Document

Proposed Collection; 60-Day Comment Request; Assurance (Interinstitutional, Foreign, and Domestic) and Annual Report (Office of the Director)

In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to provide opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Office of Laborator...

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health

AGENCY:

National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to provide opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the ( printed page 56459) Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) in the Office of Extramural Research (OER) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

DATES:

Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received by October 2, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, submit comments in writing, or request more information on the proposed project, contact: Jane J. Na, Director, Division of Assurances, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, NIH, 6705 Rockledge Dr. (RKL1), Room 812-C, MSC 7983, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 or call non-toll-free number (301) 496-7163 or email your request, including your address to: . Formal requests for additional plans and instruments must be requested in writing.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies are invited to 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.

Proposed Collection Title: Assurance (Interinstitutional, Foreign, and Domestic) and Annual Report, OMB#0925-0765, Expiration Date 01/31/2027, Extension, Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Need and Use of Information Collection: The Office of Laboratory Welfare (OLAW) is responsible for the implementation, general administration, and interpretation of the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Policy) as codified in 42 CFR 52.8. The PHS Policy implements the Health Research Extension Act (HREA) of 1985 (Pub. L. 99-158 as codified in 42 U.S.C. 289d). The PHS Policy requires entities that conduct research involving vertebrate animals using PHS funds to have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), provide assurance that requirements of the Policy are met, and submit an annual report. An institution's animal care and use program is described in the Animal Welfare Assurance (Assurance) document and sets forth institutional compliance with PHS Policy. The purpose of the Assurance (Interinstitutional, Foreign, and Domestic) and Annual Report is to provide OLAW with documentation to satisfy the requirements of the HREA, illustrate institutional adherence to PHS Policy, and enable OLAW to carry out its mission to ensure the humane care and use of animals in PHS-supported research, testing, and training, thereby contributing to the quality of PHS-supported activities.

OMB approval is requested for 3 years. There are no costs to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 8,542.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Form name Type of respondents Number of respondents Number of responses per respondent Average burden per response (in hours) Annual burden hours
Domestic Assurance Renewal and New 215 1 30 6,450
Domestic Annual Report All Domestic 841 1 90/60 1,262
Foreign Assurance Renewal and New 42 1 90/60 63
Foreign Annual Report All Foreign 273 1 90/60 410
Interinstitutional Assurance for Foreign Performance Site Foreign 35 1 30/60 18
Interinstitutional Assurance for Domestic Performance Site Domestic 678 1 30/60 339
Total 2,084 8,542

The Deputy Director for Extramural Research, Jon Lorsch, having reviewed and approved this document, authorizes Alycia Booth, who is the Federal Register Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of publication in the Federal Register .

Dated: August 28, 2026.

Alycia Booth,

Federal Register Liaison, National Institutes of Health.

[FR Doc. 2026-17899 Filed 9-1-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4167-05-P

Legal Citation

Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

91 FR 56458

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“Proposed Collection; 60-Day Comment Request; Assurance (Interinstitutional, Foreign, and Domestic) and Annual Report (Office of the Director),” thefederalregister.org (September 2, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-17899/proposed-collection-60-day-comment-request-assurance-interinstitutional-foreign-and-domestic-and-annual-report-office-of.