Privacy Act Memo

DATE:

March 13, 2020

TO:

Hope Cummings, Ph.D.
Office of the Director
Center for Scientific Review (CSR)

FROM:

NIH Privacy Act Officer

SUBJECT: Applicability of the Privacy Act: Early Career Reviewer Program Application and Vetting
System (EAVS)
I have reviewed the request for a revision of an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval
under the Paperwork Reduction Act for a generic clearance which proposes to collect personally
identifiable information via the EAVS software to process applications for the Early Career Reviewer
(ECR) program.
The ECR program was developed to identify and train qualified scientists who are early in their
scientific careers and who have not had prior CSR review experience to become effective reviewers,
help emerging researchers advance their careers by exposing them to peer review, and enrich the
existing pool of NIH reviewers by including scientists from less research-intensive institutions as well
as those from traditionally research-intensive institutions. A revision of the OMB clearance is being
sought to continue use of the software with some revisions that include minor aesthetic
enhancements and additional questions to capture applicant’s program eligibility as well as applicants’
socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics to support NIH’s renewed Interest in Diversity
(NOT-OD-20-031).
The EAVS is accessed by ECR program applicants who provide their names, contact information, a
description of their areas of expertise, and their professional CV. The information is transmitted to
Scientific Review Officers who vet the applications to determine if reviewers are an appropriate fit for
their review panels. The applicant’s information is stored on information systems that are protected at
all entry points by firewalls and intrusion detection devices. Applicants will maintain control of the
location from which they complete the online application. This allows applicants to maintain control
over the privacy of their data during the application process.
I have determined that the Privacy Act will apply to this information collection request and is covered
by NIH Privacy Act System of Records 09-25-0036, “NIH Extramural Awards and Chartered Advisory
Committee (IMPAC II), Contract Information (DCIS), and Cooperative Agreement Information,
HHS/NIH.” If you have any questions, please contact my office at (301) 402-6201.

Celeste Dade-Vinson
NIH Privacy Act Officer