Notices. Notice
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/register/2006/10/16/06-8674A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Privacy Act of 1974; Notice of Updated System of Records AGENCY: General Services Administration. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The General Services Administration
(GSA)is providing notice of a revision to the record system Personnel Security Files (GSA/HRO-37). The system provides control over personnel security. The revisions ensure that the system of records meet the requirements of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and that individuals be fully informed about collection of their personal information. EFFECTIVE DATE: The system of records will become effective without further notice on November 27, 2006 unless comments received on or before that date result in a contrary determination. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Call or e-mail the GSA Privacy Act Officer: telephone 202-501-1452; e-mail *gsa.privacyact@gsa.gov* . ADDRESSES: GSA Privacy Act Officer (CIB), General Services Administration, 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To comply with new requirements of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) GSA updated its personnel security system. This notice explains the new categories of records in the system and the authorities for maintaining the system. Dated: September 21, 2006. Cheryl Paige, Acting Director, Office of Information Management. GSA/HRO-37 System name: Personnel Security files. Security classification: Some records in the system are classified under Executive Order 12958 as amended. System location: Personnel security files are maintained with other appropriate records in the Personnel Security Requirements Division (CPR), GSA Building, 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405. Categories of individuals covered by the system: Employees, applicants for employment, former employees of GSA and of commissions, committees, small agencies serviced by GSA, contractors, students, interns, volunteers, individuals authorized to perform or use services provided in GSA facilities ( *e.g.* Credit Union or Fitness Center) and individuals formerly in any of these positions that require regular, ongoing access to Federal facilities, information technology systems or information classified in the interest of national security. Included are historical researchers, experts or consultants, and employees of contractors performing services for GSA. Categories of records in the system: Personnel security files contain information such as name, former names, date and place of birth, home address, phone numbers, height, weight, hair color, eye color, sex, passport information, military information, civil court information, employment history, residential history, Social Security Number, occupation, experience, and investigative material, education and degrees earned, names of associates and references and their contact information, citizenship, names of relatives, citizenship of relatives, names of relatives who work for the Federal government, criminal history, mental health history, drug use, financial information, fingerprints, summary report of investigation, results of suitability decisions, level of security clearance, date of issuance of security clearance, requests for appeals, witness statements, investigator's notes, tax return information, credit reports, security violations, circumstances of violation, and agency action taken. Forms: SF-85, SF-85P, SF-86, SF-87, FCRA, OF306, FD258. Authority for maintaining the system: Depending upon the type of investigation, GSA is authorized to ask for this information under Executive Orders 10450 as amended, 10865 as amended, 12968 as amended, and 12958 as amended; sections 3301 and 9101 of title 5, U.S. Code; sections 2165 and 2201 of title 42, U.S. Code; parts 5, 732, and 736 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations; and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12. Purpose: To assemble in one system information pertaining to issuing security clearances and public trust certifications, suitability decisions, fitness for service of applicants for federal employment and contract positions, and administrative actions. Information security files also are used for recommending administrative action against employees found to be violating GSA classified national security information regulations. Routine uses of records in the system, including the types of users and the purposes of such uses: a. In any legal proceeding, where pertinent, to which GSA is a party before a court or administrative body. b. To the Department of Justice when:
(a)The agency or any component thereof; or
(b)any employee of the agency in his or her official capacity;
(c)any employee of the agency in his or her individual capacity where agency or the Department of Justice has agreed to represent the employee; or
(d)the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the agency determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation and the use of such records by DOJ is therefore deemed by the agency to be for a purpose compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records. c. To authorized officials engaged in investigating or settling a grievance, complaint, or appeal filed by an individual who is the subject of the record. d. Except as noted on Forms SF-85, 85-P, and 86, when a records on its face, or in conjunction with other records, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, whether civil, criminal, or regulatory in nature, and whether arising by general statute or particular program statute, or by regulation, rule, or order issued pursuant therto, disclosure may be made to the appropriate public authority, whether Federal, foreign, State, local or tribal, or otherwise, responsible for enforcing, investigating or prosecuting such violation or charged with enforcing or implementing the statute, or rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant thereto, if the information disclosed is relevant to any enforcement, regulatory, investigative or prosecutorial responsibility of the receiving entity. e. To a Federal agency in connection with the hiring or retention of an employee; the issuance of a security clearance; the reporting of an investigation; the letting of a contract; or the issuance of a grant, license, or other benefit to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to a decision. f. To agency contractors or volunteers who have been engaged to assist the agency in the performance of a contract service, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity. Recipients shall be required to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a. g. To the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), or the Government Accountability Office
