[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 96 (Monday, May 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29720-29723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10598]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part C (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority of 
the Department of Health and Human Services (45 FR 67772-76, dated 
October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 69296, October 20, 1980, as 
amended most recently at 85 FR 21008, dated April 15, 2020) is amended 
to reorganize the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory 
Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    Section C-B, Organization and Functions, is hereby amended as 
follows:
    Delete mission statements for the National Center for Immunization 
and Respiratory Diseases (CVG) insert the following:
    National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (CVG). 
The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) 
prevents disease, disability, and death through immunization and by 
control of respiratory and related diseases. In carrying out its 
mission, NCIRD: (1) Provides leadership, expertise, and service in 
laboratory and epidemiological sciences, and in immunization program 
delivery; (2) conducts applied research on disease prevention and 
control; (3) translates research findings into public health policies 
and practices; (4) provides diagnostic and reference laboratory 
services to relevant partners; (5) conducts surveillance and research 
to determine disease distribution, determinants, and burden nationally 
and internationally; (6) responds to disease outbreaks domestically and 
abroad; (7) ensures that public health decisions are made objectively 
and based upon the highest quality of scientific data; (8) provides 
technical expertise, education, and training to domestic and 
international partners; (9) provides leadership to internal and 
external partners for establishing and

[[Page 29721]]

maintaining immunization, and other prevention and control programs; 
(10) develops, implements, and evaluates domestic and international 
public health policies; (11) communicates information to increase 
awareness, knowledge, and understanding of public health issues 
domestically and internationally, and to promote effective immunization 
programs; (12) aligns the national center focus with the overall 
strategic goals of CDC; (13) synchronizes all aspects of CDC's pandemic 
influenza preparedness and response from strategy through 
implementation and evaluation; and (14) implements, coordinates, and 
evaluates programs across NCIRD, Deputy Director for Infectious 
Diseases(DDID), and CDC to optimize public health impact.
    Delete the functional statements for the Office of the Director 
(CVG1) and insert the following:
    Office of the Director (CVG1). (1) Provides leadership, expertise, 
and service in laboratory and epidemiological sciences and in 
immunization program delivery; (2) provides diagnostic and reference 
laboratory services to relevant partnerships; (3) works with DDID to 
ensure spending plans, budget planning, and budget execution are in 
line with the overall infectious disease strategies and priorities; (4) 
ensures that the NCIRD strategy is executed by the divisions and 
aligned with overall CDC goals; (5) co-develops execution strategies 
for the center with the division directors; (6) provides program and 
science quality oversight; (7) builds leadership at the division and 
branch levels; (8) evaluates the strategies, focus, and prioritization 
of the division research, program, and budget activities; (9) 
identifies and coordinates synergies between center and relevant 
partners; (10) ensures that policy development is consistent and 
appropriate; (11) facilitates research and program activities by 
providing leadership support; (12) proposes resource priorities 
throughout the budget cycle; (13) ensures scientific quality, ethics, 
and regulatory compliance; (14) fosters an integrated approach to 
research, program, and policy activities; (15) liaises with HHS and 
other domestic and international immunization and respiratory disease 
partners as well as with NCIRD divisions; (16) coordinates center's 
emergency response activities related to immunization issues and 
complex acute respiratory infectious disease emergencies; (17) applies 
communication science, media principles, and web design to support 
NCIRD and CDC's efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by 
vaccine-preventable and respiratory diseases; ensuring that 
communication distributed by the center is timely, accurate, clear and 
relevant to intended audiences; (18) provides guidance for key 
scientific and laboratory services in the functional areas of 
extramural research (research and non-research), human studies 
oversight and review, regulatory affairs; activities in the area of 
space planning, advising, coordination and evaluation, safety 
management and coordination, and shared services in controlled 
correspondence, and programmatic services in the area of workforce and 
career development; (19) provides and coordinates center-wide 
administrative, management, and support services in the areas of fiscal 
management, personnel, travel, procurement, facility management, the 
Vaccine Management Improvement Project and other administrative 
services; and (20) manages the coordination of workforce development 
and succession planning activities and provide human capital 
management, planning and training consultation services.
    Delete the functional statements for the Office of Informatics 
(CVG12) and insert the following:
    Office of Informatics (CVG12). (1) Manages all IT project costs, 
schedules, performances, and risks; (2) provides expertise in leading 
application development techniques in information science and 
technology to affect the best use of resources; (3) performs technical 
evaluation and/or integrated baseline reviews of all information 
systems' products and services prior to procurement to ensure software 
purchases align with DDID strategy; (4) provides access to quality data 
in support of programmatic data analysis; (5) coordinates all 
enterprise-wide IT security policies and procedures with the Office of 
the Chief Information Officer; (6) ensures operations are in accordance 
with CDC Capital Planning and Investment Control guidelines; (7) 
ensures adherence to CDC enterprise architecture guidelines and 
standards; (8) consults with users to determine IT needs and to develop 
strategic and action plans; and (9) participates in the evolution, 
identification, development, or adoption of appropriate informatics 
standards in conjunction with the DDID.
    Delete in its entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Office of Administrative Services (CVG16) and insert the following:
    Office of Management and Operations (CVG16). (1) Plans, 
coordinates, directs and provides advice and guidance on management and 
administrative operations of NCIRD in the areas of fiscal management, 
personnel, human capital, workforce training and development, travel, 
records management, facility management and other administrative 
related services; (2) prepares and distributes annual budget plans and 
provides overall programmatic direction for planning and management 
oversight of allocated resources; (3) provides guidance on NCIRD 
requirements related to contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, 
reimbursable agreements, interagency agreements, memorandums of 
agreement/understanding, and intergovernmental personnel act 
agreements; (4) reviews the effectiveness and efficiency of the 
operation and administration of all NCIRD programs; (5) develops and 
implements administrative policies and procedures; and (6) prepares 
special reports and studies in the administrative management areas.
    Delete in its entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Office of Science and Integrated Programs (CVG17) and insert the 
following:
    Office of Science (CVG17). (1) Links strategies and priorities of 
the primarily programmatic-focused NCIRD divisions with those of 
primarily disease-based divisions; (2) facilitates development and 
ongoing implementation of integrated infectious respiratory disease 
(including influenza) surveillance, research, and prevention and 
control activities across the divisions, both domestically and 
globally, including supporting implementation of NCIRD's respiratory 
diseases strategic prevention priorities; (3) interfaces with other CDC 
CIOs working in the area of respiratory diseases; (4) coordinates and 
facilitates the center's overall respiratory and vaccine preventable 
disease scientific/research agenda; (5) assumes responsibility for the 
protection of human research subjects, scientific review, clearance of 
manuscripts and other written materials; (6) provides planning and 
coordination of overall surveillance strategies, preparedness, 
response, and prevention effectiveness related to a center-wide public 
health scientific agenda and in quantifying how programs and activities 
promote cost-effective and high impact prevention strategies with 
respect to immunization and other vaccine preventable disease programs; 
(7) provides leadership (agency and center-wide) for vaccine 
preventable and respiratory disease surveillance to include guidance 
and coordination of NCIRD surveillance activities and systems, as well 
as leadership on issues related to internal and external integration of 
CDC surveillance

