Patent Examiner Employment Application

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
0651-0042 Supporting Statement 2020.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-12-31
Information Quality Guidelines _ USPTO.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-12-30
Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-12-30

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4761	Patent Examiner Employment Application Other-Screen	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0651-0042	ICR Reference No: 202012-0651-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201710-0651-002
Agency/Subagency: DOC/PTO	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Patent Examiner Employment Application
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 12/31/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	8,386	10,660
Time Burden (Hours)	4,193	10,660
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: USPTO uses the Monster Hiring Management (MHM) system to rapidly review applications for employment of entry-level patent examiners. The use of such automated online systems during recruitment allows USPTO to remain competitive, meet hiring goals, and fulfill the Agency's Congressional commitment to reduce the pendency rate for the examination of patent applications. Given the time sensitive hiring needs of the Patent Examining Corps, the MHM system provides increased speed and accuracy during the employment process. This information collection covers respondent data gathered through the MHM system. The MHM online application collects supplemental information to a candidate's USAJOBS application. This information assists USPTO Human Resource Specialists and Hiring Managers in determining whether an applicant possesses the basic qualification requirements for a patent examiner position. From the information collected, the MHM system creates an electronic real-time candidate inventory on applicants' expertise and technical knowledge, which allows USPTO to immediately review applications from multiple applicants.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 5 USC 2301 Name of Law: Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
  

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:
	85 FR 67525	10/23/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 86544	12/30/2020
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
Patent Examiner Employment Application

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	8,386	10,660	0	0	-2,274	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	4,193	10,660	0	0	-6,467	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: For this renewal, the USPTO estimates that the annual responses will decrease by 2,274 (from 10,660 to 8,386) and the total burden hours will decrease by 6,467 (from 10,660 to 4,193). These changes are due to the following administrative adjustments: • Decrease of 2,274 responses due to revisions of Agency estimates results in a decrease of burden hours. • Additionally the estimated time to complete the items in the information collection was reduced from 1 hour to 30 minutes based on updated usage information from USAJobs and other sources.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $410,057

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

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? No

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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: 12/31/2020

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