[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18236-18238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08689]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice of Intent To Seek OMB Approval To Collect Information: 
Forms Pertaining to the Scientific Peer Preview of ARS Research 
Projects

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB 
implementing regulations. The Department is soliciting public comments 
on the subject proposal.

DATES: Written comments on this notice should be submitted on or before 
July 1, 2019.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this notice should be directed to 
the Director and Program Coordinator listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Marquea D. King, Director and 
Program Coordinator, Office of Scientific Quality Review (OSQR), 
Agricultural Research Service, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, 
Maryland 20705; Telephone: 301-504-3283; Fax: 301-504-1251; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OSQR will seek approval from OMB to 
update six existing forms to ensure that ARS can efficiently manage 
data associated with the peer review of agricultural research. All 
forms are transferred and received electronically and may include on-
line submissions in the future.
    Abstract: The OSQR was established in September 1999 as a result of 
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 1998 
(``The Act'') (Pub. L. 105-185). The Act included mandates to perform 
scientific peer reviews of all research activities conducted by USDA. 
The office manages the ARS peer review system by centrally coordinating 
all intramural peer review functions for ARS research projects on a 5-
year cycle.
    Each set of reviews is assigned a chairperson to govern the panel 
review process. Peer reviewers are external to the Agency and non-ARS 
scientists. Peer review panels are convened to assess the technical/
scientific quality and correctness of each research project plan. Each 
panel reviewer receives information on a range of two to five ARS 
research projects.
    On average, 150 research projects are reviewed annually by an 
estimated 185 reviewers. Whereby approximately 130 are reviewed by a 
panel and approximately 20 are reviewed through an ad hoc (written 
review) process. The management and execution of this peer review 
process is vastly dependent on the use of these forms.
    The OSQR will seek OMB approval of the following forms:
    1. Confidentiality Agreement Form: USDA uses this form to document 
that a selected reviewer is responsible for keeping confidential any 
information learned during the subject peer review process. The 
Confidentiality Agreement is signed before the reviewer's involvement 
in the peer review process. The form requires an original signature and 
can be submitted electronically.
    2. Panelist Information Form: USDA uses this form to gather the 
most recent background information and diversity and inclusion data 
about the reviewer, and information relevant to paying an honorarium 
and travel expenses when needed. Sensitive information is transmitted 
on this form and destroyed after payment is received.
    3. Peer Review of an ARS Research Project Form (Peer Review Form): 
USDA uses this form to guide the reviewer's expert comments in written 
form on the assigned project plan. The form contains the criteria for 
plan review and seeks the reviewer's narrative comments and evaluation.
    3. Additional Reviewer Comment Form: This form is supplied to 
members of a panel not assigned as a primary or secondary reviewer on a 
particular project plan; however, it encourages additional expert 
comments or recommendations for any plan regardless of a reviewer's 
assignment as primary or secondary.
    4. Ad Hoc Review Form: USDA uses this in select cases (e.g., for 
reviewers not participating in a panel review). It contains a check-off 
listing of action classes that allows reviewers to provide an overall 
rating of the plan.
    5. Recommendations for ARS Research Project Form (Recommendations 
Form): USDA uses this form to guide the panel's evaluation and critique 
of the review process. The form combines both primary and secondary 
reviewers' recommendations of the research project plan.
    6. Panel Expense Report Form (Expense Report): USDA uses this form 
to document a panel reviewer's expense incurred traveling to and 
attending a peer review meeting. The expense report asks reviewers to 
list lodging, meal, and transportation expenses. When completed, the 
form contains sensitive information and is held in compliance with ARS 
travel guidelines. This form is used only in rare circumstance when a 
panel meeting requires that reviewers travel.
    (1) USDA's collection of information on the Confidentiality 
Agreement Form is needed to document that a selected reviewer is 
responsible for keeping confidential any information learned during the 
subject peer review process. The Confidentiality Agreement would be 
signed before the reviewer's involvement in the peer review process.