(GAO)when the information is required for program evaluation purposes. h. To a Member of Congress or staff on behalf of and at the request of the individual who is the subject of the record. i. To an expert, consultant, or contractor of GSA in the performance of a Federal duty to which the information is reluctant. j. To the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA)for records management purposes. k. To a Federal, State, or local agency, or other appropriate entities or individuals, or through established liaison channels to selected foreign governments, in order to enable an intelligence agency to carry out its responsibilities under the National Security Act of 1947 as amended, the CIA Act of 1949 as amended, Executive Order 12333 or any successor order, applicable national security directives, or classified implementing procedures approved by the Attorney General and promulgated pursuant to such statutes, orders, or directives. l. To the Office of Management and Budget when necessary to the review of private relief legislation pursuant to OMB Circular No. A-19. Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system: Storage: Records are maintained on paper and electronically in secure locations. Records are maintained in the system of records Comprehensive Human Resources Integrated System (GSA/PPFM-8) in the personnel security module and associated equipment. Retrievability: Records are retrieved by name and Social Security Number. Safeguards: Personnel security file records are stored in a secured office in cabinets with access limited to authorized employees. A password system protects access to computer records. Access to the records is limited to those employees who have a need for them in the performance of their official duties. Retention and disposal: These records are retained and disposed of in accordance with General Records Schedule 18, item 22, approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Records are destroyed by burning, pulping, or shredding, as scheduled in the HB GSA Records Maintenance and Disposition System (OAD P 1820.2A). System manager and address: The official responsible for personnel security files in the system is the Director, Personnel Security Requirements Division (CPR), 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405. Notification procedure: Inquiries by individuals as to whether the system contains a record pertaining to themselves should be addressed to the system manager. Record access procedures: Requests from individuals for access to records should be addressed to the system manager and should include full name (maiden name where appropriate), address, and date and place of birth. General inquiries may be made by telephone. Procedures for contesting records: GSA rules for accessing records, contesting their content, and appealing initial decisions appear in 41 CFR part 105-64. Record sources: Individuals, employees, informants, law enforcement agencies, other Government agencies, employees' references, co-workers, neighbors, educational institutions, and intelligence sources. Security violation information is obtained from a variety of sources, such as security guard's reports, security inspections, witnesses, supervisor's reports, and audit reports. Files exempted from parts of the act: Under 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(5), the personnel security case files in the system of records are exempt from subsections (c)(3); (d); (e)(1); (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I); and
(f)of the act. Information will be withheld to the extent it identifies witnesses promised confidentiality as a condition of providing information during the course of the background investigation. [FR Doc. E6-17070 Filed 10-13-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-34-P GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Privacy Act of 1974; Notice of a New System of Records AGENCY: General Services Administration. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The General Services Administration
(GSA)is providing notice of a new record system, GSA/PPFM-11 (Pegasys). Pegasys is a commercial-off-the-shelf based financial management system. *Effective Date:* The system of records will become effective without further notice on November 27, 2006 unless comments received on or before that date result in a contrary determination. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Call or e-mail the GSA Privacy Act Officer: telephone 202-501-1452; e-mail *gsa.privacyact@gsa.gov.* ADDRESSES: GSA Privacy Act Officer (CIB), General Services Administration, 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pegasys is part of a shared-services financial operation providing a commercial-off-the-shelf financial system (in a private-vendor hosted environment), financial transaction processing, and financial analysis for its main business lines of Federal supplies and technology, public buildings, and general management and administration offices. GSA also utilizes this shared-service operation to cross service multiple external client agencies. The system information will be accessed and used by GSA employees, training centers, and outside agencies. Dated: September 28, 2006. Cheryl Paige, Acting Director, Office of Information Management. GSA/PPFM-11 System name: Pegasys. System location: Pegasys records and files are maintained in the Phoenix Data Center (PDC), with records also stored in the Washington, DC Central Office, Ft. Worth regional office, and Kansas City regional office. Individuals covered by the system: Individuals covered by Pegasys include GSA vendors and Federal employees. Records in the system: Pegasys contains records and files pertaining to financial information; therefore, these files and records contain the following privacy data: • Social Security Number
