Federal Register: November 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 230)
DOCID: fr30no07-56 FR Doc 07-5886
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr30no07-56
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 31, 2007.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) allow the renewal of the generic information collection project: ``AHRQ Grants Reporting System (GRS).'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104 13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection.
SUMMARY:
Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Proposed Project
``AHRQ Grants Reporting System (GRS)''
AHRQ has identified the need to establish a systematic method for
its grantees to report project progress and important preliminary
findings for grants funded by the Agency. The proposed system will
address the shortfalls in the current reporting process and establish a
consistent and comprehensive grants reporting solution for AHRQ.
Currently, AHRQ receives grants continuation applications on an annual
basis from all grantees. The progress report, which represents a
portion of the annual continuation application, is inadequate because
it is too infrequent and does not necessarily capture the information
that AHRQ requires to respond to internal and external inquiries. The
reporting system will also provide a centralized repository of grants
research information that can be used to support initiatives within the
Agency's research plans for the future and to support activities such
as performance monitoring, budgeting, knowledge transfer as well as
strategic planning. AHRQ currently conducts quarterly conference calls
with some grantees. The content, frequency, and focus of these calls
vary. In some grant programs, the number of participants on these calls
may be so large as to prohibit quarterly updates from all participants
in order to avoid creating an extremely lengthy conference call and to
allow the Agency to address other important issues during these calls.
The GRS will support the timely collection of important information
related to the life cycle of a grant. This information includes:
Significant changes in project goals, methods, study design, sample or
subjects, interventions, evaluation, dissemination, training, key
personnel, key preliminary findings; significant problems and
resolutions; publications and presentations; tools and products; and
new collaborations/partnerships with AHRQ grantees or others conducting
related research. Collecting this information in a systematic manner will:
This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on September 17th, 2007 and allowed 60 days for public comment. No comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment. This project was previously approved by OMB on November 10th, 2004. The OMB control number is 09350122 and will expire on November 30th, 2007.
Data Confidentiality Provisions
Confidential commercial information will be protected in accordance
with 18 U.S.C. 1905. Information about Principal Investigators will be
maintained in accordance with the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a. Also,
individuals and organizations will be assured of the confidentiality of
their data under section 934(c) of the Healthcare Research and Quality
Act of 1999. The submitted reports will be printed and included in the
official file for each grant. All of these files will be retained
according to existing agency policies and procedures and archived as
required. The data will be collected using a Web based reporting
interface developed specifically for the purpose of collecting
information quarterly. To reduce burden and to the extent possible,
these forms will be prepopulated with reoccurring information needed to
specifically identify the institution, project, principal investigator, and other similar information.
[[Page 67733]]
Exhibit 1.Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
Number of
Form name Number of responses per Hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
Data entry into GRS............................. 500 3 10/60 250 ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
Total....................................... 500 na na 250 Exhibit 2.Estimated Annualized Burden Hours Average Form name Number of Total burden hourly wage Total cost respondents hours rate* burden Data entry into GRS............................. 500 250 $30.00 $7,500 ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
Total....................................... 500 250 na 7,500 *Based upon the average wages, ``National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States, May 2006,'' U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This information collection will not impose a cost burden on the respondents beyond that associated with their time to provide the required data. There will be no additional costs for capital equipment, software, computer services, etc.
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal Government
The annual cost to the government is $100,000 for licensing, support and maintenance.
Request for Comments
In accordance with the abovecited Paperwork Reduction Act legislation, comments on AHRQ's information collection are requested with regard to any of the following: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of AHRQ health care research and health care information dissemination functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of AHRQ's estimate of burden (including hours and costs) of the proposed collection(s) of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information upon the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and included in the Agency's subsequent request for OMB approval of the
proposed information collection. All comments will become a matter of public record.
Dated: November 26, 2007.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 075886 Filed 112907; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 416090M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ, Reports Clearance Officer, (301) 4271477.