[Federal Register: March 27, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 59)]
[Notices]
[Page 14984-14990]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27mr03-57]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 04003]
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Centers; Notice
of Availability of Funds
Application Deadline: June 16, 2003.
A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under sections 301(a), 317(k)(2) and
1706 (42 U.S.C. 241(a), 247b(k)(2) and 300 u-5) of the Public Health
Service Act, as amended. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
number is 93.135.
B. Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a cooperative agreement
program to fund Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research
Centers (PRCs). This program addresses the Healthy People 2010 focus
areas of Access to Quality Health Services, Cancer, Diabetes,
Disability and Secondary Conditions, Educational and Community-Based
Programs, Health Communications, Nutrition and Overweight, and Physical
Activity and Fitness.
In 1984, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a network of academic health
centers to conduct applied public health research. As the designated
administrator of the PRC Program, CDC provides leadership, technical
assistance, and oversight.
The purpose of the PRC Program is to support health promotion and
disease prevention research that (1) focuses on the major causes of
death and disability, (2) improves public health practice
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within communities, and (3) cultivates effective state and local public
health programs. One of the major focuses of the PRCs is to design,
test, and disseminate effective prevention research strategies. The
program's ``Guiding Principles and Policy Statement for Core Research
Projects'' are available at: http://www.cdc.gov/prc.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
following performance goal for the National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion: to support prevention research to
develop sustainable and transferable community-based behavioral
interventions.
C. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by schools of public health, schools
of medicine or osteopathy with an accredited Preventive Medicine
Residency that have:
1. A multidisciplinary faculty with expertise in public health, and
working relationships with relevant groups in such fields as medicine,
psychology, nursing, social work, education and business.
2. Graduate training programs relevant to disease prevention.
3. A core faculty in epidemiology, biostatistics, social sciences,
behavioral and environmental sciences, and health administration.
4. A demonstrated curriculum in disease prevention.
5. A capability for residency training in public health or
preventive medicine.
First Round of Competition
For this round of competition, assistance will be provided only to
the universities currently funded under Program Announcements 98047,
00089, and 01101. All three announcements are entitled ``Health
Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Centers.'' The eligible
universities are as follows: University of Washington, Yale University,
Harvard University, Columbia University, The Johns Hopkins University,
West Virginia University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
University of South Carolina, University of Alabama at Birmingham,
Morehouse School of Medicine, University of South Florida, University
of Illinois at Chicago, University of Minnesota, University of
Michigan, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,
University of Oklahoma, University of New Mexico, Tulane University,
Saint Louis University, University of Colorado, University of
California at Berkeley, University of Arizona, University of California
at Los Angeles, University of Kentucky, Boston University, University
of Pittsburgh, State University of New York at Albany, and University
of Iowa.
Competition is limited to these universities because they are
uniquely positioned to perform, oversee, and coordinate community-based
participatory research that promotes the field of prevention research,
due to their established relationships with community partners.
Applications receiving a quality score of 80 or above will be
considered for funding. If sufficient applications do not obtain scores
of 80 or greater, funding consideration will be given to applications
that score 75 or above.
Note: Only one application will be accepted from each
university.
Second Round of Competition
Pending the availability of funds, eligible applicants not
receiving a fundable quality score during the first round of
competition and all other applicants meeting the eligibility
requirements listed at the beginning of the Eligible Applicants section
will be considered during the second round of competition. Specific
guidance with exact due dates for the second round of competition will
be announced at a later date.
Additionally, beginning in FY 2005, and for each of the remaining
years for this program announcement (September 30, 2005 through
September 29, 2009), there will be a competitive application process.
Specific guidance will be provided with exact due dates and funding
levels each year.
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 $14,000,000 will be available in FY 2004 to fund
approximately 18 awards. It is expected that the average award will be
approximately $750,000 to $850,000 per center. The awards are expected
to begin on or about September 15, 2004, and will be made for a 12-
month budget period within a project period of up to five years.
Funding estimates may change.
Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made
on the basis of satisfactory progress toward performance measures, as
evidenced by required reports, and the availability of funds.
