[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 183 (Thursday, September 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57867-57868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20480]


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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; Baldrige Performance Excellence Program Team Leader Consensus 
and Site Visit Information Collections

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 November 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
mail to Nina Argent, Management Analyst, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0693-0079 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 Dawn Bailey, Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, 100 
Bureau Drive, Stop 1020, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 301-975-3074, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Public Law 100-107 (The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality 
Improvement Act of 1987), which established the Baldrige Performance 
Excellence Program and its Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award 
(MBNQA), stipulates that organizational applicants for the award (see 
OMB Control #0693-0006) receive ``an intensive evaluation by a 
competent board of examiners which shall review the evidence submitted 
by the organization and, through a site visit, verify the accuracy of 
the quality improvements claimed.''
    Per the statute, ``the Director of the National Bureau of Standards 
shall rely upon'' these examiners, as they are in essence the external 
workforce of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. Baldrige 
Program staff members manage and improve the award and all of its 
processes, but the examiners actually do the objective review of MBNQA 
applicants.
    The Team Leader Consensus and Site Visit Surveys will be one key 
way that Baldrige staff members can communicate with and seek feedback 
from the external workforce (Baldrige Examiners). To manage these 
voluntary examiners (some private citizens, some government and 
military personnel), the Baldrige Program needs the ability to ask them 
of their preferences for the sector in which they will do their 
application review (e.g., do they want to review a health care 
applicant, manufacturing applicant), their availability to conduct 
reviews, their ability to travel on a site visit and about all of their 
logistical needs (e.g., dietary restrictions, cannot review an 
organization from a certain state due to conflicts in that state), 
their ability to perform particular MBNQA roles such as technical 
editor or team leader), their conflicts with a particular organization, 
etc. The Baldrige Program also needs to survey them to obtain 
qualitative information on performance, as being a Baldrige Examiner is 
a very competitive selection.
    The Baldrige Program could not perform the intensive evaluation 
called for in the law without surveying its own workforce about their 
unique needs in relation to the MBNQA process (and its subprocesses). 
In fact, these volunteer examiners expect to be asked their 
preferences, as well as given the ability to give their feedback to 
improve processes.

II. Method of Collection

    Surveys are typically conducted via email or through a secure NIST 
file-sharing system if any MBNQA organization-specific information 
needs to be shared. Surveys can also be conducted over the phone if the 
number of examiners who need to be asked about a particular role or 
need is less than about 20. Often, a personal phone call is the best 
way to survey a subset of examiners, as maintaining positive 
relationships with examiners is very important to the program.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0693-0079.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, Revision of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals, including private citizens. All must 
be U.S. citizens (proof of citizenship is required prior to Baldrige 
Examiner training).
    Number of Respondents: Examiner Performance Assessment--30 per 
year; Team Leader Performance Assessment--300 per year.
    Average Hours per Response: Examiner Performance Assessment--20 
minutes; Team Leader Performance Assessment--5 minutes.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: Examiner Performance Assessment--10 
hours; Team Leader Performance Assessment--25 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

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.

[[Page 57868]]

    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. 2022-20480 Filed 9-21-22; 8:45 am]
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