[Federal Register: March 11, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 48)]
[Notices]
[Page 11631-11634]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11mr04-104]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Regional Academic Environmental Public Health Centers
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: 04114.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283.
Key Dates: Letter of Intent Deadline: April 12, 2004.
Application Deadline: May 10, 2004.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: Section 301 and 317 of the Public Health Service Act,
[42 U.S.C. 241 and 247(b)], as amended.
Purpose: The purpose of the program is to facilitate the
development of an integrated national system for academic institutions
to assist and support state and local public health departments, and
tribal health agencies in the delivery of environmental health
services. This announcement will fund five academic institutions to
serve as regional centers (one in each of the following regions:
Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest and Southwest). The Centers
will support environmental public health activities utilizing a
framework that is based on the Ten Essential Public Health Services,
the Ten Essential Environmental Services, Core Competencies of
Effective Practice of Environmental Health (See Addendum), and the
Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) A National Strategy to Revitalize
Environmental Public Health Services, published September, 2003. (See:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Docs/NationalStrategy2003.pdf) This program
addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus areas of Environmental
Health, Public Health Infrastructure, and Education and Community-Based
Programs.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
following performance goal for the National Center for Environmental
Health (NCEH): Increase the capacity of state and local health
departments to deliver environmental health services to their
communities.
Activities: The Awardees will assist state and local health
departments in increasing or enhancing environmental health capacity by
providing technical assistance in the areas of: (1) Outreach; (2)
health hazard evaluations/investigations; and (3) program evaluation
and training. These activities will result in the implementation of
comprehensive state-of-the-art environmental health services, e.g.,
programs and/or interventions that positively impact air quality,
water, waste management, integrated pest management, and/or food
safety.
Awardees should engage in such activities as described below:
Provide technical assistance to state and local
environmental public health departments or their chosen entities in the
realm of health hazard evaluations and investigations.
Collaborate with state and local programs to
assist them in evaluating their programs, including cost benefit
analysis, prevention effectiveness analysis, and monitoring and
responding to the environmental antecedents of disease occurrence.
Train and educate state and local environmental
public health department staff, where necessary or requested by
environmental public health department staff, using already developed
curriculum, to deliver environmental public health services utilizing
the framework of the Ten Essential Public Health Services, the Ten
Essential Environmental Services, Core Competencies of Effective
Practice of Environmental Health, and CDC's A National Strategy to
Revitalize Environmental Public Health Services.
Disseminate findings.
In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
Provide technical assistance and consultation to
the award recipient to refine the project plan, data and information
collection, and analysis instruments.
Assist awardees with background information and
in forming collaborative interactions.
Assist awardees with preparation, review and
clearance of manuscripts.
Facilitate interaction among awardees and
integration of activities into state and local environmental public
health programs.
Evaluate effectiveness and quality of
environmental health services related to awardees activities.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. CDC involvement in this
program is listed in the Activities Section above.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2004.
Approximate Total Funding: $800,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: Five total awards will be made based
on one per region. The regions are designated as follows:
Northeast (ME, VT, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE,
MD, VA, District of Columbia)
Southeast (NC, SC, KY, TN, GA, FL, AL, MS, AR, LA,
U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico)
Midwest (WV, MI, OH, IN, WI, IL, MN, IA, MO, KS)
Northwest (ND, SD, NE, MT, WY, ID, WA, OR, AK)
Southwest (OK, TX, CO, NM, UT, AZ, NV, CA, HI,
Pacific Islands)
Approximate Average Award: $160,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs).
Floor of Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Award Range: $200,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2004.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: Three years.
Throughout the project period, CDC's commitment to continuation of
awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of
satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required
reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best
interest of the Federal Government.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by:
Academic institutions, including universities
and colleges with accredited undergraduate or graduate environmental
health programs.
Accredited Schools of Public Health.
[[Page 11632]]
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required for this program.
III.3. Other
If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the
award range, your application will be considered non-responsive and
will not be entered into the review process. You will be notified that
your application did not meet the submission requirements.
This announcement is for submission of proposals that are not
research. If your application contains research, it will be considered
non-responsive to the announcement.
If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the
requirements listed below, it will not be entered into the review
process. You will be notified that your application did not meet the
submission requirements.
Eligibility is limited to academic institutions because of their
expertise and resources in environmental public health that is
available to support state and local environmental public health
programs. Additionally, academic institutions have provided state and
local health departments, environmental public health agencies, and
other environmental health organizations with the trained workforce
needed to deliver environmental health services.
