1218-0255 Supporting Statement (20200406) Final (ROCIS)

CONFLICT OF INTERET (COI) AND DISCLOSURE FORM

1218-0255

April 2020

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR THE

INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS OF THE

CONFLICT OF INTEREST (COI) AND DISCLOSURE FORM

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (OMB)

CONTROL NUMBER 1218-0255 (April 2020)

This ICR is requesting an extension of a currently approved data collection.

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published the Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review on December 15, 2004. The Bulletin established that important scientific information shall be peer reviewed by qualified specialists before it is disseminated by the federal government. Peer review is one of the important procedures used to ensure that the quality of published information meets the standards of the scientific and technical community. It is a form of deliberation involving an exchange of judgments about the appropriateness of methods and the strength of the author’s inferences. Peer review involves the review of a draft product for quality by specialists in the field who were not involved in producing the draft. Some federal agencies make use of peer review to obtain evaluations of draft information that contains important scientific determinations. The selection of participants in a peer review is based on expertise, with due consideration of independence and conflict of interest. The Bulletin states “…the agency must address reviewers’ potential conflicts of interest (including those stemming from ties to regulated businesses and other stakeholders) and independence from the agency. This Bulletin requires agencies to adopt or adapt the committee selection policies employed by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) when selecting peer reviewers who are not government employees.” The NAS employs a Conflict of Interest Disclosure form to determine whether or not a conflict of interest exists for a provisional committee member.

A copy of the OMB Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review, Introduction is attached. Information Quality Act section 515(1authorizes this information collection, which also supports E.O. 12866, section 1(b)(7) (58 FR 51735).

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

OSHA’s contractor obtains background information and conflict of interest information using a standardized format, referred to as the Conflict of Interest (COI) form to determine if the potential peer reviewers will not be compromised by a significant conflict of interest. The term “conflict of interest” means any financial or other interest that conflicts with the service of the individual because 1) it could significantly impair the individual’s objectivity or 2) it could create an unfair competitive advantage for any person or organization. Except for those situations in which OSHA determines that a conflict of interest is unavoidable and promptly and publicly discloses the COI, no individual can be selected to serve as a peer reviewer for OSHA if the individual has a COI that is relevant to the functions/services performed.

OSHA has short and long versions of the COI form. For some reviews, potential peer reviewers complete the short COI form. The questions on the short form elicit a yes/no answer and only require further response if a potential conflict is identified. In other cases, potential peer reviewers are required to complete the long version of the COI form, providing more detailed information on areas of potential conflict such as employment, research funding, and assets as well as answering the same questions that are on the short version of the form.

The completed COI form is returned by the potential peer reviewer to the OSHA contractor. The contractor reviews the responses and determines whether potential peer reviewers have any conflicts of interest. The contractor then convenes the peer review panel.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burdens.

The respondents receive the COI form as an attachment to an email from the OSHA contractor. The respondents return the completed form as an email attachment, by mailing a hard copy to the contractor, or by fax.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item A.2 above.

The information required to be collected and maintained is specific to each invited expert and is not available or duplicated by another source. The information requested for the background information and conflict of interest disclosure is available only from the invited expert.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

No small businesses are involved. Requested information is provided from persons as potential expert witnesses, not as a small business.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

If OSHA could not collect the information provided on the COI Form, or obtained it less frequently, the Agency would not have a record or date to use in documenting its timely and full compliance with the Final Information Quality Bulleting for Peer Review. OSHA’s contractors would be unable to obtain background information and conflict of interest information to determine if the potential peer reviewers will not be compromised by a significant conflict of interest.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

• requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

• requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

• requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant- in- aid, or tax records, for more than three years;

• in connection with a statistical survey that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

• requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

• requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

Respondents may need to complete the COI form in fewer than 30 days after receipt of the form, depending on the timeframes that are tailored to each peer review panel. When possible, respondents will be provided 30 days or more to complete the form.

Under terms of the contract, OSHA’s contractor keeps the completed COI forms confidential. See Item 10 of this Supporting Statement for further discussion of confidentiality agreements.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years -- even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), OSHA published a notice in the Federal Register on December 23, 2019 (84 FR 70572, Docket No. OSHA-2009-0042), soliciting comments from the public and other interested parties on the information collection requirements contained in the Conflict of Interest (COI) and Disclosure Form. The notice is part of a preclearance consultation program that provides interested parties with an opportunity to comment on OSHA’s request for an extension by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of a previous approval of the information collection requirements found in the Conflict of Interest (COI) and Disclosure Form. The agency did not receive any public comments regarding this information collection requirement.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

The agency will not provide payments or gifts to the respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

There are no assurances of confidentiality provided to respondents based in statute, regulation or agency policy; however, under terms of the contract, OSHA’s contractor must keep the completed COI forms confidential.

OSHA’s contractor routinely collects, handles, and stores conflict of interest (COI) information while conducting peer review and peer consultation tasks for federal agencies. When identifying experts to review any document designated by the agency as a “highly influential scientific assessment (HISA),” the contractor requires candidate reviewers to provide COI information that they may consider to be confidential, such as financial holdings, investments, property holdings, etc., in order to determine the potential for a COI.