Direct Assistance
You may request Federal personnel in lieu of a portion of financial
assistance. (See the Application Content section of this announcement
for more information on how to request direct assistance.)
Use of Funds
The applicant should allocate funds to support evaluation
activities related to the center. In addition, funds should be
allocated to support communication activities, including the input and
maintenance of information for the PRC Information System (See Appendix
A for a description of the PRC Information System. All appendices
referenced in this announcement are posted on the CDC Website with the
full announcement.)
Funding Preferences
In the second round of competition, funding preference will be
based on selecting applicants in order to maintain an equitable
geographic distribution of centers. Funding preference will also be
given to applicants that demonstrate a focus on the public health needs
of rural populations.
Recipient Financial Participation
Matching funds are not required for this program.
E. Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under item 1.
Recipient Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities
under item 2. CDC Activities.
1. Recipient Activities
a. Create a logic model for the prevention research center. This
logic model can be adapted from the national PRC Program conceptual
framework (See Appendix B for a description) to fit the specific
inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes of the center. Write an
accompanying narrative that includes a description of how the center-
level components relate to the national PRC framework.
b. Evaluate the center based on the center's logic model,
particularly addressing critical components related to the center's
stated outcomes. Describe how the center's evaluation will contribute
to CDC's national program evaluation, including the core performance
indicators. (See Appendix D for a list of the indicators.)
c. Establish or maintain a center community committee. Define the
role and composition of the committee, how the center will communicate
with the
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committee, and how it will link to the CDC PRC National Community
Committee (NCC). (See Appendix C for a description of the CDC PRC NCC.)
d. Establish and maintain partnerships (e.g., state and local
health departments, community groups and agencies, and academic units),
and include these partners, when applicable, in the center activities.
e. Identify national, regional, or local health priorities and
health disparities within the defined community. Involve center
partners when identifying the health priorities and health disparities,
and provide evidence of such involvement.
f. Develop the center's participatory, community-based core
research project and the center's five-year research agenda. Ensure the
core research project and other proposed research activities are
grounded in sound research methods and further the field of prevention
research consistent with the purpose of this announcement. Plan the
core research project in collaboration with community partners and
provide evidence of such collaboration. Each center is required to
conduct at least one core research project. (See the application
content section of this announcement for additional information.)
g. Communicate and disseminate the center's research findings and
research products.
h. Establish the appropriate resources for contributing information
to the PRC Information System and maintaining the information.
i. Recruit, hire, and retain qualified staff. Develop an
organizational chart that illustrates the center's staffing plan.
j. Acquire and maintain the technological capacity, facilities, and
university support for the center (e.g., software, space, equipment,
etc.).
k. Provide training, technical assistance, or mentoring to health
professionals, researchers, students, community members, and other
partners, as appropriate.
2. CDC Activities
a. Convene semi-annual meetings of PRCs to facilitate research
collaboration and information sharing.
b. Conduct onsite visits of PRCs to provide consultation and
technical support and help recipients meet program objectives and
cooperative agreement requirements.
c. Provide consultation and other technical assistance to help
recipients use the PRC Information System for recording and
disseminating research results.
d. Collect, organize, and disseminate information on PRC research
pertinent to the PRC Program's Guiding Principles (http://www.cdc.gov/prc
).
e. Provide support to the PRC National Community Committee to
promote capacity-building and community participation in the PRC
Program.
f. Guide an external, peer-reviewed funding mechanism to enhance
centers' opportunities for prevention research consistent with their
mission.
g. Organize information-sharing sessions to guide recipients in
developing their center-specific logic models consistent with the
national framework.
h. Serve as a scientific and professional resource for projects
developed through the PRCs' national committee structure.
i. Inform recipients about the laws and regulations pertaining to
human subjects research and conduct inquiries concerning allegations of
scientific misconduct.
j. Evaluate and monitor recipients' progress toward meeting program
objectives and goals.
