112 STAT. 44 PUBLIC LAW 105-168—APR. 21, 1998 Public infonnation. Establishment. (d)(2)), including data on the causes of such defects and on the incidence and prevalence of such defects; "(2) to operate regional centers for the conduct of applied epidemiological research on the prevention of such defects; and "(3) to provide information and education to the public on the prevention of such defects. " (b) ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING COLLECTION OF DATA. — "(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out subsection (a)(l), the Secretary— "(A) shall collect and analyze data by gender and by racial and ethnic group, including Hispanics, non-Hispanic whites. Blacks, Native Americans, Asian i^ericans, and Pacific Islanders; "(B) shall collect data under subparagraph (A) from birth certificates, death certificates, hospital records, and such other sources as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and "(C) shall encourage States to establish or improve programs for the collection and analysis of epidemiological data on birth defects, and to make the data available. "(2) NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE.— In carrying out subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall establish and maintain a National Information Clearinghouse on Birth Defects to collect and disseminate to health professionals and the general public information on birth defects, including the prevention of such defects. " (c) GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.— "(1) IN GENERAL. —In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary may make grants to and enter into contracts with public and nonprofit private entities. "(2) SUPPLIES AND SERVICES IN LIEU OF AWARD FUNDS. — "(A) • Upon the request of a recipient of an award of a grant or contract under paragraph (1), the Secretary may, subject to subparagraph (B), provide supplies, equipment, and services for the purpose of aiding the recipient in carrying out the purposes for which the award is made and, for such purposes, may detail to the recipient any officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services. "(B) With respect to a request described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall reduce the amount of pay- ments under the award involved by an amount equal to the costs of detailing personnel and the fair market value of any supplies, equipment, or services provided by the Secretary. The Secretary shall, for the payment of expenses incurred in complying with such request, expend the amounts withheld. "(3) APPLICATION FOR AWARD.The Secretary may make an award of a grant or contract under paragraph (1) only if an application for the award is submitted to the Secretary and the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out the purposes for which the award is to be made. "(d) BIENNIAL REPORT.—Not later than February 1 of fiscal year 1999 and of every second such year thereafter, the Secretary
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