(SSN)• Employee address • Banking information • Credit Card number Authority for maintaining the system: The Chief Financial Officers
(CFO)Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-576) as amended. Purpose: Pegasys is the GSA core financial management system of records to make payments and record accounting transactions. This includes funds management (budget execution and purchasing), credit cards, accounts payable, disbursements, standard general ledger, and reporting. It is part of a shared-services financial operation providing a commercial-off-the-shelf
(COTS)financial system (in a private-vendor hosted environment), financial transaction processing, and financial analysis for its main business lines of Federal supplies and technology, public buildings, and general management and administration offices. GSA also utilizes this shared-service operation to cross service multiple external client agencies. Routine uses of the system records, including categories of users and their purpose for using the system: System information accessed by Pegasys may be used by designated finance center employees and their supervisors, along with designated analysts and managers. System information also may be used: a. In any legal proceeding, where pertinent, to which GSA is a party before a court or administrative body. b. To conduct investigations, by authorized officials, that are investigating or settling a grievance, complaint, or appeal filed by an individual who is the subject of the record. c. To a Federal agency in connection with the hiring or retention of an employee; the issuance of a security clearance; the reporting of an investigation; the letting of a contract; or the issuance of a grant, license, or other benefit to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to a decision. d. To the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), or the Government Accountability Office
(GAO)when the information is required for program evaluation purposes. e. To an expert, consultant, or contractor of GSA in the performance of a Federal duty to which the information is relevant. f. To the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA)for records management purposes. Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of system records: Storage: All records and files in Pegasys are stored electronically in a password-protected database format. Retrieval: Information on individuals contained in Pegasys records and files are retrievable by name or vendor number. Safeguards: Pegasys records and files are safeguarded in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act. Access is limited to authorized individuals with passwords, and the database is maintained behind a certified firewall. Information on individuals is released only to authorized persons on a need-to-know basis and in accordance with the provisions of routine use. This system undergoes frequent testing and is certified and accredited for operation. Periodic Privacy Act Impact Assessments are performed as well to ensure the adequacy of security controls to protect personally identifiable information. Retention and disposal: Pegasys records and files are retained and disposed of according to GSA records maintenance and disposition schedules and the requirements of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). System manager and address: Director, Financial Systems Development Division (BDD), General Services Administration, 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405. Notification procedure: Individuals wishing to inquire if the system contains information about them should contact the Pegasys system manager. Record access procedure: Requests for access may be directed to the Pegasys system manager. Record contesting procedure: GSA rules for accessing records, for contesting the contents, and appealing initial decisions are in 41 CFR part 105-64, published in the **Federal Register** . Record sources: The sources for information in Pegasys are the individuals for whom the records are maintained, the supervisors of those individuals, and existing agency systems. [FR Doc. E6-17069 Filed 10-13-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-34-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Request for Measures of Consumers' Assessment of Cultural Competency AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), DHHS. ACTION: Notice of request for measures. SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ)is soliciting the submission of instruments or items that measure patient perspectives on the cultural awareness of the healthcare professionals providing care to those patients. This initiative is in response to the need to develop a new CAHPS® cultural competency survey. AHRQ is interested in incorporating this survey into an integrated set of carefully tested, standardized survey questionnaires and accompanying reports. The addition of the CAHPS® cultural competency component to the set is intended to empower consumers with quality of care information while also encouraging healthcare professionals to provide culturally competent care. The survey will be designed to assess the quality of care and services provided by healthcare professional in the context of cultural competency. Based on prior work, there are several functional areas that the planned instrument could assess such as:
(1)Patient-provider communication ( *e.g.,* providers give clear explanations, patients feel that they get all the information they need,),
(2)respect for patient preferences/shared decision-making ( *e.g.,* providers discuss pros and cons of treatment options, providers understand and takes into account patient's environment, family members are appropriately included in decisions),
(3)experiences leading to trust or distrust ( *e.g.,* providers treat patients in a culturally sensitive or insensitive manner that led to trust or distrust),
(4)experiences of discrimination ( *e.g.,* providers or staff treat patients with disrespect because of a patients' racial/ethnic backgrounds, insurance type/status, lack of proficiency in English),
(5)language access ( *e.g.,* availability of interpreter services and translated materials), and
