Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under OMB Review
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 90 (Monday, May 11, 2015)
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
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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 curtis.rich@sba.gov.
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
