Notice2026-05389
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; CHIPS Workforce Solution Participant Data Collection
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
March 19, 2026
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
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13293-13294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05389]
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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; CHIPS Workforce Solution Participant Data Collection
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
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 May 18, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
mail to Elizabeth Reinhart, Management Analyst, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive,
MS 1710, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#48181a0906011b1c0826213b3c662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="acfcfeede2e5fff8ecc2c5dfd882cbc3da">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Margaux
Fontaine, Senior Advisor for Workforce Strategy, CHIPS Program Office,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d0bdb1a2b7b1a5a8feb6bfbea4b1b9beb590b3b8b9a0a3feb7bfa6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a272b382d2b3f32642c25243e2b23242f0a2922233a39642d253c">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The CHIPS for America Programs are authorized by Title XCIX--
Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America of
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283, referred to as the CHIPS Act or
Act), as amended by the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Division A of Pub. L. 117-
167). CHIPS for America includes the CHIPS Incentives Program and the
CHIPS Research and Development (R&D) Program. The CHIPS Incentives
Program is administered by the CHIPS Program Office (CPO). The CHIPS
Research and Development Program is administered by the CHIPS Research
and Development Office (CRDO). Both offices are within the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the United States
Department of Commerce (Department).
CPO awarded CHIPS Direct Funding to select CHIPS Recipients to
support workforce development for their projects (CHIPS Workforce
Funds). To request CHIPS Workforce Funds, CHIPS Recipients submit
Workforce Solution Funding Orders (WSFOs). WSFOs are specific plans
designed to address current and anticipated staffing shortages through
programs including, but not limited to, internships, apprenticeships,
and training programs. CRDO intends to support workforce development
activities that will expand participation in education and training
programs relevant to microelectronics, including through the
development of registered apprenticeships. This PRA approval request is
for the collection of participant data for those participating in
workforce development programs outlined in the WSFOs, funded by CPO,
and workforce development activities supported by CRDO. This data
collection will occur within a secure online system that is being
developed.
In programs where participant data is being collected, program
participants will input their own data such as full name, full address,
full date of birth, race and ethnicity, sex, and educational
attainment. The participant information that will be collected from
individuals will help to facilitate program oversight to determine
whether certain CHIPS-funded programs are effective and enable future
program evaluation.
All participant data collected will be aggregated to provide
insights to CHIPS for America and the CHIPS Awardee. Each CHIPS
Recipient or Awardee will only be able to see insights specific to
their own WSFOs. This enables CHIPS Recipients or Awardees to ensure
that proposed activities are effective (i.e., resulting in reduced
staffing shortages) and enables CHIPS for America to monitor the
implementation and impact of taxpayer funded workforce development
activities in real time.
II. Method of Collection
CHIPS for America intends to collect information from respondents
electronically using a secure online system.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0693-XXXX.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission--New Information Collection.
[[Page 13294]]
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations;
institutions of higher education; individuals.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 35,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 2 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,155 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $54,654.60.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory to be eligible for CHIPS
funding.
Legal Authority: CHIPS Act of 2022 (Division A of Pub. L. 117-167)
(the Act).
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. 2026-05389 Filed 3-18-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P
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