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Supporting Statement for
ICR 202610-0920-018 · OMB 0920-1417 · Object 174020300.
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| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
|---|---|
| File Title | Supporting Statement for |
| Author | zoz1 |
| Last Modified By | Writer |
| File Modified | 2026-10-22 |
| File Created | 2026-10-23 |
| Conversion State | complete |
Extracted Text
Supporting Statement A
Public Health Emergency Management Capacity Assessment Tool (PHEM TOOL)
(OMB Control No. 0920-1417)
Extension
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Readiness and Response
Division of Emergency Operations
Shivani Damas
October 01, 2026
Table of Content
A. Justification 3
1. Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary 3
2. Purpose and Use of Information Collection 4
3. Use of Improved Technology and Burden Reduction 5
4. Efforts to Identify Duplication and Use of Similar Information 5
5. Impact on Small Businesses or Other Small Entities 5
6. Consequences of Collecting the Information Less Frequently 5
7. Special Circumstances Relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5 5
8. Comments in Response to the Federal Register Notice and Efforts to Consult Outside the Agency 5
9. Explanation of Any Payment or Gift to Respondents 6
10. Assurance of Confidentiality Provided to Respondents 6
11. Justification of Sensitive Questions 8
12. Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours and Costs 8
13. Estimates of Other Total Annual Cost Burden to Respondents or Record keepers 9
14. Annualized Cost to the Government 9
15. Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments 10
16. Plans for Tabulation and Publication and Project Time Schedule 10
17. Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate 10
18. Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions 10
List of Attachments: 11
Supporting Statement A
A. Justification
1. Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary
The PHEM Tool is used by GEMCD team EMTAs with GHSA Country participants to assess PHEM program and PHEOC capacity in the country. Collected data are used to determine appropriate programmatic technical assistance for a given year. For country activities occurring for more than one year, data can be used to assess progress. The PHEM Tool provides evidence to support the GEMCD Team’s program activities, specifically in terms of technical assistance.
The GEMCD team is the CDC lead for PHEM in the international setting. The PHEM Tool is used to determine the status of PHEM programs and PHEOCs in participating GHSA countries. Countries are required by the International Health Regulations, 2005 (IHR) to achieve benchmarks related to emergency response, and GEMCD provides subject matter expertise in the creation and sustainment of PHEM programs and PHEOCs.
GEMCD works with countries to ensure that they are able to prepare for and effectively respond to public health emergencies as mandated by the IHR. The information collection request is an extension and the length of time requested is 3 years. This data collection is authorized by Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241) (Attachment 1) . The information collection request is for three years, at which time the PHEM Tool renewal may be sought.
2. Purpose and Use of Information Collection
The goal of the PHEM Tool (Attachment 3) is to provide an easy to use but comprehensive questionnaire to assess public health emergency management (PHEM) program capacity and public health emergency operations centers' (PHEOC) capabilities, for the purpose of identifying areas of technical assistance support the following:
1. To create an easy to use and comprehensive PHEM Program and PHEOC assessment tool for use in Global Health Security
Agenda as well as USG/ CDC priority countries.
2. To use data collected using the tool to identify focus areas for programmatic
activities and Technical Assistance.
3. To use tool each program year to document improvements or decreases in public health
emergency management and/ or Public Health Emergency Operations Center capabilities.
PHEM Tool data will be used to tailor technical assistance and programmatic activities in participant countries. PHEM Tool data will be available to participant CDC country teams, in report form. In addition, these reports may be shared with Ministry of Health officials, at the discretion of the CDC Country or Regional Teams. GEMCD may use data collected using the PHEM Tool to develop reports for programmatic use, internal to DEO, ORR, or Global Health. Aggregated or de-identified PHEM Tool data may also be used in publications pertaining to emergency management, capacity development, public health workforce development, etc.
Publications external to CDC will reference country specific data in an anonymous format or as one of many represented in the case of regional comparisons. PHEM Tool data for use in external publications or presentations will be submitted through CDC’s approval and clearance process.
3. Use of Improved Technology and Burden Reduction
Interviewers will enter respondents’ information into an Excel spreadsheet.
4. Efforts to Identify Duplication and Use of Similar Information
GEMCD team is the CDC lead for PHEM program and PHEOC support to GHSA countries working to achieve IHR standards. GEMCD collaborates closely with other CDC entities responsible for their own programmatic activities related to GHSA and IHR standards, e.g., surveillance, point of entry, etc. In addition, GEMCD collaborates closely with WHO in development and review of guidance related to PHEM program and PHEOC practices. GEMCD Team is requested to provide and conduct the PHEM Tool as part of its “needs assessment” to provide Technical Assistance pertaining to PHEM. The Tool is designed uniquely for this purpose and crosswalks PHEM focused capabilities as required by the International Health Regulations and the Joint External Evaluation tool. It is intended to be administered annually, to assess progress or challenges a country is facing as pertains to their PHEM programs. There are no similar data/information availability for the PHEM Tool.
