[Federal Register: December 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 241)]
[Notices]               
[Page 75499]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15de06-25]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 
Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-
13.
    Bureau: International Trade Administration.
    Title: International Trade Specialist Counseling Session Survey.
    Agency Form Number: ITA-4154P.
    OMB Number: 0625-0253.
    Type of Request: Revisions, Regular Submission.
    Burden: 284.
    Number of Respondents: 1700.
    Avg. Hours per Response: 10 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The International Trade Administration's U.S. 
Commercial Service is mandated by Congress to help U.S. businesses, 
particularly small and medium-sized companies, export their products 
and services to global markets. To accomplish its mission effectively, 
the U.S. Commercial Service needs ongoing feedback on its programs. In 
addition to collecting client feedback for pay-for-use products/events 
provided by the U.S. Commercial Service's international offices, the 
U.S. Commercial Service would like to institutionalize Counseling 
Session Surveys to obtain client feedback from U.S. businesses that 
have engaged in ``counseling sessions'' with CS International Trade 
Specialists in the domestic offices (known as U.S. Export Assistance 
Centers). Counseling sessions occur when an International Trade 
Specialist from one of the U.S. Commercial Service's domestic offices 
works with a client to determine their international marketing 
interests and provide ``global trade solutions''.
    This information collection item allows the U.S. Commercial Service 
to solicit clients' opinions about the counseling services provided by 
International Trade Specialists located in domestic offices known as 
U.S. Export Assistance Centers. The information is used for program 
improvement, strategic planning, and allocation of resources. The 
surveys are part of ITA's effort to implement objectives of the 
National Performance Review (NPR) and Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA). Survey responses will acquaint ITA managers with 
firms' perceptions and assessments of export-assistance counseling 
provided by International Trade Specialists in U.S. Export Assistance 
Centers. This information is critical for improving the level of 
service provided to U.S. businesses by the U.S. Commercial Service's 
International Trade Specialists. Survey responses are used to assess 
client satisfaction, assess priorities, and identify areas where 
service levels and benefits differ from client expectations. Clients 
benefit because the information is used to improve services provided to 
the public. In addition, respondents will benefit from more effective 
follow-up to their unmet needs and expectations and more efficient 
resolution to their exporting issues and challenges. Without this 
information, the U.S. Commercial Service is unable to systematically 
determine client perceptions about the quality and benefit of its 
export counseling services.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for profit, not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Respondents Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit, 
voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, (202) 395-3897.
    Copies of the above information collection can be obtained by 
writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, 
Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230. E-mail: dHynek@doc.gov.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, 
David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov or fax (202) 395-7285 within 30 days of the 

publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

    Dated: December 11, 2006.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-21327 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P