Supporting Statement A for
Scientific Information Reporting System (SIRS): An online reporting system for the collection of supplemental information to annual Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) submissions (NIGMS)
OMB# 0925-0735 exp., date 10/31/2022
Date: October 11, 2022
Check off which applies:
New
Revision
Reinstatement with Change
Reinstatement without Change
X Extension
Emergency
Existing w/o OMB approval
Federal Government Employee Information:
Name: Ming Lei Ph.D.
Address: 45 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: 301-827-5323 (ML), 301-435-0832 (JRG)
Fax: 301-402-0156
Email: [email protected]
Table of contents
A. ABSTRACT
A.1 Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary
A.2. Purpose and Use of the Information COLLECTION
A.3 Use of Information Technology and Burden Reduction
A.4 Efforts to Identify Duplication and Use of Similar Information
A.5 Impact on Small Businesses or Other Small Entities
A.6 Consequences of Collecting the Information Less Frequently
A.7 Special Circumstances Relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5
A.8 Comments in Response to the Federal Register Notice and Efforts to Consult Outside Agency
A.9 Explanation of Any Payment of Gift to Respondents
A.10 Assurance of Confidentiality Provided to Respondents
A.11 Justification for Sensitive Questions
A.12 Estimates of Hour Burden Including Annualized Hourly Costs
A.13 Estimate of Other Total Annual Cost Burden to Respondents or Record keepers
A.14 Annualized Cost to the Federal Government
A.15 Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments
A.16 Plans for Tabulation and Publication and Project Time Schedule
A.17 Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate
A.18 Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
Attachments:
Attachments1 SIRS Data Elements
Attachment2 SIRS Web Forms
Attachment3 Privacy Impact Assessment
Attachment4 SIRS Web Forms Time Estimates
A. Justification
Abstract: The Scientific Information Reporting System (SIRS) is an online data collection system whose purpose is to obtain supplemental information to the annual Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR, OMB# 0925-0735, Forms approved through 10/31/2022) submitted by grantees of the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program and the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Program. This is a reinstatement without change. Due to a shift in responsibilities, the publication of the 60-day FRN inadvertently exceeded the expiration date. This system is still required because both programs referenced above are still active and data needs to be collected to adequately report on both programs. The SIRS will collect program-specific data not requested in the RPPR data collection system. The data collected by SIRS will provide valuable information for the following purposes: (1) evaluation of progress by individual grantees towards achieving grantee-designated and program-specified goals and objectives, (2) evaluation of the overall program for effectiveness, efficiency, and impact in building biomedical research capacity and capability, and (3) analysis of outcome measures to determine need for refinements and/or adjustments of different program features including but not limited to initiatives and eligibility criteria. Data collected from SIRS will be used for various regular or ad hoc reporting requests from interested stakeholders that include members of Congress, state and local officials, other federal agencies, professional societies, media, and other parties.
A.1 Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) houses two capacity-building programs with distinct mandates and missions that require the collection of supplemental information from grantees that are not reported in their annual Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) submissions. The two programs that are covered in this Supporting Statement include the following:
Institutional Development Awards (IDeA)
Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH)
A.1.1 Institutional Development Awards (IDeA) Program
The Institutional Development Awards (IDeA) program at the NIH was established by the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A, Section 402 as amended by the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 [P.L. 103-43, 6/10/93]. This authorization language mandated the creation of the IDeA program at the then National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) at NIH with the primary objective of broadening the geographical distribution of NIH funding for biomedical research. In January 2012, the IDeA program was relocated to the NIGMS as required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 ([P.L. 112-74, 12/23/11]) (amending the Public Health Service Act to transfer IDeA program authority from section 402 to section 461). Currently, institutions in 23 states1 and Puerto Rico are eligible for funding from the IDeA Program.
The IDeA program currently supports and collects supplemental information on the following initiatives:
IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE)
The goal of the INBRE initiative is to enhance, extend, and strengthen the research capabilities of biomedical research faculty in IDeA states through a statewide program that links a research
Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE – Phases I, II, and III)
The goal of the COBRE initiative is to strengthen institutional biomedical research capabilities in IDeA states through three consecutive 5-year phases of infrastructure and faculty development of thematic and multidisciplinary research centers. In FY2022, NIGMS supported 114 COBRE awards.
IDeA Program Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research (IDeA-CTR)
The IDeA-CTR initiative develops network infrastructure and capacity in eligible states to conduct clinical and translational research focused on health concerns that affect medically underserved populations and/or that are prevalent in IDeA states. IDeA-CTR awards support mentoring and career development activities in clinical and translational research. In FY2022, NIGMS supported 8 IDeA-CTR awards.
The IDeA-CTR initiative develops network infrastructure and capacity in eligible states to conduct clinical and translational research focused on health concerns that affect medically underserved populations and/or that are prevalent in IDeA states. IDeA-CTR awards support mentoring and career development activities in clinical and translational research. In FY2022, NIGMS supported 8 IDeA-CTR awards.
