Notice2025-11334
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and Examiner Applications
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 20, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Institute of Standards and Technology
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 117 (Friday, June 20, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 117 (Friday, June 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26273-26274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11334]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and Examiner
Applications
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
[[Page 26274]]
information collection must be received on or before August 19, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
mail to Maureen O'Reilly, Management Analyst, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive,
MS 1710, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#055557444b4c5651456b6c76712b626a73"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9898b9897908a8d99b7b0aaadf7beb6af">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0693-0006 in the subject line of your
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to Robyn Decker, Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, NIST, 100
Bureau Drive, Stop 1020, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 301-975-4781,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#73011c110a1d331d1a00075d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="592b363b20371937302a2d773e362f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Department of Commerce is responsible for the Baldrige
Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) and the Malcolm Baldrige National
Quality Award (MBNQA), the nation's highest award for organizational
performance excellence. Directly associated with this award is the
Board of Examiners, an integral volunteer workforce for BPEP. NIST
manages BPEP. An applicant organization for the MBNQA is required to
perform two steps online: (1) the applicant organization self-certifies
that it meets eligibility requirements; and (2) the applicant
organization completes the application portion which consists of
responses to questions about the organization used as context for the
evaluation, and responses to the award criteria questions. BPEP staff
are available by phone or email to respond to any questions or issues
that the applicant may have concerning the application processes.
Volunteer industry experts serving on the Board of Examiners will use
the information submitted to assess and provide feedback on the
applicant's performance excellence practices. These practices could
lead to a MBNQA awarded by the President of the United States or their
delegate.
Per Public Law 100-107 (Malcolm Baldrige National Quality
Improvement Act of 1987), the MBNQA helps to stimulate American
companies to improve quality and productivity for the pride of
recognition while obtaining a competitive edge through increased
profits; recognizes the achievements of those companies that improve
the quality of their goods and services and provide an example to
others; establishes guidelines and criteria that can be used by
business, industrial, governmental, and other organizations in
evaluating their own quality improvement efforts; and provides specific
guidance for other American organizations that wish to learn how to
manage for high quality by making available detailed information on how
winning organizations were able to change their cultures and achieve
eminence.
The application to be a member of the Board of Examiners is a one-
step, secure, online process. Each year, BPEP recruits highly skilled
experts in the fields of manufacturing, service, small business, health
care, education, and nonprofit, the six Award eligibility categories,
to evaluate the applications that BPEP receives. Examiners must
successfully complete an in-depth virtual training course and serve for
a one-year term; participation on the board is entirely voluntary.
BPEP's mission to improve the competitiveness and performance of
U.S. organizations for the benefit of all U.S. residents.
II. Method of Collection
MBNQA applicant organizations must prepare and submit their
eligibility responses, and their application package as detailed at
<a href="http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/baldrige-award/how-apply">http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/baldrige-award/how-apply</a>. Information on
the application for the Board of Examiners can be found at <a href="http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/products-services/become-baldrige-examiner/apply">http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/products-services/become-baldrige-examiner/apply</a>
electronically send a unique user ID and password (separate emails) on
how applicants to the Board of Examiners can apply to the secure
system.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0693-0006.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission, extension of a current
information collection.
Affected Public: Business, health care, education, or other for-
profit organizations; health care, education, and other nonprofit
organizations; and individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 320 (20 Applications for MBNQA and
300 Applicants for the Board of Examiners).
Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours for MBNQA application and 30
minutes for examiner applications.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 950 (MBNQA application = 800
hours and Board of Examiners = 150 hours).
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: MBNQA = $10,000-$50,800
(application and site visit fees vary depending on size of the
organization; additionally, only 50% of applications pay site visit
fees and Board of Examiners: $0.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2025-11334 Filed 6-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 20, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.