F. Content
Letter of Intent
A Letter of Intent (LOI) is required for this program. The Program
Announcement title and number must appear in the LOI. The LOI should be
no more than three double-spaced pages, printed on one side, with one-
inch margins, and 12-point font. The LOI, which will be used in
planning for the external peer review panel, should include the
following information: (1) The name, address, telephone number, fax
number, and E-mail address of a contact person from the applicant's
institution; (2) name of the Principal Investigator; (3) center name
and location; (4) description of how the center meets the eligibility
requirements contained in Section C of this announcement; (5) a brief
description of the center's research focus (a 3-4 line description);
and (6) a brief description of the center's proposed activities
(maximum of one paragraph). Note: Each university may submit only one
application per round of competition. Attachments, booklets, or other
documents will not be accepted with the LOI.
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. The application will be evaluated on the criteria
listed, so it is important to follow them in the application. The
narrative should be no more than 120 double-spaced pages, printed on
one side, with one-inch margins, and 12-point font, excluding
appendices and PHS Form 398. Appendices must not exceed 50-pages and
must be hard copy documents (i.e., no audiovisual materials or
posters). Curriculum vitae, letters of support, and memoranda of
understanding should be included as appendices; however, these
documents will not be counted against the 50-page limit. Instructions
contained here regarding font and page length supersede those in the
PHS Form 398. The narrative should consist of the following items, in
the order listed:
Evaluation
An infrastructure of resources and personnel is required to support
center-level evaluation. Applicants should have the capacity to (1)
establish a five-year evaluation plan; (2) conduct center-level
evaluation; and (3) collaborate with national partners in the planning,
implementation, and evaluation of national PRC Program evaluation
strategies (See Appendix B for a description of Developing an
Evaluation Framework: Insuring National Excellence [Project DEFINE].)
To assure that applicants have this capacity, applicants should, at a
minimum, address the following:
1. Create a center-level logic model specifying the center's health
priorities and expected outcomes. Within the logic model, define the
inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, evaluation, and contextual
conditions for the center. This logic model can be adapted from the
national PRC Program conceptual framework (See Appendix B) to fit the
specific components of the individual center. In addition to the logic
model, a narrative description of each component must be included.
Please include the center's mission within the narrative, and limit the
mission statement to one to two sentences. Further, within this
narrative describe how each component of the center's model is related
to the national PRC Program conceptual framework.
2. Document experiences in conducting program evaluations in the
past five years. Describe how the center will continue or enhance its
evaluation expertise as it relates to the center-level evaluation.
3. Create and describe a five-year plan for evaluating the critical
components of the center's logic model. The plan should include
evaluation goals and related questions and describe how the
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plan was developed in collaboration with the centers' community
committee.
4. Address how the center's evaluation will consider the following:
a. The overarching national program evaluation questions: (1) How
is the center contributing to changes in public health research,
practice, and policy; and (2) What types of partnerships has the center
established and what effect have these relationships had on the goal of
building community capacity for public health practice and disease
prevention?
b. The national performance indicators. The performance indicators
will be reported on annually through the PRC information system.
Collaborations/Partnerships
An infrastructure of resources and personnel is required to support
collaboration with partners. Collaboration with partners and the
defined community in program planning and activities can increase the
success of programs and enhance community capacity. Applicants should
have the capacity to (1) establish and maintain relationships with
partners; (2) facilitate the establishment and maintenance of the
center's community committee(s); and (3) collaborate with partners on
the planning and implementation of core research. To assure that
applicants have this capacity, applicants should, at a minimum, address
the following:
1. Define and describe the primary community or communities that
the center's activities will serve (e.g., describe population size,
geographic boundaries, racial and ethnic makeup, socioeconomic status,
etc.).
2. Describe the plan for establishing or maintaining the center's
community committee(s). (See the glossary for additional information
regarding the center community committee.) This plan should include, at
a minimum, the following: (a) The intended composition and membership
of the committee and how the constituents reflect the community
described in item 1 of this section; (b) the proposed mission and role
for the committee in the center's planning and activities, consistent
with the logic model; (c) the plan for developing or refining
guidelines for the community committee over the first year of the
funding period; (d) the plan for communication between the community
committee and the center staff, and how this plan is linked to the
center's overall communication plan; and (e) how the center's community
committee members will participate in and communicate with the CDC PRC
NCC. (See Appendix C for a description of the CDC PRC NCC.) Provide
evidence of commitment and cooperation of current and potential members
of the center's community committee(s) (e.g., letters of support,
memoranda of understanding, or examples of prior collaboration.)