A.1.2 Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH)
The Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) is an initiative of the Indian Health Service (IHS) working in full partnership with NIGMS/NIH to provide continuing awards to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes and organizations for conducting research in their communities. The authorization for this Agreement is Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC, section 241) and FY 2003 Appropriation Act (P.L. 108-5). The NARCH initiative supports partnerships of AI/AN Tribes, Tribal organizations or non-profit national or area Indian Health Boards, with institutions that conduct intensive academic level biomedical and behavioral research. The objectives of the NARCH initiative are the following:
To encourage competitive research linked to addressing health disparities
To develop a cadre of AI/AN scientists and health professional engaged in biomedical, clinical, and behavioral research that is competitive to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding
To increase the capacity of both research-intensive institutions and the AI/AN organizations to work in partnership to increase trust by AI/AN communities and people toward research.
These objectives are achieved by supporting research projects (including pilot projects), capacity building projects, biomedical student development projects, and faculty development projects developed by each NARCH partnership. In FY2022, NIGMS supported 24 NARCH awards.
Data collected from SIRS will be used for various regular or ad hoc reporting requests from interested stakeholders that include members of Congress, state and local officials, other federal agencies, professional societies, media, and other parties.
Since their inception, the IDeA and NARCH Programs have both enjoyed a steady and strong interest by legislators indicating that they are high priorities. The IDeA Program has had a line-item budget in yearly Appropriations language from when it was established by Congress in 1993. Proof of high congressional interest in the program is The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358, signed 01/04/11) which directed the National Science Foundation (NSF) Director to contract the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct a study of the IDeA Program and all other programs in other Federal agencies that fall under the EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) umbrella. The committee convened by NAS to conduct the study released their report on November 14, 2013. The conclusions of the report took into account outcomes data provided by IDeA Program Staff from information collected from grantees.
As research capacity-building programs, demonstration of impact and success would include the following indicators: (1) biomedical research pipeline and workforce development, (2) development of biomedical research competence, (3) biomedical research productivity, (4) increasing biomedical research competitiveness, (5) biomedical research infrastructure and other resources development, (6) internal and external qualitative measures of program impact, and (7) significant scientific impact of the programs.
The Scientific Information System (SIRS) is an online electronic system that collects the supplemental information to the RPPR submissions as Web Forms (Please see also Attachment 1 [SIRS Data Elements] and Attachment 2 [SIRS Web forms]).
A.3 Use of Information Technology and Burden Reduction
All information is collected electronically to minimize respondent time and burden. A Systems of Record Notice (SORN) and a Privacy Impact Assessment have been conducted by the NIGMS Privacy Officer and the NIGMS Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO) (Please see Attachment 3 [SIRS Privacy Impact Assessment]). Two contractors serve as web administrator for this electronic system, one for operations and one for maintenance.
The SIRS electronic system will only collect supplemental information that are not already collected in RPPR. Currently, there are no other similar systems that collect the information at the NIH.
The respondents are primarily biomedical research investigators and/or administrators. The submission process is not anticipated to have any impact on small businesses or other small entities.
Each respondent has a specific annual submission date that coincides with their yearly RPPR submission deadline. Information will not be collected more or less frequently than once yearly.
The proposed data collection is consistent with 5 CFR 1320.5.
This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on August 12, 2022, page 49875 (87 FR 49875) and allowed 60 days for public comment No comments were received.
No consultation with persons outside the agency was necessary to create or develop the content of any of the applications referenced herein.
A.9 Explanation of Any Payment of Gift to Respondents
No incentives, payments, nor gifts will be given to the respondents.
A.10 Assurance of Confidentiality Provided to Respondents
The web forms are in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act. The completed forms will be housed in databases and the information stored in servers maintained by the Information Resources Management Branch (IRMB) of NIGMS. Physical safeguards include maintaining the information in computers and servers that are password protected. Further, procedural safeguards include restricting access to files to individuals who have been instructed in the Privacy Act requirements. Authorized users of the information are NIGMS Program staff overseeing the IDeA and NARCH programs. Records will be retained under the authority of the NIH Records Control Schedule contained in NIH Manual Chapter 1743, Appendix 1 “Keeping and Destroying Records” (HHS Records Management Manual, Appendix B-361), item 2300-320-2(a). We certify that the information collected complies with the Privacy Act of 1974 and OMB-Circular A-108 “Responsibility for the Maintenance of Records about Individuals by Federal Agencies”. NIH Privacy Act Systems of Record Notice (SORN) 09-25-0036 entitled “Extramural Awards and Chartered Advisory Committees (IMPAC 2), Contract Information (DCIS), and Cooperative Agreement Information, HHS/NIH” was last published in the Federal Register, Vol. 67, No. 187/ September 26, 2002, pages 60742-60784.
A.11 Justification for Sensitive Questions
Sensitive questions are not included in these applications. Such questions are not required for the evaluation of progress by grantees in meeting Program Goals and Objectives.
