[Federal Register: June 1, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 103)]
[Notices]
[Page 26186-26187]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01jn09-24]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 26186]]
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 5,
2009.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to: Michael S.
Strauss, Peer Review Program Coordinator, Office of Scientific Quality
Review, Agricultural Research Agency, USDA, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue,
Beltsville, Maryland 20705; Phone: 301-504-3283; Fax: 301-504-1251.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Strauss, 301-504-3283.
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 (OSQR) 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 OSQR
manages the ARS peer review system by centrally planning peer panel
reviews for ARS research projects on a five-year 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 between 1 and 20 ARS research projects.
On average, 220 research projects are reviewed annually by an
estimated 100 reviewers; whereby approximately 200 are reviewed by
panel and approximately 20 are reviewed through 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.
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. Panelist Information 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. Collection of information on the Panelist Information Form
is needed to gather up-to-date background information about the
reviewer and essential information needed for reimbursement of travel
expenses and/or payment of an honorarium. It contains sensitive
personally identifiable information.
3. Peer Review of an ARS Research Project Forms (Peer Review
Forms)--USDA uses these forms to guide the reviewer's comments on the
subject project. The forms contain the reviewing criteria and space for
the reviewer's narrative comments and evaluation. For Ad Hoc Reviewers,
who are not members of a review panel, a check-off listing of the
Action Classes is added at the end to allow the individual also to
provide an overall rating of the plan. Collection of information on the
Peer Review Forms is needed to guide the reviewer comments on the
subject project. The forms contain the reviewing criteria and space to
insert comments, and for Ad Hoc reviewers a place to register an
overall Action Class.
4. 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 contains the recommendations of the
panel for the subject research project. Collection of information on
the Recommendations Form is needed to provide the panel's critique of
the reviewed research project plan. It contains the consensus
recommendations of the panel 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. Collection of information on the Expense Report
Form is needed to document the travel expense incurred by a panel
reviewer in attending a peer review meeting. The Expense Report
includes lodging, meals, and transportation expenses, as well as
personal information. It includes sensitive information. ?>
6. Panel Invoice Form (Honorarium Form)--USDA uses this form to
document the transfer of an honorarium to a peer reviewer. Reviewers
receive honoraria as compensation for serving as peer review panelists.
This form requires an original signature. It is used only in special
circumstances where reviewers cannot accept a direct bank transfer of
the honorarium. In such cases this is used in lieu of the SF-1034 to
provide the OSQR a written record of the honorarium payment. Collection
of information on the Honorarium Form is needed to document the
transfer of an
[[Page 26187]]
honorarium to the peer reviewer in those rare cases where an SF-1034 is
not completed. It contains personally identifiable information.
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 Information Form: This form takes about 20 minutes to
complete. It resembles a typical request for personal information; many
reviewers provide the same data as grant reviewers in other peer review
programs.
3. Peer Review of an ARS Research Project Form (Peer Review Form):
This form takes 5-7 hours to complete. Because this is a review, the
page length significantly varies. Reviewers are free to write as much
as they wish, but to complete the form they must thoroughly read and
evaluate a research project plan that may exceed 50 pages in length.
4. Recommendations for ARS Research Project Form (Recommendations
Form): This form takes 1-2 hours to complete. Because this is a review,
the page length significantly varies. Reviewers are free to write as
much as they wish. The form is prepared by one reviewer combining
comments from two of the reviewers as found on the Peer Review Form as
well as adding further analyses derived from discussion with other
reviewers.
5. Panel Expense Report Form (Expense Report): This form takes 10-
12 minutes to complete.
6. Panel Invoice Form (Honorarium Form): This form takes 3-5
minutes to complete. This form has the reviewer's personal information
pre-filled and the reviewer only verifies its 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 150 peer reviewers complete these forms. Ad hoc reviewers are
paid a modest honorarium but generally do not travel to meet with other
reviewers; and thus they do not complete Expense Report and Invoice
Forms. On occasion, ad hoc reviewers may participate in a Web-based
panel, thus necessitating completion of an either an SF-1034 or an
Honorarium Form. Ad hoc reviewers, retained for special situations,
will make up about 20 percent 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........ 130 1 per respondent (Total
of 130).
Peer Review Form (Required for 130 3-4 per panel respondent
all reviewers and they have 1-4 and 1 per Ad Hoc
review assignments on average.) Respondent (Total of
450).
Expense Report................... 100 1 per respondent (Total
of 100).
Honorarium Form.................. 20 1 per respondent (Total
of 20).
Panelist Information Forms....... 130 1 per respondent for
each form (Total of
130).
Recommendations Form (Required on 75 2.5 per respondent
panel reviews, whereby comments (Total of 200).
from the peer review form are
combined into one file.)
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Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number
Form (Estimate of time required to completed Total burden
complete) annually (hr.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Confidentiality Agreement (12 min.)..... 130 26
Peer Review Forms (5 hrs)............... 450 2250
Panelist Information Forms (20 min.).... 150 50
Recommendations Form (1 hr)............. 220 220
Honorarium Form (3 min.)................ 20 1
Expense Report (10 min.)................ 150 25
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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 5, 2009.
Antoinette Betschart,
Associate Administrator, Research, Management and Operations,
Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
[FR Doc. E9-12597 Filed 5-29-09; 8:45 am]
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