June 2 -- The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) invites comments to OMB by July 10, 2023 regarding its proposal to collect data on Expenditures Incurred by Recipients of Biomedical Research and Development Awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the purposes of constructing the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI). [Comments due 30 days after submission to OMB on June 8, 2023.]
The survey obtains the distribution of expenditures incurred by recipients of biomedical research awards from the NIH and will provide information on how the NIH award amounts are expended across several major categories. This information, along with wage and price data from other published sources, will be used to generate the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI). The BRDPI is an index of prices paid for the labor, supplies, equipment, and other inputs required to perform the biomedical research the NIH supports in its intramural laboratories and through its awards to extramural organizations. The BRDPI is a vital tool for planning the NIH research budget and analyzing future NIH programs. A survey of award recipients is currently the only means for updating the expenditure category weights that are used to prepare the BRDPI. BEA develops the index for NIH under a reimbursable interagency agreement.
A survey questionnaire with a cover letter that includes a brief description of, and rationale for, the survey will be sent to potential respondents by August 2023, 2024, and 2025. A report of the respondent's expenditures of the NIH award amounts following the proposed format for expenditure categories attached to the survey's cover letter, will be requested to be returned no later than December 8 of each survey year, which in most years will be approximately 120 days after mailing. Survey respondents will be selected based on award levels, which determine the weight of the respondent in the BRDPI. BEA proposes to survey 150 organizations that receive NIH biomedical research awards. This will include the top 100 organizations in total awards received; 40 additional organizations that are not primarily in the “Research and Development (R&D) contracts” category; and 10 additional organizations that are primarily in the “R&D contracts” category. Based on awards data for Fiscal Year 2022 by type of organization, the top 100 organizations received $25.2 billion in awards (approximately 76 percent of total awards); the remaining awards-receiving organizations received $8.1 billion.
The annual change in the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI) indicates how much the NIH budget must change to maintain purchasing power. The BRDPI was developed and is updated annually by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Department of Commerce under an interagency agreement with the NIH. The projections for future year values are prepared by the Division of Statistical Analysis and Reporting in the Office of Extramural Research, NIH. Further inquiries should be directed to Dr. Deepshikha Roychowdhury at (301) 435-0653 or by e-mail at Deepshikha.roychowdhury@nih.gov.
BRDPI Overview of Annual Update
https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY23/gbi/BRDPI%20Proj%20Memo%20-%20February%202023%20(Final).pdf
BRDPI Table of Annual Values Index
https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY23/gbi/BRDPI%20Table%20of%20Annual%20and%20Cumulative%20Values_for_1950_through_2028.pdf
BRDPI:
https://officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/gbipriceindexes.html
BEA submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202305-0608-001 Click IC List for information collection instrument, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this webpage.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-11725
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806