[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 135 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36737-36739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17820]
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Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health; Statement of Organization,
Functions, and Delegations of Authority
Part H, Chapter HN (National Institutes of Health) (NIH) of the
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority for
the Department of Health and Human Services (40 FR 22859, May 27, 1975,
as amended most recently at 61 FR 14804, April 3, 1996), is amended to
reflect the reorganization of the extramural information systems and
data analysis functions within the NIH. The reorganization transfers
from the Division of Research Grants (DRG) (HNG) the extramural
information systems and data analysis functions of the Information
Systems Branch (ISB) (HNG-3) to the Office of Extramural Research (OER)
(HNA3), except for those functions related to DRG-specific support and
the Networking and Telecommunications Section (HNG-38). (1) In DRG,
retitle the ISB to the Advanced Technology Branch (ATB), revise its
functional statement and realign its Standard Administrative Code from
HNG-3 to HNG3. (2) Revise the overall functional statement for the DRG.
(3) Establish the Office of Reports and Analysis (ORA) (HNA36) in OER;
transfer the functions of two sections of DRG/ATB, Research
Documentation Section (HNG-33) and Statistics, Analysis and Evaluation
Section (HNG-34), to ORA, then abolish the two DRG/ATB sections. (4)
Establish the Division of Extramural Information Systems (HNA345)
within the Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration
(OPERA) (HNA34), OER; transfer the functions of three DRG/ATB sections
to this new Division (the Data Management and Control Section [HNG-36],
the Information Systems Management Section [HNG-37], and the Systems
Analysis Section [HNG-39]). (5) In OPERA, retitle the Division of
Extramural Invention Reports (HNA343) to the Division of Extramural
Inventions and Technology Resources (DEITR); consolidate the functions
of invention reporting and development of a common Federal database
into one office by transferring functions from the Office of Extramural
Programs (OEP) (HNA32) to DEITR; and revise DEITR's
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functional statement. (6) In OPERA, revise the functional statement for
the Division of Grants Policy (HNA342). (7) In OEP, retitle the
Division of Extramural Programs Management (HNA322) to the Division of
Research Programs, Training and Review Policy (DRPTR); consolidate the
functions of programs management, research training, and appeals into
one office by transferring functions from Division of Research Training
and Special Programs (DRTSP) (HNA323) to DRPTR; abolish DRTSP; and
revise DRPTR's functional statement. (8) In OEP, retitle the Division
of Institutional Affairs (HNA326) to the Division of Extramural
Outreach and Information Resources (DEOIR); consolidate the information
dissemination function into one office by transferring functions from
the Grants Information Office (HNG1-53), DRG, to DEOIR; revise DEOIR's
functional statement. (9) Revise the functional statement for OPERA.
(10) In OEP, revise the functional statement for the Division of
Extramural Staff Training (HNA325). (11) Revise the functional
statement for OEP.
Section HN-B, Organization and Functions, is amended as follows:
(1) Under the heading Office of the Director (HNA), insert the
following:
Office of Extramural Programs (HNA32). (1) Advises the Deputy
Director for Extramural Research on matters pertaining to the
development, promulgation and management of policies and procedures
related to extramural research programs; (2) conducts evaluations of
programs, policies, and procedures; and (3) represents the OER on
numerous permanent and ad hoc NIH, Departmental, interagency, and non-
governmental committees concerned with extramural program activities.
Division of Research Programs, Training and Review Policy (HNA323).
Develops NIH policies concerning extramural programs and review, and
coordinates or manages selected activities, including: (1) Provides
guidance in the development of NIH policies and recommended procedures
concerning peer review, extramural research programs, research training
and career development programs; (2) advises the Deputy Director for
Extramural Research, the Director of the Office of Extramural Programs,
and NIH staff concerning NIH extamural program and review policy and
procedures; (3) provides advice to extramural staff on the use of the
appropriate NIH extramural award mechanism, e.g., grant, cooperative
agreement, or contract; (4) leads and manages NIH functional program,
review, and research training committees, which represent the ICDs and
NIH staff, and provide for discussion and recommendations on relevant
policies and procedures; (5) coordinates policies for dealing with
applicants' and grantees' concerns about the review of their
applications and awardees' concerns about adverse determinations on
their grants, and manages the process for investigating appeals of peer
review and post-award determinations; (6) coordinates and/or manages
selected NIH-wide activities, such as the Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) program, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
program, the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) program, and
the Shannon Awards; and (7) conducts evaluations of extramural policies
and procedures in relation to scientific program activities, peer
review, and research training.
Division of Extramural Staff Training (HNA325). Develops and
administers the extramural program staff training activities, including
(1) the Staff Training in Extramural Programs (STEP); (2) the
Extramural Associates Program (EAP), a residential training program on
NIH extramural functions and policies for individuals selected from
women's and minority institutions; and (3) the Extramural Scientist
Administrators training program that includes mandatory fundamental
training for persons new to NIH extramural program administration, as
well as continuing education programs for more senior ESAs.
Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources (HNA326).
(1) Identifies issues, concerns, and information needs of the
extramural research community and the information needs of the NIH
extramural research staff; (2) designs and manages the central
telephone contact for information about NIH extramural research
programs, including integration of electronic and FAX systems for
delivery of information; (3) designs, develops, and manages the website
for the Office of Extramural Research; (4) coordinates the development
and parallel production of printed and electronic products to provide
information to the extramural research community, including the weekly
NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, the NIH Extramural Programs, and
other program descriptions, policy notices, descriptive data, and
analytical reports; and (5) maintains liaison with NIH components,
trans-NIH committees, professional associations, and the segments of
the extramural research community that are involved in outreach
activities, information systems technology, and electronic research
administration.
Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration (HNA34).
(1) Assures effective grants administration policies and procedures for
the NIH extramural programs and stewardship of Federal funds, which
includes electronic research administration; (2) maximizes research
productivity, increases public accountability, enhances administrative
integrity, and monitors fiscal stewardship in research administration
systems; (3) ensures proper management of extramural resources at both
the portfolio level (allocation issues), program level (strategic
planning), and project level (cost analysis); (4) promotes the proper
selection and effective use of assistance mechanisms by both NIH staff
and the extramural community; (5) initiates new procedures for research
administration; (6) provides assistance to NIH extramural staff and
grantee organizations regarding policies and procedures pertinent to
the administration of NIH grants; (7) receives and maintains all
documentation relating to extramural inventions made with assistance of
research grants or research and development contracts from NIH; (8)
establishes and maintains communication between NIH and awardee and
applicant institutions and investigators with respect to extramural
policies and procedures; (9) conducts studies, develops plans and
manages projects that extend, improve and/or maintain system
capabilities to satisfy the information requirements associated with
NIH extramural research; (10) conducts requirements analyses, develops
general and detailed designs databases, overseas the programming and
testing of new systems, and the development and execution of
implementation plans.
Division of Grants Policy (HNA342). (1) Initiates new and modifies
existing NIH grants administration policies and procedures; (2)
provides assistance to NIH extramural staff and grantee organizations
regarding policies and procedures pertinent to the administration of
NIH grants to ensure stewardship of Federal funds; (3) provides
guidance to and articulates grants management policy for NIH extramural
staff on the effective utilization of extramural assistance mechanisms
(grants and cooperative agreements); (4) reviews for OMB clearance all
application forms, proposed surveys, and questionnaires for information
gathering activities conducted under research contracts to
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meet the requirements of the Federal Paperwork Reduction Act; and (5)
develops the business process and functionality for pertinent
Electronic Research Administration components.
Division of Extramural Inventions and Technology Resources
(HNA343). (1) Ensures proper and complete compliance with mandated
patent policies and procedures; (2) informs grantees, contractors, and
NIH staff of their responsibilities through various policy and
administration manual issuances, and instructions and commentary in the
NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts; (3) receives and maintains all
documentation relating to extramural inventions made with the
assistance of research grants or research and development contracts
from NIH; (4) promotes the proper utilization of patents and inventions
in extramural programs through guidance or referral on licensing
agreements and distribution of shares resources; and (5) develops the
business process and functionality for progress reporting, abstracting,
research resources and other pertinent Electronic Research
Administration components.
Division of Extramural Information Systems (HNA345). (1) Provides
computer systems design, programming, and systems maintenance for the
IMPAC/CRISP systems and the ancillary systems supporting the NIH
extramural grants management program; (2) maintains a comprehensive
systems overview, providing data systems currency and ensuring
interoperability between IMPAC and related subsystems; (3) facilitates
the interoperability with Electronic Research Administration functional
components and interfaces; (4) develops specifications for the
interoperability of IMPAC, CRISP, Committee Management Information,
Trainee Appointment, payback, and other related auxiliary data systems;
(5) maintains overall integrity of data systems while making changes
and enhancements to satisfy NIH needs; (6) develops quality control
procedures in data capture functions; (7) reconciles data integrity
issues; and (8) performs assigned data capture functions.
Office of Reports and Analysis (HNA36). This office is responsible
for: (1) maintaining CRISP, the Computer Retrieval of Information on
Scientific Projects System database, by adding scientific information
and indexing terms to IMPAC records for funded PHS research; (2)
maintaining and updating the CRISP Thesaurus as emerging concepts and
technologies are developed; (3) editing all IMPAC titles for accuracy
and uniformity; (4) publishing reports based on the CRISP database; (5)
conducting statistical investigations of extramural trends and related
topics; (6) designing, establishing, and maintaining databases to
compile and analyze information relevant to policy or program issues;
(7) developing and conducting special projects, experiments, and
simulations to support planning and evaluation of programs, policies
and procedures; (8) serving as a focal point for requests from
individual Institutes and Centers for ad hoc statistical reports; (9)
supporting NIH budget development by providing financial projections
and reports; and (10) providing consultation to CRISP and IMPAC users.
(2) Under the heading Division of Research Grants (HNG), insert the
following:
Division of Research Grants (HNG). (1) Provides staff support to
the Office of the Director, NIH, in the formulation of grant and award
policies and procedures; (2) provides central receipt of all PHS
applications for research and research training support, and makes
initial referral to PHS components; (3) assigns NIH applications to
supporting institutes, centers, and divisions and to DRG initial review
groups; and (4) provides for scientific review of NIH research grants,
National Research Service Awards, and research career development
applications.
Advanced Technology Branch (HNG3). (1) Establishes comprehensive
long-range plans for developing, implementing, supporting, and
expanding all systems on the DRG LAN and the NIH mainframe relating to
DRG extramural activities; (2) conducts studies and analyses for new
LAN- and PC-based automatic data processing applications; (3) provides
end-user support across NIH/PHS for DRG-developed systems; (4)
maintains hardware, software and related on-site services for the PC
workstations and LAN for DRG and OD/OER components in the Rockledge
Building; (5) serves as the focal point for responding to NIH IRM
studies and dissemination of IRM information; (6) manages DRG risk
assessments and life cycle planning; and (7) plans for the acquisition
of all DRG ADP requirements.
Dated: July 1, 1996.
Ruth L. Kirschstein,
Acting Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 96-17820 Filed 7-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M