3. Identify and describe other partners such as state and local
health departments, community groups and agencies, and academic units.
At a minimum, briefly describe: (a) Past partners, new partners, and
proposed partners; (b) the proposed methods for establishing and
maintaining these partnerships, including how the lessons learned from
previous partnerships will be applied to the proposed methods; and (c)
the partners involvement in the centers proposed activities. In this
section, specifically address the partners' role in developing this
proposal and partners' expectations about their roles in the planning
and implementation of the center's activities. Provide evidence of
commitment and cooperation of current and potential partners (e.g.,
letters of support, memoranda of understanding, and examples of prior
collaborations).
Research
An infrastructure of resources and personnel is required to support
research in the center. Applicants should have the capacity to (1)
establish a five-year research agenda; (2) conduct core research and
other prevention research as described in the research agenda; and (3)
effectively collaborate with partners in the planning, implementation,
and dissemination of core research. To assure that applicants have this
capacity, applicants should, at a minimum, address the following:
1. Provide evidence of having identified national, regional, or
local health priorities and health disparities within the community and
of having identified them in collaboration with community partners.
2. Document experience in successfully conducting, evaluating, and
publishing prevention research in the past five years. In particular,
describe community-based research activities and provide evidence of
community involvement in those activities.
3. Describe the center's five-year research agenda, including the
goals and objectives. Describe how this agenda helps fulfill the
center's mission. If the research agenda is also supported by non-PRC
Program funding sources, identify the other funders.
4. Provide a detailed description of the center's participatory,
community-based core research project and how it will further the field
of prevention research. The long-term outcome should be applicable to
public health programs and policies. The core research project can
address any of the three types of applied research: (1) Determinant
research, which examines how risk and protective factors affect health
and how this research is essential for developing effective
interventions; (2) intervention research, which examines the
effectiveness of strategies or programs in reducing disease and
promoting health; or (3) dissemination research, which examines
strategies for promoting the adoption and maintenance of effective
programs.
The applicant should use the following template to describe the
core research project:
a. Title of the project
b. Project Director/Lead Investigator for the project
c. Institution(s)/partners involved in the project
d. Categorization of the project as determinant, intervention, or
dissemination research
e. Relationship of the project to the center's mission and health
priorities
f. Relationship of the project to HHS objectives (e.g., Healthy
People 2010)
g. Indication of whether the project is new or ongoing. (If
ongoing, describe the prior work on this project.)
h. Detailed summary of the project:
(1) Background
(2) How the project furthers the field of prevention research
(3) Goals and objectives
(4) Proposed timeframe for the project
(5) Methods and measures
(6) Setting and context
(7) Study participants and recruitment strategy
(8) Intervention (if applicable)
(9) Expected outcomes and how the center intends to communication
and disseminate these outcomes
i. Evidence of community participation in planning the core
project. Describe how the center will collaborate with partners on
refining and developing the research methodology, recruiting of
research participants, and reporting and disseminating research
findings.
j. Describe how the core research project is integrated into the
centers five-year research agenda.
Communication/Dissemination Activities
An infrastructure of resources and personnel is required to support
communication functions. These functions will help ensure that key
research, dissemination, and managerial objectives are met. Applicants
should have the capacity to (1) disseminate
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research by making its findings, methods, and tools available; (2) keep
stakeholders (i.e., researchers, practitioners, community members, and
policymakers) abreast of the center's accomplishments; and (3) account
for the grant funds dispersed by producing products that reflect
research progress and results. To assure that applicants have this
capacity, applicants should, at a minimum, address the following:
1. Define and describe how the center's communication and
dissemination activities will be integrated into the center's research
agenda and activities as described in the logic model narrative. Show
how the community's demographic and cultural profile will be taken into
consideration. Describe how work with collaborators and other partners
will extend the center's reach. Describe how the center intends to
affect local, state, or national policy, and other potential outcomes
through communication and dissemination efforts related to the research
agenda.
