The frameworks of the NAS (2009) report were used as the basis for the framework.  The first figure in the draft framework is the problem formulation portion of Figure S-1 of the report.  (The entire Figure of S-1 was not included, because the hazard characterization/dose response portions of the paradigm are addressed in Figure 5-8, which forms the basis of the rest of the framework.)

The colored boxes in the problem formulation slide are active links, and clicking on them leads to different versions of Figure 5-8, tailored for the different problem formulations.  (One box was left off of the modified Figure 5-8.  Most of the figure addresses issues to be considered, which is consistent with the approach of identifying methods.  The box that was left out prescribes certain methods.  Those methods are included in the lists of methods and case studies, but were left off of the modified Figure 5-8, to avoid being too prescriptive too early in the process.)

For the qualitative and quantitative screening problem formulations, the lower left-hand box of the modified Figure 5-8 is an active link, leading to lists of case studies and/or methods.  (See the end for an explanation of the color coding, which is also on each page of the framework where case studies are listed.)   A few sample case studies in hand are underlined, and the links go to the case study summary. 

For the in-depth assessment problem formulation, each of the boxes (except “assemble health effects data”) links to a page that lists a variety of case studies and methods that can be applied to address the issues relevant to that topic.  In the dose-response evaluation box under in-depth assessment, each of the three considerations are underlined and link to three different versions of the same list of relevant methods – organized by conceptual model, data availability, and risk management needs.  A subset of those same methods is listed under results reporting – organized by the form of the needed results.