non-substantive justification

10/31/19

Non-Substantive Change Request and Justification

Employment and Training Administration

Quick Turnaround Surveys

OMB Control No. 1205-0436

Background: The Department of Labor (DOL) requests a non-substantive change in the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Quick Turnaround Surveys, OMB Control No. 1205-0436, to increase the total number of responses permissible under this Information Collection Request (ICR).

This generic ICR, which expires June 30, 2020, allows for short surveys of no more than 30 questions to receive a 15-day “quick-turnaround” review by OMB. Total permissible burden is 5,000 responses and 7,500 hours. This request is to increase the total number of responses to 7,000. No additional burden hours are requested, since only 1,061 hours out of 7,500 have been used.

Justification: Given the open-ended nature of this generic ICR, the maximum burden of responses needed has proven difficult to predict. In prior years, only a small number of surveys were conducted, and the number of possible responses and burden hours, which were similar to those in the current ICR, was sufficient. However, since 2017, the usefulness of this generic clearance has received greater recognition in ETA, and it has been instrumental in responding to several needs for rapid survey data collections, including, in particular, those related to an Executive Order to expand use of apprenticeship training. Thus there has been an increase in the number of surveys and burden used.

So far, six surveys have been undertaken, using up 4,053 responses, and leaving only 947 available for other surveys through June 30, 2020. Two of these completed surveys have had higher than anticipated potential responses (which in the ICR were expected to occasionally exceed the maximum of 250). At least three other surveys are in the late planning stages and together are likely to exceed the total number of responses still available. A few other surveys may also be developed in the coming months as well, in what is proving to be a fast-paced focus on learning and expansion of effective programs. Thus, to ensure there is a sufficient number of responses available for upcoming surveys, this request is for an additional 2,000 responses, bringing the total number of possible responses to 7,000. This increase will be sufficient to cover the needs of the ICR through the end of current approval period (June 30, 2020).