[Federal Register: June 7, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 109)]
[Notices]
[Page 31826-31827]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07jn04-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) allow the proposed information collection
project: ``AHRQ Grants Reporting System (GRS).'' In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed
information collection.
This proposed information collection was previously published in
the Federal Register on April 5, 2004 and allowed 60 days for public
comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this notice
is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 7, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Cynthia D.
McMichael, Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Suite
5022, Rockville, MD 20850. Copies of the proposed collection plans,
data collection instruments, and specific details on the estimated
burden can be obtained from AHRQ's Reports Clearance Officer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia D. McMichael, AHRQ, Reports
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1651.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Project
``AHRQ Grants Reporting System (GRS)''
AHRQ has identified the need to establish a systematic method for
grantees to report project progress and important preliminary findings
for grants funded by the Agency.
The proposed system will address the shortfalls in the current
reporting process and establish a consistent and comprehensive grants
reporting solution for AHRQ. Currently, AHRQ receives grants
continuation applications on an annual basis from all grantees. The
progress report, which represents a portion of the annual continuation
application, is inadequate because it is too infrequent and does not
necessarily capture the information that AHRQ requires to respond to
internal and external inquiries.
The reporting system will also provide a centralized repository of
grants research information that can be used to support initiatives
within the Agency's research plans for the future and to support
activities such as performance monitoring, budgeting, knowledge
transfer as well as strategic planning.
AHRQ currently conducts quarterly conference calls with some
grantees. The content, frequency, and focus of these calls vary. In
some grant programs, the number of participants on these calls may be
so large as to prohibit quarterly updates from all participants in
order to avoid creating an extremely lengthy conference call and to
allow the Agency to address other important issues during these calls.
The GRS will support the timely collection of important information
related to the life cycle of a grant. This information includes:
Significant changes in project goals, methods, study design, sample or
subjects, interventions, evaluation, dissemination, training, key
personnel, key preliminary findings; significant problems and
resolutions; publications and presentations; tools and products; and
new collaborations/partnerships with AHRQ grantees or others conducting
related research. Collecting this information in a systematic manner
will:
Promote the transfer of critical information more
frequently and efficiently which will enhance the Agency's ability to
support research designed to improve the outcomes and quality of health
care, reduce its costs, and broaden access to effective services.
Increase the efficiency of the Agency in responding to ad-
hoc information requests, Freedom of Information Act requests, and
producing responses related to federally mandated programs and
regulations.
Establish a consistent approach throughout the Agency for
information collection about grant progress and a systematic basis for
oversight and for facilitating potential collaborations with or among
grantees.
Decrease the inconvenience and burden on grantees of
unanticipated ad-hoc requests for information by the Agency in response
to particular (one-time) internal and external requests for
information.
Data Confidentiality Provisions
Confidential commercial information will be protected in accordance
with 18 U.S.C. 1905. Information about Principal Investigators will be
maintained in accordance with the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a.
The submitted reports will be printed and included in the official
grant file for each grant. All of these files will be retained
according to existing agency policies and procedures and archived as
required.
Methods of Collection
The data will be collected using an Adobe Acrobat Portable Document
Format (PDF) electronic reporting form developed specifically for the
purpose of collecting information quarterly. To reduce burden and to
the extent possible, these forms will be pre-populated with reoccurring
information needed to specifically identify the institution, project,
principal investigator, and other similar information.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
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Estimated time Estimated annual
Survey Number of per respondent Estimated total cost to the
respondents* in minutes burden hours government
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1st Quarter............................. 500 10 83.33 0
2nd Quarter............................. 500 10 83.33 0
3rd Quarter............................. 500 10 83.33 0
Annual Total........................ 1500 10 250 0
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* The estimate for number of respondents for the initial implementation is 100 per quarter. The estimate
included in the table assumes wider implementation by the Agency.
(There is currently an Annual Grants Progress Report that takes the place of having a 4th quarter report, which
is the reason we only have 3 quarters. The estimate for number of respondents for the initial implementation
is 100 per quarter. The estimate included in the table assumes wider implementation by the Agency.)
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Request for Comments
In accordance with the above cited legislation, comments on the
above described systematic grant oversight information collection are
requested with regard to any of the following:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of functions of AHRQ, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information upon the
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the request for OMB approval of the proposed
information collection. All comments will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: May 27, 2004.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 04-12656 Filed 6-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M