Federal Register #2026-13583

NIH Seeks Public Comment on Generic Clearance for Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing Data Collection

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is seeking public comment on a proposed generic clearance for data collection supporting citizen science and crowdsourcing projects. - Government Buyer: - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Office of the Director, Office of Extramural Research - No OEMs or commercial vendors are specified, as this is a request for public input on information collection, not a procurement of goods or services. - Products/Services Requested: - Data collection services related to citizen science and crowdsourcing initiatives - Estimated annualized burden: 122,000 responses for activities such as nominations, recommendations, population characteristics, and repositories of tools and best practices - Notable Requirements: - Focus on flexible, innovative research methods to accelerate scientific research, improve cost-effectiveness, address societal needs, enhance STEM education, and connect the public to federal science missions - Emphasis on public engagement and feedback to inform NIH research activities - No purchase of physical products or technology solutions is involved

Description

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking public comments on a proposed data collection project under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This project involves a generic clearance for NIH citizen science and crowdsourcing projects, allowing researchers and program staff to test ideas quickly, respond to project needs, and incorporate participant feedback. The purpose is to accelerate scientific research, increase cost-effectiveness, address societal needs, provide STEM education, connect the public to federal science missions, and improve scientific practices. Comments are due by September 4, 2026.

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