[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66920-66921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26384]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request Information Collection Request Title: The 
Division of Independent Review Application Reviewer Recruitment Form, 
OMB No. 0915-0295--Extension

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 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 ICR should be received no later than February 
4, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 14N136B, 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 Lisa Wright-
Solomon, 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.
    Information Collection Request Title: The Division of Independent 
Review Application Reviewer Recruitment Form, OMB No. 0915-0295--
Extension.
    Abstract: HRSA's Division of Independent Review (DIR) is 
responsible for administering the review of eligible applications 
submitted for grants under HRSA competitive announcements. 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 matter experts 
knowledgeable in health and public health disciplines. Review findings 
are advisory to HRSA programs responsible for making award decisions.
    This ICR is for continuation of a web-based data collection system, 
the Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM), used to gather critical reviewer 
information. The RRM uses standardized categories of information in 
drop down menu format for data such as the following: Degree, 
specialty, occupation, work setting, and in select instances, 
affiliations with organizations and institutions that serve special 
populations. Some program regulations require that objective review 
panels contain consumers of health services. Other demographic data may 
be voluntarily provided by a potential reviewer. Defined data elements 
assist HRSA in finding and selecting expert reviewers for objective 
review committees.
    HRSA maintains a roster of approximately 9,000 qualified 
individuals who served on HRSA objective review committees. The web-
based RRM simplifies reviewer registration entry using a user-friendly 
Graphical User Interface with a few data drop down menu choices, a 
search engine that supports key word queries in the actual resume or 
Curriculum Vitae text, and also permits reviewers to access and update 
their information as needed. The RRM is 508 compliant and accessible by 
the general public via a link on the HRSA ``Grants'' internet site, or 
by keying the RRM URL into their browser. The RRM is accessible using 
any of the commonly used internet browsers.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: HRSA currently uses the 
RRM 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 provides HRSA with an effective search and communication 
functionality with which to identify and contact qualified potential 
reviewers. The RRM has an enhanced search and reporting capability to 
help DIR ensure that the HRSA reviewer pool has the necessary skills, 
education, and diversity to meet the ever-evolving need for qualified 
reviewers. If DIR identifies any other specific needs that are under-
represented in the RRM pool, DIR is able to recruit specifically to 
address those needs as expertise is always the primary determinant in 
selecting potential reviewers for any specific grant review. However, 
no reviewer is required to provide demographic information to join the 
reviewer pool or be selected as a reviewer for any competition.
    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 Voice Over Internet Protocol capability in order to 
participate in HRSA objective review committees. Reviewers are 
professionals with expertise and experience consistent with the HRSA 
mission. Certain legislation requires HRSA programs to include 
consumers of specific health care services in the objective review 
committee.
    Likely Respondents: Potential respondents are subject matter 
professionals with expertise and experience in the social, cultural, 
and health care fields that are consistent with the HRSA mission and 
competitive program needs to address the availability and delivery of 
quality health care to all Americans.
    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 ICR are summarized in the table below.

[[Page 66921]]



                                     Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                  Average burden
            Form name                Number of     Responses per       Total       per response    Total burden
                                    respondents     respondent       responses      (in hours)         hours
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New reviewer....................           1,194               1           1,194            .166             198
Updating reviewer information...           7,953               1           7,953            .333           2,648
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    Total.......................           9,147  ..............           9,147  ..............           2,846
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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.

Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2019-26384 Filed 12-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P