NIH Generic OMB Clearance for Online Surveys

Burden Disclosure Statement

The following language must appear at the end of your survey instrument:

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: NIH, Project Clearance Branch, 6705 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7974, Bethesda, MD 20892-7974, ATTN: PRA (0925-0486). Do not return the completed form to this address.

Legislative Background

Effective October 1, 1995 the revised regulations implementing the new Paperwork Reduction Act add a new requirement to be included in the burden statement. You are reminded to check each form to be sure the burden statement contains the new wording. Packages without the required new wording in the burden disclosure statement will be returned for correction. The new requirement is that potential respondents must be informed of the fact that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

5 CFR 1320.8 requires each information collection approved by OMB to disclose the average burden hours per response, including a request for comments on the accuracy of the burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing this burden. Potential respondents must be informed of the fact that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Electronic Format Information

The following information involves electronic format from 5 CFR Part 1320.

1320.3 Definitions.
Display means: . . . . . . .

"(2) in the case of forms, questionnaires, instructions, and other written collections of information sent or made available to potential respondents in an electronic format, to place the currently valid OMB control number in the instructions, near the title of the electronic collection instrument, or, for on-line applications, on the first screen viewed by the respondents;"

1320.5 General requirements.
"(B) in the case of forms, questionnaires, instructions, and other written collections of information sent or made available to potential respondents in an electronic format, the information described in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section is provided "in a manner that is reasonably calculated to inform the public" if the agency places the currently valid OMB control number in the instructions, near the title of the electronic collection instrument, or, for on-line applications, on the first screen viewed by the respondent."

"(b)(2)(i) the agency informs the potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number."

1320.8 Agency collection of information responsibilities.
"(C)(1)(ii) in the case of forms, questionnaires, instructions, and other written collections of information sent or made available to potential respondents in an electronic format, such information can be included either in the instructions, near the title of the electronic collection instrument, or, for on-line applications, on the first screen viewed by the respondent;"