[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73730-73731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20563]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Submission for Review 3206-0261: Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive 
Positions (SF 85)

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposes to request 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) renew a previously approved 
information collection, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF 
85).

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until November 12, 
2024. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).

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 Lynette Hornung 202-599-0090, or 
U. S. Office of Personnel Management, Suitability Executive Agent 
Programs, P.O. Box 699, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2), OPM is soliciting comments for this 
collection. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of 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 Non-Sensitive Positions, Standard Form 85 (SF 
85) is an information collection completed by applicants for, or 
incumbents of, Federal Government civilian positions, or positions in 
private entities performing work for the Federal Government under 
contractor. The collection is used as the basis of information for 
background investigations to establish that such individuals are:
     Suitable for employment or retention in Federal employment 
in a low risk, non-sensitive position, or fit for employment or 
retention in Federal employment in the excepted service when the duties 
to be performed are equivalent to a low risk, non-sensitive position;
     Fit to perform work on behalf of the Federal Government 
pursuant to the Government contract, when the duties to be performed 
are equivalent to a low risk, non-sensitive position;
     Eligible for physical and logical access to federally 
controlled facilities or information systems, when the duties to be 
performed by the individual are equivalent to the duties performed by 
an employee in a low risk, non-sensitive position.
    For applicants, the SF 85 is used only after a conditional offer of 
employment has been made. eApplication (eApp) is a web-based system 
application that houses the SF 85. 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 their personal history

[[Page 73731]]

is not relevant to particular questions, since the question branches or 
expands for additional details only for those individuals 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 with no changes. As we await the 
implementation of the Personnel Vetting Questionnaire, which was 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (87 FR 71700 and 88 FR 
12703) on November 15, 2023, agencies continue to use the SF 85 for 
investigations of individuals holding low risk non-sensitive positions.

Analysis

    Agency: Office of Personnel Management.
    Title: Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, Standard Form 85 
(SF 85).
    OMB Number: 3206-0261.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 55,040.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 120 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 110,080.

Alexys Stanley,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2024-20563 Filed 9-10-24; 8:45 am]
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