[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 207 (Thursday, October 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26566]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 27, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

New Electronic Initiative for Disseminating and Sharing Grant 
Information

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department is piloting a free, on-line grant information 
service called GrantsNet, for finding and exchanging information about 
HHS and other Federal grant programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Suzanne M. Neill, Division of Grants Policy and Oversight, Room 
517-D, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201. Telephone: 
(202) 690-5731. Internet: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Health and Human Services 
has been rapidly improving its information resources and grant 
activities to incorporate total quality management and electronic 
technologies. As part of this process, HHS is piloting an on-line grant 
information service that will serve the general public, grantee 
organizations, and government grant-making agencies. This new service, 
GrantsNet, is a free public-access computer network for finding and 
exchanging information about HHS and other Federal grant programs. 
Anyone having a personal computer with internet capability will be able 
to access GrantsNet. Conceptually, GrantsNet has two components: (1) An 
on-line informational reference service using gopher server technology; 
and (2) an interactive mailing list service which groups subscribers 
with common interests into computer-managed mailing lists for sharing 
of information and dialogue on certain subjects.
    This mission of GrantsNet is to serve as a vehicle and catalyst for 
continuous improvement and innovation in Federal grants management 
practices, policies, and information dissemination. It will provide a 
medium for the sharing of ideas, successes, news, lessons learned, and 
an archival reference library of grant-related legislation, 
regulations, and policies. GrantsNet will also provide a yellow-page 
style directory of granting offices, grants management staff and grant 
program personnel.
    The major thrust of GrantsNet is to allow members of the public to 
cut through government red tape--to find the information they want, 
when they want it, and whom to directly contact for additional 
information. As such, it is one of the 11 NETworks created under the 
auspices of Vice President Gore's National Performance Review (NPR). 
The aims of the NETworks are to provide government-wide information and 
resources in an on-line, easily accessible, and meaningful manner.

When Will It Be Implemented?

    HHS has established a gopher and world wide web (WWW) server to 
facilitate the GrantsNet mission and vision, assisted by the Parklawn 
Computer Center which provides selected communication services. The 
Department is taking a phased approach to the implementation of 
GrantsNet. It is anticipated that GrantsNet will be up and running by 
the end of October 1994, with fiscal year 1995 serving as the pilot-
testing period for populating the gopher information service with grant 
resource data pertinent to HHS and further developing the interactive 
mailing list service. Once success of the system has been established 
and tested, HHS intends to expand the scope of GrantsNet to 
governmentwide.
    Development and implementation of GrantsNet are carried out by the 
GrantsNet Core Team which is managed and directed by the Office of 
Grants and Acquisition Management in the Office of the Secretary. The 
Chair of the GrantsNet Core Team is Suzanne Neill. Also, as a 
complement to the Core Team, HHS intends to establish an Advisory Team 
comprised of individuals from other Federal agencies. By doing so, 
interagency collaboration and insights to shaping the development of 
GrantsNet will be gained.

For Further Information

    To be placed on a mailing list for receiving news and updates on 
GrantsNet, send your name, organization, mailing address, internet 
address, and phone number to: Suzanne M. Neill, Internet: 
[email protected], OR, Charles Bish, Internet: [email protected].
    Moreover, HHS recognizes that for GrantsNet to become a practical 
and user-friendly information service to the Federal grantee community 
and to the general public, coordination with interested parties and 
feedback from users will be important. To that end, the GrantsNet Core 
Team is interested in any questions or suggestions you may have. This 
includes recommendations for improving GrantsNet services, as well as 
the identification of additional grants information, resources, and/or 
activities that you would like HHS to post. Please address your 
comments to the GrantsNet Core Team Chair.

    Dated: October 20, 1994.
Terrence J. Tychan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grants and Acquisition Management.
[FR Doc. 94-26566 Filed 10-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-04-M