Submission Request for Patent Reengineering-Word Validation Tool

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback” (OMB Control Number: 0690-0030)

T ITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION:

Patent Reengineering - Applicant Feedback Word Validation Tool

PURPOSE:

To obtain qualitative feedback from the public on a Word based validation tool that is in ‘proof of concept’ stage which is intended to assist future e-patent filers in the next generation e-filing system.

Information collected from customers will assist the USPTO in designing a system that comprehensively considers all customer concerns and will support efforts to enhance customer delivery and performance cycle time.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS:

Any stakeholder who has an interest in the patent process and/or the filing of an electronic patent application or documents.

TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one)

[ ] Customer Comment Card/Complaint Form [] Customer Satisfaction Survey

[ ] Usability Testing (e.g., Website or Software [ ] Small Discussion Group

[x ] Focus Group [ ] Other: _ __

CERTIFICATION:

I certify the following to be true:

1. The collection is voluntary.

2. The collection is low-burden for respondents and low-cost for the Federal Government.

3. The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues of concern to other federal agencies.

4. The results are not intended to be disseminated to the public.

5. Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of substantially informing influential policy decisions.

6. The collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions from respondents who have experience with the program or may have experience with the program in the future.

Name: Tony Uranga

To assist review, please provide answers to the following question:

Personally Identifiable Information:

1. Is personally identifiable information (PII) collected? [ ] Yes [ x] No

2. If Yes, is the information that will be collected included in records that are subject to the Privacy Act of 1974? [ ] Yes [ ] No

3. If Applicable, has a System or Records Notice been published? [ ] Yes [ ] No

Gifts or Payments:

Is an incentive (e.g., money or reimbursement of expenses, token of appreciation) provided to participants? [ ] Yes [x] No

BURDEN HOURS

Category of Respondent	No. of Respondents	Participation Time	Burden
External USPTO Stakeholders	150	90 min (1.5 hrs)	225 hrs
Totals	150		225 hrs

FEDERAL COST: The estimated annual cost to the Federal Government is $10,494 (150 responses x 1.5 hrs = 225 hrs; 225 hrs x $46.64 = $10,494).

The USPTO estimates that it takes a GS-12 step 1, 12 minutes (0.2 hours) to process the information from the survey. The hourly rate for a GS-12 step 1 is currently $35.88 according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management wage chart including locality pay for the Washington, D.C. area. When 30% is added to account for a fully loaded hourly rate (benefits and overhead), the rate per hour for a GS-12, step 1 is $46.64. ($35.88 + $10.76 = $46.64)

If you are conducting a focus group, survey, or plan to employ statistical methods, please provide answers to the following questions:

The selection of your targeted respondents

1. Do you have a customer list or something similar that defines the universe of potential respondents and do you have a sampling plan for selecting from this universe? [x] Yes [ ] No

If the answer is yes, please provide a description of both below (or attach the sampling plan)? If the answer is no, please provide a description of how you plan to identify your potential group of respondents and how you will select them?

A list of local metro Washington D.C. law firms that provided sample published or patented applications in Word format for initial testing of the Word validation tool will be contacted and asked if they want to participate in a focus session to review, using a demo video, and provide feedback of the validation tool. We expect to have 10 local firms participate.

Administration of the Instrument

1. How will you collect the information? (Check all that apply)

[] Web-based or other forms of Social Media

[ ] Telephone

[ x] In-person

[ ] Mail

[ ] Other, Explain

2. Will interviewers or facilitators be used? [ x ] Yes [ ] No

Please make sure that all instruments, instructions, and scripts are submitted with the request.

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