[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 135 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36737-36739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17820]


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Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Service


National Institutes of Health; Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority

    Part H, Chapter HN (National Institutes of Health) (NIH) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority for 
the Department of Health and Human Services (40 FR 22859, May 27, 1975, 
as amended most recently at 61 FR 14804, April 3, 1996), is amended to 
reflect the reorganization of the extramural information systems and 
data analysis functions within the NIH. The reorganization transfers 
from the Division of Research Grants (DRG) (HNG) the extramural 
information systems and data analysis functions of the Information 
Systems Branch (ISB) (HNG-3) to the Office of Extramural Research (OER) 
(HNA3), except for those functions related to DRG-specific support and 
the Networking and Telecommunications Section (HNG-38). (1) In DRG, 
retitle the ISB to the Advanced Technology Branch (ATB), revise its 
functional statement and realign its Standard Administrative Code from 
HNG-3 to HNG3. (2) Revise the overall functional statement for the DRG. 
(3) Establish the Office of Reports and Analysis (ORA) (HNA36) in OER; 
transfer the functions of two sections of DRG/ATB, Research 
Documentation Section (HNG-33) and Statistics, Analysis and Evaluation 
Section (HNG-34), to ORA, then abolish the two DRG/ATB sections. (4) 
Establish the Division of Extramural Information Systems (HNA345) 
within the Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration 
(OPERA) (HNA34), OER; transfer the functions of three DRG/ATB sections 
to this new Division (the Data Management and Control Section [HNG-36], 
the Information Systems Management Section [HNG-37], and the Systems 
Analysis Section [HNG-39]). (5) In OPERA, retitle the Division of 
Extramural Invention Reports (HNA343) to the Division of Extramural 
Inventions and Technology Resources (DEITR); consolidate the functions 
of invention reporting and development of a common Federal database 
into one office by transferring functions from the Office of Extramural 
Programs (OEP) (HNA32) to DEITR; and revise DEITR's

