2023-11589. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public Comment Request; The Division of Independent Review Application Reviewer Recruitment Form, OMB No. 0915-0295-Extension

AGENCY:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, HRSA announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

DATES:

Comments on this ICR should be received no later than July 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Submit your comments to [e-mail] or mail the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N136B, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, email [e-mail] or call Samantha Miller, the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, at (301) 443–3983.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Information Collection Request Title: The Division of Independent Review Application Reviewer Recruitment Form, OMB No. 0915–0295—Extension

Abstract: HRSA's Division of Independent Review (DIR) is responsible for administering the review of eligible applications submitted for grants under HRSA competitive announcements. DIR ensures that the objective review process is independent, efficient, effective, economical, and complies with the applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. Applications are reviewed by subject matter experts knowledgeable in health and public health disciplines for which support is requested. Review findings are advisory to HRSA programs responsible for making award decisions.

This ICR is for continuation of a web-based data collection system, the Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM), used to gather critical reviewer information. The RRM uses standardized categories of information in drop down menu format for data such as the following: degree, specialty, occupation, work setting, and in select instances affiliations with organizations and institutions that serve special populations. Some program regulations require that objective review panels contain consumers of health services. Other demographic data may be voluntarily provided by a potential reviewer. Defined data elements assist HRSA in finding and selecting expert reviewers for objective review committees.

HRSA maintains a roster of approximately 9,000 qualified individuals who have actively served on HRSA objective review committees. The web based RRM simplifies reviewer registration entry using a user-friendly Graphical User Interface with a few data drop down menu choices, a search engine that supports key word queries in the actual resume or Curriculum Vitae text and also permits reviewers to access and update their information at will and as needed. The RRM is 508 compliant and accessible by the general public via a link on the HRSA “Grants” internet site, or by keying the RRM URL into their browser. The RRM is accessible using any of the commonly used internet browsers.

A 60-day notice published in the Federal Register on March 6, 2023, vol. 88, No. 43; pp. 13832–13833. There were no public comments.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: HRSA currently utilizes RRM to collect information from individuals who wish to volunteer as objective review committee participants for the Agency's discretionary and competitive grant or cooperative agreement funding opportunities. RRM provides HRSA with an effective search and communication functionality with which to identify and contact qualified potential reviewers. The RRM has an enhanced search and reporting capability to help DIR ensure that the HRSA reviewer pool has the necessary skills, education, and diversity to meet the ever-evolving need for qualified reviewers. If HRSA identifies either an expertise or demographic that is under-represented in the RRM pool, HRSA is able to recruit specifically to address those needs. Expertise is always the primary determinant in selecting potential reviewers for any specific grant review. No reviewer is required to provide demographic information to join the reviewer pool or be selected as a reviewer for any competition.

Likely Respondents: All HRSA reviewers must possess the technical skill and ability to access the internet on a secure desktop laptop, or touch pad, and either a land line or Voice Over internet Protocol capability in order to participate in HRSA objective review committees. Reviewers are professionals with expertise and experience consistent with the HRSA mission. Certain legislation requires HRSA programs to include consumers of specific health care services in the objective review committee.

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:

Form name	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Total responses	Average burden per response (in hours)	Total burden hours
New reviewer	2,000	1	2,000	.166	332
Updating reviewer information	9,000	1	9,000	.333	2,997
Total	11,000		11,000		3,329

HRSA 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.

Maria G. Button,

Director, Executive Secretariat.