This collection
is appproved for 6 months only. When re-submitted, OPM must ensure
all privacy routine uses are updated.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
06/30/2017
6 Months From Approved
12/31/2016
124,611
0
124,611
143,071
0
143,071
0
0
0
Questionnaire for Public Trust
Positions (SF 85P) and Supplemental Questionnaire for Selected
Positions (SF 85PS) The SF 85P and SF 85P-S are information
collections completed by applicants for, or incumbents of, Federal
Government civilian positions, or positions in private entities
performing work for the Federal Government under contract. The SF
85P will be used by the Federal Government in conducting background
investigations and reinvestigations of persons under consideration
for, or retention of, public trust positions. The SF 85PS is
supplemental to the SF 85P and is used only after an offer of
employment has been made.
Request submitted for
emergency extension for continued use of the SF 85P and SF 85PS.
Both forms are due to expire on March 31, 2016. Emergency extension
requested for several reasons. Several years ago OPM requested that
OMB unbundle the SF 85, SF 85P, SF 85PS, and the SF 86 into
separate clearance packages. This change was made to allow greater
flexibility when making required changes that may impact a
particular form. Since that time several policy changes have
occurred which no longer supports this need. Through government
reform, standards used to conduct background investigations changed
to the Federal Investigative Standards (FIS), which applies a
tiered approach to investigations. With this approach there is a
clear alignment of investigation requirements for suitability and
national security investigation. OPM is working to develop a tiered
questionnaire that will apply the same basic principles identified
with the FIS. With the tiered questionnaire model, all questions
identified from all forms will be housed in a centralized database.
Questions will be presented to the applicant based on the required
investigation level. For example, an individual requiring an
investigation to support Homeland Security Presidential
Directive-12 will only be presented questions normally collected on
the SF 85. The same will hold true for other levels of
investigations. Questions that are the same between all forms will
be standardized within the database. In addition to moving forward
with the tiered questionnaire, approval is still pending final
changes associated the SF 86. Once changes are approved for the SF
86, where appropriate, similar questions will be modified on the SF
85P and the SF 85PS. OPM has been tracking the clearance of the
formulation of question 21 on the SF 86 and intended to model the
SF 85PS mental health question using the same formulation. The
delay in arriving at an agreed upon formulation for question 21 of
the SF 86 caused OPM to revise the package internally several
times. The 60 day Federal Register notice published Vol. 81/No.
58/Friday, March 25, 2016, Page 16224. The emergency extension will
provide additional time for OPM to incorporate changes identified
with the SF 86, and allow time for continued work on the tiered
questionnaire.
US Code:
5 USC
3301 Name of Law: Government Organization and Employees
US Code: 5 USC
3302 Name of Law: Government Organization and Employees
EO: EO 10450 Name/Subject of EO: Security
Requirements for Government Employment
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.