SBLF Lending Survey Supporting Statement B 20120717 - cleared DO - for OMB - clean + SP 12-5

OMB Control Number 1505-0246

Department of the Treasury, Departmental Offices

Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

Small Business Lending Fund – Small Business Lending Survey

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection methods to be used. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole.

The respondent universe for this collection will be the remaining 278 institutions participating in the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF). Since responding to this survey is required under Section 3.1(c)(ii)(D) of the Securities Purchase Agreement signed by all participants, the expected response rate is 100%.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including: statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection, estimation procedure, degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification, unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures, and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.

There is no sample collection. The information will be collected from the entire universe of potential respondents (see response to question 1). Following data collection and cleaning, data will be analyzed. There will be no estimation of this data set. This information will be collected annually.

3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

The entire respondent universe will be required to participate. The response rate will be tracked, and the SBLF program office will follow-up with emails and phone calls to any institutions that do not respond in order to ensure that responses are received from all the SBLF participants.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Testing is encouraged as an effective means of refining collections of information to minimize burden and improve utility. Tests must be approved if they call for answers to identical questions from 10 or more respondents. A proposed test or set of test may be submitted for approval separately or in combination with the main collection of information.

Treasury tested the initial survey with six SBLF participants to improve the utility of the survey in determining how SBLF participants have used SBLF funds and how well the program has performed to date. Treasury used feedback from this test to refine the survey design prior to its initial rollout to all of the SBLF participants in July 2012.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

The SBLF consulted with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Microeconomic Analysis Alexander Gelber (202-622-1513) on the design of the survey. In addition, the SBLF conferred with Bill Bassett at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to discuss similarities between the SBLF lending survey and the Federal Reserve’s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey. [The SBLF Communications Manager, expected to be on board by February of 2015] of the SBLF will collect and analyze the survey responses.

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