Supporting statement B

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
U.S. Department of Commerce
Bureau of Economic Analysis
2014 Biomedical Research and Development
Price Index Expenditure Survey
OMB CONTROL Number 0608-0069
B.

Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1.
Describe (including a numerical statement) the potential respondent universe and
any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of
entities (e.g. establishments, State and local governmental units, households, or persons) in
the universe and the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form. The
tabulation must also include expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the
collection has been conducted before, provide the actual response rate achieved.
Survey respondents are selected based on award levels, which determine the contributing weight
of the respondent in the biomedical research and development price index.
BEA proposes to survey 150 organizations that receive NIH biomedical research awards. This
sample will include the top 100 organizations in awards received and a random 50 organizations
in awards received from the remaining award recipients.

BRDPI Survey Universe, Sample, and Response Rates
Number of
entities
Universe
Sample
Top 100
Random 50

Percent of Awards
entities

2,993

100.00 $22,187,810,586

100.00

150
100
50

5.01 $17,301,198,264
$16,200,501,700
$1,100,696,564

77.98
0.00
4.96

Number of Percent of Awards of
respondents sample
respondents
Response rates
FY2011
FY2012

Percent of
awards

124
142

82.67 $16,557,513,964
94.67 $17,016,461,629

Percent of
awards sampled
95.70
98.35

Recently, the survey response rates have increased significantly as respondents have become
more familiar with the survey and BEA has made efforts to communicate the importance of the
survey. BEA expects this trend to continue in the future.

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Prior analysis conducted by NIH has demonstrated that there are no biases in selecting the largest
award recipients—that the survey results for smaller recipients, on average is not significantly
different from those of larger recipients. Thus, sampling the recipients who receive the most
funding simply raises the representativeness of the survey without introducing any systematic
biases.
It is also important to note that recipients receiving small award amounts from NIH are not
necessarily smaller organizations in terms of the amount or breadth of their R&D activities. It is
more often the case that those organizations that receive smaller funding from NIH receive,
instead, larger funding for biomedical research from other science agencies, e.g., from the
National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, etc. They may also receive funds from
private organizations, especially large pharmaceutical firms. Thus, the connection between size
of NIH awards and size of R&D operations is extremely weak, implying those organizations that
received fewer NIH awards are not likely to be fundamentally different from those that received
higher levels of funding.
NIH has stated that current response rates are high enough to generate data of sufficient accuracy
for their intended purposes. Their statement is attached below.
NIH Statement:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is satisfied with the survey of institutions receiving NIH
awards, conducted by the Bureau of Economic Analysis at Department of Commerce. We hope
that OMB will clear the survey under the Paperwork Reduction Act for another three years.
The survey provides timely, essential data on the cost structure of award recipients, which is used
to estimate expenditure weights for the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index
(BRDPI). The response rates are currently sufficient and coverage is broad enough to provide
data of satisfactory quality for NIH purposes. NIH would be adversely affected if the expenditure
survey were to be interrupted.
The BRDPI measures changes in the weighted average of the prices of all the inputs (e.g.,
personnel services, various supplies, and equipment) purchased with the NIH budget to support
research. The weights (including those derived from the survey of extramural institutions) are
used to construct the index to reflect the actual pattern (or the proportion) of total NIH
expenditures on each of the types of input purchased.
The BRDPI supports a comprehensive analysis of trends in NIH expenditures and the
development of future budgets. These analyses inform policy decisions affecting the budgets for
intramural labs as well as the average size of grant awards that support extramural research.

2.
Describe the procedures for the collection, including: the statistical methodology for
stratification and sample selection; the estimation procedure; the degree of accuracy needed
for the purpose described in the justification; any unusual problems requiring specialized
sampling procedures; and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection
cycles to reduce burden.
See answer to number B.1 above.

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Collecting data at a less than annual frequency would be more difficult, as the data to be collected
are mostly available on an annual basis. In addition, for purposes of the BRDPI, only aggregated
annual data will be requested from the respondents.

3.
Describe the methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with
nonresponse. The accuracy and reliability of the information collected must be shown to be
adequate for the intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification
must be provided if they will not yield “reliable” data that can be generalized to the
universe studied.
With the assistance of NIH, non-respondents are contacted through follow-up calls and email to
encourage response. Response rates have not differed substantially across strata and have been
trending upward.
To ensure accuracy and completeness, all reports are carefully examined for errors and omissions.

4.
Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Tests are
encouraged as effective means to refine collections, but if ten or more test respondents are
involved OMB must give prior approval.
In 2004, nine organizations were contacted to obtain their feedback on the survey form. Seven of
these organizations responded and expressed their willingness to participate in the survey.

5.
Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical
aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor, grantee, or other person
who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.
The proposed survey is designed and will be conducted by the Chief of the Government Fixed
Assets Branch, Government Division, National Economic Accounts Directorate, Bureau of
Economic Analysis (BEA).

For further information, contact:
Jennifer A. Bennett
Chief, Government Fixed Assets Branch
Government Division, NEA
BEA, Department of Commerce
Phone: (202) 606-9769
E-mail: [email protected]