[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 226 (Monday, November 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 69865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27762]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Collection; 60-Day Comment Request Electronic Prior 
Approval Submission System (ePASS) (NHLBI)

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 National Heart, Lung and 
Blood Institute (NHLBI), 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.
    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.
    To Submit Comments and for Further Information: To obtain a copy of 
the data collection plans and instruments, submit comments in writing, 
or request more information on the proposed project, contact: Ms. 
Suzanne White, 6701 Rockledge, Office of Grants Management, National 
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6701 
Rockledge Dr., MSC 7926, Bethesda, MD 20892-7926, or call non-toll-free 
number 301-435-0166, 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 60 days 
of the date of this publication.
    Proposed Collection: Electronic Prior Approval Submission System 
(ePASS), 0925--New, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), 
National Institutes of Health (NIH).
    Need and Use of Information Collection: The purpose and use of the 
information collection for this project is to collect and track certain 
requests (such as budget modifications or undertaking particular 
activities) from NIH grantees in an electronic format. This new 
electronic system, ePASS (electronic Prior Approval Submission System), 
will enable grantees to have a standard way to submit requests for 
their projects per NIH policy. The grantee will initiate a request for 
a certain action as required by NIH policy: Use of unobligated 
balances/carryover, change of PI, change of effort, Training Grant 
(NRSA) waivers, significant rebudgeting, 2nd and 3rd no cost 
extensions, and change of scope. These are all prior approvals as 
required by the NIH Grants Policy, and need to be reviewed and approved 
by the NHLBI. ePASS will provide a template to ensure that all specific 
points are addressed and documented in the official grant file. All 
information is submitted via the internet, tracked in ePASS, and the 
documentation will automatically be forwarded to the official grant 
file. The system will ensure that individuals authorized by the grantee 
are submitting requests and that the appropriate NIH staff is receiving 
the requests. The requests will be template driven so that the grantee 
is including the minimally required information, thus eliminating the 
usual back and forth to obtain missing information. Forms will have 
automatic fill-in capability that will reduce typos in grant numbers 
and PI names, further reducing approval time. Reminders will be sent to 
NIH staff within ePASS based on roles to ensure timely responses to the 
grantee. The system will facilitate email communication with applicants 
by automatic notifications when applications are received and when NIH 
has made a determination regarding a request (approval issued or 
request denied with explanation for denial).
    OMB approval is requested for 3 years. There are no costs to 
respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized 
burden hours are 470.

                                        A.12-1--Estimates of Hour Burden
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                                                 Number of       Frequency of     Average time     Annual hour
             Type of respondents                respondents        response       per response        burden
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NHLBI Grantees..............................             940                1            30/60              470
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    Dated: November 12, 2014.
Lynn Susulske,
NHLBI Project Clearance Liaison, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2014-27762 Filed 11-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P