Notice2026-00901
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Challenge and Prize Competition Solicitations Generic Clearance
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
January 20, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce Department
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
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2331-2332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00901]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Office of the Secretary
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Challenge and Prize Competition Solicitations Generic
Clearance
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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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
information collection must be received on or before March 23, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
mail to the Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under
Secretary for Economic Affairs, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e6b6b4a785898b8b83889295a6828985c8818990"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3c6c6e7d5f5351515952484f7c58535f125b534a">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 the Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under
Secretary for Economic Affairs, at 1401 Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20230 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7626243715191b1b131802053612191558111900"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1f4f4d5e7c7072727a716b6c5f7b707c31787069">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension of a currently approved generic
clearance for the collection of routine information requested of
respondents in challenges and competitions that the Department of
Commerce posts on the General Service Administration (GSA)'s
<a href="http://Challenge.gov">Challenge.gov</a> website since passage of the America COMPETES Act of
2011. In order for DOC to launch competitions quickly and effectively
on a continual basis, DOC seeks generic clearance to collect
information for these challenges and competitions, which will generally
include first name, last name, email, city, state and when applicable
other demographic information. It can also include other information
necessary to evaluate submissions and understand their impact related
to the general goals of the competition. Upon entry or during the
judging process, applicants under the age of 18 may be asked to confirm
parental consent, requiring students under 18 to have a parent's
signature on a parental consent form provided by the DOC in order to
qualify for the contest. For certain challenges we may also need to
collect data such as types of data sets used in the solution, types of
software tools used in the solution, and information regarding uses of
proprietary software (i.e., licenses or use agreements). Information
obtained from participants will be used by the program managers
(challenge manager), technical reviewers, and other agency officials
(such agency counsels.
In 2011, Federal agencies including DOC were given prize authority
for administering challenges and competitions. Section 105(a) of the
America Competes Act, adds Section 24 to the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) that
addresses provisions for challenges and competitions with prizes
conducted by Federal agencies. Challenges and competitions enable DOC
to tap into the expertise and creativity of the public in new ways. DOC
evaluates submissions and typically awards monetary or non-monetary
prizes to winning entries. DOC may sponsor challenges and competitions
in a wide variety of areas to increase public participation and solicit
new ideas on a wide array of topics important to the agency's mission.
DOC's goal is to engage a broader number of stakeholders who are
inspired to work on some of our most pressing issues.
The information collected will be used to understand whether the
participant has met the technical requirements for the challenge,
assist in the technical review and judging of the solutions that are
provided, and assess how the competition was administered. Information
may be collected during the competition or after its completion.
This clearance applies to challenges posted on <a href="http://Challenge.gov">Challenge.gov</a>, which
uses a common platform for the solicitation of challenges from the
public. Each agency designs the criteria for its solicitations based on
the goals of the challenge and the specific needs of the agency. There
is no standard submission format for solution providers to follow, and
there is no set schedule for the issuance of challenges; they are
developed and issued on an ``as needed'' basis in response to issues
the federal agency wishes to solve.
II. Method of Collection
The primary method of collection will be electronic. Some
supporting documents may be emailed, mailed, or collected in person.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0690-0031.
Form Number(s): Varies or None.
Type of Review: Regular submission, an extension of a currently
approved collection.
Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Private Sector; Not-
for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,100.
Estimated Time per Response: 10-30 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 800.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: Nominal.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Requests: One-time.
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.
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
[[Page 2332]]
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. 2026-00901 Filed 1-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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