Department of Education
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Management and Information Systems Support for NIDRR
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the Department of Education (ED) is responding to the federal and departmental initiatives around improving management through performance-based strategies and clear accountability for results. NIDRR is taking action to strengthen its internal management, led by the Planning, Budget and Evaluation (PB&E) Division. NIDRR has contracted with New Editions to support administrative strategies and information systems developed by NIDRR to implement management excellence and accountability requirements. New Editions provides support to NIDRR in four task areas:
- Program Management, Planning and Evaluation
- Database and Information Systems Maintenance and Integration
- Conference and Meeting Management
- Technical and Administrative Reports
Program Management, Planning and Evaluation:
New Editions provides program management and evaluation support to NIDRR on its three most important evaluation activities: Formative program review; GPRA standing panels; and Programmatic planning and evaluation.
Formative Reviews are process evaluations designed to examine a cross-sectional snapshot of the quality of project and program implementation efforts at a specific time frame in the grant cycle. New Editions is arranging up to 14 Formative Review meetings a year. Our staff is updating and maintaining a Web site, providing administrative and logistical support, and evaluation of the data.
GPRA standing panels are developed to evaluate the outcomes of NIDRR grantees. NIDRR will create five Standing Panels, corresponding to the major areas of NIDRR work – Health and Function, Employment, Technology, Independent Living and Participation. New Editions staff members are supporting the standing panels by recruiting reviewers and maintaining a database, manage communication with the members, provide logistical support, and prepare reports summarizing the meetings.
Programmatic planning and evaluation is accomplished by conducting a meeting once a year with an expert panel. NIDRR uses the expert panel to provide a critical review and make recommendations on future directions through a review of the accomplishments and outcomes of the programs, examination of their current activities, and determination of the need for future work. New Editions is providing support by analyzing program activities and accomplishments, conducting a survey of public and private funding of research related to the programs, providing meeting support for the panel meetings, and preparing a report summarizing the finding and recommendations.
Database and Information Systems Maintenance and Integration:
New Editions is providing maintenance and upgrades to existing computer-related systems such as databases, knowledge sharing systems, and web-based libraries and communication systems. The goal of this task is to improve data management and increase the use of technology in serving NIDRR’s customers. Activities include:
- Upgrading knowledge sharing systems;
- Maintaining fiscal and performance tracking databases;
- Maintaining planning and evaluation Web site; and
- Upgrading communication vehicles for NIDRR reviewers.
New Editions staff members are updating and maintaining several NIDRR databases that are used to store key information. All databases are updated on a monthly basis, NIDRR staff is trained to use each of the databases, and New Editions staff members provide technical assistance for all databases. Several NIDRR Web sites are also being updated and maintained by New Editions. These Web sites are also maintained according to accessibility standards outline in the Section 508 guidelines.
To provide a basis for effective integration of all systems, New Editions is reviewing the current state of information and knowledge sharing at NIDRR. New Editions is reviewing current procedures and internal documentation sources. Interviews are also being conducted with key NIDRR staff to identify current procedures, needs, and issues to be addressed, from their perspectives. A report will be prepared to clearly describing current systems and proposed recommendations, including requirements. New Editions staff members are developing an implementation plan to integrate all the current databases and information systems into one. A users’ manual and training classes will be provided for the new system. We will maintain the system by updating information on a monthly basis.
Conference and Meeting Management:
New Editions provides technical and logistical support for a variety of meetings, conferences and other events. These meetings take various forms, as appropriate to the specific goals of the events. For this contract, up to five grantee meetings and up to three stakeholder or expert panels are conducted annually. New Editions’ overall approach to organizing, conducting, and supporting meetings, workshops, and conferences is flexible and can be adapted to meet diverse requirements. This approach accommodates the many variations in meeting format, from small group discussions to large, formal conferences including, plenary sessions, simultaneous workshops and social events. New Editions has special expertise and experience in organizing meetings that are accessible and facilitate full participation of individuals with disabilities. Our approach to meeting management and facilitation includes three major phases: pre-conference planning and coordination; onsite facilitation and management; and post-conference follow up activities. We plan each phase in close coordination with the appropriate program officials to ensure client satisfaction.
Grantee Meetings are held to enable NIDRR to collect data and report on the programs to meet the requirements of GPRA, PART, and other administrative directives. They are also used to share information and facilitate coordination and cooperation among grantees. Members of the New Editions’ staff have supported these meetings for five years. For each meeting, New Editions arranges the logistics including: arrange for accessible meeting space; prepare meeting materials; arrange travel for participants; prepare materials in alternate formats (Braille, disk, large print) for participants who request them; provide accessibility accommodations for participants as needed (sign language interpreters, FM listening systems, CART services, personal assistance services, etc.); provide on-site support, including logistical, technical and personal assistance; and prepare a summary report in electronic format.
Stakeholder and Expert Panel Meetings are designed to assess NIDRR’s data safety monitoring process for grants conducting clinical trials. New Editions plans, arranges and conducts one expert panel meeting each year of the contract. New Editions arranges the logistics including: arrange for accessible meeting space; prepare meeting materials; arrange travel for experts; prepare materials in alternate formats (Braille, disk, large print) for participants who request them; provide accessibility accommodations for participants as needed (sign language interpreters, FM listening systems, CART services, personal assistance services, etc.); provide on-site support, including logistical, technical and personal assistance; and prepare a summary report in electronic format.
Technical Reports and Analyses:
There are two categories of reports required by NIDRR— technical reports and analyses and the final report for the task order.
Given the broad goals and objectives of NIDRR and new administrative requirements, there is an increased need for NIDRR to analyze and synthesize topical information through detailed reports. New Editions is researching, writing, editing, and producing up to two technical reports on topics and in formats as directed by NIDRR. These technical reports are inventories, reviews of the literature, and policy analyses.
New Editions will prepare a thorough final administrative report that details the activities completed under this contract, the problems encountered and solutions implemented, and the overall findings of the activities.
