[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 50 (Monday, March 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 12164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5814]


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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 November 
3, 2003, page 62304 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 Institutes 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: Customer Satisfaction Surveys. Type of 
Information Collection Request:  Reinstatement. Need and Use of 
Information Collection: The information collected in these surveys will 
be used by the Center for Scientific Review management and personnel: 
(1) To assess the quality of the modified operations and processes now 
used by CSR to review grant applications; (2) to assess the quality of 
service provided by CSR to our customers; (3) to examine and assess the 
effectiveness of the reorganization and reconfiguration of the peer 
review study committees based on customer input; (4) to develop new 
modes of operation based on customer need 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 customers, i.e., past 
and present grant applicants, is generic, but will have slight 
variations tailored to the scientific subject category of each major 
Integrated Review Group (IRG). The next major reorganized IRGs to be 
evaluated consist of the Behavioral and Social Sciences peer review 
study sections. Surveys will be collected via Internet. Information 
gathered from these surveys will be presented to, and used directly by, 
CSR management to enhance the operations, processes, organization of, 
and services provided by the Center.
     Frequency of Response: The participants will respond once, unless 
there is a compelling reason for a subsequent survey.
     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 estimated annual cost burden 
for respondents for each year for which the generic clearance is 
requested is $16,000 for FY 2004, $13,333 for FY 2005, $18,667 for FY 
2006, and $24,000 for FY 2007. Thus, the combined total FY 2004-2007 
potential hour burden on the respondents is estimated to be 1,800 hours 
for 5,400 respondents for all surveys which would be conducted under 
this generic clearance. If all planned surveys are conducted, the total 
four-year cost to respondents is estimated to be $72,000. Respondents 
should incur no additional costs. There will be dissemination and 
analysis costs for the survey originators. 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: Karl F. Malik, Ph.D., Assistant to the Deputy Director, Office 
of the Director, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of 
Health, Rockledge II, Rm 3016, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 
20814-9692, or call non-toll free: 301-435-1114, or e-mail your request 
or comments, including your address to: [email protected].

DATES: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured 
of having their full effect if received within 30 days of the date of 
this publication.

Brent Stanfield,
Acting Director, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of 
Health.
[FR Doc. 04-5814 Filed 3-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M