FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

HHS - 33551 - Board of Scientific Counselors, Center for Preparedness and Response - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Scientific Counselors, Center for Preparedness and Response	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	33551
Original Establishment Date	11/5/2007	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	4/1/2025	Committee URL	https://www.cdc.gov/orr/scientific-counselors/?...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	11
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Deputy Director, Office of Readiness and Response (ORR)
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Dr.
Current Charter Date	11/5/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Ian
Date Of Renewal Charter	11/5/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Williams
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	PhD, MS
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(404) 639-2210
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(678) 669-1667
Specific Establishment Authority*	Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.§ 217a) as amended, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	iaw@cdc.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	1/22/2002
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Board provides advice and guidance to the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), HHS; the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the Director of Office of Readiness and Response concerning strategies and goals for readiness and response activities regarding programs and research within the agency and the ORR divisions and monitors the overall strategic direction and focus of the ORR divisions and offices. The Board may perform second-level peer-review of applications for grants-in-aid for research and research training activities, cooperative agreements, and research contract proposals relating to the broad areas within the center. Second-level peer review and review of other agreements or research contract proposals have not been scheduled at this time. The Board also utilizes working groups to facilitate its work. Currently, the BSC, ORR has three working groups: 1) the Polio Containment Working Group (PCWG), 2) the Health Equity Working Group (HEWG), and 3) the Science Agenda Working Group (SAWG).
How is membership balanced?*	ORR identified the need for a diverse, multi-disciplinary group of experts to serve on the board. The disciplines represented on the Board include business, crisis leadership, emergency response and management, epidemiology, health policy and management, laboratory science, medicine, mental and behavioral health, public health practice, risk communication, and social science. The Board members represent a geographic mix and a diverse sampling of professional backgrounds [academic, medical, government (national, state, and local) and private not-for-profit]. ORR continues to identify and solicit nominees who represent a wide variety of ethnic and minority groups, as well as maintain and increase the geographic balance to obtain the broadest representation of different points of view.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The current charter specifies at least two meetings per calendar year. The BSC met in person at CDC, Atlanta, GA, January 25-26, 2024, and met virtually via Zoom webinar on May 23, 2024. The BSC continues to plan for at least two meetings each year. The agendas consist of relevant scientific content across the readiness and response field. Meeting minutes are published online https://www.cdc.gov/orr/scientific-counselors/meeting-minutes.html.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Director, ORR, and CDC are committed to increasing the application of science and evidence-based principles into public health emergency readiness and response. This advisory group helps create and support a transparent, multi-disciplinary process for ORR to continuously improve processes, programs, and vision through the input of the Board. The Board’s input and recommendations are essential to provide advice and consultation on current and future research priorities; monitor program quality improvement initiatives; and promote innovation related to readiness and response to public health emergencies. Our BSC gives a voice to stakeholder group that may not otherwise be heard.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks	No formal reports are required of this committee at this time. Darrell LaRoche IHS Ex-Officio joined the board on August 19, 2024. Francisco Garcia (SGE) accepted his appointment on July 15, 2024, and Joneigh Khaldun accepted her appointment on July 16, 2024. David Lakey is serving his 180-day extension.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	It is anticipated that recommendations will impact ORR priorities, resource allocation, and other strategic program decisions.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Not Applicable	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	The BSC, ORR is a cross-cutting Board, covering readiness and response topics from across the agency, resulting in efficient use of resources.	Grants Review Comment	Not applicable at this time.