[[Page 29722]]

activities; (8) coordinates, facilitates and integrates domestic and 
international respiratory and vaccine preventable disease surveillance 
activities through existing methods while developing new approaches, 
tools and analyses for these activities; (9) fosters a 
multidisciplinary approach to epidemiology, statistics, informatics, 
laboratory methods and evaluation; (10) provides leadership, expertise 
and service in laboratory science; (11) represents NCIRD's interests in 
cross-cutting laboratory services in DDID which include, but are not 
limited to, laboratory information systems, quality management systems 
and bioinformatics; (12) ensures a safe working environment in NCIRD 
laboratories; (13) collaborates effectively with other centers and 
offices in carrying out its functions; and (14) manages CDC's 
intellectual property (e.g., patents, trademarks, copyrights) and 
promotes the transfer of new technology from CDC research to the 
private sector to facilitate and enhance the development of diagnostic 
products, vaccines, and products to improve occupational safety.
    After the functional statement for the Influenza Coordination Unit 
(CVG18), insert the following:
    VTrckS Management Office (CVG19). Responsible for providing day-to-
day management and support for VTrckS/NABIP internal and external 
customers including: (1) Co-chair and support of VTrckS PMO; (2) 
testing and troubleshooting of all VTrckS and NABIP functionality and 
break fixes; (3) OCM and communications for internal and external 
VTrckS and NABIP customers; (4) web-based and in person training for 
internal and external VTrckS and NABIP customers; (5) conducting annual 
VTrckS User Satisfaction survey; (6) Level 1 and Level 2 support for 
VTrckS and NABIP; and (7) managing contracts for Business Analysts, 
VTrckS operations and maintenance technical support, training and 
program support, and VTrckS contact center operations.
    Delete in its entirety the title and functional statement for the 
Division of Bacterial Diseases (CVGG) and insert the following:
    Division of Bacterial Diseases (CVGG). The Division of Bacterial 
Diseases (DBD) prevents respiratory and vaccine-preventable diseases 
caused by bacteria through strategic planning, coordination, scientific 
investigation, and leadership. In carrying out its mission, DBD: (1) 
Conducts and assists state and local health departments to conduct 
surveillance, including surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in 
the bacteria under the Division's purview, and prepares and distributes 
surveillance information; (2) conducts epidemiologic and laboratory 
studies to define etiology, patterns of disease, disease burden, and 
risk factors; determines safety, effectiveness, and cost effectiveness 
of vaccines, updates immunization policy, and evaluates other aspects 
of immunization practices; and identifies and evaluates other (non-
vaccine) prevention strategies; (3) provides consultation on the use of 
bacterial vaccines and other measures to prevent infections; (4) 
participates, provides consultation, and supports investigations of 
outbreaks, epidemics, and other public health problems in the U.S. and 
internationally, and recommends and evaluates appropriate control 
measures; (5) provides scientific leadership for development and 
evaluation of immunization policy related to vaccines in the U.S. by 
compiling and analyzing information on vaccine-preventable diseases and 
helping prepare statements on bacterial vaccines for the ACIP and other 
groups to support the development and evaluation of immunization 
policy; in international settings, provides guidance and technical 
expertise on VPD policy development; (6) provides laboratory support 
for surveillance and epidemiologic studies and reference diagnostic 
services, to state and local health departments, other federal 
agencies, and national and international health organizations; (7) 
conducts studies of the biology, biochemical, genetic, and antigenic 
characteristics, immunology and pathogenesis of disease; (8) develops, 
analyzes, and improves diagnostic methods and reagents; (9) facilitates 
development and evaluation of immunologic compounds, vaccines and 
vaccination programs; (10) provides intramural and extramural 
assistance with professional training; (11) assists internal and 
external partners with other public health problems of national and 
international significance when needed; (12) provides technical support 
to state immunization programs for all aspects of vaccine-preventable 
diseases and their vaccines; (13) provides leadership in vaccine 
science; and (14) supports CDC's Immunization Safety Office in vaccine 
safety risk assessment and leadership in vaccine safety risk 
management.
    Office of the Director (CVGG1). (1) Directs, coordinates, and 
manages the programs and activities of the division; (2) provides 
