[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 141 (Friday, July 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44020-44021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18617]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for 
Partners and Customer 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 Center for Scientific Review 
(CSR), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish periodic 
summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget for review and approval.
    Proposed Collection: Title: Generic Clearance for Voluntary 
Partners and Customers Satisfaction Surveys: Extension.
    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 enable identification of the 
most promising biomedical research that will have the greatest impact 
on improving public health by using a peer review process that is fair, 
unbiased from outside influence, timely, and (4) To develop new modes 
of operation based on customer need and customer feedback about the 
efficacy of implemented modifications. These surveys, which will be 
both quantitative and qualitative, are designed to assess the quality 
of services we provide to our major external customers. Customers 
include the research scientists who submit applications for grant 
funding to NIH. Those grant applications are reviewed and ranked by the 
grant scientific peer review study groups' members and chairs. These 
surveys will almost certainly lead to quality improvement activities 
that will enhance and/or streamline CSR's operations. Our partners 
include current grant scientific peer review study groups' members and 
chairs.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Scientific peer review study groups' members and 
chairs, grant
    applicants, other members of the research community.
    Type of Respondents: Adult scientific professionals.

                                       Estimates of Annualized Hour Burden
                                    [totals rounded off to the nearest hour]
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                                                                                    Average time
                Type of respondent                    Number of     Frequency of    per response   Total annual
                                                     respondents      response          (hr)        hour burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adult scientific professionals (via Mail/                    5000               1           0.25            1250
 Telephone/Internet).............................
Adult scientific professional (via focus groups).              75               1           1                188
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------
    Total........................................            5075               1  .............            1438
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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 or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and

[[Page 44021]]

instruments, contact George Chacko, PhD. Center for Scientific Review, 
NIH, Room 3030, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-7776, or call 
non-toll-free number 301-435-1133 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 publication of the notice.

    Dated: July 18, 2011.
George Chacko,
Director of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation, Center for Scientific 
Review, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2011-18617 Filed 7-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P