# Proposed Collection; Comment Request; A Process Evaluation of the NIH Director's Pioneer Award (NDPA) Program
*Summary:* In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Office of the Director, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
An Outcome Evaluation of the NIH Director's Pioneer Award (NDPA) Program. *Type of Information Collection Request:* New collection. *Need and Use of Information Collection:* This study will assess the NDPA Program outputs and outcomes. The primary objectives of the study are to assess: (1) Whether the NDPA awardees are conducting pioneering research, and (2) whether there are spillover effects on the awardees, their lab members, NIH, and the scientific community. The findings will provide valuable information concerning the success of the awardees (pioneers) and whether the characteristics of the NDPA program are adopted by other NIH programs.
*Frequency of Response:* Once. *Affected Public:* none. *Type of Respondents:* Applicants, Interviewees (finalist), Pioneer Lab Members, Focus Group Panelists. There are no Capital Costs to report. *Estimated Number of Respondents:* 83; *Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:* 1; *Average Burden Hours per Response:* 2.14 (60 minutes for awardees, 10 minutes for finalists, 30 minutes for pioneer lab members, and 10 hours for focus group panelists).
*Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested:* 177.83 and the annualized cost to respondents is estimated at $11,308.21. Table 1 and Table 2, respectively, present data concerning the burden hours and cost burdens for this data collection.
| Type of respondents | Number of | Frequency of | Average time | Total hour |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awardees (Pioneers) | 22 | 1 | 1.0 | 22.00 |
| Finalists | 20 | 1 | 0.16 | 3.33 |
| Pioneer Lab Members | 25 | 1 | 0.5 | 12.5 |
| Expert Panel | 14 | 1 | 10.0 | 140.00 |
| Total | 83 | 1 | 2.14 | 177.83 |
| Type of respondents | Number of | Response | Approx. | Total |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awardees | 22 | 1 | $64.72 | $1,423.84 |
| Finalists | 20 | 1 | 64.72 | 215.52 |
| Pioneer Lab Members | 25 | 1 | 46.23 | 577.88 |
| Focus Group Panel | 14 | 1 | 64.72 | 9,060.80 |
| Total | 83 | 1 | 63.59 | 11,308.21 |
*Request for Comments:* Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies are invited on 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.
*For Further Information Contact:* To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, contact G. Stephane Philogene, Ph.D., Assistant Director for Policy and Planning, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Drive. Building 31, Room B2-B37, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number 301-402-3902 or e-mail your request, including your address to: *[email protected]* .
*Comments Due Date:* Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60-days of the date of this publication.
Dated: April 8, 2009.
G. Stephane Philogene,
Assistant Director for Policy and Planning, OBSSR, National Institutes of Health.