[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 179 (Monday, September 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52880-52881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4577]


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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, Department of 
Health and Human Services.

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) re-authorize the 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 November 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, 
Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Room  5036, 
Rockville, MD 20850, or by e-mail at [email protected].
    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: Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ, Reports 
Clearance Officer, (301) 427-1477.

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 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 collaboration 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.
    This project was previously approved by OMB on 11/10/2004. The OMB 
control number is 0935-0122 and will expire on 11/30/2007.

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. Also, 
individuals and organizations will be assured of the confidentiality of 
their data under Section 934(c) of the Healthcare Research and Quality 
Act of 1999. The submitted reports will be printed and included in the 
official file for each grant. All of these files will be retained 
according to existing agency policies and procedures and archived as 
required.
    The data will be collected using a Web based reporting interface 
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
                             Survey                                  Number of    per respondent   total burden
                                                                   respondents *    in minutes         hours
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1st Quarter.....................................................             500              10           83.33

[[Page 52881]]

 
2nd Quarter.....................................................             500              10           83.33
3rd Quarter.....................................................             500              10           83.33
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    Annual Total................................................            1500  ..............             250
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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.

Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government

    The annual cost to the government is $100,000 for licensing, 
support and maintenance.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with the above-cited Paperwork Reduction Act 
legislation, comments on AHRQ's 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 
AHRQ health care research and health care information dissemination 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours 
and costs) of the proposed collection(s) 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 Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the 
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 07-4577 Filed 9-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M