[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 103 (Monday, June 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26186-26187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12597]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 103 / Monday, June 1, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 26186]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice of Intent To Seek OMB Approval To Collect Information: 
Forms Pertaining to the Peer Review of ARS Research Projects

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB 
implementing regulations. The Department is soliciting public comments 
on the subject proposal.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by August 5, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to: Michael S. 
Strauss, Peer Review Program Coordinator, Office of Scientific Quality 
Review, Agricultural Research Agency, USDA, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, 
Beltsville, Maryland 20705; Phone: 301-504-3283; Fax: 301-504-1251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Strauss, 301-504-3283.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Scientific Quality Review will 
seek approval from OMB to update six existing forms that will allow the 
ARS to efficiently manage data associated with the peer review of 
agricultural research. All forms are transferred and received in an 
electronic storage format that does not include on-line access.
    Abstract: The Office of Scientific Quality Review (OSQR) was 
established in September of 1999 as a result of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 1998 (``The Act'') (Pub. 
L. 105-185). The Act included mandates to perform scientific peer 
reviews of all research activities conducted by the USDA. The OSQR 
manages the ARS peer review system by centrally planning peer panel 
reviews for ARS research projects on a five-year cycle.
    Each set of reviews is assigned a chairperson to govern the review 
process. The majority of the peer reviewers are non-ARS scientists. 
Peer review panels are convened to provide in-depth discussion and 
review of the research project plans. Each panel reviewer receives 
information on between 1 and 20 ARS research projects.
    On average, 220 research projects are reviewed annually by an 
estimated 100 reviewers; whereby approximately 200 are reviewed by 
panel and approximately 20 are reviewed through an ad hoc process. The 
organization and management of this peer review system, particularly 
panel reviews, is highly dependent on the use of forms.
    The Office of Scientific Quality Review will seek OMB approval of 
the following forms:
    1. Confidentiality Agreement Form--USDA uses this form to document 
that a selected reviewer is responsible for keeping confidential any 
information learned during the subject peer review process. The 
Confidentiality Agreement is signed prior to the reviewer's involvement 
in the peer review process. This form requires an original signature. 
USDA's collection of information on the Confidentiality Agreement Form 
is needed to document that a selected reviewer is responsible for 
keeping confidential any information learned during the subject peer 
review process. The Confidentiality Agreement would be signed prior to 
the reviewer's involvement in the peer review process.
    2. Panelist Information Form--USDA uses this form to gather up-to-
date background information about the reviewer. Reviewers often include 
sensitive information on this form. This form requires an original 
signature. Collection of information on the Panelist Information Form 
is needed to gather up-to-date background information about the 
reviewer and essential information needed for reimbursement of travel 
expenses and/or payment of an honorarium. It contains sensitive 
personally identifiable information.
    3. Peer Review of an ARS Research Project Forms (Peer Review 
Forms)--USDA uses these forms to guide the reviewer's comments on the 
subject project. The forms contain the reviewing criteria and space for 
the reviewer's narrative comments and evaluation. For Ad Hoc Reviewers, 
who are not members of a review panel, a check-off listing of the 
Action Classes is added at the end to allow the individual also to 
provide an overall rating of the plan. Collection of information on the 
Peer Review Forms is needed to guide the reviewer comments on the 
subject project. The forms contain the reviewing criteria and space to 
insert comments, and for Ad Hoc reviewers a place to register an 
overall Action Class.
    4. Recommendations for ARS Research Project Form (Recommendations 
Form)--USDA uses this form to guide the panel's evaluation and critique 
of the review process. The form contains the recommendations of the 
panel for the subject research project. Collection of information on 
the Recommendations Form is needed to provide the panel's critique of 
the reviewed research project plan. It contains the consensus 
recommendations of the panel for the subject research project.
    5. Panel Expense Report Form (Expense Report)--USDA uses this form 
to document a panel reviewer's expense incurred traveling to and 
attending a peer review meeting. The Expense Report includes lodging, 
meals, and transportation expenses. When completed, the form contains 
sensitive information. Collection of information on the Expense Report 
Form is needed to document the travel expense incurred by a panel 
reviewer in attending a peer review meeting. The Expense Report 
includes lodging, meals, and transportation expenses, as well as 
personal information. It includes sensitive information. ?>
    6. Panel Invoice Form (Honorarium Form)--USDA uses this form to 
document the transfer of an honorarium to a peer reviewer. Reviewers 
receive honoraria as compensation for serving as peer review panelists. 
This form requires an original signature. It is used only in special 
circumstances where reviewers cannot accept a direct bank transfer of 
the honorarium. In such cases this is used in lieu of the SF-1034 to 
provide the OSQR a written record of the honorarium payment. Collection 
of information on the Honorarium Form is needed to document the 
transfer of an

