R 171417Z JUN 21
MARADMIN 314/21
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA/MP//
SUBJ/PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT PROCESS FOR CONTROVERSIAL SURVEY TOPICS//
REF/A/DOC/CONGRESS//
POC/B.M. BOWMAN/MAJ/DC MRA/MP/-/TEL: 703-784-9370//
AMPN/REF A IS PUBLIC LAW 104-13 PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  PURPOSE.  This MARADMIN provides notification that all surveys, focus groups, and/or interviews related to COVID-19, climate change, racial equity, economic relief, gender relations, military families, sexual assault/harassment, and other high-visibility topics must be approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) via the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) process.
2.  BACKGROUND.  Section 1320.3(c)(3) of the PRA authorizes the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), under the OMB, to request this information “…if the results are to be used for statistical compilations of general public interest, including compilations showing the status or implementation of Federal activities and programs."  For now, surveys of public interest are those that fall under the categories mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which are determined based on Executive Office of the President (EOP) priorities.
3.  The estimated PRA process is lengthy and can take up to six to nine months for approval.  By law, the PRA process in most cases includes at least three months of public comment via Federal Register Notifications, so significant planning prior to administering any survey(s), focus group(s), or interviews is required.  Additional information about the PRA process can be found here:   https:(slash)(slash)pra.digital.gov.
4.  Researchers who desire to administer any survey(s), focus group(s), or interviews must contact the USMC Survey Office and Human Research Protection Official prior to collecting any data.  Researchers are encouraged to do so early in their planning process, especially if their research is about COVID-19, climate change, racial equity, economic relief, gender relations, military families, sexual assault/harassment, and other high-visibility topics.  Once contacted, the USMC Survey Office will help researchers navigate through both internal and PRA approvals.
5.  The POC for the USMC Survey Office is Maj Brandon M. Bowman, surveys@usmc.mil, or at 703-784-9370.
6.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the entire force.
7.  Released by Colonel Ahmed T. Williamson, Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division.//