03-21515. Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection 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 on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project: Prevention Research Center Information System—New —National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Prevention Research Center Information System will collect in electronic format: (a) Data needed to measure progress toward, or achievement of, newly developed performance indicators, (b) information on Prevention Research Centers that is currently being reported in hard-copy documents, and (c) data on research projects that are currently submitted electronically via a spreadsheet.

In 1984, Congress passed Public Law 98-551 directing the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to establish Centers for Research and Development of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. In 1986, CDC was given lead responsibility for this program, referred to now as the Prevention Research Centers program. Currently, CDC provides funding to 28 Prevention Research Centers (PRCs) selected through competitive peer review process and managed as CDC cooperative agreements. Awards are made for five (5) years and may be renewed through a competitive RFA process. PRCs (which can be housed in a school of public health, medicine, or osteopathy) conduct multi-disciplinary, community-based, outcomes-oriented research on a broad range of topics related to health promotion and disease prevention.

In spring 2003, CDC published RFA #04003 (FY20004-20009) for the Prevention Research Centers program. The RFA introduces a set of performance indicators that have developed collaboratively with the PRCs and other program stakeholders and are consistent with federal requirements that all agencies, in response to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, prepare performance plans and collect program-specific performance measures.

An Internet-based information system will allow CDC to monitor, and report on, PRC activities more efficiently. Data reported to CDC through the PRC information system will be used by CDC to identify training and technical assistance needs, monitor compliance with cooperative agreement requirements, evaluate the progress made in achieving center-specific goals, and obtain information needed to respond to Congressional and other inquiries regarding program activities and effectiveness.

There are no costs to respondents.

Respondents	No. of respondents	No. of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hrs.)	Total burden (in hrs.)
Clerical	28	2	164/60	153
Directors	28	2	90/60	84
Total				237

Dated: August 18, 2003.

Nancy E. Cheal,

Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.