[Federal Register: April 5, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 65)]
[Notices]
[Page 17665-17666]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ap04-67]
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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.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 4, 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
its 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 conduct 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 all a grants. This information includes:
significant changes in project goals, methods, study design, sample or
subjects, interventions, evaluation, disseminations, 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 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. 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.
[[Page 17666]]
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
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Average Average Estimated
estimated estimated annual
Survey Number of time per total cost to
respondents* respondent burden the
in minutes 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
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Annual Total............................................... 1,500 .......... 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.
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: March 26, 2004.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 04-7652 Filed 4-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M