80 FR 30654 - Notice of Intent To Extend a Currently Approved Information Collection
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 103 (May 29, 2015)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 103 (May 29, 2015)
| Page Range | 30654-30654 | |
| FR Document | 2015-13011 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 2015)] [Notices] [Page 30654] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-13011] [[Page 30654]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Institute of Food and Agriculture Notice of Intent To Extend a Currently Approved Information Collection AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at (5 CFR part 1320), this notice announces the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) intention to request approval for an extension of the currently approved information collection for the NIFA proposal review process. DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 28, 2015, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice and requests for copies of the information collection may be submitted by any of the following methods: Email: rmartin.usda.gov; Fax: 202-720-0857; Mail: Office of Information Technology (OIT), NIFA, USDA, STOP 2216, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2216. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Martin, eGovernment Program Leader; Email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: NIFA Proposal Review Process. OMB Number: 0524-0041. Expiration Date of Current Approval: 05/31/2015 Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information collection for three years. Abstract: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is responsible for performing a review of proposals submitted to NIFA competitive award programs in accordance with section 103(a) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, 7 U.S.C. 7613(a). Reviews are undertaken to ensure that projects supported by NIFA are of high quality, and are consistent with the goals and requirements of the funding program. Proposals submitted to NIFA undergo a programmatic evaluation to determine worthiness of Federal support. The evaluations consist of a peer panel review and may also entail an assessment by Federal employees and electronically submitted (ad-hoc) reviews in the Peer Review System. Need and Use of the Information: The information collected from the evaluations is used to support NIFA grant programs. NIFA uses the results of the proposal evaluation to determine whether a proposal should be declined or recommended for award. When NIFA has rendered a decision, copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers, and summaries of review panel deliberations, if any, are provided to the submitting Project Director. Given the highly technical nature of many of these proposals, the quality of the peer review greatly depends on the appropriate matching of the subject matter of the proposal with the technical expertise of the potential reviewer. In order to obtain this information, an electronic questionnaire is used to collect information about potential panel and ad-hoc reviewers. If the reviewer is already in our database, the questionnaire asks potential reviewers to update their basic biographical information including address, contact information, professional expertise, and their availability to review for NIFA in the future. If the reviewer is new they are prompted to complete the questionnaire. The information collected from reviewers has been invaluable in the NIFA review process, which has been recognized by the grantee and grantor community for its quality. The applications and associated materials made available to reviewers, as well as the discussions that take place during panel review meetings are strictly confidential and are not to be disclosed to or discussed with anyone who has not been officially designated to participate in the review process. While each panelist certifies at the time of preparing a review they do not have a conflict-of-interest with a particular application and will maintain its confidentiality in the Peer Review System, a certification of their intent at the time of the panel review proceedings is collected to emphasize and reinforce confidentiality not only of applications and reviews but also panel discussions. On the Conflict-of-Interest and Confidentiality Certification Form, the panelist affirms they understand the conflict- of-interest guidelines and will not be involved in the review of the application(s) where a conflict exists. The panelist also affirms their intent to maintain the confidentiality of the panel process and not disclose to another individual any information related to the peer review or use any information for personal benefit. Estimate of Burden: NIFA estimates that anywhere from one hour to twenty hours may be required to review a proposal. It is estimated that approximately five hours are required to review an average proposal. Each proposal receives an average of four reviews, accounting for an annual burden of 20 hours. NIFA estimates it receives 4,600 competitive applications each year. The total annual burden on reviewers is 92,000 hours. NIFA estimates that the potential reviewer questionnaire takes an estimated 10 minutes to complete. The database consists of approximately 50,000 reviewers. The total annual burden of questionnaire is 8,330 hours. NIFA estimates that the potential Conflict-of-Interest and Confidentiality Certification Form takes an estimated 10 minutes to complete. The agency has approximately 1,000 panelists each year. The total annual burden of the certification form is 167 hours. The total annual burden of the component of the entire review process is 100,497 hours. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request to OMB for approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of May, 2015. Catherine E. Woteki, Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics. [FR Doc. 2015-13011 Filed 5-28-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
![30654 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 103 / Friday, May 29, 2015 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE electronically submitted (ad-hoc) Estimate of Burden: NIFA estimates
reviews in the Peer Review System. that anywhere from one hour to twenty
National Institute of Food and Need and Use of the Information: The hours may be required to review a
Agriculture information collected from the proposal. It is estimated that
evaluations is used to support NIFA approximately five hours are required to
Notice of Intent To Extend a Currently grant programs. NIFA uses the results of review an average proposal. Each
Approved Information Collection the proposal evaluation to determine proposal receives an average of four
AGENCY: National Institute of Food and whether a proposal should be declined reviews, accounting for an annual
