This collection
is approved based on the revised materials provided by the
Department.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
10/31/2021
36 Months From Approved
10/31/2018
357
0
300
6,868
0
9,600
0
0
0
The MEP Centers’ primary mission is to
strengthen the global competitiveness of U.S.-based manufacturing
by providing information, decision support, and implementation
assistance to smaller manufacturing firms in adopting new, more
advanced manufacturing technologies, techniques, and business best
practices. More than 1,300 knowledgeable specialists provide
technical and business assistance. NIST MEP provides funding to the
Centers through Cooperative Agreements. To ensure that Cooperative
Agreement recipients are effectively disseminating the most current
technical and business solutions to small and medium-sized
manufacturers in the United States, MEP will collect and analyze
information from the MEP Centers. MEP is mandated to collect this
information by the regulations governing the operation of the MEP
program (15 CFR 290, 291, and 292) and the Government Performance
and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA, 5 CFR 1320). The advent of H.R. 1274
– Section 2 (Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program Center
Extension) effectively removes the “Sunset Provisions” on the
original MEP regulations (15 CFR 290, 291, and 292), and has made
MEP a permanent investor in the Centers with the need to collect
evaluative and informative data.
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.