by the Secretary of Commerce, reviews and evaluates the merit of all 
candidates nominated through an open, competitive solicitation process. 
The committee makes its recommendations for Medal candidates to the 
Secretary of Commerce who, in turn, makes recommendations to the 
President for final selection. The National Medal of Technology and 
Innovation Laureates are announced by the White House once the 
Medalists are notified of their selection.
    The public uses the online National Medal of Technology and 
Innovation Nomination Application to nominate an individual's, team's, 
or company's extraordinary leadership and innovation in technological 
achievement and outstanding contribution to strengthening the nation's 
technological workforce. The application collects general and 
biographical information about the nominee, general information about 
the nominator, and a discussion of the nominee's contribution/
achievements, and must be accompanied by six letters of recommendation 
or support from individuals who have first-hand knowledge of the cited 
achievement(s).

II. Method of Collection

    The nomination application and instructions can be accessed from 
the USPTO website. All nominations should be submitted via the online 
portal on www.uspto.gov/nmti.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0060.
    IC Instruments and Forms: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of an existing information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations; not-
for-profit institutions; individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50 responses per year.
    Estimated Time Per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take 
approximately 40 hours to gather the necessary information, prepare the 
nomination form, write the recommendations, and submit the request for 
the nomination to the USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 2000 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: $84,020. 
The USPTO expects that professors, public relations specialists, civil 
engineers and research managers will complete this information. The 
professional hourly rates for these occupations, based on the 2017 
rates released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are $37.00 for 
professors (OES 25-1199), $31.99 for public relations specialists (OES 
27-3031), $43.14 for civil engineers (OES 17-2051), and $55.92 for 
research managers (15-1111). Using the average combined hourly rate of 
$42.01, the USPTO estimates that the total respondent cost burden for 
this collection is $84,020 per year.

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                                                                                                     Estimated
                                  Estimated time     Estimated       Estimated                        annual
   IC No.            Item          for response      responses     annual burden    Rate ($/hr)     respondent
                                                                                                   cost burden;
              ..................             (a)             (b)     (c) = (a) x             (d)     (e) = (c) x
                                                                             (b)                             (d)
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1...........  National Medal of               40              50           2,000          $42.01      $84,020.00
               Technology and
               Innovation
               Nomination Form.
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals......  ..................  ..............              50           2,000  ..............       84,020.00
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[[Page 6535]]

    Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: $0.
    There are no filing fees, capital start-up, maintenance, or 
operation costs associated with this collection. As the USPTO expects 
that 100% percent of the responses in this collection will be submitted 
electronically there are no postage costs associated with the 
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 also will 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 practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including 
hours and cost) 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, OCTO United 
States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-02989 Filed 2-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P