leadership and guidance on policy, program planning and development, 
program management, and operations; (3) coordinates or assures 
coordination with the appropriate CDC, CCID, and NCIRD offices on 
administrative and program matters; (4) reviews, prepares, and 
coordinates congressional testimony and briefing documents related to 
bacterial respiratory and vaccine preventable diseases, and analyzes 
programmatic and policy implications of legislative proposals; (5) 
serves as CDC, CCID, and NCIRD's primary internal and external 
communications contact regarding bacterial respiratory and vaccine-
preventable disease issues; (6) advises CDC, CCID, and NCIRD on policy 
matters concerning the division's programs and activities; (7) assures 
the overall quality of the science conducted by the division; (8) 
guides and facilitates efficient coordination and cooperation for 
administrative, programmatic, and scientific activities within the 
division, and with other groups in and outside of CDC; (9) provides 
statistical methodology and participates in the division's outbreak 
investigations and disease reporting systems for ongoing surveillance; 
(10) develops new methods or adapts existing methods for statistical 
applications in epidemiologic or laboratory research studies for the 
division; (11) provides statistical consultation for epidemiologic and 
laboratory research studies conducted by the division; (12) assists 
researchers with statistical aspects of report writing and prepares 
statistical portions of papers, protocols, and reports written by staff 
of the division; (13) trains professional staff of the division in 
statistical methods; and (14) provides a center of excellence for the 
study of immunologic response to infection, vaccination, and 
therapeutic interventions against bacterial diseases, including 
Bacillus anthracis.
    Respiratory Diseases Branch (CVGGB). (1) Provides assistance and 
control of epidemics and works to improve control and prevention of 
respiratory and other syndromes caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, 
group A and group B streptococci, and atypical respiratory bacteria 
(Legionella, Mycoplasma, and Chlamydia species), as well as community-
acquired drug resistant bacterial infections, community-acquired 
pneumonia, otitis media, and neonatal sepsis; (2) develops, implements, 
and evaluates prevention methods for these diseases, including vaccines 
and non-vaccine strategies; (3) provides consultation and support to 
domestic and international partners on use of vaccines and other 
prevention measures to reduce bacterial respiratory diseases; (4) 
coordinates activities within and outside the division related to 
Active Bacterial Core

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surveillance with the Emerging Infections Program states, and assists 
with coordination of other surveillance platforms that include 
bacterial respiratory diseases; (5) provides reference and diagnostic 
activities for respiratory bacterial diseases and for the 
identification of unknown gram positive cocci; (6) develops and 
evaluates new diagnostic methods for bacterial respiratory pathogens; 
(7) develops, maintains, and implements genetic analyses of bacteria to 
enhance surveillance programs, outbreak investigations, and public 
health research; and (8) collaborates with other CDC groups, state and 
federal agencies, ministries of health, WHO, PAHO, private industry, 
academia, and other governmental organizations involved in public 
health.
    Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Disease Branch (CVGGC). (1) 
Provides assistance in control of endemic and epidemic disease and 
exploits opportunities to improve control and prevention of bacterial 
illness including: disease due to Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus 
influenzae infections, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and bacterial 
meningitis syndrome; (2) provides reference and diagnostic activities 
for agents causing these diseases; (3) provides cross-cutting vaccine 
responsibilities for the division of bacterial diseases; and develops, 
implements and evaluates prevention strategies for these bacterial 
diseases; (4) develops, implements, and evaluates vaccines and vaccine 
candidates for these bacterial diseases; (5) conducts surveillance and 
epidemiological research for meningococcal disease, H. influenzae 
infections, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and bacterial meningitis 
syndrome; (6) maintains WHO Collaborating Center for Control and 
Prevention of Epidemic Meningitis; and (7) collaborates with other CDC 
groups, state and federal agencies, ministries of health, WHO, PAHO, 
private industry, and other governmental organizations involved in 
public health

Sherri A. Berger,
Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020-10598 Filed 5-15-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P