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functional statement. (6) In OPERA, revise the functional statement for 
the Division of Grants Policy (HNA342). (7) In OEP, retitle the 
Division of Extramural Programs Management (HNA322) to the Division of 
Research Programs, Training and Review Policy (DRPTR); consolidate the 
functions of programs management, research training, and appeals into 
one office by transferring functions from Division of Research Training 
and Special Programs (DRTSP) (HNA323) to DRPTR; abolish DRTSP; and 
revise DRPTR's functional statement. (8) In OEP, retitle the Division 
of Institutional Affairs (HNA326) to the Division of Extramural 
Outreach and Information Resources (DEOIR); consolidate the information 
dissemination function into one office by transferring functions from 
the Grants Information Office (HNG1-53), DRG, to DEOIR; revise DEOIR's 
functional statement. (9) Revise the functional statement for OPERA. 
(10) In OEP, revise the functional statement for the Division of 
Extramural Staff Training (HNA325). (11) Revise the functional 
statement for OEP.
    Section HN-B, Organization and Functions, is amended as follows:
    (1) Under the heading Office of the Director (HNA), insert the 
following:
    Office of Extramural Programs (HNA32). (1) Advises the Deputy 
Director for Extramural Research on matters pertaining to the 
development, promulgation and management of policies and procedures 
related to extramural research programs; (2) conducts evaluations of 
programs, policies, and procedures; and (3) represents the OER on 
numerous permanent and ad hoc NIH, Departmental, interagency, and non-
governmental committees concerned with extramural program activities.
    Division of Research Programs, Training and Review Policy (HNA323). 
Develops NIH policies concerning extramural programs and review, and 
coordinates or manages selected activities, including: (1) Provides 
guidance in the development of NIH policies and recommended procedures 
concerning peer review, extramural research programs, research training 
and career development programs; (2) advises the Deputy Director for 
Extramural Research, the Director of the Office of Extramural Programs, 
and NIH staff concerning NIH extamural program and review policy and 
procedures; (3) provides advice to extramural staff on the use of the 
appropriate NIH extramural award mechanism, e.g., grant, cooperative 
agreement, or contract; (4) leads and manages NIH functional program, 
review, and research training committees, which represent the ICDs and 
NIH staff, and provide for discussion and recommendations on relevant 
policies and procedures; (5) coordinates policies for dealing with 
applicants' and grantees' concerns about the review of their 
applications and awardees' concerns about adverse determinations on 
their grants, and manages the process for investigating appeals of peer 
review and post-award determinations; (6) coordinates and/or manages 
selected NIH-wide activities, such as the Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) program, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 
program, the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) program, and 
the Shannon Awards; and (7) conducts evaluations of extramural policies 
and procedures in relation to scientific program activities, peer 
review, and research training.
    Division of Extramural Staff Training (HNA325). Develops and 
administers the extramural program staff training activities, including 
(1) the Staff Training in Extramural Programs (STEP); (2) the 
Extramural Associates Program (EAP), a residential training program on 
NIH extramural functions and policies for individuals selected from 
women's and minority institutions; and (3) the Extramural Scientist 
Administrators training program that includes mandatory fundamental 
training for persons new to NIH extramural program administration, as 
well as continuing education programs for more senior ESAs.
    Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources (HNA326). 
(1) Identifies issues, concerns, and information needs of the 
extramural research community and the information needs of the NIH 
extramural research staff; (2) designs and manages the central 
telephone contact for information about NIH extramural research 
programs, including integration of electronic and FAX systems for 
delivery of information; (3) designs, develops, and manages the website 
for the Office of Extramural Research; (4) coordinates the development 
and parallel production of printed and electronic products to provide 
information to the extramural research community, including the weekly 
NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, the NIH Extramural Programs, and 
other program descriptions, policy notices, descriptive data, and 
analytical reports; and (5) maintains liaison with NIH components, 
trans-NIH committees, professional associations, and the segments of 
the extramural research community that are involved in outreach 
activities, information systems technology, and electronic research 
administration.
    Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (HNA34). 
(1) Assures effective grants administration policies and procedures for 
the NIH extramural programs and stewardship of Federal funds, which 
includes electronic research administration; (2) maximizes research 
productivity, increases public accountability, enhances administrative 
integrity, and monitors fiscal stewardship in research administration 
systems; (3) ensures proper management of extramural resources at both 
the portfolio level (allocation issues), program level (strategic 
planning), and project level (cost analysis); (4) promotes the proper 
selection and effective use of assistance mechanisms by both NIH staff 
and the extramural community; (5) initiates new procedures for research 
administration; (6) provides assistance to NIH extramural staff and 
grantee organizations regarding policies and procedures pertinent to 
the administration of NIH grants; (7) receives and maintains all 
documentation relating to extramural inventions made with assistance of 
research grants or research and development contracts from NIH; (8) 
establishes and maintains communication between NIH and awardee and 
applicant institutions and investigators with respect to extramural 
policies and procedures; (9) conducts studies, develops plans and 
manages projects that extend, improve and/or maintain system 
capabilities to satisfy the information requirements associated with 
NIH extramural research; (10) conducts requirements analyses, develops 
general and detailed designs databases, overseas the programming and 
testing of new systems, and the development and execution of 
implementation plans.
    Division of Grants Policy (HNA342). (1) Initiates new and modifies 
existing NIH grants administration policies and procedures; (2) 
provides assistance to NIH extramural staff and grantee organizations 
regarding policies and procedures pertinent to the administration of 
NIH grants to ensure stewardship of Federal funds; (3) provides 
guidance to and articulates grants management policy for NIH extramural 
staff on the effective utilization of extramural assistance mechanisms 
(grants and cooperative agreements); (4) reviews for OMB clearance all 
application forms, proposed surveys, and questionnaires for information 
gathering activities conducted under research contracts to

