[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 65 (Monday, April 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17665-17666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7652]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) allow the proposed information collection 
project: ``AHRQ Grants Reporting System (GRS)''. In accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed 
information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 4, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Cynthia D. 
McMichael, Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Suite 
5022, Rockville, MD 20850. Copies of the proposed collection plans, 
data collection instruments, and specific details on the estimated 
burden can be obtained from AHRQ's Reports Clearance Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia D. McMichael, AHRQ, Reports 
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1651.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Project

``AHRQ Grants Reporting System (GRS)''

    AHRQ has identified the need to establish a systematic method for 
its grantees to report project progress and important preliminary 
findings for grants funded by the Agency. The proposed system will 
address the shortfalls in the current reporting process and establish a 
consistent and comprehensive grants reporting solution for AHRQ. 
Currently, AHRQ receives grants continuation applications on an annual 
basis from all grantees. The progress report, which represents a 
portion of the annual continuation application, is inadequate because 
it is too infrequent and does not necessarily capture the information 
that AHRQ requires to respond to internal and external inquiries.
    The reporting system will also provide a centralized repository of 
grants research information that can be used to support initiatives 
within the Agency's research plans for the future and to support 
activities such as performance monitoring, budgeting, knowledge 
transfer as well as strategic planning.
    AHRQ currently conduct quarterly conference calls with some 
grantees. The content, frequency, and focus of these calls vary. In 
some grant programs, the number of participants on these calls may be 
so large as to prohibit quarterly updates from all participants in 
order to avoid creating an extremely lengthy conference call and to 
allow the Agency to address other important issues during these calls.
    The GRS will support the timely collection of important information 
related to the life cycle of all a grants. This information includes: 
significant changes in project goals, methods, study design, sample or 
subjects, interventions, evaluation, disseminations, training, key 
personnel, key preliminary findings; significant problems and 
resolutions; publications and presentations; tools and products; and 
new collaborations/partnerships with AHRQ grantees or others conducting 
related research. Collecting this information in a systematic manner 
will:
     Promote the transfer of critical information 
more frequently and efficiently which will enhance the Agency's ability 
to support research designed to improve the outcomes and quality of 
health care, reduce its costs, and broaden access to effective 
services.
     Increase the efficiency of the Agency in 
responding to ad-hoc information requests, Freedom of Information Act 
requests, and producing responses related to federally mandated 
programs and regulations.
     Establish a consistent approach throughout the 
Agency for information collection about grant progress and a systematic 
basis for oversight and for facilitating potential collaborations among 
grantees.
     Decrease the inconvenience and burden on 
grantees of unanticipated ad-hoc requests for information by the Agency 
in response to particular (one-time) internal and external requests for 
information.

Data Confidentiality Provisions

    Confidential commercial information will be protected in accordance 
with 18 U.S.C. 1905. Information about Principal Investigators will be 
maintained in accordance with the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a. The 
submitted reports will be printed and included in the official grant 
file. All of these files will be retained according to existing Agency 
policies and procedures and archived as required.

Methods of Collection

    The data will be collected using an Adobe Acrobat Portable Document 
Format (PDF) electronic reporting form developed specifically for the 
purpose of collecting information quarterly. To reduce burden and to 
the extent possible, these forms will be pre-populated with reoccurring 
information needed to specifically identify the institution, project, 
principal investigator, and other similar information.

[[Page 17666]]



                                       Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Average    Average    Estimated
                                                                                estimated  estimated    annual
                             Survey                                Number of    time per     total      cost to
                                                                 respondents*  respondent    burden       the
                                                                               in minutes    hours    government
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Quarter....................................................         500           10       83.33          0
2nd Quarter....................................................         500           10       83.33          0
3rd Quarter....................................................         500           10       83.33          0
                                                                ---------------
    Annual Total...............................................       1,500    ..........        250         0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*The estimate for number of respondents for the initial implementation is 100 per quarter. The estimate included
  in the table assumes wider implementation by the Agency.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with the above cited legislation, comments on the 
above described systematic grant oversight information collection are 
requested with regard to any of the following:
    (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of functions of AHRQ, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's 
estimate of burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information upon the respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval of the proposed 
information collection. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: March 26, 2004.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 04-7652 Filed 4-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M