90 FR 117 pgs. 26273-26274 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and Examiner Applications
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 117Pages: 26273 - 26274
Pages: 26273, 26274FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-11334 Filed 6-18-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and Examiner Applications
AGENCY:
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice of information collection, request for comment.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES:
[top] To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
ADDRESSES:
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by mail to Maureen O'Reilly, Management Analyst, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 1710, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 or by email to PRANIST@nist.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 0693-0006 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or specific questions related to collection activities should be directed to Robyn Decker, Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1020, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 301-975-4781, robyn@nist.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Department of Commerce is responsible for the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA), the nation's highest award for organizational performance excellence. Directly associated with this award is the Board of Examiners, an integral volunteer workforce for BPEP. NIST manages BPEP. An applicant organization for the MBNQA is required to perform two steps online: (1) the applicant organization self-certifies that it meets eligibility requirements; and (2) the applicant organization completes the application portion which consists of responses to questions about the organization used as context for the evaluation, and responses to the award criteria questions. BPEP staff are available by phone or email to respond to any questions or issues that the applicant may have concerning the application processes. Volunteer industry experts serving on the Board of Examiners will use the information submitted to assess and provide feedback on the applicant's performance excellence practices. These practices could lead to a MBNQA awarded by the President of the United States or their delegate.
Per Public Law 100-107 (Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Improvement Act of 1987), the MBNQA helps to stimulate American companies to improve quality and productivity for the pride of recognition while obtaining a competitive edge through increased profits; recognizes the achievements of those companies that improve the quality of their goods and services and provide an example to others; establishes guidelines and criteria that can be used by business, industrial, governmental, and other organizations in evaluating their own quality improvement efforts; and provides specific guidance for other American organizations that wish to learn how to manage for high quality by making available detailed information on how winning organizations were able to change their cultures and achieve eminence.
The application to be a member of the Board of Examiners is a one-step, secure, online process. Each year, BPEP recruits highly skilled experts in the fields of manufacturing, service, small business, health care, education, and nonprofit, the six Award eligibility categories, to evaluate the applications that BPEP receives. Examiners must successfully complete an in-depth virtual training course and serve for a one-year term; participation on the board is entirely voluntary.
BPEP's mission to improve the competitiveness and performance of U.S. organizations for the benefit of all U.S. residents.
II. Method of Collection
MBNQA applicant organizations must prepare and submit their eligibility responses, and their application package as detailed at http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/baldrige-award/how-apply. Information on the application for the Board of Examiners can be found at http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/products-services/become-baldrige-examiner/apply electronically send a unique user ID and password (separate emails) on how applicants to the Board of Examiners can apply to the secure system.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0693-0006.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission, extension of a current information collection.
Affected Public: Business, health care, education, or other for-profit organizations; health care, education, and other nonprofit organizations; and individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 320 (20 Applications for MBNQA and 300 Applicants for the Board of Examiners).
Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours for MBNQA application and 30 minutes for examiner applications.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 950 (MBNQA application = 800 hours and Board of Examiners = 150 hours).
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: MBNQA = $10,000-$50,800 (application and site visit fees vary depending on size of the organization; additionally, only 50% of applications pay site visit fees and Board of Examiners: $0.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment-including your personal identifying information-may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2025-11334 Filed 6-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P