[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 167 (Monday, August 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53685-53686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21980]


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

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 3507(a)(l)(D) 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 July 22, 
2011 (Vol. 76, No. 141, p. 44020) and allowed 60-days for public 
comment. There was one public comment received during this time.
    The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment. 
The National Institutes of Health may not conduct or sponsor and 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: Extension of Generic Clearance for 
Voluntary Partner and Customer Satisfaction Surveys.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Extension.
    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 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 will almost certainly lead to quality 
improvement activities to enhance and/or streamline CSR's operations. 
The major mechanism by which CSR will request input is through surveys. 
The major initiatives ongoing at the present time include: Shortening 
the review and application process, shortening the grant application, 
recruiting the best reviewers by developing additional review modes, 
improving study section alignment to ensure the best reviews, and 
others. 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-forprofit institutions, business or other forprofit, 
small businesses and organizations, and individuals. Type of 
Respondents: Adult scientific professionals.

                                       Estimates of Annualized Hour Burden
                                    [Totals rounded off to the nearest hour]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   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  ..............  ..............            1438
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 53686]]

    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, [email protected], or by fax to 202-395-6974, 
Attention: Desk Officer for NIH. To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
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 30-days 
of the date of publication of this notice.

    Dated: August 22, 2011.
George Chacko,
Director of Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation, CSR, National 
Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2011-21980 Filed 8-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P