2013-01989. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Public Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR is for extending the use of the approved information collection assigned OMB control number 0990-0220, which expires on July 31, 2013. Prior to submitting that ICR to OMB, OS seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

DATES:

Comments on the ICR must be received on or before April 1, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to [e-mail] or by calling [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Information Collection Clearance staff, [e-mail] or [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

When submitting comments or requesting information, please include the document identifier HHS-OS-18596-60D for reference.

Information Collection Request Title: Voluntary Academic and Industry DHHS Partner Surveys.

OMB No.: 0990-0220.

Abstract: To comply with E.O. 12862 and 5 U.S.C. 305, the Department of Health and Human Services plans to continue surveying its grant recipients and contractors over a three year period to compile and evaluate their opinions about the Department's grants and acquisition processes, ultimately to improve our business processes. The survey is voluntary. This is an extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. The respondents are vendors and grant recipients. The purpose of the information collection is for program evaluation and program planning or management. The frequency of collection is every three years (36-month cycle). The questionnaire takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The purpose of the information collection is for program evaluation and program planning or management.

Likely Respondents: Vendors, Grant Recipients.

Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide the information requested. This includes the time needed to review instructions, to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information, to train personnel and to be able to respond to a collection of information, to search data sources, to complete and review the collection of information, and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for this ICR are summarized in the table below.

Total Estimated Annualized Burden—Hours

Type of respondent	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hours)	Total burden hours
Vendors	1000	1	12/60	200
Grant Recipients	1667	1	10/60	279
Total				479

OS specifically requests comments on (1) the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

Keith A. Tucker,

Information Collection Clearance Officer.