[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 189 (Thursday, September 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58277-58278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24754]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Request for 
Comments on Electronic Grants (E-Grants) Plans

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (DHHS).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: CDC is seeking comments on intent to develop an electronic 
grants system for completing grants transactions electronically via the 
Internet.

DATES: November 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Attention: Jim 
Seligman, E-Grants, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS D15, Atlanta, GA 30333.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: via e-mail: [email protected], or via 
facsimile: E-Grants (attention Jim Seligman) at 404-639-7113.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) is exploring ways to streamline and improve business 
processes with the agency's customers. To this end, CDC is planning an 
Electronic Grants (E-Grants) system to enable the submission of 
electronic grant proposals, their review, and award. CDC is reviewing 
other federal E-Grants systems for potential CDC use; however, CDC 
wants to ensure that the agency understands the needs of CDC's unique 
grants customers in determining the best E-Grants approach for CDC. 
While the primary purpose of this request is to obtain information and 
comments on CDC's move to an electronic grants system, other 
suggestions for improving the CDC grants process are welcome.
    CDC plans to offer an electronic grants application and review 
process consistent with recent federal laws, e.g. the Government 
Paperwork Elimination Act, Public Law 105-277, Title XVII (http://cio.gov/docs/gpea2.htm), the Electronic Signatures in Global and 
National Commerce Act, Public Law 106-229 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c106:S.761.ENR:), and the Federal Financial Assistance 
Management Improvement Act, Public Law 106-107 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c106:S.468.ENR:). CDC is a participating member of the 
Interagency Electronic Grants Committee (IAEGC) (http://www.financenet.gov/iaegc.htm) and the federal commons (http://www.fedcommons.gov), the common face of Government to the Grantee 
Organization Community for the purposes of pre- and post-award 
administration.
    Although CDC views the emergence of Electronic Commerce (E-
Commerce) as a means of reducing the burden on organizations as they 
interact with CDC, the agency also recognizes that some of the agency's 
customers and/or potential customers may not have the capability to 
migrate to an E-Grants environment. Therefore, CDC intends to maintain 
the current paper-based interaction process for the foreseeable future 
while increasing electronic access to the agency's grants management 
processes. Consequently, equity between non-electronic and electronic 
processes will be maintained.
    Currently, CDC offers funding application materials and related 
services via fax, email, Internet listservs, and as downloadable files 
or printable forms on the Internet through CDC's website (http://www.cdc.gov/funding.htm). Many U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS) grant application forms are now available at (http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/) on the Internet as files which can be saved and 
used in electronic formats.
    As CDC moves towards increased use of electronic announcements 
regarding the availability of funds, CDC seeks to understand unique 
needs and desires

[[Page 58278]]

among the agency's diverse customers. For this reason CDC requests and 
welcomes comments from customers regarding all aspects of ``E-Grants'' 
including but not limited to the following areas:

IT Infrastructure

    CDC business customers (grantees and applicants) would need a 
computer, printer, connection to the Internet, web browser capable of 
128-bit encrypted secure transmissions (e.g. Microsoft Internet 
Explorer version 4.01 or greater or Netscape Communicator version 4.07 
or greater, both are currently downloadable for no cost from the 
manufacturers; Microsoft: at http://www.microsoft.com and Netscape: 
http://www.netscape.com), word processing or text editing software for 
preparation of documents in a standard format, e.g. RTF, ASCII, HTML, 
Adobe Acrobat reader (downloadable for no cost from the 
manufacturer at http://www.adobe.com/), and electronic mail service. 
CDC welcomes comments about the use of these technologies.

Existing E-Grants Systems

    CDC knows of existing software available to universities which 
supports grants applications and management activities, but is unaware 
of which are the leading systems currently in use in universities. 
Similarly, CDC knows of other Federal agencies beginning to use ``E-
Grants'' systems. CDC is interested in knowing whether CDC grantees and 
potential applicants are using these systems or have considered the use 
of these systems and what the experience has been. If you, or your 
organization have similar plans or experiences with E-Commerce, E-
Grants, or knowledge of the use of commercial off-the-shelf packages, 
that information would be particularly meaningful to CDC.

Electronic Forms

    CDC frequently makes electronic copies of application materials, 
including standard Federal forms, available on the web for downloading 
and/or printing. CDC is interested in whether customers find this 
useful or would prefer paper forms.

E-Signature

    CDC requires the use of several assurance and certification 
documents in the process to make awards. The agency is interested in 
whether grantees or potential applicants may already be using 
electronic signatures in lieu of paper-based signatures for legally-
binding government grant and/or contract activities and, if so, which 
technologies.

Virtual Reviews

    CDC conducts expert review of both scientific and programmatic 
applicants for funding. Reviewers are often required to participate in 
review activities on-site at the agency or within a short distance from 
the agency's facility. CDC is interested in knowing whether the use of 
distance-based reviews conducted electronically would impact the 
quality of peer reviews and pose a barrier to or enhance the 
recruitment of external reviewers for panels, and to what extent you've 
already participated in distance-based reviews.
    Please send comments or questions within 60 days of this published 
notice:

via e-mail to: [email protected]
via facsimile to: E-Grants (attention Jim Seligman) at 404-639-7113
via letter to: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Attention: 
Jim Seligman E-Grants, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS D15, Atlanta, GA 30333.

    Please provide a point of contact with your comments for any 
follow-up questions CDC may have and indicate the type of organization 
you represent, e.g. university, state government, local government, 
community based organization, etc. CDC intends to use the information 
and comments received in response to this notice in its planning 
process for an electronic grants system. No summary of comments or 
published response to comments is planned. All comments received by the 
agency will be considered to be in the public domain.

    Dated: September 21, 2000.
Joseph R. Carter,
Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 00-24754 Filed 9-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P