[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 20172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08196]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership Program Management Information Reporting System 
for the Business and Talent Management Self-Diagnostic

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Stacey Wagner, [email protected], 301-975-4850.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), sponsored by the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is a national 
network of locally-based manufacturing extension centers working with 
small manufacturers to assist them improve productivity, improve 
profitability, and enhance their economic competitiveness. In order for 
small and medium-sized manufacturers to understand the systemic 
alignment between their business goals and workforce investments, they 
will need to compare their internal business goals/targets and their 
talent management efforts. By comparing their own internal data that 
reflects all of their business strategies, small and medium-sized 
manufacturers will understand how aligned their workforce skills are 
with their business investments and execution. This self-diagnostic 
service will be offered by MEP centers to their manufacturing clients. 
The results of the service information will enable the NIST MEP to 
provide systematic business analysis assistance to their clients.

II. Method of Collection

    The information will be collected from the NIST-hosted web 
application via the MEP Web site at www.smartalent.gov using a 
password-protected interface.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (new information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 300.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: April 8, 2014.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-08196 Filed 4-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P