[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33943-33944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11119]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Submission for Renewal of a Previously Approved Information 
Collection: Questionnaire for National Security Positions, Standard 
Form 86 (SF 86)

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposes to request the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to renew a previously-approved information 
collection request (ICR), Questionnaire for National Security 
Positions, Standard Form 86 (SF 86).

DATES: Comments will be accepted until July 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and/or 
Regulatory Information Number and title, by the following method:
    Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    All submissions received must include the agency name and docket 
number or RIN for this document. The general policy for comments and 
other submissions from members of the public is to make these 
submissions available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov 
as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers 
or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this ICR, with applicable 
supporting documentation, may be obtained by email to 
[email protected], or by contacting Alexys Stanley, 202-606-1800, or 
U. S. Office of Personnel Management, Suitability Executive Agent 
Programs, P.O. Bo 699, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM is soliciting comments for this 
collection as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 
104-13 44 U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. 
L. 104-106). OPM is particularly interested in comments that:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.

Background

    The Questionnaire for National Security Positions, Standard Form 86 
(SF 86) is completed by civilian employees of the Federal Government, 
military personnel, and non-federal employees, including general 
contractors and individuals otherwise not directly employed by the 
Federal Government but who perform work for or on behalf of the Federal 
Government. For applicants for civilian Federal employment, the SF 86 
is to be used only after a conditional offer of employment has been 
made. The Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-
QIP) is a web-based system application that houses the SF 86. A 
variable in assessing burden hours is the nature of the electronic 
application. The electronic application includes branching questions 
and instructions which provide for a tailored collection from the 
respondent based on varying factors in the respondent's personal 
history. The burden on the respondent is reduced when the respondent's 
personal history is not relevant to particular questions, since the 
question branches, or expands for additional details, only for those 
persons who have pertinent information to provide regarding that line 
of questioning. Accordingly, the burden on the respondent will vary 
depending on whether the information collection relates to the 
respondent's personal history.
    OPM recommends renewal of the form without any proposed changes. 
This recommendation is due to the forthcoming plan to replace the SF-86 
with the Personnel Vetting Questionnaire, which is currently under 
review for approval by the Office of Management and Budget (87 FR 71700 
and 88 FR 12703).

Analysis

    Agency: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

[[Page 33944]]

    Title: Questionnaire for National Security Positions, Standard Form 
86 (SF 86).
    OMB Number: 3206-0005.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 470,124.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 150 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,175,310.

Office of Personnel Management.
Stephen Hickman,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2023-11119 Filed 5-24-23; 8:45 am]
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