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meet the requirements of the Federal Paperwork Reduction Act; and (5) 
develops the business process and functionality for pertinent 
Electronic Research Administration components.
    Division of Extramural Inventions and Technology Resources 
(HNA343). (1) Ensures proper and complete compliance with mandated 
patent policies and procedures; (2) informs grantees, contractors, and 
NIH staff of their responsibilities through various policy and 
administration manual issuances, and instructions and commentary in the 
NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts; (3) receives and maintains all 
documentation relating to extramural inventions made with the 
assistance of research grants or research and development contracts 
from NIH; (4) promotes the proper utilization of patents and inventions 
in extramural programs through guidance or referral on licensing 
agreements and distribution of shares resources; and (5) develops the 
business process and functionality for progress reporting, abstracting, 
research resources and other pertinent Electronic Research 
Administration components.
    Division of Extramural Information Systems (HNA345). (1) Provides 
computer systems design, programming, and systems maintenance for the 
IMPAC/CRISP systems and the ancillary systems supporting the NIH 
extramural grants management program; (2) maintains a comprehensive 
systems overview, providing data systems currency and ensuring 
interoperability between IMPAC and related subsystems; (3) facilitates 
the interoperability with Electronic Research Administration functional 
components and interfaces; (4) develops specifications for the 
interoperability of IMPAC, CRISP, Committee Management Information, 
Trainee Appointment, payback, and other related auxiliary data systems; 
(5) maintains overall integrity of data systems while making changes 
and enhancements to satisfy NIH needs; (6) develops quality control 
procedures in data capture functions; (7) reconciles data integrity 
issues; and (8) performs assigned data capture functions.
    Office of Reports and Analysis (HNA36). This office is responsible 
for: (1) maintaining CRISP, the Computer Retrieval of Information on 
Scientific Projects System database, by adding scientific information 
and indexing terms to IMPAC records for funded PHS research; (2) 
maintaining and updating the CRISP Thesaurus as emerging concepts and 
technologies are developed; (3) editing all IMPAC titles for accuracy 
and uniformity; (4) publishing reports based on the CRISP database; (5) 
conducting statistical investigations of extramural trends and related 
topics; (6) designing, establishing, and maintaining databases to 
compile and analyze information relevant to policy or program issues; 
(7) developing and conducting special projects, experiments, and 
simulations to support planning and evaluation of programs, policies 
and procedures; (8) serving as a focal point for requests from 
individual Institutes and Centers for ad hoc statistical reports; (9) 
supporting NIH budget development by providing financial projections 
and reports; and (10) providing consultation to CRISP and IMPAC users.
    (2) Under the heading Division of Research Grants (HNG), insert the 
following:
    Division of Research Grants (HNG). (1) Provides staff support to 
the Office of the Director, NIH, in the formulation of grant and award 
policies and procedures; (2) provides central receipt of all PHS 
applications for research and research training support, and makes 
initial referral to PHS components; (3) assigns NIH applications to 
supporting institutes, centers, and divisions and to DRG initial review 
groups; and (4) provides for scientific review of NIH research grants, 
National Research Service Awards, and research career development 
applications.
    Advanced Technology Branch (HNG3). (1) Establishes comprehensive 
long-range plans for developing, implementing, supporting, and 
expanding all systems on the DRG LAN and the NIH mainframe relating to 
DRG extramural activities; (2) conducts studies and analyses for new 
LAN- and PC-based automatic data processing applications; (3) provides 
end-user support across NIH/PHS for DRG-developed systems; (4) 
maintains hardware, software and related on-site services for the PC 
workstations and LAN for DRG and OD/OER components in the Rockledge 
Building; (5) serves as the focal point for responding to NIH IRM 
studies and dissemination of IRM information; (6) manages DRG risk 
assessments and life cycle planning; and (7) plans for the acquisition 
of all DRG ADP requirements.

    Dated: July 1, 1996.
Ruth L. Kirschstein,
Acting Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 96-17820 Filed 7-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M