[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5140-5141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00958]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Small and Medium-Sized Business Complex Event COVID-19 Survey 
(Wave 3)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before March 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
mail to Jennifer Helgeson, Research Economist, 
[email protected] or [email protected]. Please reference 
``Small and Medium-Sized Business Complex Event COVID-19 Survey (Wave 
3)'' in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Jennifer Helgeson, Research Economist, [email protected], 
or (240) 672-2575.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The purpose of this research is to build a dataset that allows 
longitudinal documentation of (1) the novel resilience-based mitigation 
actions employed during the COVID-19 pandemic by small- and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) by sector, (2) challenges in implementing 
resilience-based mitigation actions, (3) utilization of past strategies 
and approaches to provide assistance to the current situation, and (4) 
planned resilience actions and strategies. This is a cross-Department 
of Commerce (DOC) effort; the offices sponsoring the proposed data 
collection are the (1) Applied Economics Office (AEO), in NIST's 
Engineering Laboratory (EL) and (2) the Climate Program Office (CPO), 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). There has been 
considerable coordination on this effort with Federal agencies and 
other institutions that directly provide guidance to SMEs. NIST 
researchers have been actively engaged for over five years in 
understanding community resilience to natural hazard events and have 
developed expertise in that area of inquiry, especially as it relates 
to SME resilience.
    A first wave of data collection took place July-August 2020 using 
the Wave 1 ``Compound Risks--SME Recovery from a Pandemic in the Face 
of Natural Hazard Risks'' electronic survey

[[Page 5141]]

instrument. A second wave of data collection using the Wave 2 
``Compound Risks--SME Recovery from a Pandemic in the Face of Natural 
Hazard Risks'' electronic survey instrument took place in December 
2020-January 2021.
    The Wave 3 semi-structured survey is planned for Spring 2021. This 
Small- and Medium-Sized Business Complex Event COVID-19 Survey (Wave 3) 
is critical to the overall data collection effort. As we strive to 
understand recovery trajectories of SMEs, understanding the mid-term 
recovery during a Wave 3 provides a detailed picture of how businesses 
cope with and adapt to disaster circumstances and which decisions may 
provide the greatest level of resilience across time periods. This 
collection is expected to provide insight as to how SME owners and 
managers make decisions in the face of disaster, especially when there 
is deep uncertainty surrounding their timing and impact, as well as 
limited resources available to the owner/manager.
    There is minimal primary data on business interruption following a 
large-scale natural hazard event, especially in the period of mid-term 
recovery. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, there is no 
primary data on planning for natural hazard resilience during a 
pandemic, which is highly relevant at a time when much of the US faces 
potential natural disasters as SMEs recover from COVID-19. Furthermore, 
the opportunity to obtain this type of longitudinal data related to 
SMEs' complex event experiences is truly unique. There is critical 
value to this data, as we seek to better understand how SME managers 
and owners make decisions when facing complex events--both considering 
them as potential future events and addressing them when they occur.

II. Method of Collection

    This collection will take place entirely remotely, using online 
technology. During the COVID-19 transmission period this is a safe way 
to collect data. This mode of collection is also cost-effective and 
allows the researchers to reach a larger audience and a greater 
geographic spread.
    A subset of respondents will take the structured survey element of 
the semi-structured surveys, which will be conducted via an online 
survey platform.
    Furthermore, renumeration will be offered to respondents. 
Renumeration is justified due to (1) complex study design and (2) 
burden on the respondent. (1) The complex study design of this 
collection requires ongoing participation of various respondents, each 
of whom is important to the achievement of study goals. Should 
attrition occur at a higher rate than expected the study goals will not 
be met. (2) There is burden on the respondent to take time out of their 
workday managing/operating an SME. There will be equity in the use of 
renumeration; all respondents will be treated equally with regard to 
incentives:

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0693-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses--individual representatives of small 
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,800; 300 take the full semi-
structured survey and 1,500 take the structured survey part of the full 
semi-structured survey.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes per structured survey 
(n=1,800); additional 45 minutes for the semi-structured survey add-on 
(n=300).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 15 min. x 1,800 = 27,000; 45 
min. x 300 = 13,500; Total = 40,500 min. = 675 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $15 x 300 respondents = 
$4,500; $5 x 1,500 = $7,500 = Total upper bound expected cost is 
estimated at $12,000.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: None.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-00958 Filed 1-15-21; 8:45 am]
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