[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 115 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 32361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14972]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Request for Clearance To 
Evaluate the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business 
Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment 
on proposed data collection projects, the National Institutes of Health 
(NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval.

Proposed Collection

    Title: The National Survey to Evaluate the NIH SBIR Program. Type 
of Information Collection Request: NEW. Need and Use of the Information 
Collection: The NIH, Office of Extramural Research, Office of 
Extramural Programs seeks to obtain OMB's approval to conduct a survey 
to evaluate the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The 
SBIR Program, established by Congress in 1982 (Public Law 97-219) and 
recently reauthorized through September 30, 2008 (P.L. 106-554), 
provides research support to small businesses for innovative 
technology. Primary objectives are to assess the extent to which SBIR 
program goals are being met, particularly those dealing with the 
commercialization of research products, processes or services and the 
uncovering of new knowledge that will lead to better health for 
everyone. With survey information, NIH is enabled to accurately assess 
the results of its large financial investment in funding innovative 
research conducted by small business concerns. Findings will help to 
(1) understand if innovative projects supported through the NIH SBIR 
Program are being commercialized, and if so, to classify the types of 
products, processes or services that are derived through SBIR funding; 
(2) determine if other measures of success defined within the NIH 
mission are being achieved; and (3) enhance NIH's administration of the 
SBIR Program and the support that it provides to small business 
concerns. Overall, the NIH will use the survey results to assess the 
outcomes from NIH-supported SBIR awards. OD will collect information 
from SBIR awardees using an Internet survey. The online survey will be 
implemented using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology and 
password access. OD will use first-class mail and email messages to 
advise awardees that they have been selected to participate in the 
survey. Frequency of Reponse: One time survey. Affected Public: Small 
business concerns supported by NIH through the SBIR Program. Type of 
Respondents: For-profit small business concerns that have received NIH 
SBIR awards. The annual reporting burden is as follows: Estimated 
Number of Respondents: 1,000; Estimated Number of Responses Per 
Respondent: 1; Averaged Burden Hours Per Response: .5; and Estimated 
Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 500. The annualized cost to the 
public is estimated at $37,500. There are no Capital Costs, Operating 
Costs and/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 agency, including whether 
the information shall have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the 
proposed information collection; (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 respondents, 
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
instruments, contact: Ms. Jo Anne Goodnight, NIH SBIR/STTR Program 
Coordinator, Rockledge II Bldg., Room 6186, 6701 Rockledge Drive, 
Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, or call non-toll-free number (301) 435-2688 or 
email your request, 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 
August 13, 2001.

    Dated: June 7, 2001.
Jo Anne Goodnight,
Coordinator, Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business 
Technology Transfer Program, Office of Extramural Programs, Office of 
Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 01-14972 Filed 6-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M