[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38842-38843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15930]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request: PHS Applications and 
Pre-Award Reporting Requirements; Revision

Summary: In compliance with the requirement of Section 3507(a)(1)(D) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Office of the Director 
(OD), Office of Extramural Research (OER), the National Institutes of 
Health (NIH) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
a request for review and approval of the information collection listed 
below. This proposed information collection was previously published in 
the Federal Register on March 5, 2012, Volume 77, No. 43, page 13132-
13133, and allowed 60 days for public comment. One public comment was 
received, which asked for clarification about new reporting burdens. It 
was noted in follow-up that NIH has seen a 21-percent increase in 
competing applications since the last clearance which has resulted in 
an increase in the burden hours. We are also transitioning to the 
Research Performance Progress Report as mandated by OMB.
    The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for 
public comment.
    Proposed Collection: Title: Public Health Service (PHS) 
Applications and Pre-award Reporting Requirements. Type of Information 
Collection Request: Revision, OMB 0925-0001, Expiration Date 6/30/2012. 
Form numbers: PHS 398, PHS 416-1, 416-5, and PHS 6031. This collection 
represents a consolidation of PHS applications and pre-award reporting 
requirements into a revised data collection under the PRA. Need and Use 
of Information Collection: This collection includes PHS applications 
and pre-award reporting requirements: PHS 398 [paper] Public Health 
Service Grant Application forms and instructions; PHS 398 [electronic] 
PHS Grant Application component forms and agency-specific instructions 
used in combination with the SF424 (R&R); PHS Fellowship Supplemental 
Form and agency-specific instructions used in combination with the 
SF424 (R&R) forms/instructions for Fellowships [electronic]; PHS 416-1 
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual 
Fellowship Application Instructions and Forms used only for a change of 
sponsoring institution application [paper]; Instructions for a Change 
of Sponsoring Institution for NRSA Fellowships (F30, F31, F32 and F33) 
and non-NRSA Fellowships; PHS 416-5 Ruth L. Kirschstein National 
Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship Activation Notice; 
and PHS 6031 Payback Agreement. The PHS 398 (paper and electronic) is 
currently approved under 0925-0001; PHS 416-1, 416-5, and PHS 6031 are 
currently approved under 0925-0002. All forms expire 6/30/2012. Post-
award reporting requirements are simultaneously consolidated under 
0925-0002, and include the new Research Performance Progress Report 
(RPPR).
    The PHS 398 application is used by applicants to request federal 
assistance funds for traditional investigator-initiated research 
projects and to request access to databases and other PHS resources. 
The PHS 416-1 is used only for a change of sponsoring institution 
application. PHS Fellowship

[[Page 38843]]

Supplemental Form and agency-specific instructions is used in 
combination with the SF424 (R&R) forms/instructions for Fellowships and 
is used by individuals to apply for direct research training support. 
Awards are made to individual applicants for specified training 
proposals in biomedical and behavioral research, selected as a result 
of a national competition. The PHS 416-5 is used by individuals to 
indicate the start of their NRSA awards. The PHS 6031 Payback Agreement 
is used by individuals at the time of activation to certify agreement 
to fulfill the payback provisions. Frequency of response: Applicants 
may submit applications for published receipt dates. For NRSA awards, 
Fellowships are activated and trainees appointed. Affected Public: 
Universities and other research institutions; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; and State, 
Local or Tribal Government. Type of Respondents: University 
administrators and principal investigators. The annual reporting burden 
is as follows: Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 94,326; Estimated 
Number of Responses per Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours Per 
Response: 21.75; Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 
2,051,794. The estimated annualized cost to respondents is $71,812,769.
    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.
    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 sent 
via email to [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 Ms. Seleda M. Perryman, Chief, Project Clearance 
Officer, Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration, NIH, 
Rockledge 1 Building, Room 3509, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 
20892-7974; or call non-toll-free number 301-594-7949; or email 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 this publication.

    Dated: June 25, 2012.
Lawrence A. Tabak,
Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2012-15930 Filed 6-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P