Supplemental Questions related to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on businesses

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form Screenshots of COV Supplemental Questions related to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on businesses Form	New
Census-OMB Emergency Clearance Request Memo Final 4-6-20.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-04-06
clearance package part B.docx Supporting Statement B	2020-04-03
clearance package part A (revised).docx Supporting Statement A	2020-04-08

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
241130	Supplemental Questions related to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on businesses Form	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0607-1012	ICR Reference No: 202004-0607-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOC/CENSUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Supplemental Questions related to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on businesses
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 04/08/2020
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 04/08/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 04/07/2020
Terms of Clearance: OMB approves consistent with the understanding that the Census Bureau will publish a 60-day Federal Register Notice describing this collection within 30 days of the approval date.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2020	6 Months From Approved
Responses	293,451	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	24,454	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The U.S. Census Bureau requests an emergency 180-day approval of an emergency Information Collection Request (ICR) to add questions to the following surveys designated as Primary Economic Indicators: Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories & Orders (M3) Survey Building Permits Survey Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey Monthly Retail Surveys Quarterly Services Survey The added questions are designed to allow us to measure the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon businesses.

Emergency Justfication: This information must be collected prior to the expiration of time periods established under Part 1320, and that this information is essential to the U.S. Census Bureau’s emergency response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We plan to immediately add questions to measure the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic upon businesses to the following surveys designated as Primary Economic Indicators: Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories & Orders (M3) Survey Building Permits Survey Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey Monthly Retail Surveys Quarterly Services Survey As Primary Economic Indicators, each of these surveys produce timely and closely-watched statistics about the health of the U.S economy. Given the importance of these indicator surveys and of the statistics they produce, it is imperative we measure to what extent businesses have been impacted in terms of their ability to maintain operations during this turbulent period. The Census Bureau cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance given the urgent necessity to collect these data. Therefore, the Census Bureau requests a 180-day emergency clearance to launch collection of data.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 13 USC 131, 182 Name of Law: null
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Supplemental Questions related to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on businesses	Screenshots of COVID19 Questions on Surveys	Screenshots of COVID19 Questions on Surveys

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	293,451	0	0	293,451	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	24,454	0	0	24,454	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This collection is submitted as new.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $26,766

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Yes

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 04/07/2020

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