[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 154 (Monday, August 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42967-42968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21089]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY: Defense Technical Information Center, DOD.
ACTION: Notice.
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In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) announces
the initiation of a public information collection of its registered
users and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. 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 will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed
information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize
the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the
use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by October
10, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed
information collection should be sent to: ATTN: DTIC-BCP, Defense
Technical Information Center, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 0944,
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6218.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request more information on this proposed information collection or
to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments,
please write to the above address or call (703) 767-8267/DSN 427-8267.
Title, Associated Form, and OMB Number
Needs and Uses: The information collection is necessary to provide
DTIC with satisfaction data about the timeliness, use, and quality of
its products and services in order to establish a customer satisfaction
baseline; assist in determining appropriate modifications to current
products and services; and contribute to DTIC's product development
efforts. It will allow DTIC to compile customer data which does not
currently exist. Information gathered from discussions with customers
is maintained in various nondigital formats but is not considered to be
quantifiable in terms of customer satisfaction factors because of its
anecdotal nature. Because DTIC offers 23 products and services to
approximately 3,500 registered users, no cheaper method exists to
collect this data other than a survey instrument. This survey is
required to implement Executive Order 12862, 11 Sep 93, Setting
Customer Service Standards, and the memorandum of the Secretary of
Defense, 7 Jan 94, which directs the application of the principles of
the Executive Order to all customers of the directors of all defense
agencies; the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA); and the
DTIC Strategic Plan mandate to measure customer satisfaction of
government-produced products and services.
Affected Public: All DTIC registered users who are Department of
Defense (DoD) contractors and potential contractors; U.S. Government
organizations and their contractors; and participants in the Small
Business Innovation Research/Small Business, Technology Transfer,
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and University Research
Support programs.
Annual Burden Hours: 20 hours (based on a 20% return rate).
Number of Respondents: Approximately 1,500.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Average Burden per Respondent: 3 minutes.
Frequency: Annually, after baseline is established.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This survey is required to implement
Executive Order 12862, 11 Sep 93, Setting Customer Service Standards;
the memorandum of the Secretary of Defense, 7 Jan 94, which directs the
application of the principles of the Executive Order to all customers
of the directors of all defense agencies; the GPRA; and the DTIC
Strategic Plan mandate to measure customer satisfaction of government-
produced products and services.
The Executive Order 12862, 11 Sep 93, Setting Customer Service
Standards, the memorandum of the Secretary of Defense, 7 Jan 94, and
the GPRA of 1993, have as their purposes to improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of Federal programs by requiring Government agencies to
establish a system to set goals and measure program performance and
program results. DTIC does not presently have a system established to
gather data to measure program performance or program results in
quantifiable terms against customer standards. Each agency is required
to publish a customer service plan and make use of customer survey
information to promote the principles and objectives of the executive
order.
Under the GPRA, DTIC must set program goals and then publicly
report on their progress toward achieving those goals in three stages:
a. By September 30, 1997, a five-year strategic plan for DTIC's
programs. DTIC has developed such a plan. According to the GPRA, it
will be submitted every 3 years, include a mission statement covering
major functions and operations of the agency and general goals and
objectives of the agency; the approach and necessary resources to be
used in achieving those goals and objectives; any ``key external
factors'' that might have a significant affect on DTIC's ability to
achieve the general goals and objectives; and any program evaluations
used in establishing or revising the goals and objectives (including
plans for future evaluations).
b. By October 1, 1997, DTIC will be required to prepare an annual
performance plan. The first plan will be
[[Page 42968]]
for Fiscal Year 1999. As with the pilot projects, these plans will
cover each program activity in DTIC's budget and establish performance
goals and define the performance level to be achieved by a program
activity. The goal will be expressed in an objective, quantifiable, and
measurable form. Performance indicators will be used to measure the
relevant outputs, outcomes, and/or service levels for each program
activity. The performance plans will also describe the operational
processes and resources needed to meet the performance goals and will
establish a procedure for comparing actual program results with the
performance goals.
c. By March 31, 2000, and every year thereafter, DTIC will be
required to publish annual program performance reports. (These reports
will be due 6 months after the end of the fiscal year on which they are
based.) The reports will compare the performance indicators that were
established in the performance plan and the actual program performance
achieved with the performance goals. These reports will also discuss
the agency's success in achieving the performance goals and describe
and explain those cases in which performance goals have not been met.
Dated: August 5, 1997.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 97-21089 Filed 8-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M