To maintain the confidentiality of all such COI information, the contractor requires all staff who receive or handles such information to sign confidentiality agreements that require them to adhere to the following procedures:

1. The COI form shall be used only for the purposes of carrying out the work required for the peer review or consultation;

2. The staff shall not disclose, discuss, or disseminate the information to or with anyone, both during the project and after the review or consultation is completed, unless that person is a staff person for the same contractor who has signed a confidentiality agreement;

3. The staff working on the peer review/consultation project shall exercise due diligence in safeguarding and handling the COI forms and information the entire time it is in their possession;

4. The contractor shall not make any copies (including paper copies and electronic copies) of any part of the COI form, except for the original paper copy for the project files;

5. The contractor shall not share COI information with the contracting agency or any outside entities, except as required to do so by law or as requested as part of a formal investigation by the Office of Inspector General, General Accountability Office, Congressional Committee;

6. The contractor’s project manager shall store the electronic copy of the COI form only on her/his individual password-protected work computer and only until the project is completed, at which point the electronic copy shall be deleted; and

7. While the project is underway, the contractor’s project manager shall store the COI forms in the individual task files, to be kept in locked file cabinets. When the project is complete, the files shall be stored in archival boxes in a secure off-site location.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

There are no questions of a sensitive nature on the COI form.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

• If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens.

• Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item 14.

The agency determined average wage rates using average hourly earnings, including benefits, to represent the cost of employee time. For the actuary occupational category, OSHA adjusted the mean hourly earnings according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2018 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates United States, SIC 15-2011, Actuaries a meanly hourly wage of $55.89 before fringe benefits. (https://www.bls.gov/oes//current/oes_stru.htm). To account for fringe benefits, the agency used the fringe benefit rate reported in BLS’ Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC), news release for June 2019 (BLS, 2019, https://www.bls.gov/new.release/archives/ecec_09172019.htm). BLS reported that for private industry, fringe benefits accounted for 29.9 percent of total compensation and wages accounted for the remaining 70.1 percent. To calculate the loaded hourly wage for each occupation we divide the mean hourly wage by 70.1 percent. The costs of labor used in this analysis are, therefore, estimates of total hourly compensation. The hourly wage is:

Actuaries (15-2011) ¹ $79.73 ($55.89/.701)

Short Version of COI Form:

OSHA estimates that it will take a half hour (30/60) to complete the short version of the COI form. Thus, in each year, 18 respondents will each spend a half hour (30/60) for a total of 9 hours completing the short version of the COI form.

Burden hours: 18 respondents x 30/60 hour = 9 hours

Cost: 9 hours x $79.73 = $718

Long Version of COI Form:

OSHA estimates that it will take 18 respondents 1 hour to complete the long version of the COI form, totaling 18 hours per year.

Burden hours: 18 respondents x 1 hour = 18 hours

Cost: 18 hours x $79.73 = $1,435

In summary, OSHA estimates that the total hours spent per year completing the COI form will be 27 hours (9 hours for the short form + 18 hours for the long form). Thus, OSHA estimates that the annual total cost burden to the respondents will be $2,153 ($718 for the short form + $1,435 for the long form).

Estimated Annualized Respondent Hour and Cost Burden Table
Information Collection Requirements (Across Top of Rows)	Type of Respondent	Number of Respondents	Number of Responses per Respondent	Total Number of Responses	Average Burden per Responses (In Hrs.)	Total Burden Hours	Avg. Hourly Wage Rate	Total Burden Costs
Short Version of COI Form	Actuaries	18	1	18	30/60	9	$79.73	$718
Long Version of COI Form	Actuaries	18	1	18	1	18	$79.73	$1,435
TOTAL		36	1	36	--	27	$79.73	$2,153

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14).

• The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component. The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information. Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.

• If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB

submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate.

• Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.

There are no additional costs to the possible peer reviewer, other than their time.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.

The Agency has no annualized cost associated with enforcing the Standard. OSHA would only review records in the context of an investigation of a particular employer to determine compliance with the Standard. These activities are outside the scope of the PRA. See 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2).

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

There are no changes in burden hours from the previous Information Collection Request for obtaining the necessary background information and disclosure of conflict of interest information to ensure that invited experts are not compromised. There are no costs as discussed under Item 13 of the Supporting Statement. The disclosure of records during an investigation or audit is not subject to the PRA under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2). OSHA would only review records in the context of an open investigation of a particular employer to determine compliance with the Standard. Therefore, OSHA takes no burden or cost in this supporting statement for disclosing information during an inspection.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation, and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time scheduled for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

OSHA will not publish the information collected as a result to the Conflict of Interest, Disclosure form.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reason that display would be inappropriate.

OSHA will display the OMB and expiration date in the Background Information and Conflict of Interest Disclosure package.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

OSHA is not seeking an exception to the certification statement.

2. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS.

This supporting statement does not contain any collection of information requirements that employ statistical method.

Table -- 1 Requested Burden Hour Adjustment
Information Collection Requirement	Current Burden Hours	Total 2019 Requested Burden Hour	Total Burden Costs	Total No. of Responses	Explanation of Adjustment
Short Version of COI Form	9	9	$718	18	No change in burden hour request.
Long Version of COI Form	18	18	$1,435	18	No change in burden hour request.
TOTALS	27	27	$2,153	36

1²This mean hourly wage rate corresponds to SOC code 15-2011,”Actuaries.”(Source: May 2019 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, United States,” U.S. Department of Labor, BLS.) https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes152011.htm.

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