[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 90 (Monday, May 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26977-26978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11267]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Small Business Administration.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Small Business Administration (SBA) is publishing this 
notice to comply with requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), which requires agencies to submit proposed 
reporting

[[Page 26978]]

and recordkeeping requirements to OMB for review and approval, and to 
publish a notice in the Federal Register notifying the public that the 
agency has made such a submission. This notice also allows an 
additional 30 days for public comments.

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 10, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the information collection by name 
and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Agency Clearance 
Officer, Curtis Rich, Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street 
SW., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20416; and SBA Desk Officer, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Curtis Rich, Agency Clearance Officer, 
(202) 205-7030 [email protected].
    Copies: A copy of the Form OMB 83-1, supporting statement, and 
other documents submitted to OMB for review may be obtained from the 
Agency Clearance Officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Veterans Business Development 
(OVBD) at the U.S. Small Business Administration implements applicable 
sections of the Small Business Act, of Public Laws and Executive Orders 
governing veteran programs, and to support the SBA mission to assist 
eligible American veterans and Reservist Component service members by 
providing access to the tools and resources necessary for entrepreneurs 
to start, run, and grow their businesses. OVBD manages the Veterans 
Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) which was established in 1999 pursuant 
to Public Law 106-50. VBOCs offer pre-business plan workshops, concept 
assessment and business plan preparation, feasibility analysis 
entrepreneurship counseling and training, online assistance, and 
mentorship service to veteran entrepreneurs and veteran-owned small 
business concerns controlled by veterans, service-disabled veterans, 
and Reserve Component members. As part of OVBD's effort to enhance the 
services provided by VBOCs to veterans and veteran-owned small 
businesses, OVBD has acquired the service of a research firm to conduct 
a series of data collection. In addition, a part of the forthcoming new 
cycle of grant solicitation for 2015, SBA will assess the population 
assisted by current VBOCs, funded in 2010, the services provided to 
individuals, the preliminary impact of services on the business goals 
of clients, client satisfaction with VBOCs, and lessons learned and 
recommendations by the VBOCs and clients. Through the WebCATS/Neoserra 
system, SBA has the ability to collect some data on VBOC clients and 
VBOC activities. However, to get a better understanding of the full 
range of topics mentioned above, SBA needs to collect survey and 
interview data from VBOC clients, directors, and staff (non-directors 
of VBOCs that help provide services to people). Specifically, SBA 
proposes the use of five different instruments for data collection and 
analysis. These instruments are: (1) A VBOC client survey; (2) a VBOC 
director survey; (3) VBOC client interviews; (4) VBOC director 
interviews; and (5) VBOC staff interviews. SBA plans to administer each 
instrument to more than nine individuals. The surveys will be 
administered electronically, while the interviews will be conducted 
either in-person or via phone. The interview questions will contain all 
open-ended questions, while the web-based survey will contain both 
open- and close-ended questions. The types of information that will be 
collected in the instruments can be found in the ``Summary of 
Information Collection'' section below. Quantitative analysis (the 
primary method of data analysis for the survey data) and qualitative 
analysis (the primary method of data analysis for the interview data) 
will be used on the data collected. Quantitative analysis will consist 
of univariate and multivariate statistical analyses, while qualitative 
analysis will consist of establishing clear rules for interpretation 
and finding themes in the interview data. The information collected and 
analyzed from these instruments will contribute to performance metrics 
and program goals as well as recommendations on improving program 
practices.

Solicitation of Public Comments

    Comments may be submitted on (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the agency to properly perform its 
functions; (b) whether the burden estimates are accurate; (c) whether 
there are ways to minimize the burden, including through the use of 
automated techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) 
whether there are ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information.

Summary of Information Collections

    Title: Evaluation of the Veterans Business Outreach Centers.
    Description of Respondents: Veterans Business Outreach Centers.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Estimated Annual Respondents: 2,251.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 2,251.
    Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 2,313.08.

Curtis B. Rich,
Management Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2015-11267 Filed 5-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8025-01-P