[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 206 (Friday, October 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67525-67526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23521]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Patent Examiner Employment Application
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments
on the extension and revision of an existing information collection:
0651-0042 (Patent Examiner Employment Application). The purpose of this
notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of
the information collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information
collection must be received on or before December 22, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
by any of the following methods. Do not submit Confidential Business
Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information:
Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0042 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Kimberly Hardy, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information
should be directed to the attention of LaRita Jones, Chief of the
Workforce Employment Division, Office of Human Resources, United States
Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450;
by telephone at 571-272-6196; or by email to [email protected].
Additional information about this information collection is also
available at http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection
Review.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
USPTO engages in a robust marketing strategy that historically
results in a high volume of applications from recent college graduates
with engineering and science degrees for entry-level patent examiner
positions. In FY2020, USPTO received 7,361 applications and ultimately
hired 597 new patent examiners.
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.
The use of the MHM online application fully complies with 5 U.S.C.
2301, which requires adequate public notice to assure open competition
by guaranteeing that necessary employment information will be
accessible and available to the public on inquiry. It is also fully
compliant with Section 508 (29 U.S.C. 794(d)), which requires agencies
to provide disabled employees and members of the public access to
information that is comparable to the access available to others.
II. Method of Collection
Items in this information collection must be submitted via online
electronic submissions.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0651-0042.
Forms: None.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,386 respondents per year.
Estimated Number of Responses: 8,386 responses per year.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take
the public approximately 30 minutes (0.5 hours) to complete the Patent
Examiner Application Questions. This includes the time to gather the
necessary information, respond to the MHM system prompts, and submit
the completed request to the USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 4,193 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $115,056.
Table 1--Total Hourly Burden for Respondents
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Estimated
Estimated annual Estimated time for Estimated Rate \1\ ($/ Estimated
Item No. Item annual responses response (hour) annual burden hour) annual burden
respondents (year) (hour/year)
........................ .............. (a) (b)..................... (a) x (b) = (d) (c) x (d) =
(c) (e)
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1................... Patent Examiner 8,386 8,386 0.5 (30 minutes)........ 4,193 $27.44 $115,056
Application Questions.
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Total........... ........................ 8,386 8,386 ........................ 4,193 .............. 115,056
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Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There
are no filing fees or start-up, maintenance, recordkeeping, or postage
costs associated with this information collection.
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\1\ USPTO is using the OPM Special Rate Table 0576--Patent
Examiner 07-Step 1 as an estimate for the hourly rate: https://apps.opm.gov/SpecialRates/2020/Table057601012020.aspx.
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IV. Request for Comments
The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:
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(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information shall have practical utility;
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information,including the validity of the
methodology and assuptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
All comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the
request to OMB to approve this information collection. Before including
an address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying
information in a comment, be aware that the entire comment--including
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any
time. While you may ask in your comment to withhold personal
identifying information from public view, USPTO cannot guarantee that
it will be able to do so.
Kimberly Hardy,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2020-23521 Filed 10-22-20; 8:45 am]
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