[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63124-63125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22062]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Tick-Borne 
Disease Working Group

AGENCY: Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP), Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Office of the Secretary, 
Department of Health and Human Services.

[[Page 63125]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice will serve to announce that the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of non-federal 
public (public) individuals who represent diverse scientific 
disciplines and views and are interested in being considered for 
appointment to the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (TBDWG). Resumes or 
curricula vitae from qualified individuals who wish to be considered 
for appointment as a member of the TBDWG are currently being accepted.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. ET, 
November 5, 2020.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be sent to the TBDWG email address at 
[email protected]. Please indicate ``TBDWG Nomination'' in the 
subject line of your email. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused 
significant disruption of mail addressed to the TBDWG. As such, it is 
advised that all nominations be submitted electronically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Berger, MS, MT (ASCP), SBB, 
Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy; Telephone: (202) 795-7608; 
Email address: [email protected]. Website information about 
activities of the TBDWG, as well as the Charter, can be found at 
https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/tickbornedisease/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2062 of the 21st Century Cures Act, 
Public Law 114-255, requires establishment of the TBDWG. The TBDWG is 
governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public 
Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), which sets forth standards for 
the formation and use of federal advisory committees. The 21st Century 
Cures Act is intended to advance the research and development of new 
therapies and diagnostics and make substantial federal investments in a 
wide range of health priorities. The TBDWG is a non-discretionary 
federal advisory committee.
    Objectives and Scope of Activities. The Secretary of HHS is 
responsible for ensuring the conduct of and support for 
epidemiological, basic, translational, and clinical research related to 
vector-borne diseases, including tick-borne diseases. The TBDWG was 
established to help ensure interagency coordination and to examine the 
prioritization of such activities and research. The TBDWG membership 
provides subject matter expertise and reviews efforts within the 
federal government related to all tick-borne diseases. The TBDWG is 
charged to provide a report to the HHS Secretary and Congress 
biennially on its findings, including advances made and gaps in 
research, and to make recommendations regarding appropriate changes or 
improvements to such activities and research.
    Membership and Designation. The TBDWG consists of 14 voting members 
who represent diverse scientific disciplines and views. The composition 
includes seven public members and seven federal members. Every effort 
is made to ensure that the TBDWG is a diverse group of individuals with 
representation from various geographic locations, racial and ethnic 
minorities, genders, and persons living with disabilities.
    The public members consist of representatives of the following 
categories: (1) Physicians and other medical providers with experience 
in diagnosing and treating tick-borne diseases; (2) scientists or 
researchers with expertise; (3) patients and their family members; and 
(4) nonprofit organizations that advocate for patients with respect to 
tick-borne disease. The public members are classified as special 
government employees. The public members may be invited to serve 
consecutive terms of up to four years total. Terms of more than two 
years are also contingent upon renewal of the charter of the TBDWG. Any 
public member who is appointed to fill the vacancy of an unexpired term 
will be appointed to serve for the remainder of that term. A public 
member may serve after the expiration of their term until their 
successor has taken office, but no longer than 180 days.
    The federal members consist of one or more representatives of each 
of the following HHS agencies: OASH, the Food and Drug Administration, 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National 
Institutes of Health. Invitations of membership are extended to other 
federal agencies and offices as the HHS Secretary determines 
appropriate and beneficial for accomplishing the mission of the TBDWG. 
Individuals who are appointed to represent federal entities are 
classified as regular government employees. The federal members are 
appointed to serve for the duration of time that the TBDWG is 
authorized to operate. Participation of the appointed federal members 
is at the discretion of their respective agency head.
    Pursuant to advance written agreement, public members of the TBDWG 
will receive no stipend for the advisory service that they render as 
members of the TBDWG. However, public members will receive per diem and 
reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in relation to performing 
duties for the TBDWG, as authorized by law under 5 U.S.C. 5703 for 
persons who are employed intermittently to perform services for the 
federal government and in accordance with federal travel regulations.
    Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings. The TBDWG will meet not 
less than twice a year. The meetings will be open to the public, except 
as determined otherwise by the Secretary, or another official to whom 
authority has been delegated, in accordance with the guidelines under 
Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c).
    Nominations: Nominations of individuals who have demonstrated 
subject matter expertise will be considered for appointment as public 
voting members of the TBDWG. Self-nominations are acceptable. All 
nominations should include the following: (1) A letter of nomination 
that clearly states the name and affiliation of the nominee, the basis 
for the nomination, and a statement from the nominee that indicates 
that the individual is willing to serve as a member of the TBDWG, if 
selected; (2) the name, address, telephone number, and email address of 
the nominee; and (3) a current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae 
or resume, which must be limited to 10 pages. Only the first 10 pages 
of resume or CV document will be considered.
    All public nominees will be subject to federal ethics requirements 
for special government employees. As required by the Ethics Reform Act, 
Public Law 101-194, special government employees must receive annual 
ethics training and submit a financial disclosure. An ethics review 
must be conducted to ensure that individuals appointed as public voting 
members of the TBDWG are not involved in any activity that may pose a 
potential conflict of interest for the official duties that are to be 
performed. All federal members of the TBDWG will be governed by the 
Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch.

    Dated: September 21, 2020.
James J. Berger,
Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy, Designated Federal Officer, 
Tick-Borne Disease Working Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-22062 Filed 10-5-20; 8:45 am]
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