2018-20017. Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Board of Scientific Counselors Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations for membership on the BSC OPHPR. The BSC OPHPR consists of 11 experts in fields associated with business, crisis leadership, emergency response and management, engineering, epidemiology, health policy and management, informatics, laboratory science, medicine, mental and behavioral health, public health law, public health practice, risk communication and social science.

Nominations are being sought for individuals who have expertise and qualifications necessary to contribute to the accomplishments of the committee's objectives. Nominees will be selected based on expertise in the fields of engineering, medicine, emergency response, and risk communication. Members may be invited to serve for four-year terms.

Selection of members is based on candidates' qualifications to contribute to the accomplishment of BSC OPHPR objectives (https://www.cdc.gov/​phpr/​bsc/​index.htm).

DATES:

Nominations for membership on the BSC OPHPR must be received no later than October 15, 2018. Packages received after this time will not be considered for the current membership cycle.

ADDRESSES:

All nominations should be emailed to the OPHPR BSC Coordinator, [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rebecca Hall, MPH, BSC Coordinator, OPHPR, CDC, 1600 Clifton Rd., MS D-44, Atlanta, GA, 30329-4027. Telephone [phone]; email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policy stipulates that committee membership be balanced in terms of points of view represented, and the committee's function. Appointments shall be made without discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, disability, and cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status. Nominees must be U.S. citizens, and cannot be full-time employees of the U.S. Government. Current participation on federal workgroups or prior experience serving on a federal advisory committee does not disqualify a candidate; however, HHS policy is to avoid excessive individual service on advisory committees and multiple committee memberships. Committee members are Special Government Employees, requiring the filing of financial disclosure reports at the beginning and annually during their terms. CDC reviews potential candidates for BSC OPHPR membership each year, and provides a slate of nominees for consideration to the Secretary of HHS for final selection. HHS notifies selected candidates of their appointment near the start of the term in September, or as soon as the HHS selection process is completed. Note that the need for different expertise varies from year to year and a candidate who is not selected in one year may be reconsidered in a subsequent year.

Nominees must be U.S. citizens. Candidates should submit the following items:

Current curriculum vitae, including complete contact information (telephone numbers, mailing address, email address).

At least one letter of recommendation from person(s) not employed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Candidates may submit letter(s) from current HHS employees if they wish, but at least one letter must be submitted by a person not employed by an HHS agency (e.g., CDC, NIH, FDA, etc.).

Nominations may be submitted by the candidate him- or herself, or by the person/organization recommending the candidate.

The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities for both CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Sherri Berger,

Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.