[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13393-13395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05887]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Solicitation of Nominations for Organizations To Serve as Non-
Voting Liaison Representatives to the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory 
Committee (CFSAC)

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 217a, Section 222 of the Public Health Service 
(PHS) Act, as amended. The committee is governed

[[Page 13394]]

by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 
U.S.C. App 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of 
advisory committees.

SUMMARY: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), 
within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is soliciting 
nominations from qualified organizations to be considered for non-
voting liaison representative positions on the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 
Advisory Committee (CFSAC). CFSAC provides advice and recommendations 
to the Secretary of HHS, through the Assistant Secretary for Health 
(ASH), on a broad range of issues and topics related to myalgic 
encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The issues can 
include factors affecting access and care for persons with ME/CFS; the 
science and definition of ME/CFS; and broader public health, clinical, 
research, and educational issues related to ME/CFS. These three non-
voting liaison representative positions will be occupied by individuals 
who are selected by their organizations to serve as representatives of 
organizations concerned with ME/CFS. Organizations will be designated 
to occupy the positions for a two-year term to commence during the 2015 
calendar year. Nominations of qualified organizations are being sought 
for these three non-voting liaison representative positions. The 
organizations chosen for representation on CFSAC will be selected by 
the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) or designee during the 2015 
calendar year. Details of nomination requirements are provided below.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 5 p.m. ET on April 
20, 2015, at the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be sent to Barbara F. James, 
Designated Federal Officer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory 
Committee, Office on Women's Health, Department of Health and Human 
Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Room 728F.3, Washington, DC 
20201. Nomination materials, including attachments, may be submitted 
electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara F. James, Designated Federal 
Officer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee, Office on Women's 
Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence 
Avenue SW., Room 728F.3, Washington, DC 20201. Inquiries can be sent to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CFSAC was established on September 5, 2002. 
The purpose of the CFSAC is to provide advice and recommendations to 
the Secretary of HHS, through the ASH, on issues related to ME/CFS. 
CFSAC advises and makes recommendations on a broad range of topics 
including: (1) The current state of knowledge and research; and the 
relevant gaps in knowledge and research about the epidemiology, 
etiologies, biomarkers and risk factors relating to ME/CFS; and 
identifying potential opportunities in these areas; (2) impact and 
implications of current and proposed diagnosis and treatment methods 
for ME/CFS; (3) development and implementation of programs to inform 
the public, health care professionals, and the biomedical, academic, 
and research communities about ME/CFS advances; and (4) partnering to 
improve the quality of life of ME/CFS patients. Management and support 
services for Committee activities are provided by staff from the HHS 
Office on Women's Health, within the OASH. The CFSAC charter is 
available at http://www.hhs.gov/advcomcfs/charter/index.html.
    CFSAC meetings are held not less than two times per year. The CFSAC 
membership consists of 11 voting members, including the Chair. The 
voting members are composed of seven biomedical research scientists 
with demonstrated expertise in biomedical research applicable to ME/CFS 
and four individuals with expertise in health care delivery, private 
health care services or insurers, or voluntary organizations concerned 
with the problems of individuals with ME/CFS. CFSAC also includes seven 
non-voting ex officio member representatives from the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Food and Drug 
Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, National 
Institutes of Health, and Social Security Administration.
    In 2012, the CFSAC structure was expanded to include three non-
voting liaison representative positions. Continued authorization was 
given for the Committee structure to include the three non-voting 
liaison representative positions when the charter was renewed on 
September 5, 2014. These positions will be occupied by individuals who 
are selected by their organizations to serve as the official 
representative for organizations that are concerned with ME/CFS. 
Organizations will occupy these positions for a two-year term.

Nominations

    The OASH is requesting nominations of organizations to fill three 
non-voting liaison representative positions for the CFSAC. The 
organizations will be selected by the DFO or designee during the 2015 
calendar year.
    Selection of organizations that will serve as non-voting liaison 
representatives will be based on the organization's qualifications to 
contribute to the accomplishment of the CFSAC mission, as described in 
the Committee charter. In selecting organizations to be considered for 
these positions, the OASH will give close attention to equitable 
geographic distribution and give priority to U.S.-chartered 501(c)(3) 
organizations that operate within the United States and have membership 
with demonstrated expertise in ME/CFS and related research, clinical 
services, or advocacy and outreach on issues concerning ME/CFS.
    Organizations that currently have non-voting liaison 
representatives serving on CFSAC are also eligible for nomination or to 
nominate themselves for consideration.
    The individual designated by the selected organization to serve as 
the official liaison representative will perform the associated duties 
without compensation, and will not receive per diem or reimbursement 
for travel expenses. The organizations that are selected will cover 
expenses for their designated representative to attend, at a minimum, 
one in-person CFSAC meeting per year during the designated term of 
appointment.
    To qualify for consideration of selection to the Committee, an 
organization should submit the following items:
    (1) A statement of the organization's history, mission, and focus, 
including information that demonstrates the organization's experience 
and expertise in ME/CFS and related research, clinical services, or 
advocacy and outreach on issues of ME/CFS, as well as expert knowledge 
of the broad issues and topics pertinent to ME/CFS. This information 
should demonstrate the organization's proven ability to work and 
communicate with the ME/CFS patient and advocacy community, and other 
public/private organizations concerned with ME/CFS, including public 
health agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.
    (2) two to four letters of recommendation that clearly state why 
the organization is qualified to serve on CFSAC in a non-voting liaison 
representative position. These letters

[[Page 13395]]

should be from individuals who are not part of the organization.
    (3) A statement that the organization is willing to serve as a non-
voting liaison representative of the Committee and will cover expenses 
for their representative to attend in-person, at a minimum, one CFSAC 
meeting per year in Washington, DC, during the designated term of 
appointment.
    (4) A current financial disclosure statement (or annual report) 
demonstrating the organization's ability to cover expenses for its 
selected representative to attend, at a minimum, one CFSAC meeting per 
year in Washington, DC, during the term of appointment.
    Submitted nominations must include these critical elements in order 
for the organization to be considered for one of the liaison 
representative positions.
    Nomination materials should be typewritten, using a 12-point font 
and double-spaced. All nomination materials should be submitted 
(postmarked or received) by April 20, 2015.
    Electronic submissions: Nomination materials, including 
attachments, may be submitted electronically to [email protected].
    Telephone and facsimile submissions cannot be accepted.
    Regular, Express or Overnight Mail: Written documents may be 
submitted to the following addressee only: Barbara F. James, Designated 
Federal Officer, CFSAC, Office on Women's Health, Department of Health 
and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Room 728F.3, 
Washington, DC 20201.
    HHS makes every effort to ensure that the membership of federal 
advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points of view 
represented. Every effort is made to ensure that a broad representation 
of geographic areas, sex, ethnic and minority groups, and people with 
disabilities are given consideration for membership on federal advisory 
committees. Selection of the represented organizations shall be made 
without discrimination against the composition of an organization's 
membership on the basis of age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual 
orientation, disability, and cultural, religious, or socioeconomic 
status.

    Dated: February 24, 2015.
Barbara F. James,
Designated Federal Officer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory 
Committee.
[FR Doc. 2015-05887 Filed 3-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-42-P