NCATS CTSA Program Policy and Procedures for Surveys

The CTSA Program supports high quality translational and clinical research locally, regionally and nationally and fosters innovation in research methods, training, and career development.  The intellectual capital and resources within the CTSA Program are rich sources of information.  Surveys are one way to capture a snapshot of this information.  The purpose of a survey may be to uncover answers, evoke discussion, discover resources, base decisions on objective information and/or to compare results.

There is a need for a controlled process for survey deployment and archival within the CTSA Program.  A Federal agency cannot collect or sponsor a collection of information from 10 or more public respondents without obtaining approval from the Office of Management and Budget (the Paperwork Reduction Act, PRA).  This tends to be a lengthy approval process, often taking several months for processing and approval.

However, due to the 21st Century Cures Act, a bipartisan effort “to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of 21st Century Cures”, NIH research activities are exempt from PRA approval.