[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40887-40888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14366]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Collection; Comment Request; NICHD Research Partner 
Satisfaction Surveys

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 Institute of Child 
Health and Human Development (NICHD), 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: NICHD Research Partner Satisfaction 
Surveys. Type of Information Collection Request: RENEWAL of OMB 
Clearance 0925-0532. Need and Use of Information Collection: Executive 
Order 12862 directs agencies that provide significant services directly 
to the public to survey customers to determine the kind and quality of 
services they want and their level of satisfaction with existing 
services. With this submission, the National Institute of Child Health 
and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Science Policy, Analysis and 
Communication (OSPAC), seeks to obtain OMB's generic approval to 
conduct customer satisfaction surveys surrounding its research programs 
and activities.
    The NICHD was founded in 1963. Its mission is to ensure, through 
research, the birth of healthy infants and the opportunity for each to 
reach full potential in adulthood, unimpaired by physical or mental 
disabilities. The NICHD conducts and supports research on the many 
factors that protect and enhance the processes of human growth and 
development. The developmental focus of the NICHD means that its 
research portfolio is unusually broad. NICHD programs include research 
on infant mortality, birth defects, learning disorders, developmental 
disabilities, vaccine development, and demographic and behavioral 
sciences, among others.
    In addition to supporting laboratory research, clinical trials, and 
epidemiological studies that explore health processes, the NICHD 
disseminates information that emanates from its research programs to 
its customers, or those who are partners with the Institute. This 
includes scientists, practitioners, other health professionals, and the 
public.
    Survey information will augment the NICHD's on-going efforts to 
assess their research funding mechanisms, activities, and programs, as 
well as the information products that are used to disseminate research 
findings. Primary

[[Page 40888]]

objectives are: (1) To identify opportunities and barriers to achieving 
scientific aims; (2) to learn about emerging scientific opportunities 
and unmet public health needs; (3) to measure customer satisfaction 
with information products; and (4) to identify strengths and weaknesses 
of the NICHD's program operations. The OSPAC will use the survey 
results to better respond to its customers, including its various 
partners in research, and to improve the NICHD's research programs and 
activities. Findings will help to: (1) Formulate strategies to help 
enhance research opportunities and remove barriers; (2) target the 
NICHD's research programs and activities to take advantage of emerging 
scientific opportunities and meet public health needs related to its 
mission; (3) develop information products tailored to the NICHD 
audience; and (4) improve program planning, management, and operations. 
Frequency of Response: Annual [As needed on an on-going and concurrent 
basis]. Affected Public: Members of the public, researchers, 
practitioners, and other health professionals. Type of Respondents: 
Members of the public; eligible grant applicants and actual applicants 
(both successful and unsuccessful); clinicians and other health 
professionals; and actual or potential clinical trials participants. 
The annual reporting burden is as follows: Estimated Number of 
Respondents: 28,000; Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1; 
Average Burden Hours Per Response: Varies with survey type, see below; 
and Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 5,883. The 
annualized cost to respondents is estimated at: $109,541.46. There are 
no Capital Costs to report. There are no Operating or Maintenance Costs 
to report.

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                                                                     Estimated                       Estimated
                                                     Estimated       number of        Average      total annual
               Type of respondents                   number of     responses per   burden hours    burden hours
                                                    respondents     respondent     per response      requested
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Web-based.......................................          24,000               1           0.167      4,008.00
Telephone.......................................           2,000               1            0.50      1,000.00
Paper...........................................           1,500               1            0.25        375.00
In-person.......................................             500               1            1.00        500.00
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................          28,000  ..............  ..............      5,883.00
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    Request 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 function of the agency, 
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, including 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, contact Paul L. Johnson, NIH NICHD Office of Science 
Policy, Analysis and Communication (OSPAC), 9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 
31, Rm. 2A-18, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2425, or call non-toll-free at 
301-402-3213. You may also e-mail your request to 
[email protected].
    Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection 
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60-days 
of the date of this publication.

    Dated: July 19, 2007.
Paul L. Johnson,
Project Clearance Liaison, NICHD, National Institutes of Health.
 [FR Doc. E7-14366 Filed 7-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P