[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 42140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19889]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Partner and Customer 
Satisfaction Surveys

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 for the opportunity for public comment on the 
proposed data collection projects, the Center for Scientific Review 
(CSR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), has submitted to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve the 
information collection listed below. This proposed information 
collection was previously published in the Federal Register on May 27, 
1999, page 28827 and allowed 60 days for public comment. No public 
comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an 
additional 30 days for public comment. The National Institute of Health 
may not conduct or sponsor, the respondent is not required to respond 
to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or 
implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

Proposed Collection

    Title: Partner and Customer Satisfaction Surveys. Type of 
Collection Request: New request. Need and Use of Information 
Collection: The information collected in these surveys will be used by 
the Center for Scientific Review personnel: (1) to assess the quality 
of operations and processes used by CSR to review grant applications; 
(2) to assess the quality of service provided to our partners and 
customers; (3) to assist with the design of modifications of these 
operations, processes, and services, based on partner and customer 
input; (4) to develop new modes of operation based on partner and 
customer need; and (5) to obtain partner and customer feedback about 
the efficacy of implemented modifications. These surveys will almost 
certainly lead to quality improvement activities that will enhance and/
or streamline CSR's operations. The major mechanism by which CSR will 
request input is through surveys. The survey for partners is generic 
and tailored for Scientific Review Group (SGR) past and present members 
and chairs. The survey for customers, i.e., grant applicants, will have 
slight variations determined by which category of scientific review 
group the researcher/investigator's grant application is reviewed. 
Surveys will be collected as written documents or via Internet. 
Information gathered from these surveys will be presented to, and used 
directly by, CSR management to enhance the operations, processes, and 
services of our organization. Frequency of Response: The participants 
will respond yearly. Affected public: Universities, not-for-profit 
institutions, business or other for-profit, small businesses and 
organizations, and individuals. Type of Respondents: Adult scientific 
professionals. The annual reporting burden is as follows: It is 
estimated that the survey form will take 20 minutes to complete. The 
annual hour burden is, therefore, estimated to be 1,932 hours for 5,855 
respondents. Estimated costs to the respondents consists entirely of 
their time. Costs for time were estimated using a rate of $38.00 per 
hour for SGR members, SGR chairs, and principal investigators/grant 
applicants. The estimated annual cost for which the generic clearance 
is requested is $73,421. No additional costs should be incurred by 
respondents or recordkeepers. There are no capital, operating, or 
maintenance costs to report.

Requests for Comments

    Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1) 
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the CSR, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond while maintaining 
their anonymity, including the use of automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

Direct Comments to OMB

    Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained 
in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and 
associated response time, should be directed to the: Office of 
Management and Budget, Office of Regulatory Affairs, New Executive 
Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk 
Officer for NIH.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans, 
contact: Elliot Postow, Ph.D., Director, Division of Molecular and 
Cellular Mechanisms, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes 
of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 4160 MSC 7806, Bethesda, MD 
20892-7806, or call non-toll free: 301-435-0911, or e-mail your request 
or comments, including your address to [email protected].

Comments Due Date

    Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of 
having their full effect if received on or before September 2, 1999.
Chris Wisdom,
Executive Officer, CSR.
[FR Doc. 99-19889 Filed 8-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M