The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Application for Peer Grant Reviewers
Supporting Statement
A. Justification
1. Circumstances of Information Collection
SAMHSA is requesting
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a revision to the
Application for Peer Grant Reviewers Form. This collection is
approved under OMB No. 0930-0355, which expires on September 30,
2019. Section 501(h) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act [42 USC
290aa] directs the Assistant Secretary of SAMHSA to establish such
peer review groups as are needed to carry out the requirements of
Title V of the PHS Act. SAMHSA administers a large discretionary
grants program under authorization of Title V for organizations to
provide prevention and treatment services related to mental and
substance use disorders.
SAMHSA efforts to
make improvements in the grants process have been shown by the
restructuring of discretionary award announcements. In support of
those efforts, and to meet the specific reviewer criteria
requirements set forth in the 21st Century Cures Act,
SAMHSA desires to expand the types of reviewers it uses on these
grant review committees. To accomplish that end, SAMHSA has
determined that it is important to proactively seek the inclusion of
new and qualified representatives on its peer review groups.
Accordingly, SAMHSA has developed an application form (Attachment A)
for use by individuals who wish to apply to serve as grant reviewers.
2. Purpose and Use of Information
The application form has been developed to capture the essential information about the individual applicants. A potential SAMHSA reviewer can contact the Division of Grant Review about his/her interest in becoming a reviewer directly via email or by visiting the reviewer website at https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/review/grant-reviewer-application. Although a resume is also collected from interested individuals, it is essential to have specific information from all applicants about their qualifications that may not be included in a typical resume; the most consistent method to accomplish this is completion of a standard form by all interested persons, detailing their specific qualifications to be considered as reviewers. SAMHSA will use the information about knowledge, education and experience provided on the applications to identify appropriate peer grant reviewers. Depending on their experience and qualifications, applicants may be invited to serve as reviewers.
The following changes are proposed in the form:
Added the collection of License # and Expiration Date to meet 21st Century Cures Act requirements.
Deleted the collection of experienced federal reviewer or non-federal reviewer information.
Under SAMHSA Experience section, added collection of whether or not the potential reviewer has completed SAMHSA reviewer training with the date.
Under the Target Population Section
Added the following distinctions:
Tribes or Tribal Organizations
Minorities (African American, Hispanic/Latino, etc.)
Under the SUD and Clinical Issues Section
Added the following distinctions:
Medication Assisted Treatment
Emergency Treatment
Opioid Use Disorders
Deleted the following distinctions:
Depression/Manic Depression
Ecstasy
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Personality Disorders
Under the Other Expertise Section
Added the following distinctions:
Recovery Support Services
Behavioral Healthcare
Rural Communities
Deleted the following distinctions:
Faith Based Community Approaches
Violence Prevention Programs
Drug Courts
3. Use of
Information Technology
Applicants are
offered three ways in which to apply. They may complete an online
application available on the SAMHSA website, they may submit an
application electronically by e-mail, and they may send hard copy via
regular mail. It is expected that approximately 10
percent of applicants will submit a hard copy
application.
4. Efforts to Identify Duplication
SAMHSA has no
other vehicle for potential grant reviewers to submit information
about themselves for consideration in this capacity. There is,
therefore, no duplication of information.
5. Involvement of Small Entities
Individuals who
apply to serve as SAMHSA grant reviewers may be affiliated with small
entities. However, the information requested is the minimum needed
to identify well-qualified applicants and the burden on applicants
will not be significant.
6. Consequences If Information Collected Less Frequently
Individuals
will have to submit an application only one time, unless they wish to
update information previously submitted. Without this application,
SAMHSA will not be able to identify and select well-qualified grant
reviewers in a consistent, standardized manner.
7. Consistency
With the Guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)
This application is
fully consistent with 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).
8. Consultation Outside the Agency
SAMHSA has consulted with representatives of several other Operating Divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (the Administration for Children and Families, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to determine their processes for soliciting new reviewers. The notice required in 5 CFR 1320.8(d) was published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2019 (84 FR 25066). No comments were received.
9. Payment to Respondents
There will be no payment to respondents for submitting an application. Applicants chosen as SAMHSA grant reviewers will receive standard compensation for their service in that capacity.
10. Assurance
of Confidentiality
All
information submitted in these reviewer applications will be kept
private, in the same manner that personnel applications are handled.
11. Questions of
a Sensitive Nature
The items on the
application are not considered sensitive.
12. Estimates of Annualized Hour Burden
The following
table summarizes the estimated annual response burden for this
application. Per historical trends, SAMHSA anticipates 500
respondents inquiring about reviewing for SAMHSA each year.
Number of |
Responses/ |
Burden/Response |
Total Burden |
Hourly Wage |
Total Wage |
500 |
1 |
1.5 |
750 |
$20.00 |
$15,000 |
Several staff in HHS
familiar with the review process completed the application. The
average time that most individuals will need to complete the
application will be between one and two hours, including time to
update their resume.
The basis for the
hourly wage is determined by the average salary of individuals in
locales around the country who would have the type of qualifications
needed to serve as peer reviewers. These individuals would be from
both large and small cities, metropolitan areas, small towns and
rural areas. This hourly wage is based on knowledge of a specific
program that is directed by HHS and the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, at the local service provider level.
13. Estimates of Annualized Cost Burden to Respondents
There are no
capital or startup costs and no operation and maintenance of services
costs to respondents associated with this application.
14. Estimates of Annualized Cost to the Government
The estimated annual cost to the government is approximately $18,750. This is based on the estimated time for staff to review an application which averages about 45 minutes at approximately $50.00 per hour.
15. Changes in Burden
There is no burden
change.
16. Time
Schedule. Publication and Analysis Plans
The form will be
made publicly available on SAMHSA’s web site upon receipt of
OMB approval. Applications will be reviewed as received for
completeness and appropriateness.
17. Display of Expiration Date
The expiration date will be displayed.
18.
Exceptions to Certification Statement
This
collection of information involves no exceptions to the Certification
for Paperwork Reduction Act submissions.
B. Statistical Methods
This information
collection does not involve statistical methods.
List of Attachments
Attachment A:
Application Form
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Supporting Statement |
| Author | dwilson |
| Last Modified By | SYSTEM |
| File Modified | 2019-10-01 |
| File Created | 2019-10-01 |