Number Of Recommendations*	312	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	To date, the Board has held 36 meetings. In FY2024, the BSC, ORR made a total of 7 recommendations. At the January 2024 meeting, the Board BSC, ORR made 3 formal recommendations to endorse the U.S. NAC 1) Policy for U.S. Poliovirus-Essential Facilities to Implement Risk Mitigation Strategies for In Vitro and In Vivo Work with Poliovirus Infectious Materials, 2) Policy for U.S. Poliovirus-Essential Facilities to Store Poliovirus Materials Outside of the WHO GAPIV Containment Perimeter, and 3) Policy Personal Protective Equipment and Hand Hygiene Practices. At the May 2024 meeting, the Board BSC, ORR made 3 formal recommendations to endorse the U.S. NAC 1) Policy for U.S. Poliovirus-Essential Facility to Manage Inventory, 2) Policy for U.S. Facilities to Transfer Poliovirus Materials, and 3) Policy for Shared Use of Space Within U.S. Poliovirus-Essential Facilities. During the May 23, meeting the Board also made 1 formal recommendation to establish the ORR Science Agenda Workgroup. In FY2023, the BSC, CPR made a total of 6 recommendations. At the November 2022 meeting, the Board BSC, CPR made 5 formal recommendations. The first was to endorse the polio-containment policy entitled Interim Guidance for U.S. Laboratory Facilities to Store and Work with Poliovirus Potentially Infectious Materials. The Board also made 4 formal recommendations endorsing the Strategic Capacity Building and Innovation Program (SCIP) Review Working Group (SRWG) regarding the structure of the SCIP program and implementation plans. At the January 2023 meeting, the Board made 1 formal recommendation to establish the Health Equity Workgroup. In FY2022, the BSC CPR made 3 formal recommendations endorsing 3 polio containment policies covering occupational health, incident response, and personal protective equipment and hand hygiene, and at the December 2021 meeting, the Board made a formal recommendation to establish the Strategic Capacity Building and Innovation Program Review Working Group (SRWG). In FY2021, the BSC CPR made 5 formal recommendations endorsing 5 polio containment policies covering biosafety strategies, security strategies, emergency response strategies, inactivation of infectious material, and shared use of labs for non-poliovirus and poliovirus work. In FY 2020, the BSC CPR made 3 formal recommendations regarding biosafety and polio containment. Based on the activity of the Biological Agent Containment Working Group, at the January 2020 meeting, Board members voted to endorse a U.S. National Authority for Containment of Poliovirus (NAC) policy related to biorisk management systems and risk assessment in U.S. Polio Essential Facilities. In addition, at the July 2020 meeting, the Board recommended sunsetting the Biological Agent Containment workgroup and establishing the Polio Containment workgroup. The Board continues to provide advice and guidance that further promotes and enhances strategic progress throughout the CPR Divisions and Offices. All applicable comments are presented to the respective CPR Office/Division or CDC Centers/Institutes/Offices (CIOs) and updates may be requested and reviewed by the BSC at an upcoming meeting. To date, the Board has held 31 meetings. In FY19 the Board made 3 recommendations based on findings from the Biological Agent Containment workgroup. The Board also has made recommendations on external peer reviews of OPHPR (now CPR) programs resulting in a total of 145 formal recommendations. Of the 145 recommendations, 10 were about the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) 2020 Report and were brought to a vote during the April 2-3, 2013, BSC Meeting. The 10 recommendations were accepted for action by OPHPR. The Board deliberated and provided 19 additional recommendations to OPHPR in January 2012 following an external review of OPHPR’s Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers completed on August 9-12, 2011. In 2011, the Board approved a total of 58 recommendations in two separate meetings. On April 22, 2011, the Board approved 45 recommendations from the external peer review of OPHPR’s Division of Emergency Operations conducted on January 26-28, 2010. On August 14-15, 2011, the Board approved 4 recommendations from the external peer review of OPHPR’s Division of Strategic National Stockpile conducted on July 28-30, 2009; and 9 recommendations from the external peer review of OPHPR’s CPR’s Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program completed on June 29-July 1, 2011. An external peer review for OPHPR’s Division of State and Local Readiness completed on September 15-17, 2009, resulted in 15 recommendations from the Board which were approved on April 27, 2010. On April 27, 2009, 14 recommendations were approved by the Board following the first external review of the OPHPR Fiscal Allocation Process program conducted on February 25-27, 2009. An additional 29 recommendations made during the August 13-14, 2009, Board meeting resulted from the external review of OPHPR’s Division of Select Agents and Toxins.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	58.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The 7 formal recommendations made in FY24 were fully implemented. ORR's programs continue to take action to implement the remaining recommendations and will report progress to the Board as applicable. Since FY20, over 90% of the recommendations have been fully implemented.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	37.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	All recommendations have been considered. Formal and informal BSC recommendations that have not been implemented are a result of CPR's mission and scope, resource limitations, or other programmatic or policy issues that limit implementation. Since FY20, over 90% of the recommendations have been partially implemented.	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Contact DFO by email at BSC-ORR@cdc.gov.
Agency Feedback Comment*	The BSC, ORR Board holds 1-2 public meetings per year, announcing each public meeting in the federal register and including public comment periods as part of every BSC, ORR meeting. ORR programs routinely provide updates on actions taken to implement recommendations and advice from the Board and those updates are published in the meeting summaries. Additional information regarding the Board may be obtained at https://www.cdc.gov/orr//bsc/index.htm	Narrative Description*	The Board of Scientific Counselors, Office of Preparedness and Response (BSC, ORR) is an advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Board provides advice and guidance to the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH); the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the Director, ORR. The Board provides advice and recommends strategies and goals for readiness and response activities of programs and research within the agency and the ORR divisions. The also Board monitors the overall strategic direction and focus of the ORR divisions and offices and may administer and oversee peer review of ORR scientific programs.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$0.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	4/7/2025 6:56 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.00
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks	The Committee was terminated effective March 31, 2025, under E.O. 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Business Management Science Civil Rights Children Disabled Equal Opportunity Minorities Native Americans Women Emergency Disaster Assistance Earthquake, Flood, and Fire Hazards and Administration Emergency Preparedness and Management Health Biodefense Public Health Medicine Health and Health Research Research Research and Development Science and Technology Innovation Science and Technology Social Sciences Risk Communication Social Sciences

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