[Federal Register: June 20, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 119)]
[Notices]
[Page 36995-36997]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jn03-77]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[Program Announcement 03124]
Program To Build Capacity To Assess and Improve Healthcare
Services in Anniston, AL; Notice of Availability of Funds
Application Deadline: July 21, 2003.
A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized in sections 104(i)(14) of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA) as amended (42 U.S.C 9604 (i)(14)). The Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance number is 93.161.
B. Purpose
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds for a
cooperative agreement Program to Build Capacity to Assess and Improve
Healthcare Services in Anniston, Alabama. This program addresses the
``Healthy People 2010'' focus areas of Educational and Community-Based
Programs; Environmental Health; and Maternal, Infant, and Child Health.
The purpose of this program is to: (1) Collect and analyze data to
describe the health care services in the Anniston area; (2) to assess
the community's access to healthcare services; (3) to develop a plan to
increase access to healthcare, if needed; and (4) to inform and educate
residents about healthcare services in their community. Special
emphasis should be placed on the environmental and occupational
medicine services in the area.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one or
more of the following performance goals for the ATSDR: Developing and
providing reliable, understandable information for people in affected
communities and tribes and for stakeholders, and build and enhance
effective partnerships.
C. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit and
for-profit organizations and by governments and their agencies; that
is, universities, colleges, technical schools, research institutions,
hospitals, other public and private nonprofit and for-profit
organizations, faith-based organizations, community-based
organizations, state and local governments or their bona fide agents,
including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic
of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, federally
recognized Indian tribal governments, Indian tribes, or Indian tribal
organizations.
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.
D. Funding
Availability of Funds
Approximately $75,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund one award. It
is expected that the award will begin on or about August 1, 2003, and
will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up
to two years. Funding estimates may change. Continuation awards within
an approved project period will be made on the basis of satisfactory
progress as evidenced by required reports and the availability of
funds.
Use of Funds
Funds may be expended for reasonable program purposes, such as
personnel, travel, supplies and services. Funds for contractual
services may be requested; however, the primary recipient of ATSDR
funds must perform a substantive role in carrying out project
activities and not merely serve as a conduit for an award to another
party or provide funds to an ineligible party. Equipment may be
purchased with these funds, however, the equipment proposed should be
appropriate and reasonable for the research activity to be conducted.
Equipment may be acquired only when authorized and the application
should provide a justification of need to acquire equipment, the
description, and the cost of purchase versus lease. To the greatest
extent practicable, equipment and products purchased with ATSDR funds
should be American made. ATSDR retains the right to request return of
all equipment purchased (in operable condition) with grant funds at the
completion of the project period.
Recipient Financial Participation
Matching funds are not required for this program.
Funding Priority
Preference will be given to the following: Applicants who are
located in the southeastern region of the United States, applicants who
have support from the Anniston community as evidenced by letters of
support, and proposed projects that maximize available resources.
E. Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities listed in 1.
Recipient Activities, and ATSDR will be responsible for the activities
listed in 2. ATSDR Activities.
1. Recipient Activities
a. Develop and implement a program proposal which examines the
current healthcare services in the Anniston area. Special efforts
should also be made to closely coordinate this activity with Federal
agencies such as Health Resources and Services Administration
[[Page 36996]]
(HRSA) and other State, and local agencies who are working to address
health care issues in the Anniston area.
b. Work in collaboration with Federal, State, and local agency
staff, community members, and local healthcare providers to develop a
plan to improve healthcare services and/or access to occupational and
environmental healthcare services in the Anniston area if needed.
c. Work in collaboration with Federal, State, and local agency
staff, community members, and local healthcare providers to develop a
report which (1) describes the current health care services in
Anniston; (2) describes the community's access to current services; and
(3) provides specific plans and recommendations to improve the
healthcare services and the community's access to healthcare services
in Anniston, with a special emphasis on environmental and occupational
medicine services.
d. Provide evidence of on-going collaborative efforts with
community representatives, local elected officials, State and local
health departments, etc., to enhance communication and information
exchange with the Anniston community.
e. Establish a mechanism to work with community members to gather
input on study issues, including outreach, participation, and
education.
f. Meet monthly, either telephonically or in person, with ATSDR and
other Anniston-area program participants to coordinate planned efforts
and review progress.
g. Disseminate project results and other necessary information to
community members, and publish in written format for distribution.
2. ATSDR Activities
a. Provide information regarding public health studies and other
activities associated with Anniston.
b. Assist with the development of questionnaires or other tools to
gather the information necessary for this project.
c. Provide assistance with the dissemination of information
resulting from this project, including the publication of a final
report.
d. Facilitate monthly meetings between the awardee, community
members and other Anniston-area program participants to coordinate
planned efforts and review progress.
