supporting statement B food defense vulnerability questionnaire 09112018

SUPPORTING STATEMENT B:

COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

FOOD DEFENSE VULNERABILITY QUESTIONNAIRE

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 government units, households, or persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corre­sponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the uni­verse as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection had been conducted previously, include the actual response rate achieved during the last collection.

This information collection does not employ sampling methods. This is a census survey of food industry and academic experts who may collaborate with FSIS on foodborne illness outbreak investigations. The potential population, maintained in a database at FSIS, consists of 170 FSIS food industry and academia partners. The expected response rate is ≥70%, as the respondents have a high degree of familiarity and involvement with the program they are being asked to assess. A similar collection for government experts was conducted in FY17.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including:

• Statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection,

Statistical methodology for sample collection or stratification will not be used. A census approach will be employed.

• Estimation procedure,

An estimation procedure will not be used.

• Degree of accuracy needed for the pur­pose described in the justification,

N/A.

• Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures, and

N/A.

• Any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.

The burden will be minimal as this short, electronic survey will only be conducted once yearly.

1. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses. For collections based on sam­pling, a special justification must be provid­ed for any collection that will not yield "reli­able" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

We anticipate a strong response rate from the FSIS industry and academic partners surveyed because the topic of the survey is of direct interest to the respondents and there is a high degree of expertise among potential respondents. They are in related fields and working, in many cases, on addressing similar issues.

We plan to closely monitor the survey response and send a series of e-mails encouraging participation.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Testing is encouraged as an effective means of refining collections of information to minimize burden and improve utility. Tests must be approved if they call for answers to identical questions from 10 or more respondents. A proposed test or set of tests may be submitted for approval separate­ly or in combination with the main collection of information.

We have administered a similar survey in the past, which we have pre-tested internally. We have received good responses from government partners to this past survey. Based on our experience with this past survey, we are confident that the procedures and instrument we employ are trustworthy.

4. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on 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.

The main contact in FSIS is Katherine M. Luers, 202-471-2347. The office responsible for the electronic survey is the Food Protection and Defense Institute, 450 McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street SE, Minneapolis, MN.

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