2011-2995. Proposed Collection; Comment Request; National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Programs

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 Division of Loan Repayment, 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: National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Programs. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently approved collection (OMB No. 0925-0361, expiration date 06/30/11). Form Numbers: NIH 2674-1, NIH 2674-2, NIH 2674-3, NIH 2674-4, NIH 2674-5, NIH 2674-6, NIH 2674-7, NIH 2674-8, NIH 2674-9, NIH 2674-10, NIH 2674-11, NIH 2674-12, NIH 2674-13, NIH 2674-14, NIH 2674-15, NIH 2674-16, NIH 2674-17, NIH 2674-18, and NIH 2674-19. Need and Use of Information Collection: The NIH makes available financial assistance, in the form of educational loan repayment, to M.D., PhD, Pharm.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.P.M., D.C., and N.D. degree holders, or the equivalent, who perform biomedical or behavioral research in NIH intramural laboratories or as extramural grantees or scientists funded by domestic nonprofit organizations for a minimum of 2 years (3 years for the General Research Loan Repayment Program (LRP)) in research areas supporting the mission and priorities of the NIH.

The AIDS Research LRP (AIDS-LRP) is authorized by section 487A of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C. 288-1), and the Clinical Research LRP for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (CR-LRP) is authorized by section 487E (42 U.S.C. 288-5). The General Research LRP (GR-LRP) is authorized by section 487C of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 288-3), and the Clinical Research LRP (LRP-CR) is authorized by section 487F (42 U.S.C. 288-5a). The Pediatric Research LRP (PR-LRP) is authorized by section 487F of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 288-6), and the Extramural Clinical Research LRP for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (ECR-LRP) is authorized by an amendment to section 487E (42 U.S.C. 288-5). The Contraception and Infertility Research LRP (CIR-LRP) is authorized by section 487B of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 288-2), and the Health Disparities Research LRP (HD-LRP) is authorized by section 485G (42 U.S.C. 287c-33).

The Loan Repayment Programs can repay up to $35,000 per year toward a participant's extant eligible educational loans, directly to financial institutions. The information proposed for collection will be used by the Division of Loan Repayment to determine an applicant's eligibility for participation in the program. Frequency of Response: Initial application and one- or two-year renewal application. Affected Public: Individuals or households, nonprofits, and businesses or other for-profit. Type of Respondents: Physicians, other scientific or medical personnel, and institutional representatives. The annual reporting burden is as follows:

Type of respondents	Number of respondents	Estimated number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Annual burden hours requested
Intramural LRPs:
Initial Applicants	50	1	10.11	505.50
Advisors/Supervisors	50	1	1	50.00
Recommenders	140	1	.5	70.00
Financial Institutions	10	1	.25	2.50
Subtotal	250			628.00
Extramural LRPs:
Initial Applicants	2,050	1	10.75	22,037.50
Advisors/Supervisors	1,840	1	1	1,840.00
Recommenders	6,150	1	.5	3,075.00
Financial Institutions	100	1	.25	25.00
Subtotal	10,140			26,977.50
Intramural LRPs:
Renewal Applicants	50	1	7.42	371.00
Advisors/Supervisors	50	1	2.2	110.00
Subtotal	100			481.00
Extramural LRPS:
Renewal Applicants	1,200	1	8.58	10,296.00
Advisors/Supervisors	900	1	1.7	1,530.00
Recommenders	3,500	1	.5	1,750.00
Subtotal	5,600			13,576.00
Total	16,090			41,662.50

The annualized cost to respondents is estimated at $1,701,641.69. The annualized cost to the Federal Government for administering the Loan Repayment Programs is expected to be $1,448,100. This cost includes administrative support by the Division of Loan Repayment and $800,000 for the continuing development and maintenance of the LRP Management Information System/Online Application System (MIS/OAS).

Request for Comments: Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address 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 CONTACT:

To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, contact: Milton Hernandez, PhD, Director, Division of Loan Repayment, National Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Blvd., Room 206 (MSC 7650), Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7650. Dr. Hernandez may be contacted via e-mail at [e-mail] or by calling 301-496-0180.

Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60 days of the date of this publication.

Dated: February 4, 2011.

Lawrence A. Tabak,

Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.