[[Page 18237]]

    (2) USDA's collection of information on the Panelist Information 
Form is needed to collect the most recent background information along 
with diversity and inclusion data about the reviewer. It contains 
sensitive information.
    (3) USDA's collection of information on the Peer Review Form and 
Reviewer Comment Form is needed to guide reviewers' comments on the 
subject project. Both contain review guidance and space to insert 
comments.
    (4) USDA's collection of information on the Ad Hoc Review Form is 
needed to guide reviewer comments of those not participating in a 
chaired panel and affords a place to select an overall Action Class 
rating for the plan.
    (5) USDA's collection of information on the Recommendations Form is 
needed to guide the panel's critique of the review process. It contains 
the recommendations of the panel for the subject research project.
    (6) USDA's collection of information on the Expense Report Form is 
needed to document a panel reviewer's expenses incurred by attending a 
peer review meeting. The Expense Report requests lodging, meal, and 
transportation expense data. It includes sensitive information.
    Estimate of Burden: The burden associated with this approval 
process is the minimum required to successfully achieve program 
objectives. The information collection frequency is the minimum 
consistent with program objectives. The following estimates of time 
required to complete the forms, based on previous OSQR experience with 
our current business model.
    1. Confidentiality Agreement Form (10 minutes completion time). The 
reviewer must read and consider the terms of the agreement and then 
sign and date the form.
    2. Chair and Panelist Information Form (30 minutes completion 
time). The reviewer provides standard personal and diversity 
information, similar to that found in grant review programs.
    3. Panelist Peer Review of an ARS Research Project Form (4-7 hours 
completion time). Project page lengths will vary. Reviewers may freely 
write as much as they wish and complete the form. To adequately 
evaluate a research project plan that may exceed 60-70 pages in length, 
each reviewer must thoroughly read each plan.
    4. Reviewer Comment Form (60 minutes completion time). General 
assessment of the plan with brief comments on the approach and 
feasibility of the project and about one page.
    5. Panel Recommendation for ARS Research Project Form (30-60 
minutes completion time). The page length significantly varies among 
panelist peer reviews and reviewer comments. All recommendation forms 
are completed by the OSQR and further discussed and revised by the 
reviewers as part of their panel discussions. In-person panels are 
handled in the same manner.
    5. Panel Expense Report Form (30 minutes completion time).
    Respondents and Estimated Number of Respondents: Selected 
scientific experts currently working in the same discipline as the 
research projects being peer reviewed. These external experts are 
credible peers to ARS. Annually, about 185 peer reviewers complete 
these forms. Most all plans are discussed and deliberated via webinar 
and telephone conferencing. Travel is not generally necessary. Thus, 
reviewers are not expected to complete Panel Expense Reports.

                          Frequency of Response
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Number of
               Form                   respondents     Annual frequency
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Confidentiality Agreement.........             185  1 per respondent
                                                     (Total = 185).
Peer Review Forms (required and                200  2 per panel
 assigned 2 plans).                                  respondent (Total =
                                                     400).
Reviewer Comment Form (reviewer is               6  2 per panel
 not assigned as primary or                          respondent (Total =
 secondary review).                                  12).
Expense Report (in-person                        6  1 per respondent
 reviewers).                                         (Total = 6).
Panelist Information Forms........             185  1 per respondent/per
                                                     form (Total = 185).
Recommendations Form (non-online                82  2 per respondent
 project reviews).                                   (Total = 164).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


              Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Number
    Form  (time required to complete)        completed     Total burden
                                             annually         (hours)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Confidentiality Agreement (10 minutes)..             185              31
Panelist Information Forms (30 minutes).             185              93
Peer Review Forms (~6 hours)............             200           1,200
Recommendations Form (2 hour)...........              82             164
Reviewer Comment Form (1 hour)..........               6               6
Expense Report (30 minutes).............               6               3
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chap. 
35.

    Comments: The Notice is soliciting comments from members of the 
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of 
information to (1) evaluate whether the proposed collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of ARS functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) evaluate the 
accuracy of the estimated burden from proposed collection of 
information; (3) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including the 
use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology (e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
responses). All responses to this notice will be summarized and 
included in the request for OMB approval.
    All comments will become a matter of public record.


[[Page 18238]]


    Dated: March 27, 2019.
Simon Y. Liu,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-08689 Filed 4-29-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P