Agriculture, USDA. or recommended for award. When NIFA burden of 20 hours. NIFA estimates it
has rendered a decision, copies of receives 4,600 competitive applications
ACTION: Notice and request for reviews, excluding the names of the each year. The total annual burden on
comments. reviewers, and summaries of review reviewers is 92,000 hours. NIFA
SUMMARY: In accordance with the panel deliberations, if any, are provided estimates that the potential reviewer
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and to the submitting Project Director. questionnaire takes an estimated 10
Given the highly technical nature of minutes to complete. The database
Office of Management and Budget
many of these proposals, the quality of consists of approximately 50,000
(OMB) regulations at (5 CFR part 1320),
the peer review greatly depends on the reviewers. The total annual burden of
this notice announces the National
appropriate matching of the subject questionnaire is 8,330 hours. NIFA
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
matter of the proposal with the estimates that the potential Conflict-of-
intention to request approval for an
technical expertise of the potential Interest and Confidentiality Certification
extension of the currently approved
reviewer. In order to obtain this Form takes an estimated 10 minutes to
information collection for the NIFA information, an electronic questionnaire
proposal review process. complete. The agency has
is used to collect information about approximately 1,000 panelists each
DATES: Written comments on this notice potential panel and ad-hoc reviewers. If
must be received by July 28, 2015, to be year. The total annual burden of the
the reviewer is already in our database, certification form is 167 hours. The total
assured of consideration. Comments the questionnaire asks potential
received after that date will be annual burden of the component of the
reviewers to update their basic entire review process is 100,497 hours.
considered to the extent practicable. biographical information including Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
ADDRESSES: Written comments address, contact information, the proposed collection of information
concerning this notice and requests for professional expertise, and their is necessary for the proper performance
copies of the information collection may availability to review for NIFA in the of the functions of the Agency,
be submitted by any of the following future. If the reviewer is new they are including whether the information will
methods: Email: rmartin.usda.gov; Fax: prompted to complete the have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
202–720–0857; Mail: Office of questionnaire. The information the Agency’s estimate of the burden of
Information Technology (OIT), NIFA, collected from reviewers has been the proposed collection of information;
USDA, STOP 2216, 1400 Independence invaluable in the NIFA review process, (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250– which has been recognized by the and clarity of the information to be
2216. grantee and grantor community for its collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
quality. burden of the collection of information
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The applications and associated
Robert Martin, eGovernment Program on those who are to respond, including
materials made available to reviewers,
Leader; Email: rmartin@nifa.usda.gov. through the use of appropriate
as well as the discussions that take
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: automated, electronic, mechanical, or
place during panel review meetings are
Title: NIFA Proposal Review Process. other technological collection
strictly confidential and are not to be
OMB Number: 0524–0041. techniques or other forms of information
disclosed to or discussed with anyone
Expiration Date of Current Approval: technology.
who has not been officially designated
05/31/2015 All responses to this notice will be
to participate in the review process.
Type of Request: Extension of a summarized and included in the request
While each panelist certifies at the time
currently approved information to OMB for approval. All comments will
of preparing a review they do not have
collection for three years. become a matter of public record.
a conflict-of-interest with a particular
Abstract: The National Institute of application and will maintain its Done in Washington, DC, this 19th day of
Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is confidentiality in the Peer Review May, 2015.
responsible for performing a review of System, a certification of their intent at Catherine E. Woteki,
proposals submitted to NIFA the time of the panel review Under Secretary, Research, Education, and
competitive award programs in proceedings is collected to emphasize Economics.
accordance with section 103(a) of the and reinforce confidentiality not only of [FR Doc. 2015–13011 Filed 5–28–15; 8:45 am]
Agricultural Research, Extension, and applications and reviews but also panel BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
Education Reform Act of 1998, 7 U.S.C. discussions. On the Conflict-of-Interest
7613(a). Reviews are undertaken to and Confidentiality Certification Form,
ensure that projects supported by NIFA the panelist affirms they understand the COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
are of high quality, and are consistent conflict-of-interest guidelines and will
with the goals and requirements of the not be involved in the review of the Notice of Public Meeting of the Nevada
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funding program. application(s) where a conflict exists. Advisory Committee To Discuss and
Proposals submitted to NIFA undergo The panelist also affirms their intent to Approve Its Report on Police
a programmatic evaluation to determine maintain the confidentiality of the panel Militarization
worthiness of Federal support. The process and not disclose to another AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil
evaluations consist of a peer panel individual any information related to Rights.
review and may also entail an the peer review or use any information
ACTION: Announcement of meeting.
assessment by Federal employees and for personal benefit.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:17 May 28, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM 29MYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_30757/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:31:26
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:31:26
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice and request for comments. | |
| Dates | Written comments on this notice must be received by July 28, 2015, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. | |
| Contact | Robert Martin, eGovernment Program Leader; Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 30654 |
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