[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 109 (Monday, June 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31826-31827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12656]



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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.

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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.
    This proposed information collection was previously published in 
the Federal Register on April 5, 2004 and allowed 60 days for public 
comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this notice 
is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 7, 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 
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 conducts 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 a grant. This information includes: 
Significant changes in project goals, methods, study design, sample or 
subjects, interventions, evaluation, dissemination, 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 with or 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 for each grant. 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.

                                       Estimated Annual Respondent Burden
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                                                             Estimated time                     Estimated annual
                 Survey                       Number of      per respondent    Estimated total     cost to the
                                            respondents*       in minutes       burden hours       government
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1st Quarter.............................               500                10             83.33                 0
2nd Quarter.............................               500                10             83.33                 0
3rd Quarter.............................               500                10             83.33                 0
    Annual Total........................              1500                10               250                0
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* 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.
(There is currently an Annual Grants Progress Report that takes the place of having a 4th quarter report, which
  is the reason we only have 3 quarters. 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.)


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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: May 27, 2004.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 04-12656 Filed 6-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M