Sept 26 -- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Commerce, invites comments to OMB by October 27, 2023 regarding the extension of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Client Impact Survey. [Comments due 30 days after submission to OMB on September 27.]
The objective of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) is to enhance productivity, technological performance, and strengthen the global competitiveness of small-and medium-sized U.S.-based manufacturing firms. Through this client impact survey, the MEP will collect data necessary for program accountability; analysis and research into the effectiveness of the MEP program; reports to stakeholders; GPRA; continuous improvement efforts; knowledge sharing across the MEP system; and identification of best practices. Collection of this data is needed in order to comply with the MEP charter, as mandated by Congress.
Sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a national network of locally based manufacturing extension Centers working with small and medium sized manufacturers to assist them and improve their productivity and profitability, and to enhance their economic competitiveness. The information collected will provide the MEP with information regarding MEP Center performance, including the delivery of technology and business solutions to U.S.-based manufacturers.
The information collected will come directly from clients of NIST MEP Centers. This information will include quantified impacts on a client’s sales, cost savings, employment, and investment. These figures will be used to determine the effectiveness of the project work done by the Center, and to gauge the overall success of the NIST MEP program. Collection of this data is mission-critical and is used for NIST MEPs Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) requirements.
Data will be disseminated to the public in aggregate—quantified impacts will be totaled for NIST MEPs annual impact reports to stakeholders and the general public. Aggregate quantified impacts and other survey findings, such as client challenges, may also be used for the development of blogs and other research to inform NIST MEP and the public on manufacturing.
NIST MEP collects information from Center clients on a quarterly basis, however, each client will only be surveyed once annually. This information is used for the following purposes:
-- Program Accountability
-- Analysis and Research
-- Reports to Stakeholders
-- Continuous Improvement
-- Knowledge Sharing
-- Identification of Distinctive Practices
-- Award Recipient Evaluation
The development of NIST MEP’s data collections, including the MEP Client Survey, is the result of extensive collaboration between NIST MEP and the National Network of MEP Centers. Most recently, beginning in September 2022, NIST MEP hosted a Performance Evaluation Working Group, with participation open to representatives from each Center that chose to attend the meetings, which were held monthly. NIST MEP received, through this group, feedback on the survey structure and format as well as the fielding process, with the Centers representing the opinions/interests of their clients, as well as their own, to NIST MEP staff. NIST MEP received input regarding data availability and frequency of the collection from its staff. This group provided their professional opinions and expertise on the survey questions and protocol.
MEP:
https://www.nist.gov/mep
2017 report on MEP Client Impact:
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2017/03/new-report-released-national-level-economic-impact-manufacturing-extension
NIST submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202309-0693-001 Click IC List for information collection instrument, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this webpage.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-20933
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806