On-line cover letter

cab- mock-up of the 2008 (FY 2007) email to NIH BRDPI survey participants (the dates are changed, a typo corrected, and the expected burden is added)

[participant]: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has engaged the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Department of Commerce to conduct a brief survey of recipients of NIH research and development awards. The data requested will be used to update the expenditure weights needed to compute the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI).

As you may know, 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 index is needed for planning future NIH programs and for developing and justifying the annual NIH budget request to Congress. For example, annual changes in the BRDPI approximate how much the total NIH budget should be increased to compensate for price increases and sustain the level of research effort supported during the previous year.

The online form represents our best effort to limit the burden of this survey. It requests only information that is absolutely necessary to accomplish our goal of producing accurate and reliable estimates of the BRDPI. The BRDPI, and some supporting details and analyses, will be published.

Please provide the information requested on expenditures made by your institution and reimbursed by NIH during your 2007 fiscal year. Please submit your responses to the survey provided below by September 19, 2008. If you have questions about this survey, please contact Dr. Steven Payson at 202-606-9788 (email: steven.payson@bea.gov).

Your participation is very important for maintaining the accuracy and credibility of the BRDPI, and your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Norka Ruiz Bravo, Ph.D.

Deputy Director for Extramural Research

The National Institutes of Health