A.12.1 Estimates of Hour Burden Including Annualized Hourly Costs
The estimated number of respondents in the table below (Table 12-1) is based on the numbers of grantees for each initiative in FY2022. The number of respondents may vary slightly annually depending on the number of successful competing new and continuing applications for the different initiatives. The average burden hours per response was determined by calculating the estimated times for completing the different web forms (see Attachment 4 [SIRS Web Forms Time Estimates]). The estimated total burden hours incurred by all respondents is about 760 hours.
Table 12-1 Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
Form Name |
Type of Respondents |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses per Respondent |
Average Burden Per Response (in hours) |
Total Annual Burden Hours |
SIRS |
Principal Investigators, COBRE Phase I |
61 |
1 |
4 |
244 |
SIRS |
Principal Investigators, COBRE Phase II |
40 |
1 |
4 |
160 |
SIRS |
Principal Investigators, COBRE Phase III |
15 |
1 |
4 |
60 |
SIRS |
Principal Investigators, INBRE |
24 |
1 |
6 |
144 |
SIRS |
Principal Investigators, IDeA-CTR |
8 |
1 |
4 |
32 |
SIRS |
Principal Investigators, NARCH |
24 |
1 |
5 |
120 |
|
Total |
172 |
172 |
|
760 |
A.12-2 Annual Cost to respondent
The annualized costs to respondents (Table 12-2) was calculated using the May 2021 annual salary figures reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for Biological Scientists. The estimated total annualized cost incurred by all respondents is $34,337
Table 12-2 Annualized Cost to Respondents
Type of Respondents |
Total Annual Burden Hours |
Hourly Respondent Mean Wage Rate* |
Respondent Cost |
Principal Investigators, COBRE Phase I |
244 |
$45.18 |
$11,024 |
Principal Investigators, COBRE Phase II |
160 |
$45.18 |
$7,229 |
Principal Investigators, COBRE Phase III |
60 |
$45.18 |
$2,711 |
Principal Investigators, INBRE |
144 |
$45.18 |
$6,506 |
Principal Investigators, IDeA-CTR |
32 |
$45.18 |
$1,446 |
Principal Investigators, NARCH |
120 |
$45.18 |
$5,422 |
TOTAL |
760 |
|
$34,337 |
*Bureau of Labor Statistics: The Biological Scientists rate was used to calculate annual salary figures for all respondents. The rate was obtained from the https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm Occupation title “Biological Scientists”, occupation code 19-1020.
A.13 Estimate of Other Total Annual Cost Burden to Respondents or Record Keepers
There is no additional cost burden to the respondents or record keepers.
The annualized cost to the Federal Government for the proposed data collection effort is estimated to be approximately $15,777. Costs include project oversight by a federal project officer. Additional costs include maintenance costs for the electronic system, costs for maintaining SIRS, and other non-labor costs associated with maintaining the system.
Cost Descriptions |
Grade/Step |
Salary |
% of Effort |
Fringe (if applicable) |
Total Cost to Gov’t |
Federal Oversight |
|
|
|
|
|
IT Project Manager |
13/10 |
$138,868 |
2% |
|
$2,777 |
Contractor Cost |
|
|
|
|
|
Server Engineer |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
$4,000.00 |
Application Developer |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
$3,000.00 |
Business Analyst |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
$2,000.00 |
Security Analyst |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
$4,000.00 |
Travel |
|
|
|
|
$0 |
Other Cost |
|
|
|
|
$0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
$15,777 |
*the Salary in table above is cited from https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2022/DCB%20(LEO).pdf
A.15 Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments
This is an extension with an OMB number (0925-0735) that expires 10/31/2022 There have not been nor are there any planned changes to the SIRS system. During FY2018 there were no major SIRS system releases or enhancements implemented. Therefore, the annualized cost to the federal government decreased because the effort expended by contacting staff decreased from 15% to 5%. Additionally, the total estimated annualized burden hours for respondents decreased because the total number of respondents has decreased. The average burden hours per response has remained consistent.
Submissions of supplemental information are only for internal use by NIH Program staff for assessing and evaluating the progress of grantees towards achieving program goals and objectives. There are no plans for statistical analyses of the collected information for publication.
The time schedule for evaluating submissions will be as follows
A.16 - 1 Project Time Schedule |
|
Activity |
Time Schedule |
SIRS sends reminder notification to Principal Investigators for online submission of data |
One month before RPPR submission deadline (or 3 months before the end of the current budget/reporting period) |
Electronic submission period |
90 - 30 days before the end of the current budget/reporting period |
SIRS sends 2nd reminder notification to PIs that have not completed online submission |
15 days before electronic submission deadline |
Electronic submission deadline |
30 days before the end of the current budget/reporting period |
Programmatic evaluation and final approval of submissions |
8 - 2 weeks before the end of the current budget/reporting period |
SIRS sends reminder notification to Principal Investigators for online submission of data |
One month before RPPR submission deadline (or 3 months before the end of the current budget/reporting period) |
A.17 Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate
OMB number and expiration date will be displayed prominently on the electronic web form pages.
A.18 Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
None
1 Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Subject | Supporting Statement A |
| Author | Lopez, Maria (NIH/NICHD) [E] |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2022-10-18 |