Note: Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that
an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal
Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to
receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.
IV. Application and Submission Information
IV.1. Address To Request Application Package
To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS
5161. Application forms and instructions are available on the CDC Web
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm
.
If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have
difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to
you.
IV.2. Content and Form of Submission
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Your LOI must be written in the following format:
Maximum number of pages: One page.
Font size: 12-point unreduced.
Single spaced.
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
Page margin size: One inch.
Printed only on one side of page.
Written in plain language, avoid jargon.
Your LOI must contain the following information:
Name, address, and telephone number for key
contact.
Brief description of the proposed project.
Application
You must include a project narrative with your application forms.
Your narrative must be submitted in the following format:
Maximum number of pages: 25.
If your narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first pages
which are within the page limit will be reviewed.
Font size: 12 point unreduced.
Double spaced.
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
Page margin size: One inch.
Printed only on one side of page.
Held together only by rubber bands or metal
clips; not bound in any other way.
Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and must include the following items in the
order listed:
Describe your organizational resources and
structure.
Describe how the project will be administered,
including job descriptions for all project positions.
Describe the project's operational plan to
function as a regional center. The operational plan should include the
following components: (1) Description of the identified environmental
health conditions within your region; (2) description of the resources
available to support state and local health departments in addressing
environmental public health issues; (3) description of the proposed
activities to support state or local environmental public health
programs; (4) knowledge and ability to educate and/or implement the ten
essential environmental health and/or public health services, core
function, and CDC strategy as they relate to proposed activities; (5)
description of current and/or future partnerships with environmental
public health programs and their need for assistance and support
related to the delivery of environmental health services; (6) long and
short term objectives, timelines and schedules for completion, and
expected long and short term measurable outcomes; and (7) methodology
for sustainability of activities or interventions beyond the funded
period of the cooperative agreement.
Describe the project's evaluation plan to
measure the process and outcomes.
Budget justifications.
Additional information may be included in the application
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative
page limit. This additional information includes:
Up to 30 pages of appendices may be included in
the application. This may include: Curriculum Vitaes, Resumes,
Organizational Charts, Letters of Support, etc.
You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711.
For more information, see the CDC Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/pubcommt.htm
.
If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please
write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your
application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover
letter.
Additional requirements that may require you to submit additional
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
LOI Deadline Date: April 12, 2004.
CDC requests that you send a LOI if you intend to apply for this
program. Although the LOI is not required, not binding, and does not
enter into the review of your subsequent application, the LOI will be
used to gauge the level of interest in this program, and to allow CDC
to plan the application review.
Application Deadline Date: May 10, 2004.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC
Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline
date. If you send your application by the United States Postal Service
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the carrier will
be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date
and time. If CDC receives your application after closing due to: (1)
Carrier error, when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee
for delivery by the closing date and time, or (2) significant weather
[[Page 11633]]
delays or natural disasters, you will be given the opportunity to
submit documentation of the carriers guarantee. If the documentation
verifies a carrier problem, CDC will consider the application as having
been received by the deadline.
This program announcement is the definitive guide on application
submission address and deadline. It supersedes information provided in
the application instructions. If your application does not meet the
deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and will be
discarded. You will be notified that your application did not meet the
submission requirements.
CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your application. If you
have a question about the receipt of your application, first contact
your courier. If you still have a question, contact the PGO-TIM staff
at: 770-488-2700. Before calling, please wait two to three days after
the application deadline. This will allow time for applications to be
processed and logged.
IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
IV.5. Funding Restrictions
Funding restrictions, which must be taken into account while
writing your budget, are as follows: None.
If you are requesting indirect costs in your budget, you must
include a copy of your indirect cost rate agreement. If your indirect
cost rate is a provisional rate, the agreement should be less than 12
months of age.
Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the CDC Web
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
IV.6. Other Submission Requirements
LOI Submission Address: Submit your LOI by express mail, delivery
service, fax, or E-mail to: Daneen Farrow-Collier, CDC/NCEH, 4770
Buford Highway, F-28, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-4945, Fax:
770-488-7310, E-mail: farrow-collier@cdc.gov.
