[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16612-16613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06169]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary


Renewal of Currently Approved Information Collection; Comment 
Request; Challenge and Prize Competition Solicitations Generic 
Clearance

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to comment on continuing to collect 
routine information from participants in challenges and competitions 
that the department posts on Challenge.gov, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this notice is to allow 
for 60 days of public comment.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written or online comments must be 
submitted on or before May 26, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Department Paperwork 
Reduction Act Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 
14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,

[[Page 16613]]

DC 20230 (or via the internet at [email protected]. All comments 
received are part of the public record. Comments will generally be 
posted without change. All Personally Identifiable Information (for 
example, name and address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may 
be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information 
or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to the DOC PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Policy and 
Governance, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Room 6616, Washington, DC 
20230, (202) 482-3306 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is a renewal of a generic clearance for the collection 
of routine information requested of respondents in challenges and 
competitions that the Department of Commerce posts on the General 
Service Administration (GSA)'s Challenge.gov website since passage of 
the America COMPETES Act of 2011. In order for DOC to quickly and 
effectively launch competitions on a continual basis, DOC seeks generic 
clearance to collect information for these challenges and competitions, 
which will generally include first name, last name, email, city, state 
and when applicable other demographic information. It can also include 
other information necessary to evaluate submissions and understand 
their impact related to the general goals of the competition. Upon 
entry or during the judging process, applicants under the age of 18 may 
be asked to confirm parental consent, requiring students under 18 to 
have a parent's signature on a parental consent form provided by the 
DOC in order to qualify for the contest. For certain challenges we may 
also need to collect data such as types of data sets used in the 
solution, types of software tools used in the solution, and information 
regarding uses of proprietary software (i.e., licenses or use 
agreements). Information obtained from participants will be used by the 
program managers (challenge manager), technical reviewers, and other 
agency officials (such agency counsels.
    In 2011, Federal agencies including DOC were given prize authority 
for administering challenges and competitions. Section 105(a) of the 
America Competes Act, adds Section 24 to the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) that 
addresses provisions for challenges and competitions with prizes 
conducted by Federal agencies. Challenges and competitions enable DOC 
to tap into the expertise and creativity of the public in new ways. DOC 
evaluates submissions and typically awarded monetary or non-monetary 
prizes to winning entries. DOC may sponsor challenges and competitions 
in a wide variety of areas to increase public participation and solicit 
new ideas on a wide array of topics important to the agencies mission. 
DOC's goal is to engage a broader number of stakeholders who are 
inspired to work on some of our most pressing issues.
    The information collected will be used to understand whether the 
participant has met the technical requirements for the challenge, 
assist in the technical review and judging of the solutions that are 
provided, and assess how the competition was administered. Information 
may be collected during the competition or after its completion.
    This clearance applies to challenges posted on Challenge.gov, which 
uses a common platform for the solicitation of challenges from the 
public. Each agency designs the criteria for its solicitations based on 
the goals of the challenge and the specific needs of the agency. There 
is no standard submission format for solution providers to follow, and 
there is no set schedule for the issuance of challenges; they are 
developed and issued on an ``as needed'' basis in response to issues 
the federal agency wishes to solve.

II. Method of Collection

    The primary method of collection will be the internet 
(electronically). Some supporting documents may be emailed, mailed, or 
collected in person.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0690-0031.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission [Extension of a current 
information collection].
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Businesses or for-
profit organizations, State, Local or Tribal Government, etc.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1560.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10-30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 260.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $900.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Requests: One-time.
    Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.

IV. Request for Comments

    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, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 19, 2020.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-06169 Filed 3-23-20; 8:45 am]
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