Privacy Act Memo

DATE:

March 13, 2020

TO:

Mikia P. Currie
Branch Chief, Project Clearance Officer
Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA)

FROM:

NIH Privacy Act Officer

SUBJECT:

Applicability of the Privacy Act: Generic Clearance for NIH Citizen Science and
Crowdsourcing Projects

I have reviewed the OPERA submission to OMB referenced above. The purpose of this
collection is to identify existing research, educational, operational, and project information from
the public in order to share more widely with a range of audiences. Projects under this generic
clearance will allow Agency researchers and program staff to test ideas more quickly, respond to
the project’s needs as they evolve, and incorporate feedback from participants for flexible,
innovative research methods.
I have determined that the Privacy Act will apply to this data collection, which includes the
collection of personally identifiable information (PII) such as contact information (name and
email address, zip code, address and phone number) that will be stored in a system designed to
be retrieved by a personal identifier. PII will only be collected to the extent necessary.
Respondents will be assured that neither their participation nor lack of participation will have
any effect on their eligibility for receipt of services. In addition, respondents will be advised of
the purpose of the information collection, the use of information collection, NIH sponsorship,
that their participation is voluntary, and that they may choose to discontinue or have their name
and/or related information withdrawn at any time. In instances where it is possible, information
will be presented in an aggregate form without links to the identity of individual participants.
The data collection is covered by NIH Privacy Act Systems of Record 09-25-0156, “Records of
Participants in Programs and Respondents in Surveys Used to Evaluate Programs of the Public
Health Service, HHS/PHS/NIH/OD.” If you have questions, please contact me at (301) 4026201.

Celeste Dade-Vinson
NIH Privacy Act Officer