[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41407-41408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16602]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Public Comment Request

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information 
Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks 
comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any 
other aspect of the ICR.

DATES: Comments on this Information Collection Request must be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 10-29, Parklawn 
Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
draft instruments, email [email protected] or call the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer at (301) 443-1984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the information request collection title 
for reference.

[[Page 41408]]

Information Collection Request Title: The Division of Independent 
Review Grant Reviewer Recruitment Form

OMB No. 0915-0295 Revision

    Abstract: HRSA's Division of Independent Review (DIR) is 
responsible for administering the review of eligible grant applications 
submitted to HRSA. DIR ensures that the objective review process is 
independent, efficient, effective, economical, and complies with the 
applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. Applications are 
reviewed by subject experts knowledgeable in health and public health 
disciplines for which support is requested. Review findings are 
advisory to HRSA programs responsible for making award decisions.
    This announcement is a request for comments on the proposed 
information collection system, the Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM). 
HRSA utilizes an existing web-based data collection form and database 
to gather critical reviewer information. The existing on-line Grant 
Reviewer Recruitment Form uses standardized categories of information 
in drop down menu format for data such as: Degree, specialty, 
occupation, work setting, and in select instances affiliations with 
organizations and institutions that serve special populations. Some 
program regulations require that application objective review panels 
contain consumers of health services. Other demographic data may be 
voluntarily provided by a potential reviewer. Defined data elements 
help HRSA find and select expert grant reviewers for objective review 
committees. The web-based system also permits reviewers to access and 
update their information at will and as needed. HRSA maintains a roster 
of approximately 9,000 qualified individuals who have actively served 
on HRSA objective review committees. The updated RRM simplifies 
reviewer application entry using: A user-friendly Graphical User 
Interface (GUI) with fewer data drop down menu choices, and a search 
engine that supports key word queries in the actual resume text. The 
RRM will be 508 compliant and accessible by the general public via a 
link on the HRSA internet site, or by keying the RRM URL into their 
browser. The RRM will be accessible using any of the commonly used 
internet browsers.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: HRSA currently utilizes a 
web-based data collection Grant Reviewer Recruitment Form to collect 
information from individuals who wish to volunteer as objective review 
committee participants for the agency's discretionary and competitive 
grant or cooperative agreement funding opportunities. The RRM will 
replace the original with a revised web-based application that is 
easier and much less burdensome to use for potential reviewers. RRM 
will also provide HRSA with more robust, efficient, and effective 
search and communication functionality with which to identify and 
contact qualified potential grant reviewers. The RRM will have an 
enhanced search and reporting capability to help DIR ensure that HRSA's 
reviewer pool has the necessary skills and diversity to meet our ever-
evolving need for qualified reviewers. If DIR identifies either an 
expertise or demographic that is underrepresented in the RRM pool, DIR 
can recruit specifically to address those needs. Expertise is always 
the primary determinant in selecting potential reviewers for any 
specific grant review; no reviewer is required to provide demographic 
information to join the reviewer pool or be selected as a reviewer for 
any competition.
    Likely Respondents: All HRSA reviewers must possess the technical 
skill and ability to access the internet on a secure desktop laptop, or 
touch pad, and either a land line or VOIP capability in order to 
participate in HRSA objective review committees. The reviewer expertise 
and experience needed varies with each competitive grant program but is 
consistent with the HRSA mission to address the availability and 
delivery of quality health care to all Americans. Generally, our 
reviewers are current or retired professionals with backgrounds in 
health care; health service delivery; education and career development 
in relevant professions; and health center facilities' financing, 
planning, construction, and management. Certain HRSA programs require 
by legislation the inclusion of consumers of specific health care 
services in the objective review committee. In these instances 
consumers of those specified services are qualified per se to be 
considered for certain objective reviews.
    Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by 
persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide the 
information requested. This includes the time needed to review 
instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and 
systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying 
information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and 
providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to 
a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and 
review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise 
disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for 
this Information Collection Request are summarized in the table below.
    Total Estimated Annualized burden hours:

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                                                                                      Average
                                     Number of     Responses per       Total        burden per     Total burden
            Form name               respondents     respondent       responses     response  (in       hours
                                                                                      hours)
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New reviewer....................           5,000               1           5,000            .333           1,665
Updating reviewer information...             250               1             250            .166              42
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    Total.......................           5,250  ..............  ..............  ..............           1,707
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    HRSA specifically requests comments on (1) the necessity and 
utility of the proposed information collection for the proper 
performance of the agency's functions, (2) the accuracy of the 
estimated burden, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected, and (4) the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology to 
minimize the information collection burden.

    Dated: July 3, 2013.
Bahar Niakan,
Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.
[FR Doc. 2013-16602 Filed 7-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P