Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

NARA is giving public notice that the agency proposes to request extension of a currently approved information collection, NA Form 3035, Applicant Background Survey, to obtain source of recruitment, ethnicity, race, and disability data on job applicants. The information is used to determine if the recruitment is effectively reaching all aspects of the relevant labor pool. The information is also used to determine if there are proportionate acceptance rates at various stages of the recruitment process. The public is invited to comment on the proposed information collection pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Written comments must be received on or before December 1, 2003 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be sent to: Paperwork Reduction Act Comments (NHP), Room 4400, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Rd, College Park, MD 20740-6001; or faxed to 301-837-3213; or electronically mailed to tamee.fechhelm@nara.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the proposed information collection and supporting statement should be directed to Tamee Fechhelm at telephone number 301-837-1694, or fax number 301-837-3213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), NARA invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed information collections. The comments and suggestions should address one or more of the following points: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of NARA; (b) the accuracy of NARA'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, including the use of information technology, to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. The comments that are submitted will be summarized and included in the NARA request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. In this notice, NARA is soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:

Title: Applicant Background Survey.

OMB number: 3095-0045.

Agency form number: NA Form 3035.

Type of review: Regular.

Affected public: Applicants for NARA jobs.

Estimated number of respondents: 2,593.

Estimated time per response: 5 minutes.

Frequency of response: On occasion (when applicant wishes to apply for a job at NARA).

Estimated total annual burden hours: 216 hours.

Abstract: A diverse workforce enhances our agency by ensuring that we can draw on the widest possible variety of viewpoints and experiences to improve the planning and actions we undertake to achieve our mission and goals. By promoting and valuing workforce diversity, we create a work setting where these varied experiences contribute to a more efficient and dynamic organization and employees can develop to their full potential. To achieve these ends and in accordance with our Strategic Plan, we constantly work to improve our performance in hiring and promoting people in underrepresented groups.

This form is used to obtain source of recruitment, ethnicity, race, and disability data on job applicants to determine if the recruitment is effectively reaching all aspects of the relevant labor pool and to determine if there are proportionate acceptance rates at various stages of the recruitment process. Use of this form allows us to objectively determine the barriers to recruitment and selection that affect underrepresented groups. There is no source of this information other than directly from applicants.

Response is optional. The information is used for evaluating recruitment only, and plays no part in the selection of who is hired. The information is not provided to selecting officials and plays no part in the selection of individuals. Instead, it is used in summary form to determine trends over many selections within a given occupation or organizational area. The information is treated in a very confidential manner. No information from the form is entered into the personnel file of the individual selected and all the forms are destroyed after the conclusion of the selection process.

The format of the questions on ethnicity and race are compliant with OMB requirements and comparable to those used by other Federal agencies. This form is a further simplification and update of a similar OPM applicant background survey used by NARA for many years.