Justification for Non-Substantive CHange

Request for Non-Substantive Change to the

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Census Bureau

2017 Economic Census

OMB Control No. 0607-0998

Based on flat line funding in FY 2017 and similar levels anticipated in FY 2018, key aspects of the 2017 Economic Census (EC17) schedule have been re-planned. These changes will mean delays in mailings, data collection, processing, and the dissemination of final data products. The re-planned schedule is shown in Supporting Statement A. Areas highlighted in green with a line reflect what Census submitted in the original OMB clearance request, areas highlighted in yellow are re-planned.

Due to a shortened timeline, the re-plan includes decreased sample sizes. We plan to reduce the number of cases mailed by 25% for the single unit (small businesses) sample. All multiunit (larger) companies will receive a mailing. Re-planned sample sizes and counts are shown in Supporting Statement A, Supporting Statement B, Attachment A and Attachment B. Areas highlighted in green with a line reflect what Census submitted in the original OMB clearance request, areas highlighted in yellow are re-planned. As a result of this change, the respondent burden is reduced from the original submission.

The 2017 Economic Census will be offered to respondents as an electronic instrument. The initial EC17 clearance package included 16 Alternative Reporting Unit (ARU) paths. The Census Bureau would like to split six of the existing ARU paths into 18 new paths. Multiple industries were assigned to the 6 existing ARU paths. Instead of using 6 paths for multiple industries, we would like to create a standalone path for each industry.  All EC17 paths, including the new ARU splits are shown in Attachment A. The 18 new ARU paths are highlighted in yellow. No changes are requested to any of the content or data items. Furthermore, the changes will not affect the respondent burden for the survey.  All 2017 Economic Census draft questionnaire electronic instrument paths, including the 18 new ARU paths can be accessed at: http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/information.html.

The contact person for questions relating to this collection is Mr. William Samples, Assistant Division Chief, Economic Census Assistant Survey Director in the Census Bureau’s Economy-Wide Statistics Division.  He can be reached at (301) 763-7175.

Attachments:

1. Supporting Statement A

2. Supporting Statement B

3. Attachment A

4. Attachment B