[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 78369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30817]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Submission for OMB Review; 30-Day Comment Request: Early Career 
Reviewer Program Online Application System--Center for Scientific 
Review (CSR)

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of Section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the Center for Scientific Review, the 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 March 13, 2013, page 
15959 and allowed 60days for public comment. No public comments were 
received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 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: Early Career Reviewer Program Online 
Application System--Existing collection in use without an OMB number--
Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institutes of Health 
(NIH).
    Need and Use of Information Collection: The Center for Scientific 
Review (CSR) is the portal for NIH grant applications and their review 
for scientific merit. Our mission is to see that NIH grant applications 
receive fair, independent, expert, and timely reviews--free from 
inappropriate influences--so NIH can fund the most promising research. 
To accomplish this goal, Scientific Review Officers (SRO) form study 
sections consisting of scientists who have the technical and scientific 
expertise to evaluate the merit of grant applications. The CSR Early 
Career Reviewer (ECR) program was developed to identify and train 
qualified scientists who are early in their scientific careers and who 
have not had prior CSR review experience. Currently, the application 
process involves repeated email interactions with potential applicants 
and manual management of information. To make the application process 
more efficient for applicants and for CSR staff, we have collaborated 
with the Information Management Branch at CSR to develop online 
application software which includes the collection of applicants' 
names, contact information, and professional CVs. This PRA clearance 
request is to deploy the online application software for ECR program 
applicants--the Early Career Reviewer Application and Vetting System 
(EAVS).
    OMB approval is requested for 3 years. There are no costs to 
respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized 
burden hours are 650.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                  Number of       Average time
             Type of respondent                  Number of      responses per    per response (    Total annual
                                                respondents       respondent       in hours)       burden hour
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Applicants..................................           1,560                1            25/60              650
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 
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 obtain a copy of the data 
collection plans and instruments, submit comments in writing, or 
request more information on the proposed project, contact: Monica 
Basco, ECR Program Coordinator, Center for Scientific Review, 6701 
Rockledge Dr., Room 3220, Bethesda, MD 20892 or call non-toll-free 
number (301) 300-3839 or Email your request, including your address to: 
[email protected]. Formal requests for additional 
plans and instruments must be requested in writing.
    Comment 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: December 17, 2013
Timothy J. Tosten,
Executive Officer, Deputy Ethics Counselor, Director, Division of 
Management Services, Center for Scientific Review, NIH.
[FR Doc. 2013-30817 Filed 12-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P