[Federal Register: August 20, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 161)]
[Notices]               
[Page 44668-44669]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au98-103]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-98-4204]

 
Notice of Request for Clearance of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the 
intention of the FHWA to request the Office of Management and Budget's 
(OMB) approval of a new information collection. This information 
collection will be used to provide a baseline to measure improvements 
in customer satisfaction. The information collected from the survey 
will help the Office of Budget and Finance to measure the level of 
satisfaction with the payment process administered by FHWA.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: All signed, written comments should refer to the docket 
number that appears in the heading of this document and must be 
submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590-0001. All comments received 
will be available for examination at the above address between 10:00 
a.m. to 5:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must 
include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joseph Haldeman, (202) 366-2881, 
Office of Budget and Finance, Federal Highway Administration, 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 
20590. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Fiscal Vendor Satisfaction Survey.
    Background: The mission of the FHWA's Office of Budget and Finance 
is the administration of fiscal programs to ensure an effective budget 
process and proper utilization and accounting for agency resources. In 
addition, the office works to improve the financial management 
practices of State Highway Agencies. Some of these functions include: 
(1) The planning, coordination, and administration of FHWA programs, as 
they relate to the budget process; (2) the allocation and 
administration of fiscal and ceiling control aspects of personnel 
resources within employment ceilings, fiscal limitations, and other 
established criteria; (3) the administration of a nationwide highway 
project reporting system; and (4) the administration of a system of 
accounting for agency resources and programs. A survey of FHWA's 
vendors to be selected at random will provide feedback to help focus on 
accounting operations and organization toward a customer service/
satisfaction-oriented way of doing business. The information will be 
collected on a standardized questionnaire via mail. Respondents will be 
advised of the purpose for the survey and the confidentiality of their 
responses by an accompanying letter. The questionnaire will request 
respondents if their telephone calls are answered in a timely manner; 
if their inquiries receive timely responses; if their invoices are paid 
in a timely fashion; and if the members of the finance staff are 
accessible, professional, and courteous in providing assistance and 
resolving payment issues.
    The sample size of respondents will be approximately 200. The 
results of the surveys will be analyzed and presented in a report to 
management. This report will be used for ongoing improvements to FHWA's 
payment process.

[[Page 44669]]

    Respondents: The individuals asked to respond to the survey are 
employees of private firms from which FHWA procures products and 
services.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 33 hours.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Public Comments Invited: Interested parties are invited to send 
comments regarding any aspect of this information collection, 
including, but not limited to: (1) the necessity and utility of the 
information collection for the proper performance of the functions of 
the FHWA; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) 
ways to minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of 
the collected information. Comments submitted in response to this 
notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB's 
clearance of this information collection.
    Electronic Availability: An electronic copy of this document may be 
downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the 
Federal Register electronic bulletin board service (telephone number: 
202-512-1661). Internet users may reach the Federal Register's WWW site 
at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su__docs.

    Authority: Public Law 103-62, dated August 3, 1993.

    Issued on: August 12, 1998.
George S. Moore, Jr.
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-22422 Filed 8-19-98; 8:45 am]
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