[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 176 (Monday, September 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 55585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22712]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for 
Surveys of Customers and Partners of the Office of Extramural Research 
of the National Institutes of Health

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 Office of Extramural Research 
(OER), 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: Generic Clearance for Surveys of 
Customers and Partners of the Office of Extramural Research of the 
National Institutes of Health. Type of Information Collection Request: 
NEW. Need and Use of Information Collection: OER develops, coordinates 
the implementation of, and evaluates NIH-wide policies and procedures 
for the award of extramural funds . To move forward with our 
initiatives to ensure success in accomplishing the NIH mission, input 
from partners and customers is essential. Quality management principles 
have been integrated into OER's culture and these surveys will provide 
customer satisfaction input on various elements of OER's business 
processes. The approximately 14 (10 quantitative and 4 qualitative) 
customer satisfaction surveys that will be conducted under this generic 
clearance will gather and measure customer and partner satisfaction 
with OER processes and operations. The data collected from these 
surveys will provide the feedback to track and gauge satisfaction with 
NIH's statutorily mandated operations and processes. OER/OD/NIH will 
present data and outcomes from these surveys to inform the NIH staff, 
officers, leadership, advisory committees, and other decision-making 
bodies as appropriate. Based on feedback from these stakeholders, OER/
OD/NIH will formulate improvement plans and take action when necessary. 
Frequency of Response: 1 Response. Affected Public: Individuals. Type 
of Respondents: Science professionals (applicants, reviewers, 
Institutional Officials), adult science trainees, and the general 
public. The annual reporting burden is as follows:
    Quantitative surveys:
    Estimated Number of Respondents per Survey: 9,820; Estimated Number 
of Responses per Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours per Response: 
0.25; Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested per Quantitative 
Survey: 2,455; Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested for 10 
Quantitative Surveys: 24,550.
    Qualitative surveys:
    Estimated Number of Respondents per Survey: 30; Estimated Number of 
Responses per Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours per Response: 1.0; 
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested per Qualitative Survey: 
30; Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested for 4 Qualitative 
Surveys: 120.
    Based on an estimated 10 quantitative and 4 qualitative surveys per 
year:
    Estimated Total Combined Annual Hours of Burden Requested in Each 
of 3 years: 24,670.
    Estimated Total Combined Cost to Respondents: $728,326.
    Based on an estimated 10 quantitative and 4 qualitative surveys per 
year over 3 years:
    Estimated Total Hours of Burden to Respondents for 2011, 2012, and 
2013 Combined: 74,010.
    Estimated Total Cost to Respondents for 2011, 2012, and 2013 
Combined: $2,184,978.
    There are no Capital Costs to report. There are no Operating or 
Maintenance Costs to report.
    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 generic clearance or to obtain a copy of example data 
collection instruments, contact Dr. Gwynne Jenkins, Special Assistant 
to the Director, Office of Extramural Programs, OER, NIH, 6705 
Rockledge Drive, Suite 350, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free 
number (301) 496-9232 or E-mail 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 within 60-days 
of the date of this publication.

    Dated: August 30, 2010.
Sherry Mills,
Director, Office of Extramural Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-22712 Filed 9-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P