Notice2026-04568
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 45 (Monday, March 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11316-11317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04568]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[30Day-26-0765]
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information
collection request titled ``Fellowship Management System'' to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC
previously published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations'' notice on December 5, 2025 to obtain
comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received four
comments related to the previous notice; one was substantive. This
notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected
agency comments.
CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly
interested in comments that:
(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected;
(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses; and
(e) Assess information collection costs.
To request additional information on the proposed project or to
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call
(404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a> Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Direct
written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in
this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management
and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202)
395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice
publication.
Proposed Project
Fellowship Management System (FMS) (OMB Control No. 0920-0765, Exp.
03/31/2026)--Revision--National Center for State, Tribal, Local, and
Territorial Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce (NCSTLTPHIW),
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
The mission of CDC's Division of Workforce Development (DWD) is to
provide leadership in public health training and education and to
manage innovative, evidence-based programs to prepare the health
workforce to meet public health challenges of the 21st century.
Professionals in public health, epidemiology, medicine, economics,
information science, veterinary medicine, nursing, public policy, and
other related disciplines seek opportunities, through CDC fellowships,
to broaden their knowledge and skills to improve the science and
practice of public health. CDC fellows are assigned to state, tribal,
local, and territorial public health agencies; federal government
agencies, including CDC and Department of Health and Human Services'
(HHS) operating divisions; and, in some cases, non-governmental
organizations.
CDC requests OMB approval to continue information collection
through the electronic CDC Fellowship Management System (FMS), with
changes. The FMS collects, processes, and manages data from nonfederal
applicants who seek training or public health support services through
CDC fellowships. The FMS has been used to receive fellowship
applications, receive fellowship host site proposals, and, for some
programs, track completion of fellowship activities. The FMS is a
flexible, modern, secure, and robust electronic information system able
to meet the unique needs of each CDC fellowship. The system is critical
to efficient data and program management for CDC and essential for
reducing burden and providing a high-quality user experience for
respondents. FMS is key to CDC's ability to protect the public's health
by facilitating training opportunities that strengthen the public
health workforce.
In January 2026, CDC received OMB approval to implement changes to
selected questions in the FMS Fellowship Applications module and the
FMS Host Site module. These changes support CDC's ability to
effectively manage fellowship programs by collecting timely information
that is customized to each fellowship program's needs. In this
Revision, CDC presents updated estimates for utilization of the FMS
Fellowship Applications module, the FMS Host Site module, and the FMS
Activity Tracking module. The revised estimates are based on a review
of trends in participation in DWD fellowships and revised projections
for participation in the next three years, feedback from former
participants about response burden, and
[[Page 11317]]
testing which supports revised estimates for response burden.
Also, all functions related to fellowship alumni will be
discontinued and the FMS Alumni Directory module will be deactivated.
CDC also will discontinue activity tracking for the majority of
fellowship programs. These functions are currently unnecessary, and in
some cases, duplicative of other data management and collection
processes. Embedding them in the current FMS platform was deemed not
cost effective at this time. However, CDC will retain the activity
tracking function for the EIS and LLS fellowship programs.
This Revision proposes a modest decrease in total time burden. This
is the result of more comprehensive estimations for fellow and host
site applicants' respondent and time burdens, including discontinuation
of data collection for the Future Leaders in Infections and Global
Health (FLIGHT) program and the Presidential Management Fellow (PMF)
programs. Burden reduction also is achieved through the changes related
to streamlining the functions housed in the system.
FMS Application Module
The estimated annual number of fellowship applicants is decreased
in this request from 5,286 to 2,500 based on application submission
trends from the most recent approval period. In accordance with a
reduction in the number of applicants, a reduction in the number of
reference letter requests is included as well. The number requested to
conduct a writing assessment in FMS remains the same as previously
approved. Based on the pilot test, in which CDC encouraged more
comprehensive assessment of time needed to prepare and submit the
information included in these applications, the average burden per
response increased from 87 to 163 minutes.
FMS Host Site Module
As with the FMS Application Module, the revised number of host site
applicants comes from FMS system reporting for the most recent approval
period. The new estimated annual number of host site applicants is
decreased from 970 to 560 responses. Previously, estimates for the FMS
Host Site Module's burden per response were based on the time it would
take to fill out the form itself, assuming that responses were largely
prepared or known ahead of time. The new estimate, created in part with
feedback from former host site applicants, captures the true extent of
burden imposed by discussing, drafting, reviewing, and submitting
responses to these applications among various agency staff typically
involved in that process. The estimated average burden per response is
increased from 75 to 461 minutes.
FMS Activity Tracking Module
Given the significant reduction in the scope and use of this
module, the estimated annual number of activity tracking respondents is
decreased from 555 to 100, responding twice per year. No change to
burden per response is requested, as CDC assessed the currently
approved time burden to be a conservative, accurate estimate.
FMS Alumni Directory
The Alumni Module is proposed for deactivation and thus has no
burden in this revision request.
Across these burden changes, compared to the currently approved
burden of 13,477 hours annually, the new proposed burden is 12, 555
hours. OMB approval is requested for three years. Applying for and
participating in fellowship programs are voluntary for both fellows and
host site supervisors.
Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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Number of Average burden
Type of respondents Form name Number of responses per per response
respondents respondent (in hours)
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Fellowship Applicants................. FMS Application Module.. 2,500 1 163/60
Reference Letter Writers.............. FMS Application Module.. 5,000 1 15/60
Subset of FMS Fellowship Applicants... FMS Application Module 220 1 30/60
(Section 13.6).
Public Health Agency or Organization FMS Host Site Module.... 560 1 461/60
Staff.
Public Health Agency or Organization FMS Activity Tracking 100 2 30/60
Staff. Module.
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2026-04568 Filed 3-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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