Application Submission Address: Submit your application by mail or
express delivery service to: Technical Information Management--PA04114,
CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA
30341.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Criteria
You are required to provide measures of effectiveness that will
demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of
the cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the
performance goals stated in the ``Purpose'' section of this
announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative, and must
measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness must be
submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
1. Coordination and Collaboration (25 points)
The extent to which the applicant documents its collaboration with
the community to implement the objectives of the project. This includes
describing its relationship with environmental public health
departments and other environmental agencies, academia, and community-
based organizations as evidenced by documenting specific environmental
public health issues or needs, letters of support, memoranda of
agreement, and other documented evidence. The applicants may include up
to ten letters of commitment (dated within the last three months) from
key partners, participants, and community leaders that detail their
participation in and support of the proposed activities.
2. Understanding of the Problem (20 points)
The extent to which the applicant understands the public health,
social and economic consequences of inadequate environmental public
health service delivery in their region based upon health and
demographic indicators. This includes factors based on disease burden
by age, gender and racial/ethnic groups, mortality rates, incidence,
program experience, existing capacity, and infrastructure.
3. Objectives and Methods (20 points)
a. The extent to which the applicant has developed sound, feasible
objectives that are consistent with the activities described in this
announcement and are specific, measurable and time-framed.
b. The extent to which the applicant describes the specific
activities and methods to achieve each objective.
c. The extent to which the proposed timeline and schedules are
feasible. The timeline should include a tentative work plan for the
duration of the project.
d. The extent to which the proposed activities or the project can
be sustained beyond the funded period.
e. The extent to which the intent and desired outcomes for the
proposed activities can be succinctly stated.
4. Program Evaluation (15 Points)
a. The evaluation plan should describe useful and appropriate
strategies and approaches to monitor and improve the quality,
effectiveness, and efficiency of the project.
b. The extent to which the applicant proposes to measure the
progress and the overall impact of the project in terms of its
contribution to improving the delivery of environmental health
services. Examples are: (1) The reduction of environmentally related
risk factors known to contribute to disease; (2) decreases in morbidity
and mortality; and/or (3) the impact on incidence and prevalence of
environmentally induced illness and disease.
5. Implementation of CDC's Strategy To Revitalize Environmental Public
Health Services (10 Points)
The extent to which the applicant's operation plan has incorporated
components of CDC's Strategy to Revitalize Environmental Public Health
Services into developing an intervention or enhancing capacity.
Specifically, the centers should demonstrate the ability to assist
communities in implementing all ten of the essential environmental
health and/or public health services, and core competencies.
6. Project Management and Staffing (10 Points)
The extent to which the applicant documents skills, ability, and
experience of key staff who will be responsible for developing,
implementing, and carrying out the requirements of the project.
Specifically, the applicant should: describe staff roles in the
development and implementation of the project, their specific
responsibilities, and their level of effort and time commitment. If
necessary, assurances should be provided to demonstrate the applicant's
ability to fill key positions though its personnel hiring system within
a reasonable amount of time after receiving funds.
7. Budget Justification (not scored)
The extent to which the budget is clearly explained, adequately
justified, and is reasonable and consistent with the stated objectives
and planned activities.
[[Page 11634]]
V.2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement
and Grants Office (PGO) staff and for responsiveness by NCEH.
Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the
eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process.
Applicants will be notified that their application did not meet
submission requirements.
An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria''
section above.
In addition, the following factor may affect the funding decision:
The geographic location of applicant
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Grant Award (NGA)
from the CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NGA shall be the only
binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NGA
will be signed by an authorized Grants Management Officer, and mailed
to the recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review by mail.
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92
For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet
address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html
The following additional requirements apply to this project:
AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial
and Ethnic Minorities in Research
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2010
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data
Additional information on these requirements can be found on the
CDC web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm
.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the
following reports:
1. Interim progress report, no less than 90 days before the end of
the budget period The progress report will serve as your non-competing
continuation application, and must contain the following elements:
a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.
b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
d. Detailed Line-Item Budget and Justification.
e. Additional Requested Information.
f. Measures of Effectiveness.
2. Financial status report and annual progress report, no more than
90 days after the end of the budget period.
3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days
after the end of the project period.
These reports must be sent to the Grants Management Specialist
listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this announcement.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical
Information Management Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
For program technical assistance, contact: Daneen Farrow-Collier,
Project Officer, CDC/NCEH, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341,
Telephone: 770-488-4945, Fax: 770-488-7310, Email:
farrow-collier@cdc.gov.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Mildred Garner, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and
Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-
488-2745, E-mail: mgarner@cdc.gov.
Dated: March 4, 2004.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-5438 Filed 3-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P