F. Content
Letter of Intent (LOI)
A LOI is required for this program. The Program Announcement title
and number must appear in the LOI. The narrative should be no more than
two pages, single-spaced, printed on one side, with one-inch margins,
and unreduced 12-point font. Your letter of intent will be used to
enable ATSDR to determine the level of interest in this announcement,
and should include the following information:
1. Issues/concerns regarding access to healthcare services in
Anniston, Alabama.
2. Proposed methods.
3. Time line.
4. Experience of key personnel related to the proposed project.
Applications
The Program Announcement title and number must appear in the
application. Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the
application content. Your application will be evaluated on the criteria
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your program
plan. The narrative should be no more than 30 pages, double-spaced,
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced 12-point
font.
The narrative should consist of, at a minimum, a Proposed Project
Plan, Program Objectives, Methods, Evaluation, Budget, and Time line.
The project plan should address activities to be conducted over the
entire two-year project period.
G. Submission and Deadline
Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission
On or before July 7, 2003, submit the LOI to the Grants Management
Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information''
section of this announcement.
Application Forms
Submit the signed original and two copies of the PHS 5161 form.
Forms are available 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) at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to you.
Submission Date, Time, and Address
The application must be received by 4 p.m. eastern time July 21,
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management--PA
03124, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
Applications may not be submitted electronically.
CDC Acknowledgement of Application Receipt
A postcard will be mailed by PGO-TIM, notifying you that CDC has
received your application.
Deadline
Letters of intent and applications shall be considered as meeting
the deadline if they are received before 4 p.m. eastern time on the
deadline date. Any applicant who sends their application by the United
States Postal Service or commercial delivery services must ensure that
the carrier will be able to guarantee delivery of the application by
the closing date and time. If an application is received 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 delays or natural disasters, CDC will upon receipt of proper
documentation, consider the application as having been received by the
deadline.
Any application that does not meet the above criteria will not be
eligible for competition, and will be discarded. The applicant will be
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.
H. Evaluation Criteria
Application
Applicants 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.
An independent review group appointed by ATSDR will evaluate each
application against the following criteria:
1. Proposed Program (50 percent)
a. The applicant's understanding of the health care delivery system
in Anniston, Alabama; ability to develop a plan, conduct, and evaluate
a program and/or process to gather information regarding the healthcare
system in Anniston; and collaborate effectively with a variety of
public health partners including other federal, state, and local
agencies who are working to evaluate and address the healthcare system
in Anniston.
[[Page 36997]]
b. Documented access to or the ability to gain access to
information regarding healthcare services in the Anniston area. Special
emphasis should be placed on information regarding occupational and
environmental medicine services in the area.
c. Clearly stated understanding of the environmental public health
problems to be addressed, including any special issues or concerns
related to healthcare delivery in the Anniston community.
d. Clear and reasonable program goals and clearly stated project
objectives which are realistic, measurable, and related to the program
requirements.
e. Specificity and feasibility of proposed time line for
implementing project activities.
2. Program Personnel (20 percent)
a. Applicant's experience and understanding (e.g. in the areas of
local healthcare delivery systems, healthcare systems and services
throughout the United States, environmental and occupational medicine
services, community networking, etc.).
b. Qualifications and time allocation of the professional staff to
be assigned to this project.
c. Extent to which the management staff and their working partners
are clearly described.
3. Community Involvement and Dissemination of Results (20 percent)
a. Adequacy of plan establishing partnerships to address community
concerns, educate residents, and create lines of communication with key
community representatives.
b. Adequacy of methods to disseminate the study results to state
and local public health officials, community residents, and to other
concerned individuals and organizations.
4. Facilities and Resources (10 percent)
The adequacy of the applicant's facilities, equipment, and other
resources available for performance of this project.
5. Budget Justification (Reviewed, Not Scored)
The budget will be evaluated to the extent that it is reasonable,
clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of funds.
I. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC/ATSDR with original plus two copies of:
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.
2. Financial status 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.
Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this
announcement.
Additional Requirements
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I of the
program announcement, as posted on the CDC/ATSDR Web site.
AR-7 Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2010
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-18 Cost Recovery--ATSDR
AR-19 Third Party Agreements--ATSDR
AR-22 Research Integrity
J. Where To Obtain Additional Information
This and other CDC announcements, the necessary applications, and
associated forms can be found on the CDC Web site, Internet address:
http://www.cdc.gov.
Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements''.
For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical
Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-2700.
For business management and budget assistance, contact: Edna Green,
Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA
30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-2743. E-mail address: ecg4@cdc.gov. For program technical assistance, contact: Theresa L. NeSmith,
Health Education Specialist, Site Activities Branch, Division of Health
Education and Promotion, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mail Stop E-42, Atlanta, Georgia
30333. Telephone: 404-498-0515. E-mail address: Tnesmith@cdc.gov.
Dated: June 13, 2003.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-15593 Filed 6-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P