[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 231 (Thursday, December 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67580-67581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31229]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Request for Standing Review Committee Nominations

AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Request for Standing Review Committee Nominations.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to invite qualified people to 
serve as peer reviewers for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) standing committees to review 
competitive grant and cooperative agreement applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration (SAMHSA) and its three Centers, the Center for 
Mental Health Services (CMHS), the Center for Substance Abuse 
Prevention (CSAP), and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), 
depend on the

[[Page 67581]]

quality of its extramural grant program. Applications for competing 
grant and cooperative agreements are subject to a review process. The 
first stage of this process involves peer review by a group of 
qualified experts, referred to as the Initial Review Group (IRG).
    The IRG's review of applications is intended to provide peer 
review, in the sense that reviewers are selected for their expertise in 
the profession and disciplines relevant to the application. The central 
purpose of that review is to provide a competent and objective 
evaluation of the merit of each application and to identify those 
applications that are of the highest quality so that program officials 
will have a sound basis for making funding decisions. The review system 
rests on the assumption that advice on the scientific/technical merit 
of an application can be obtained best by selecting and engaging 
appropriately qualified reviewers of the highest caliber in the 
committee process that enables them to discuss each others' views on 
individual applications relative to established review criteria.
    Members of the standing committees will be expected to attend no 
more than three meetings per year in the Washington, DC, area, held 
over a span of up to 5 days. Members will serve a three-year term 
(except for initial appointments which will be staggered to ensure IRG 
continuity) for each standing committee, but occasionally may be also 
asked to serve on ad hoc committees. Typically, committees are managed 
by a Chairperson, a non-Federal person, and a Review Administrator, a 
Federal staff person to ensure that SAMHSA guidelines are being 
followed. Members are expected to review applications according to the 
published Guidance for Applicants (GFAs) and write critiques of the 
applications based on the review criteria in the GFA. Travel, lodging, 
and meals will be paid by SAMHSA; reviewers also will receive an 
honorarium.
    Cultural competency is an important part of every committee as well 
as an appropriate balance of membership by expertise, gender, 
ethnicity, geographic distribution, and representation of consumers, 
families, and community-based organizations. SAMHSA particularly wishes 
to ensure that women, ethnic/racial minorities, and persons with 
disabilities are adequately represented on its peer review committees.
    Candidates must have substantial expertise in the mental health, 
and/or substance abuse prevention/treatment fields or HIV/AIDS. 
Standing committees may review applications for different GFAs, which 
can vary by year or can be standing announcements. SAMHSA program areas 
can cover, but are not limited to, the following topics: Coalitions/
Partnerships/Linkages; Communications/Media/Public Information; 
Violence; Evaluation; Managed Care; Organizational Development; Program 
Management; Research; Services; Test Development; and Training.
    Grant announcements often focus on specific populations and/or 
experiential groups such as: Criminal Justice; Dual Diagnosis; Early 
Childhood Development; Elderly; Family Units; Hardcore Substance 
Abusers; Homeless Populations; Persons With Disabilities; Rural 
Populations; Welfare Recipients; and the Workplace.
    For more information on SAMHSA, its Centers, and current GFAs see 
SAMHSA's web site at http://www.samhsa.gov.
    To Apply: Prospective members should send a one page cover letter 
and curricula vitae or resume. The cover letter should state the 
person's name, address, contact information, and current affiliation/
employment.
    The curricula vitae may be in any format or length but must include 
sufficient information to evaluate the person's credentials, including 
education and experience. These documents should be mailed to Ms. 
McMenamin, Director of DEAPR, Parklawn Building, Room 17-89, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Documents can also be sent via e-
mail to D[email protected] or fax to (301) 443-1587 or (301) 443-3437. 
For further information, call Ms. McMenamin at (301) 443-4266.
    Although letters should be received by January 15, 2000, to be 
considered for standing committees forming in fiscal year 2000, letters 
will be reviewed after January 15 for further consideration as 
additional standing committees are formed. Potential nominees will be 
contacted by SAMHSA staff to further discuss responsibilities and 
expectations. Members will be notified of their selection after 
committees are formed and approved by the Administrator.

    Dated: November 26, 1999.
Richard Kopanda,
Executive Officer, SAMHSA.
[FR Doc. 99-31229 Filed 12-1-99; 8:45 am]
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