5. Impact on Small Businesses or Other Small Entities
Collection of information may involve some small businesses or other small entities, but the burden has been limited to providing minimal information on forms, verifying information by telephone, and mailing information to the appropriate parties. CDC has made every effort to ensure that the information collection is the minimal amount necessary to meet the requirements of the law and places a minimal burden on all parties involved.
6. Consequences of Collecting the Information Less Frequently
CDC may not be to provide timely technical assistance to GHSA countries resulting in these partner countries with specific needs that are not met. This may impact their ability to respond to emergencies according to IHR standards. Delay or inability to respond may lead to additional morbidity and mortality in an impacted country.
7. Special Circumstances Relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5
This request fully complies with the regulation in 5 CFR 1320.5.
8. Comments in Response to the Federal Register Notice and Efforts to Consult Outside the Agency
A8A. A “60 Day Federal Register Notice” was published in the Federal Register on June 18 , 2026, Vol. 91, No. 117, Pages 36839-36840 (Attachment 2). Four comments were received regarding this notice and CDC responded accordingly. (Attachment 2a-d)
A8B. Consultation Outside the Agency
GEMCD assists countries in developing their PHEM programs and PHEOC capabilities. An early step of this process is to ask questions of key personnel that work in the PHEM program or PHEOC about the existing strengths, weaknesses, etc. of their PHEM program, PHEOC or challenges personnel are facing, etc. These data will inform the project plan for improving the PHEM program or PHEOC, addressing personnel training needs, etc.
9. Explanation of Any Payment or Gift to Respondents
Respondents will not receive any payment or gift.
10. Assurance of Confidentiality Provided to Respondents
The Office of Readiness and Response’s Information Systems Security Officer has determined that the Privacy Act does not apply to this information collection. The data collection does not involve collection of sensitive or identifiable personal information.
Information will be kept secure by the DEO Information Technology (IT) Team’s CDCReady. The IT Team will act as the Data Manager (DM) for the PHEM Tool data, ensuring that it is maintained over time in the CDCReady platform, available to specific, role-based programmatic staff.
11. Justification of Sensitive Questions
This data collection does not include personal questions of a sensitive nature.
12. Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours and Costs
The PHEM Tool is intended to be administered by the EMTA with key responders from GHSA country MoH representatives and/ or CDC country office personnel. The questions can be answered easily by well-informed programmatic staff and may take more time for those less familiar with PHEM and the PHEM program and the country’s PHEOC. In previous pilots, the Tool can be completed in an estimated time of 6 hours. Burden hours in the table reflect one staff member providing responses.
Table A12A. Estimate of Annualized Burden Hours
Table A12B. Estimate of Annualized Cost to Respondent
When estimating the annualized burden costs, CDC is using an average hourly respondent labor rate of $49.74 for Emergency Management Directors. These rates were obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Data table (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119161.htmL . The total estimate of the annualized costs to the respondents is $7,090.56.
13. Estimates of Other Total Annual Cost Burden to Respondents or Record keepers
Respondents incur no capital or maintenance costs.
14. Annualized Cost to the Government
The total estimated cost for implementing the PHEM Tool data collection is $12, 636 which includes a range of the hourly rate of the EMTA administering the survey, and the range of time it takes to complete the interview. An EMTA generally earns between $48.00- $71.00 and hour. An analyst generally earns between $48 and $65 per hour and each interview takes 3 hours to analyze.
FY 2026 Annualized Government Cost
Personnel: 6 FTEs (presently) conducting up to two PHEM Tool assessments each year
Hourly Rate
Time (Hours)
Wage Rate Multiplier
Total Cost
EMTA Interviewer
$48
36
2
$3,456
EMTA Interviewer
$71
36
2
$5,112
EMTA Analyst
$48
18
2
$1,728
EMTA Analyst
$65
18
2
$2,340
$12,636
15. Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments
This is an extension request with no significant changes.
16. Plans for Tabulation and Publication and Project Time Schedule
Analysis of collected data will be conducted, annually. Data within or between regions may be compared, annually. Findings that are reflective of best or promising practices may be described, in aggregated or anonymous fashion, in publication.
17. Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate
The display of the OMB expiration date is not inappropriate.
18. Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
There are no exceptions to the certification.
List of Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Authorizing Legislation - Public Health Service Act, Section 2102 (42 U.S.C. 300a-2)
Attachment 2 – 60-Day Federal Register Notice
Attachment 2a – 60-Day Comments and CDC Response
Att3 – PHEM Tool