Center for Scientific Review; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Partner and Customer Satisfaction Surveys

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

Center for Scientific Review; Proposed Collection; Comment

Request; Partner and Customer Satisfaction Surveys

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for the opportunity for public

comment on the 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: Partner and Customer Satisfaction

Surveys. Type of Information Collection Request: New request. Need and

Use of Information Collection: The information collected in these

surveys will be used by the Center for Scientific Review personnel: (1)

to assess the quality of operations and processes used by CSR to review

grant applications; (2) to assess the quality of service provided to

our partners and customers; (3) to assist with the design of

modifications of these operations, processes, and services, based on

partner and customer input; (4) to develop new modes of operation based

on partner and customer need; and (5) to obtain partner and customer

feedback about the efficacy of implemented modifications. These surveys

will almost certainly lead to quality improvement activities and will

enhance and/or streamline CSR's operations. The major mechanism by

which CSR will request input is through surveys. The surveys for

partners is generic and tailored for Scientific Review Group (SGR) past

and present members and chairs. The survey for customers, i.e., grant

applicants, will have slight variations determined by which category of

scientific review group the researcher/investigator's grant application

is reviewed. Surveys will be collected as written documents or via

Internet. Information gathered from these surveys will be presented to,

and used directly by, CSR management to enhance the operations,

processes, and services of our organization. Frequency of Response: The

participants will respond yearly.

Affected public: Universities, not-for-profit institutions,

business or other for-profit, small business and organizations and

individuals. Type of Respondents: Adult scientific professionals. The

annual reporting burden is as follows: It is estimated that the survey

form will take 20 minutes to complete. The annual hour burden is,

therefore, estimated to be 1,932 hour for 5,855 respondents in FY 2001,

1,932 hours for 5,855 respondents in FY 2002, 1,932 hours for 5,855

respondents in FY 2003. Estimated costs to the respondents consists

entirely of their time. Costs for time estimated using a rate of $38.00

per hour for SGR members, SGR chairs, and principal investigators/grant

applicants. The estimated annual cost for each year for which the

generic clearance is requested is $73,421 for FY 2001, $73,421 for FY

2002, $73,421 for FY 2003. No additional costs should be incurred by

respondents or recordkeepers.

Requests 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 functions of the CSR,

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

while maintaining their anonymity, including the use of 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, contact:

Elliot Postow, Ph.D., Director, Division of Molecular and Cellular

Mechanisms, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of

Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 4160 MSC 7806, Bethesda, MD 20892-

7806, or call non-toll-free: 301-435-0911, or e-mail your request or

comments, including your address to [email protected]

COMMENTS DUE DATE: Comments regarding this information collection are

best assured of having their full effect if received by July 26, 1999.

Dated: May 19, 1999.

Chris Wisdom,

Eexcutive Officer, CSR.

[FR Doc. 99-13474 Filed 5-26-99; 8:45 am]

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