Submission for Review 3206-0261: Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF 85), 92977-92978 [2024-27464]

Agencies

• Office of Personnel Management

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92977-92978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27464]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Submission for Review 3206-0261: Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive 
Positions (SF 85)

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: 30-Day notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is requesting the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) renew a previously approved 
information collection, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF 
85).

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until December 26, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this 
particular information collection request by selecting ``Office of 
Personnel Management'' under ``Currently Under Review,'' then check 
``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this ICR, with applicable 
supporting documentation, may be obtained by email to 
[email protected], or by contacting Lynnette Hornung 202-599-0090, or 
U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Suitability Executive Agent 
Programs, P.O. Box 699, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that OPM has submitted 
to OMB a request for renewal of a previously approved information 
collection, control number 3206-0261, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive 
Positions (SF 85). The public has an additional 30-day opportunity to 
comment. The 60 day Federal Register Notice was published on September 
11, 2024 (89 FR 73730). No comments were received.
    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2), OPM is soliciting comments for this collection. The Office 
of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) whether this collection is 
necessary to the proper functions of OPM; (2) whether this information 
will be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) the accuracy of the 
burden estimates; (4) ways in which OPM might enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) ways 
in which OPM might minimize the burden of this collection on the 
respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Background

    The Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, Standard Form 85 (SF 
85) is an information collection completed by applicants for, or 
incumbents of, Federal Government civilian positions, or positions in 
private entities performing work for the Federal Government under 
contract. The collection is used as the basis of information for 
background investigations to establish that such individuals are:
     Suitable for employment or retention in Federal employment 
in a low risk, non-sensitive position, or fit for employment or 
retention in Federal employment in the excepted service when the duties 
to be performed are equivalent to a low risk, non-sensitive position;
     Fit to perform work on behalf of the Federal Government 
pursuant to the Government contract, when the duties to be performed 
are equivalent to a low risk, non-sensitive position;
     Eligible for physical and logical access to federally 
controlled facilities or information systems, when the duties to be 
performed by the individual are equivalent to the duties performed by 
an employee in a low risk, non-sensitive position.
    For applicants, the SF 85 is used only after a conditional offer of 
employment has been made. eApplication (eApp) is a web-based system 
application that houses the SF 85. A variable in assessing burden hours 
is the nature of the electronic application. The electronic application 
includes branching questions and instructions which provide for a 
tailored collection from the respondent based on varying factors in the 
respondent's personal history. The burden on the respondent is reduced 
when their personal history is not relevant to particular questions, 
since the question only branches or expands for additional details for 
those individuals who have pertinent information to provide regarding 
that line of questioning. Accordingly, the burden on the respondent 
will vary depending on whether the information collection relates to 
the respondent's personal history.
    OPM requests renewal of the information collection for the SF 85. 
As we await the implementation of the Personnel Vetting Questionnaire, 
which was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (87 FR 71700 
and 88 FR 12703) on November 15, 2023, agencies continue to use the SF 
85

[[Page 92978]]

for investigations of individuals holding low risk non-sensitive 
positions.
    As a result of a new fiscal year beginning after the posting of the 
60 Day Notice on September 11, 2024, the number of respondents in the 
analysis has been updated from the average of 55,000 respondents in 
FY18, 19 and 20 to 239,900, which was the number of respondents in 
FY24. The actual estimated time per respondent has not changed and 
remains 120 minutes.

Analysis

    Agency: Office of Personnel Management.
    Title: Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, Standard Form 85 
(SF 85).
    OMB Number: 3206-0261.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 239,200.
    Estimated Time per Respondent: 120 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 478,400.

Alexys Stanley,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2024-27464 Filed 11-22-24; 8:45 am]
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