[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5664-5665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01859]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-20-0765]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled Fellowship Management System to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously 
published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations'' notice on August 23, 2019 to obtain comments from the 
public and affected agencies. CDC did not receive comments related to 
the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days 
for public and affected agency comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses; and
    (e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Direct written comments 
and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the 
Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide 
written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

    Fellowship Management System (OMB Control No. 0920-0765, Exp. 01/
31/2021)--Revision--Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and 
Laboratory Services (CSELS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    CDC requests OMB approval to revise a currently approved 
information collection (Fellowship Management System, OMB Control No. 
0920-0765, Exp. 1/31/2021). The Fellowship Management System (FMS) is 
managed by the Division of Scientific Education and Professional 
Development (DSEPD) in the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and 
Laboratory Services (CSELS). DSEPD's mission is to improve health 
outcomes by supporting the development of a competent, sustainable, and 
empowered public health workforce. Professionals in public health, 
epidemiology, medicine, economics, information science, veterinary 
medicine, nursing, public policy, and other related professionals seek 
opportunities through CDC fellowships to broaden their knowledge and 
skills. CDC fellows are assigned to state, tribal, local, and 
territorial public health agencies; federal government agencies, 
including CDC and Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) 
operational divisions, such as Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services; and to nongovernmental organizations, including academic 
institutions, tribal organizations, and private, public health 
organizations.
    The FMS is a robust, flexible, web-based data management system 
that allows CDC to electronically collect and process fellowship 
applications, host site assignment proposals, and fellowship alumni 
information from nonfederal persons. FMS also supports and monitors 
ongoing fellowship activities and compliance with fellowship 
requirements. Eight CDC programs currently use FMS to manage fellowship 
opportunities: (1) The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), (2) the 
Epidemiology Elective Program (EEP), (3) the CDC Steven M. Teutsch 
Prevention Effectiveness (PE) Fellowship, (4) the Public Health 
Associate Program (PHAP), (5) the Public Health Informatics Fellowship 
Program (PHIFP), (6) the Science Ambassador Fellowship (SAF), (7) the 
Preventive Medicine Residency and Fellowship (PMR/F), and (8) the 
Population Health Training in Place Program (PH-TIPP).
    CDC plans to implement the following changes to the FMS:
    I. Information collection will be migrated to a modernized, state-
of-the-art electronic platform that will be easier to update, improve 
data security, reduce respondent burden, and reduce maintenance and 
operating costs. The updated platform will also facilitate data 
analysis for program improvement and evaluation.
    II. A new FMS module will support the collection of standardized 
information about applicants' performance, skills, expertise, and work 
experience. Standardized references have been shown to provide more 
accurate and useful information for participant selection than non-
standardized approaches. References for fellowship applicants may be 
submitted by former professors, supervisors,

[[Page 5665]]

mentors, and others. These individuals represent a new category of 
respondents for the FMS.
    III. A new FMS module will support activity tracking of fellows' 
work experience, and field supervisors will have the ability to 
contribute to fellows' learning assessments within FMS. The new 
features will enhance the ability of program staff to monitor fellows' 
learning outcomes, ensure that fellows achieve expected competencies, 
and supplement program evaluation efforts.
    IV. CDC will increase the estimated number of applicants using FMS 
as a result of increased overall demand for fellowship opportunities 
and the addition of three programs: the CDC E-learning Institute (ELI), 
the Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS), and Future Leaders in 
Infectious and Global Health Threats (FLIGHT). However, burden per 
response and total applicant burden will decrease due to more efficient 
system navigation.
    V. CDC will increase the estimated the number of host sites that 
submit fellowship assignment proposals. The updated FMS platform will 
provide nonfederal host sites the ability to select the applicants 
within FMS, thus enhancing the utility of the system.
    VI. The FMS Alumni Directory will be enhanced with new surveys and 
questions. The enhanced data collection will better describe the career 
progression and leadership roles that fellows assume post-fellowship, 
and provide insights into how graduates apply the skills they acquired 
during their fellowships. CDC is increasing the estimated number of 
respondents, burden per response, and total burden for the FMS Alumni 
Directory.
    There are no changes to the information collection for the subset 
of fellowship applicants who are invited to participate in the annual 
Interview Day. The proposed changes will contribute significant 
enhancements and provide CDC with an efficient, effective, and secure 
electronic mechanism for submissions, reviews, selections, and matching 
processes for fellowship information.
    The last approval for this ICR was for 4,656 burden hours and the 
request for this revision is 4,881 annualized burden hours, a net 
increase of 225 annualized burden hours. OMB approval is requested for 
three years. OMB approval is requested no later than April 1, 2020, to 
enable use of the enhanced FMS for the 2020 cycle of EIS fellowships. 
Participation in FMS information collection is voluntary and there is 
no cost to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Average
                                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per
          Type of respondents                   Form name           respondents    responses per   response  (in
                                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fellowship Applicants.................  FMS Application Module..           2,216               1               1
Reference Letter Writers..............  FMS Application Module..           4,412               1           15/60
Subset of FMS Fellowship Applicants...  FMS Application Module..             200               1           30/60
Fellowship Alumni.....................  FMS Alumni Directory....           1,732               1           25/60
Public Health Agency or Organization    FMS Activity Tracking                350               2           25/60
 Staff.                                  Module.
Public Health Agency or Organization    FMS Host Site Module....             448               1               1
 Staff.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020-01859 Filed 1-30-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P