Framework for the Review of Research Programs of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Agriculture Forestry and Fishing Research at NIOSH - page 227

Tool (PART) review, 4 to evaluation of research program elements such as any ex-
ternal scientific program reviews. The ECs should review all available prior reviews.
Although it is important to consider all prior reviews in the present evaluation to
aid in understanding the evolution of the programs and program elements, the
ECs' evaluations of NIOSH's programs are independent of the prior reviews and
evaluations.

I.C. Evaluation Committees

Individual ECs will be formed through a process consistent with the rules of
the National Academies for the formation of balanced committees. The commit-
tees will be composed of persons with expertise appropriate to evaluating specific
NIOSH research programs and may include representatives of stakeholder groups
(such as labor unions and industry) and experts in technology transfer and pro-
gram evaluation. The committees will conduct appropriate information-gathering
sessions to obtain information from the sponsor (a NIOSH research program),
stakeholders affected directly by the NIOSH research, and relevant independent
parties. Each EC will consist of about 10 members, will meet about three times,
and will prepare a report. The National Academies will deliver the report to NIOSH
within 9 months after the individual EC is formed. EC reports will be subjected to
the National Academies report-review process.

I.D. Evaluation Committees' Information Needs

The ECs are expected to conduct information-gathering as appropriate on

• Background and resources of the program:

♦ History of program, including results of previous reviews.

♦ Program funding, by year, for the current year and the last 10

years.

♦ Program funding, by objective or subprogram.

♦ Extramural-grant awarding, cooperative agreement and contract-

ing process, solicitation of research ideas, and advisory activities.

• Program goals and objectives.

• Internal NIOSH processes and research:

♦ Intramural surveillance, research, and transfer activities.

♦ Process to solicit and approve intramural research proposals.

4 PART focuses on assessing program-level performance and is one of the measures of success for
the Budget and Performance Integration initiative of the president's management agenda (see CDC
Occupational Safety and Health at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy006/pma/hhs.pdf ).