FINAL DRAFT - Supporting Statement A 4-28-14

Final “Supporting Statement “A” United States Mint – Low Denomination Cons

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT SUBMISSION FOR THE UNITED STATES MINT QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH – U. S. COINAGE PRACTICES – LOW DENOMINATION COINS

A. Justifications.

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

Public Law 111-302 (2) (b) (3) authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to consider such factors he deems appropriate and in the public interest when preparing a report and recommendations to Congress with respect to the nation’s circulating coins.

This survey is intended to solicit the public’s perspective regarding feedback the United States Mint has received to date from its stakeholders on factors identified as a result of the bureau’s research and development efforts on alternative metals for circulating United States coinage.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

This telephone survey will be conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the United States Mint. The purpose is to generate statistically valid data about the public’s opinion and attitudes regarding the use of low denomination coins.

The universe from which the sample for this research will be drawn consists of every adult over the age of 18. 

Ipsos will select random samples of households from the universe using the GENESYS Sampling System developed by Marketing Systems Group to generate random digital dialing lists. Two lists will be procured, one for cell phones and one for land lines.  These lists will then be stratified into four regions and, within each region, into a cell phone-only segment and a land line segment. Ipsos is in the process of gathering the most current data on the size of each stratum.   

The survey outline is:

• Screeners (to ensure that the respondents meet our survey criteria, fit into the correct cells and that the cells are distributed as planned)

• Behavior

• General payment preferences

• General awareness

• Rounding and policy change

• Standard demographics

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

This is a telephone survey.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

Survey questions will address circulating coins only and do not duplicate other agencies’/organizations’ efforts. Our internal review and approval process ensures that duplication of data gathering within the United States Mint is eliminated.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities (Item 5 of OMB Form 83-I), describe any methods used to minimize burden.

There is no expected impact to small businesses through this information collection. This survey will involve individuals only.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

This collection activity will enable the Agency to prepare a recommendation to “Assess the Future of Currency, Including the Penny” which is a part of the President’s 2015 budget. Specifically, the President’s 2015 budget includes the following statement. “The production and circulation of currency in the United States have been largely unchanged for decades, despite the growth in electronic financial transactions. Treasury is undertaking a comprehensive review of U. S. currency, including a review of both the production and use of coins, in order to efficiently promote commerce in the 21^st Century. These studies will analyze alternative metals, the United States Mint facilities, and consumer behavior and preferences, and will result in the development of alternative options for the penny and the nickel.”

This collection activity will influence possible policy decisions impacting the future of the nation’s circulating coinage. This survey will contribute data about the public’s interest as the Secretary of the Treasury considers possible changes to the production of low denomination coins and the metals used to construct low denomination coins.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner: *requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly; *requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it; requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document; etc.

The research study referenced does not require any further reporting of information on behalf of participants completing the survey. However, after the data from this survey is analyzed and understood it is anticipated the Agency may have a need to collect additional information from the public. The additional survey(s) would include topics that are a variation on the current topic concerning U.S. coinage practices -low denomination coins. If additional surveys are needed the Agency will seek OMB approval.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency’s notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

To be completed after publication of the FRN to include:

1. copy of the Federal Register Notice,

2. a summary of the comments received, and

3. a description of agency actions.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

The quantitative survey is voluntary. No monetary incentive will be offered.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

The telephone survey will provide the following statement:

All of your responses will be kept completely secured. We will not use this information to contact you or attempt to sell you any products or services.

11. Justification of sensitive questions.

Not applicable. Sensitive information is not collected.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should: *indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden; and an explanation of how the burden was estimated.

To obtain this information, the US Mint will conduct a one-time nationally representative random-digit-dial (RDD) survey of 1,000 U.S. adults. The proposed survey will include both landline (700 interviews) and cellular (300 interviews) telephones. Interviewing will be conducted in both English and Spanish. The questionnaire should take 12 minutes to complete, including 2 minutes to screen for eligible participants (adults in the cellular telephone sample, the adult with the most recent birthday in the household in the landline telephone survey). The United States Mint estimates the burden of this collection of information as described in the table below.



Survey component	Estimated time to complete	Population	Total burden
Screener	2 minutes	1250	41.67
Main survey	10 minutes	1000	166.67



13. Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14).

Voluntary participation for the quantitative research study involves no cost to the participants.

14. Provide estimates of annualized costs to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies may also aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.

Ipsos Labor Categories	Hours	Rate	Total
Senior Vice President - Alan Roshwalb	10	$ 280.06	$        2,800.60
Associate Vice President - Zak Lewis	35	$ 160.42	$        5,614.70
Senior Research Manager - Moderator	0	$ 114.13	$                   -
Senior Research Manager - Megan Moldenhauer	70	$ 114.13	$        7,989.10
Senior Research Manager - TBD	40	$ 114.13	$        4,565.20
Research Associate - TBD	60	$   67.86	$        4,071.60
Subtotal	215		$      25,041.20
RDD Telephone - Landline (N=700)			$      18,122.70
RDD Telephone - Cell Phone (N=300)			$      14,334.77
Data Processing			$        3,915.86
Subtotal			$      32,457.47
Total			$      57,498.67

United States Mint Labor/Overhead Costs Contracting Officer Representative to IPSOS Hourly Base Rate 50.27 plus 30 percent for overhead--- Total per hour $65.35 Approximate hours based on an average of 5 to 10 hours per week –35 hours Total—$2287.25

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I.

Not applicable. There are no adjustments or changes to the existing program.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

The results of this quantitative survey will be analyzed by the contractor, Ipsos and by internal analysts at the United States Mint. Information from the data collection will support the 2014 biennial report to Congress as required by Public Law 111-302.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

OMB approval for the requested information collection will be displayed on all U. S. Mint information collection approved with this request.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19, “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions,” of OMB Form 83-I.

Not applicable. There are no exceptions requested.

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