SUPPORTING STATEMENT
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
SURVEY OF PARTICIPATING COMPANIES IN THE U.S.-EUROPEAN UNION AND U.S.-SWISS SAFE HARBOR FRAMEWORKS
OMB Control No. 0625-0625-0268
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g. establishments, State and local governmental units, households, or persons) in the universe and the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form. The tabulation must also include expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has been conducted before, provide the actual response rate achieved.
The survey queries organizations that participate in the Safe Harbor programs concerning how their participation helps increase U.S. exports; the approximate value of U.S. exports facilitated by their participation in the Safe Harbor program; the value of any current contract(s) that is/are dependent on the organizations’ participation in the Safe Harbor programs; and general thoughts about the Safe Harbor programs.
There are approximately 3,500 organizations that actively participate in the Safe Harbor programs; of these, the DOC anticipates that approximately 30% (1050) will respond to the voluntary survey when they annually recertify their compliance online via the DOC’s Safe Harbor website. In addition, each year approximately 780 organizations self-certify for the first time; of these, the DOC anticipates that approximately 30% (234) will respond to the voluntary survey when they self-certify their compliance online via the DOC’ Safe Harbor website. In short, the total number of entities that the DOC anticipates will respond to this collection is approximately 1,284. The actual response rate for 2013 was 1,265.
Type of Response |
No. of Respondents |
No. of Responses |
Completion and submission of survey responses submitted with initial self-certification submission via DOC’s Safe Harbor website |
234 |
234 |
Completion and submission of survey responses submitted with initial recertification submission via DOC’s Safe Harbor website |
1050 |
1050 |
2. Describe the procedures for the collection, including: the statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection; the estimation procedure; the degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification; any unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures; and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.
An electronic survey questionnaire will be made available via the DOC’s Safe Harbor website. An appropriate heading will advise participants in the Safe Harbor programs that the survey is voluntary and that no information collected through the survey will be made public. Organizations that are either self-certifying their compliance for the first time or recertifying their compliance via the DOC’ Safe Harbor website will be presented with the option to either complete or skip the five-question survey. Organizations will not be asked again before the session cookie expires (n.b., no persistent cookies are used). In short, organizations will be asked when they first self-certify, and then again every time they annually recertify.
No statistical methods will be used.
3. Describe the methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with nonresponse. The accuracy and reliability of the information collected must be shown to be adequate for the intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided if they will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.
As the DOC only intends to use these data for internal evaluations of the Safe Harbor programs, it is not essential that all potential respondents respond. The responses from the surveys will be used to analyze the programs. The DOC may aggregate responses to evaluate the effectiveness of the Safe Harbor programs.
4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Tests are encouraged as effective means to refine collections, but if ten or more test respondents are involved OMB must give prior approval.
Not applicable.
5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.
David Ritchie
Email: david.ritchie@trade.gov
International Trade Specialist
Office of Digital Services Industries
Tel. 202-482-4936
Nick Enz
Email: nick.enz@trade.gov
International Trade Specialist
Office of Digital Services Industries
Tel. 202-482-1512
Internet: safe.harbor@trade.gov
| File Type | application/msword |
| Author | Jacqueline Harris |
| File Modified | 2014-07-31 |
| File Created | 2014-07-31 |