Generic Clearance Submission Request

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance Collection for Meetings, Events, Registrations, and Miscellaneous Forms”

(OMB Control Number: 0690-0038)

TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION: NOAA Ocean Exploration General Partnership Inquiry Form

PURPOSE: In an effort to streamline random inquiries for collaboration and partnership, NOAA Ocean Exploration has created a google form to help coordinate the inquiries so that the information is all in one place and can be addressed in a more timely and organized matter.

NOAA Ocean Exploration is dedicated to exploring the unknown ocean, unlocking its potential through scientific discovery, technological advancements, and data delivery. By working closely with partners across public, private, and academic sectors, we are filling gaps in our basic understanding of the marine environment. This allows us, collectively, to protect ocean health, sustainably manage our marine resources, accelerate our national economy, better understand our changing environment, and enhance appreciation of the importance of the ocean in our everyday lives.

Our office is also actively working with partners to expand a national ocean exploration program and is playing a key role in the development and execution of the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization (NOMEC) and the strategy’s Implementation Plan.

As the societal relevance of the ocean is increasingly recognized, so are the needs for exploring it. Exploring the ocean encompasses a broad spectrum of work including many ocean science disciplines, maritime heritage, data and data analytics, technology advancement, expeditions, outreach and education, workforce training, and stakeholder engagement. Collaboration in these areas benefits NOAA Ocean Exploration and advances the interests of our partners and the knowledge and understanding of the ocean for everyone.

To grow our network of partners, NOAA Ocean Exploration seeks to expand the scope of organizations and entities we collaborate with, including private-sector, academic, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations and federal, state, tribal, and territorial agencies.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS: Private-sector, academic, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations and federal, state, tribal, and territorial agencies.

TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one)

[ ] Customer Comment Card/Complaint Form [ ] Customer Satisfaction Survey

[ ] Usability Testing (e.g., Website or Software [ ] Small Discussion Group

[ ] Focus Group [X] Other: General Partnership Inquiry

CERTIFICATION:

I certify the following to be true:

1. The collection is voluntary.

2. The collection is a low burden for respondents and low-cost for the Federal Government.

3. The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues of concern to other federal agencies.

4. The results are not intended to be disseminated to the public.

5. Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of substantially informing influential policy decisions.

6. The collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions from respondents who have experience with the program or may have experience with the program in the future.

Name: ___Shellby Johnson-Rodney_____________________________________________

To assist review, please provide answers to the following question:

Personally Identifiable Information:

1. Is personally identifiable information (PII) collected? [X] Yes [] No

2. If Yes, will any information that is collected be included in records that are subject to the Privacy Act of 1974? [ ] Yes [X] No

3. If Yes, has an up-to-date System of Records Notice (SORN) been published? [ ] Yes [X] No

Gifts or Payments:

Is an incentive (e.g., money or reimbursement of expenses, token of appreciation) provided to participants? [ ] Yes [X] No

BURDEN HOURS

Category of Respondent	No. of Respondents	Participation Time	Burden Hours
Private Sector	15	20 min	5
Not for Profit	5	20 min	1.7
State, Local or Tribal Government	15	20 min	5
Totals	35		11.7

FEDERAL COST: The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is ___$1,227_____

If you are conducting a focus group, survey, or plan to employ statistical methods, please provide answers to the following questions:

The selection of your targeted respondents

1. Do you have a customer list or something similar that defines the universe of potential respondents and do you have a sampling plan for selecting from this universe? [ ] Yes [X] No

If the answer is yes, please provide a description of both below (or attach the sampling plan)? If the answer is no, please provide a description of how you plan to identify your potential group of respondents and how you will select the respondents.

These are requests from the public to enter into partnership or other collaborative activities with NOAA Ocean Exploration.

Administration of the Instrument

1. How will you collect the information? (Check all that apply)

[X] Web-based or other forms of Social Media

[ ] Telephone

[ ] In-person

[ ] Mail

[ ] Other, Explain

2. Will interviewers or facilitators be used? [ ] Yes [X] No

Required Additional Information

1. Line of Business: Natural Resources

2. Subfunction: Water Conservation and Management

3. Privacy Act System of Records: NA

4. Federal Registration citation information: NA

5. Number of respondents for small entities: NA

6. Percentage of respondents reporting electronically: 100%

Please submit all instruments, instructions, correspondences (emails, letters, etc.) to respondents, and scripts as separate documents along with this request document.

Every instrument must have the following displayed –

OMB Control No. 0690-0038

Expiration Date: 07/31/2026

5