[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.
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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]
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