Patents External Quality Survey

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
USPTO Quality Survey Cover Letter Dec 20 2012.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-12-20
USPTO Quality Survey Advance Letter Dec 20 2012.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-12-20
0651-0057 SuptStmnt Part B Dec 20 2012.pdf Supporting Statement B	2012-12-20
0651-0057 SuptStmnt Part A-Dec 20 2012.pdf Supporting Statement A	2012-12-20
Script for Patents External Quality Survey Prompting Phone Calls.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-15
Wave 17 USPTO-QS Cover Letter- NEW.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-15
Wave 17 Advance Letter_NEW.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-15
USPTO-QS Reminder Postcard.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-15
Summary_on_Non-Response.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-15
Nonresponse_Follow-up_Report.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-15
External Quality Sampling Plan - Pages from Westat_Technical_Proposal.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-10-15
USPTO Information Quality Guidelines May 24 2011.PDF Supplementary Document	2012-10-12

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
43582	Patents External Quality Survey Other-Survey	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0651-0057	ICR Reference No: 201210-0651-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200907-0651-001
Agency/Subagency: DOC/PTO	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Patents External Quality Survey
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 12/21/2012
	Date Received in OIRA: 10/18/2012
Terms of Clearance: Updated supporting statement.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2015	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2012
Responses	3,100	0	2,386
Time Burden (Hours)	527	0	406
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) uses surveys to obtain customer feedback regarding the products, services and related service standards of the USPTO and uses the results from these surveys to measure how well the agency is meeting established customer service standards, to identify any disjoints between customer expectations and USPTO performance, and to develop improvement strategies. The USPTO developed the Patent External Quality Survey to rate customer satisfaction with examination quality. The USPTO obtains feedback from large domestic corporations, small and medium-size businesses, universities and other non-profit research organizations, and independent inventors. The USPTO does not plan to survey foreign entities. This collection was formerly titled "Customer Panel Quality Survey".

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Authorizing Statute(s): EO: EO 12862 Name/Subject of EO: Setting Customer Service Standards
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	77 FR 21086	04/09/2012
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	77 FR 61745	10/11/2012
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Patents External Quality Survey

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	3,100	2,386	0	0	714	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	527	406	0	0	121	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This information collection is currently approved with 2,386 responses, 406 burden hours, and $0 in annual (non-hour) costs. The USPTO estimates that the overall number of responses for this collection will increase by 714 responses and that this in turn will increase the estimated burden hours for this collection by 121 hours. These changes are due to administrative adjustments. The USPTO still estimates that this information collection will have $0 in annual (non-hour) costs. Therefore, the USPTO estimates that this renewal will have 3,100 responses, 527 burden hours, and $0 in annual (non-hour) costs.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $262,554

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 10/18/2012

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