[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