G419: Invention-Con Surveys Submission Request

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback” (OMB Control Number: 0651-0080)

TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION: G419: Invention-Con Surveys 2024

PURPOSE: This survey is to gather feedback from participants of the USPTO’s annual Invention-Con event. Invention-Con is a USPTO-sponsored event to provide information to individuals submitting patent applications. The events are targeted to assist individual and independent patent applicants, especially independent inventors, on tips, processes, and common problems encountered in the patent process. The event is being held online in a webinar format with three days of activities. Due to the online event, is it likely that individuals may only participate in one day, or parts of a day. The USPTO has created a survey to gather information about the usefulness of each session/speaker and overall satisfaction of the entire event. Individuals participating the event will be invited to complete the survey. There is an additional panel survey that will be sent to participants who attend the event’s livestream panel discussion.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS:

Patents applicants and inventors who attend the Invention-Con event. (Individuals and Households)

TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one or multiple)

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

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

[ ] Focus Group [ ] Other: _________________

CERTIFICATION:

I certify the following to be true:

1. The collection is voluntary.

2. The collection is 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.

Business Unit: _________Nateka Branch/OCCO_ _______________________

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

Personally Identifiable Information:

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

1a. If Yes, is the information that will be collected included in records that are subject to

the Privacy Act of 1974? [ ] Yes [ ] No

2. If applicable, has a System of Records Notice been published? [ ] Yes [ ] No [X] N/A

Gifts or Payments:

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

BURDEN HOURS

Name of Instrument Individuals and Households	No. of Respondents	Participation Time	Burden
Survey	500	5 minutes	42 hours
Panel Survey	500	1 minute	10 hours
Totals	1,000	---	52 hours

The USPTO estimates that 100% of the surveys will be completed electronically.

FEDERAL COST: The USPTO estimates that it takes a GS-11 step 10, eight hours for data analysis and reporting. The hourly basic rate for a GS-11, step 10, is currently $51.55 according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM’s) 2024 Salary Table, including locality pay for the Washington, DC area. When 30% is added to account for a fully loaded hourly rate (benefits and overhead), the rate per hour for a GS-11, step 10, is $67.02 ($51.55 + $15.47). 

The estimated annual cost to the federal government is the combined average hourly rate of $67.02 per hour multiplied by eight hours (for one yearly Invention-Con program) = $536.

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 them?

All attendees will login into the webinar event to participate. At the end of the three day event, all email addresses which logged into the webinar event will be sent a unique link to a survey. The survey will remain open for three or four days following the event. Current estimates for participation indicate an audience of about 500 unique respondents across the three days. The panel survey will be submitted to all those who attend the livestream for the panel discussion.

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

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