Proposed Collection; Comment Request; The NIH Consultant Information File System

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

Proposed Collection; Comment Request; The NIH Consultant

Information File System

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 Center for Scientific Review

(CSR), The 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.

Proposed Collection

Title: The NIH Consultant Information File System. Type of

Information Collection Request: Extension Form Number: OMB 0925-0358

(expiration 10/31/99) NIH 2668-1; 2668-3. Need and Use of Information

Collection: This system directly supports the recruitment and

appointment of scientific experts. These experts provide evaluative

advise on the merit and program relevance of the research grant

applications and research contract proposals submitted to the NIH. The

primary objective of this system is to support the NIH Peer Review

system, but other PHS review administrative staff use the system to

identify experts to support their advisory committees. Frequency of

Response: Intake established record on file, candidate can initiate the

updating of their information at any time, formal information update

requested every 24 months. Affected Public: Individuals or household;

Not-for-profit institutions; business or other for-profit; Federal

Government. Type of Respondents: Adult scientific professionals,

Individuals or household. The annual reporting burden is as follows:

Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,741; Estimated Number of Responses

per Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours Per Response: 0.308; and

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 2,998. The estimated

annualized cost to respondents is $148,665 (Using a $55 physician/

professor hourly wage rate.) There are no Capital Costs, Operating

Costs, or Maintenance Costs to report.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: To request more information on the proposed

project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and

instruments, contact CAPT Edward C. Farley, USPHS, Project Clearance

Liaison Officer, CSR, NIH, Rockledge II Building, Room 3028, 6701

Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20892-7760, or call non-toll-free number

(301) 594-0601 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 on or before July

23, 1999.

Dated: May 17, 1999.

Chris Wisdom,

Executive Officer, CSR.

[FR Doc. 99-13045 Filed 5-21-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140-01-M