[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 33176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13832]



[[Page 33176]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Replacement of SAMHSA Appeals Policy With an Applicant Inquiry 
Process.

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

ACTION: Replacement of SAMHSA Appeals Policy with an Applicant Inquiry 
Process.

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SUMMARY: The SAMHSA Appeals System Policy was published in the Federal 
Register on June 23, 1993. Essentially, that policy provided a two-
level appeals process for unsuccessful grant/cooperative agreement 
applicants to bring to the attention of the Agency a possible error in 
the grant review process.
    The purpose of this notification is to inform potential applicants 
that effective immediately, SAMHSA is replacing the appeals process as 
set forth in the June 23, 1993 Federal Register with an inquiry policy 
for grant or cooperative agreement applications. This notice clarifies 
the previous policy and provides for technical changes as to the 
process and to whom inquiries, referred to in the previous policy as 
``appeals,'' are to be addressed as a result of the reorganization of 
the agency.

Discussion

    SAMHSA is committed to the maintenance of a high quality review 
system that promotes fairness to applicants. Toward that end, SAMHSA 
believes applicants should be provided an opportunity to express 
concerns regarding the review of their applications. Under this policy, 
applicants will continue to be allowed to submit a written inquiry 
regarding possible errors in the review process. Inquiries will be 
taken seriously and SAMHSA will seek to provide a fair review of the 
inquiry.
    The inquiry process allows applicants to communicate and discuss 
issues which arise from perceived shortcomings or errors in the 
substance or procedures of peer review. In general, inquiries under 
this policy may address such issues as the following: perceived factual 
errors, oversights, or bias in the peer review; or perceived conflict 
of interest on the part of one or more review members. The applicant 
should provide specific documentation to support the issues under 
inquiry.
    Please note that applicants are expected to provide complete and 
clear applications and, accordingly, this inquiry process is not 
intended to permit applicants to supplement their applications, nor is 
it meant to be used to contest the judgment of the peer reviewers. 
Specifically, applicants should note that the written inquiry process 
under this policy is NOT intended to:
    [sbull] Address differences of opinion between peer reviewers and 
the applicant;
    [sbull] Provide a mechanism for allowing applicants to submit 
information that was not presented in the application;
    [sbull] Provide a forum for pointing out information, requested in 
a particular section and deemed as missing by reviewers, that was 
included in the wrong section or in the Appendices of the application;
    [sbull] Provide a forum for review of allegations that the 
documentation requested of applicants could be surmised from various 
pieces of information provided throughout the application; nor
    [sbull] Provide a forum for disputing priority score determinations 
in the absence of specific and substantive evidence pointing to a 
flawed review.
    Prior to the submission of a written inquiry, applicants are 
strongly urged to discuss via telephone the issues regarding their peer 
review results with designated staff in the review office and in the 
Center for Mental Health Services, Center for Substance Abuse 
Prevention, or Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, as appropriate. 
SAMHSA believes that most issues will be clarified best via a verbal 
discussion, during which both the applicant and SAMHSA staff may ask 
questions and further explain the comments provided by peer review. 
Nevertheless, if applicants still have concerns, a written inquiry may 
be sent to the Director of Grant Review, Office of Program Services, 
SAMHSA, Room 17-89, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
    Any questions regarding the new inquiry policy may be directed to 
Ms. Sandra Stephens, Extramural Policy Team Leader, Office of Policy, 
Planning, and Budget, SAMHSA, Room 12-05, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
Maryland 20857.

    Dated: May 27, 2003.
Charles G. Curie,
Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-13832 Filed 6-2-03; 8:45 am]
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