[[Page 26187]]

honorarium to the peer reviewer in those rare cases where an SF-1034 is 
not completed. It contains personally identifiable information.
    Estimate of Burden: The burden associated with this approval 
process is the minimum required to achieve program objectives. The 
information collection frequency is the minimum consistent with program 
objectives. The following estimates of time required to complete the 
forms are based on OSQR's experience in working with reviewers and 
accepting their input into our procedures.
    1. Confidentiality Agreement Form: This form takes 10-15 minutes to 
complete. It only requires a signature and date, but the reviewer must 
read the terms of the agreement.
    2. Panelist Information Form: This form takes about 20 minutes to 
complete. It resembles a typical request for personal information; many 
reviewers provide the same data as grant reviewers in other peer review 
programs.
    3. Peer Review of an ARS Research Project Form (Peer Review Form): 
This form takes 5-7 hours to complete. Because this is a review, the 
page length significantly varies. Reviewers are free to write as much 
as they wish, but to complete the form they must thoroughly read and 
evaluate a research project plan that may exceed 50 pages in length.
    4. Recommendations for ARS Research Project Form (Recommendations 
Form): This form takes 1-2 hours to complete. Because this is a review, 
the page length significantly varies. Reviewers are free to write as 
much as they wish. The form is prepared by one reviewer combining 
comments from two of the reviewers as found on the Peer Review Form as 
well as adding further analyses derived from discussion with other 
reviewers.
    5. Panel Expense Report Form (Expense Report): This form takes 10-
12 minutes to complete.
    6. Panel Invoice Form (Honorarium Form): This form takes 3-5 
minutes to complete. This form has the reviewer's personal information 
pre-filled and the reviewer only verifies its accuracy and signs.
    Respondents and Estimated Number of Respondents: Scientific 
experts, currently working in the same discipline as the research 
projects under review, are selected to review research projects. These 
experts are notable peers within and external to the ARS. Annually, 
about 150 peer reviewers complete these forms. Ad hoc reviewers are 
paid a modest honorarium but generally do not travel to meet with other 
reviewers; and thus they do not complete Expense Report and Invoice 
Forms. On occasion, ad hoc reviewers may participate in a Web-based 
panel, thus necessitating completion of an either an SF-1034 or an 
Honorarium Form. Ad hoc reviewers, retained for special situations, 
will make up about 20 percent of all the reviewers retained annually.
    Frequency of Response:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Number of
               Form                respondents      Annual frequency
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Confidentiality Agreement........          130  1 per respondent (Total
                                                 of 130).
Peer Review Form (Required for             130  3-4 per panel respondent
 all reviewers and they have 1-4                 and 1 per Ad Hoc
 review assignments on average.)                 Respondent (Total of
                                                 450).
Expense Report...................          100  1 per respondent (Total
                                                 of 100).
Honorarium Form..................           20  1 per respondent (Total
                                                 of 20).
Panelist Information Forms.......          130  1 per respondent for
                                                 each form (Total of
                                                 130).
Recommendations Form (Required on           75  2.5 per respondent
 panel reviews, whereby comments                 (Total of 200).
 from the peer review form are
 combined into one file.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Number
   Form (Estimate of time required to        completed     Total burden
                complete)                    annually          (hr.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Confidentiality Agreement (12 min.).....             130              26
Peer Review Forms (5 hrs)...............             450            2250
Panelist Information Forms (20 min.)....             150              50
Recommendations Form (1 hr).............             220             220
Honorarium Form (3 min.)................              20               1
Expense Report (10 min.)................             150              25
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chap. 
35.

    Comments: The Notice is soliciting comments from members of the 
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of 
information to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of ARS functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the 
accuracy of the estimated burden from proposed collection of 
information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including the 
use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
responses. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included 
in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: May 5, 2009.
Antoinette Betschart,
Associate Administrator, Research, Management and Operations, 
Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
 [FR Doc. E9-12597 Filed 5-29-09; 8:45 am]
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