(6)alternative treatment ( *e.g.,* providers are open to discussion about traditional healers and remedies). DATES: Please submit instruments or individual items and supporting information on or before November 15, 2006. AHRQ will not respond individually to submitters, but will consider all submitted instruments and publicly report the results of the review of the submissions in aggregate. ADDRESSES: Submissions should include a brief cover letter, copy of the instrument or items for consideration and supporting information as specified under the Submission Criteria below. Submissions may be in the form of a letter or e-mail, preferably with an electronic file as an e-mail attachment. Responses to this request should be submitted to: Anna Caponiti, Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, Phone:
(301)427-1402, Fax:
(301)427-1341, E-mail: *anna.caponiti@ahrq.hhs.gov.* To facilitate handling of submissions, please include full information about the instrument developer or contact:
(a)Name,
(b)title,
(c)organization,
(d)mailing address,
(e)telephone number,
(f)fax number, and
(g)e-mail address. Also please submit a copy of the instrument or items for consideration along with evidence that they meet the criteria below. It would be appreciated if each citation of a peer-reviewed journal article pertaining to the instrument includes the title of the article, author(s), publication year, journal name, volume, issue, and page numbers where article appears, but all of these details are not required. Submitters must also provide a statement of willingness to grant to AHRQ the right to use and authorize others to use submitted measures and their documentation as part of a CCAHPS®-trademarked instrument. This CAHPS® instrument for patients' perspectives on cultural competency of healthcare professionals provision of care will be made publicly available, free of charge. Electronic submissions are encouraged. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Caponiti, at the address above. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Information The CAHPS® program was initiated in 1995 to develop a survey and report on consumers' perspectives on the quality of their health plans. Since that time, the CAHPS® program, in partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS)and others, has expanded its scope and developed consumer surveys and reports regarding consumer perspectives on individual clinicians, group practices, in-center hemodialysis services, nursing homes and hospitals. AHRQ determined that the CAHPS® team should develop a survey to obtain consumer perspectives on cultural awareness of healthcare professionals. The vision of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is to foster health care research that helps the American health care system provide access to high-quality, cost-effective services; be accountable and responsive to consumers and purchasers; and improve health status and quality of life. The CAHPS® program was developed as a result of AHRQ's vision. One of the components missing from the current measurement set is an assessment of patients' perspective on cultural awareness of healthcare professionals. Submission Criteria Instruments submitted should focus on patient perspectives on the quality of care and services provided by healthcare professionals in the context of cultural awareness demonstrated by those healthcare professionals. AHRQ is interested in measures that:
(a)Capture patients' experiences of quality of received health care in the context of healthcare professionals' cultural awareness and
(b)demonstrate a high degree of reliability and validity. Accordingly, each submission should include, in addition to the name of the pertinent instrument, domains included, and the language(s) the instrument is available in, the following information: Evidence of cultural/cross group comparability, if any; instrument reliability (internal consistency, test-retest, *etc.* ); validity (content, construct, criterion-related); response rates; methods and results of cognitive testing and field-testing as well as descriptions of sampling strategies (including payer type) and data collection protocols, including such elements as mode of administration, use of advance letters, timing and frequencies of contacts. Evidence addressing these criteria should be demonstrated through submission of peer-reviewed journal article(s) or through the best evidence available at the time of submission. In addition, a list of where the instrument has been fielded should also be included in the submission. Submission of copies of existing report formats developed to disclose findings to consumers and providers is desirable, but not required. Additionally, information about existing database(s) for the instrument(s) submitted is helpful, but not required for submission. Submitters' willingness to grant to AHRQ the right to use and authorize others to use their instrument or item and accompanying explanatory material means that the CAHPS® trademark will be applied to a new instrument which will combine the best features of the submissions as well as any ideas that may develop from reviewing them. It also ensures free access to this instrument and the instrument's supportive/administrative information. AHRQ, in collaboration with CAHPS grantees, will evaluate all submitted instruments or items. As the CAHPS instrument is constructed, one or more items may be selected for use, either in whole or in part, or modified, prior to testing them. AHRQ will assume responsibility for the final instruments as well as any future modifications. The final instrument will bear the CAHPS® trademark and it will be made available without charge for use by all interested parties. Submitters will have relinquished ownership of any items that appear in the final instrument. However, item ownership will be protected during testing of the survey. As a matter of quality control, there will be warnings that the CAHPS® trademark or identification may not be used if any changes are made to the instrument or final measure set without review and permission of the Agency. Dated: October 5, 2006. Carolyn M. Clancy, Director. [FR Doc. 06-8674 Filed 10-13-06; 8:45 am]
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- 41 CFR 105
- Pub. L. 101-576
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Cite41 CFR 105
Pub. L.Pub. L. 101-576
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