[Federal Register: June 9, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 110)]
[Notices]
[Page 34371-34373]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jn03-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of Intent To Seek OMB Approval To Collect Information:
Forms Pertaining to the Peer Review of ARS Research Projects
AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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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 must be received by August 13,
2003.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments or request
additional information regarding this proposal. Comments should refer
to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent
to: Marcia Moore, Peer Review Program Coordinator; Office of Scientific
Quality Review; Agricultural Research Agency, USDA; 5601 Sunnyside
Avenue, Mailstop 5142; Beltsville, Maryland; 20705.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcia Moore, Agricultural Research
Service Peer Review Program Coordinator, 301-504-3282.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Scientific Quality Review will
seek approval from OMB to update six existing forms that will allow the
ARS to efficiently manage data associated with the peer review of
agricultural research. All forms are transferred and received in an
electronic storage format that does not include on-line access.
Abstract: The Office of Scientific Quality Review was established
in September of 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 the USDA. The Office manages the
ARS peer review system by centrally planning peer panel reviews for ARS
research projects on a five-year
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cycle. Each set of reviews is assigned a chairperson to govern the
review process. The majority of the peer reviewers are non-ARS
scientists. Peer review panels are convened to provide in-depth
discussion and review of the research project plans. Each panel
reviewer receives information on 1-25 ARS research projects.
A total of about 220 research projects are reviewed annually by an
estimated 100 reviewers; whereby approximately 200 are reviewed by
panel and approximately 20 are reviewed by an ad hoc process. The
organization and management of this peer review system, particularly
panel reviews, is highly dependent on the use of forms.
The Office of Scientific Quality Review 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 prior to the reviewer's involvement
in the peer review process. This form requires an original signature.
2. Panelist Informational Form--USDA uses this form to gather up-
to-date background information about the reviewer. Reviewers often
include sensitive information on this form. This form requires an
original signature.
3. Peer Review of a ARS Research Project Form (Peer Review Form)--
USDA uses this form to guide the reviewer's comments on the subject
project. The form contains the reviewing criteria and space for the
reviewer's narrative comments and evaluation.
4. Recommendations for ARS Research Project Form--(Recommendations
Form, formerly known as ``Critique Form'') USDA uses this form to guide
the panel's evaluation and critique of the review process. The form
contains recommendations for the subject research project.
5. 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 includes lodging,
meals, and transportation expenses. When completed, the form contains
sensitive information.
Panel Invoice Form (Invoice)--USDA uses this form to document the
transfer of a stipend to a peer reviewer. Reviewers receive stipends as
compensation for serving as peer review panelists. This form requires
an original signature.
(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 prior to the reviewer's involvement in the peer review process.
(2) USDA's collection of information on the Panelist Informational
Form is needed to gather up-to-date background information about the
reviewer. It contains sensitive information.
(3) USDA's collection of information on the Peer Review Form is
needed to guide the reviewer's comments on the subject project. It
contains the reviewing criteria and space to insert comments.
(4) USDA's collection of information on the Recommendations Form is
needed to guide the panel's critique of the review process. It contains
recommendations for the subject research project.
(5) 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 includes lodging, meals, and
transportation expenses. It includes sensitive information.
(6) USDA's collection of information on the Invoice is needed to
document the transfer of a stipend to the peer reviewer. The stipend is
given to reviewers as appreciation for their time spent on the panel
review process.
Estimate of Burden: The burden associated with this approval
process is the minimum required to achieve program objectives. The
information collection frequency is the minimum consistent with program
objectives. The following estimates of time required to complete the
forms are based on OSQR's experience in working with reviewers and
accepting their input into our procedures.
1. Confidentiality Agreement Form: This form takes 10-15 minutes to
complete. It only requires a signature and date, but the reviewer must
read the terms of the agreement.
2. Panelist Informational Form: This form takes 20-30 minutes to
complete. It resembles a typical application for personal information,
many reviewers provide the same data to become grant reviewers.
3. Peer Review of an ARS Research Project Form (Peer Review Form):
This form takes 4-6 hours to complete. Because this is a review, the
page length significantly varies. Reviewers are free to write as much
as they wish.
4. Recommendations for ARS Research Project Form (Recommendations
Form, formerly known as ``Critique Form''): This form takes 1 hour to
complete. Because this is a review, the page length significantly
varies. Reviewers are free to write as much as they wish.
5. Panel Expense Report Form (Expense Report): This form takes 10-
15 minutes to complete.
6. Panel Invoice Form (Invoice): This form takes 5-10 minutes to
complete. This form has the reviewer's personal info pre-filled and the
reviewer only verifies it's accuracy and signs.
Respondents and Estimated Number of Respondents: Scientific
experts, currently working in the same discipline as the research
projects under review, are selected to review research projects. These
experts are notable peers within and external to the ARS. Annually,
about 100 peer reviewers complete these forms. However, ad hoc
reviewers are not paid a stipend, and they do not travel to meet with
other reviewers; and thus will not complete Expense Report and Invoice
Forms. These ad hoc reviewers, retained for special situations, will
make up about a quarter of all the reviewers retained annually.
Frequency of Response:
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Number of
Form respondents Annual frequency
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Confidentiality Agreement.......... 100 1 per respondent.
Peer Review Forms (Required for all 100 [sim]4 per
reviewers and they have 1-4 review respondent (Total
assignments on average). of 400).
Expense Report, Invoice, & Panelist 75 1 per respondent
Information Forms. for each form
(Total of 225).
Recommendations Form (Required on 75 [sim]2.5 per
panel reviews, whereby comments respondent (Total
from the peer review form are of 200).
combined into one file).
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Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:
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Number
Form (Time required to complete) completed Total burden
annually
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Confidentiality Agreement (12 min.).... 100 1200 min.
Peer Review Forms ([sim]5 hrs)......... 400 2000 hrs.
Panelist Information Forms (25 min.)... 225 5625 min.
Recommendations Form (1 hr)............ 200 200 hrs.
Invoice (7 min.)....................... 225 1575 min.
Expense Report (12 min.)............... 225 2700 min.
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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.
Dated: May 27, 2003.
Dr. Caird Rexroad,
Acting Associate Administrator, Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
[FR Doc. 03-14363 Filed 6-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P