2. Describe the methods the center will use to communicate and
disseminate its products and other information. At a minimum address
the following: a. Plans for publications and distribution of materials
such as scientific papers, conference reports, newsletters, educational
and training materials. b. Plans for meetings, personal interactions,
and sharing of information with collaborators for the development of
long-term partnerships. c. Plans for electronic dissemination of
products and other information through the PRC Information System and
any other means (e.g., Web sites).
d. Plans for media releases and statements or the pursuit of
opportunities for media coverage.
3. Describe the center's infrastructure of resources and personnel
that will support the identified communication and dissemination
activities. At a minimum, describe the following:
a. Ability to understand community-based research in public health
and the constituent communities/stakeholders.
b. Ability to translate the content of the center's activities for
different audiences.
c. Ability to participate in strategic communication planning and
the setting of center-wide standards.
d. Access to personnel and resources as applicable for layout and
design, Web site construction, photography, proofreading, other
development and production activities, and the maintenance of the PRC
Information System.
Infrastructure
An infrastructure of personnel and resources is required to support
center functions and processes. This infrastructure will help ensure
that adequate personnel, facilities, technology, and university support
exist to accomplish the research agenda/activities described in the
center's logic model narrative. Applicants should have the capacity to
(1) recruit, hire, and retain faculty and staff having the expertise to
implement center projects and activities; (2) acquire, manage, and
maintain the communications and information systems necessary to
operate a PRC; and (3) acquire and maintain university support for the
center. To assure that applicants have this capacity, applicants
should, at a minimum, address the following:
1. Provide an organizational chart for the center showing all
organizational units and functions. The chart should also reflect the
activities articulated in the center's logic model.
2. Describe the center's staffing and management plan. Describe
each proposed position and discuss how the position provides the
scientific and technical expertise needed to carry out both research
and non-research activities. Describe the minimum criteria and the
required expertise for each position. Describe the qualifications of
the proposed staff. Describe how the proposed staff will interact with
each other and with the university's leaders to accomplish the center's
goals and objectives. This discussion should highlight the center's (a)
leadership staff; (b) research staff; (c) evaluation staff; (d)
communication and dissemination staff; (e) training staff; (f)
information management staff; and (g) fiscal administration staff.
3. Describe how your center will be integrated within the
university structure. Describe the facilities in which staff will work
and how these facilities enhance the center's ability to complete the
proposed activities.
4. Describe the center's plan to enhance its core capacity over the
five-year period, including the commitment and capability to obtain the
communication, information systems, and other tools necessary to
accomplish goals and objectives (i.e., computer equipment, telephones,
facsimile machines, scanners, scientific software, etc.).
Training/Education
An infrastructure of resources and personnel is required to support
training, technical assistance, or mentoring of practitioners,
researchers, students, community members, and other partners, as
applicable. Applicants should have the capacity to assess, plan,
implement, and evaluate training, technical assistance or mentoring
activities. Applicants, at a minimum, should address the following:
1. Describe the center's assets or needs assessment (past, current,
or proposed) for training, technical assistance, or mentoring. Explain
collaboration with partners in the assets or needs assessment.
2. Describe the center's five-year plan for providing training,
technical assistance, or mentoring. This plan should include (a) goals
and objectives, (b) partner collaboration, and (c) how the plan
reflects the mission of the center and the assets or needs assessment
described above. Describe how any lessons learned from prior training,
technical assistance, or mentoring activities during the past five
years will be applied to the proposed plan. Additionally, describe
training facilities and resources (e.g., ability to print materials,
use video and computer equipment, and develop websites).
Budget Information
Provide a line-item budget and narrative justification for all
requested costs that are consistent with the goals, objectives, and
proposed research activities, to include the following:
1. Line-item breakdown and justification for all personnel, i.e.,
name, position title, annual salary, percentage of time and effort, and
amount requested.
2. Line-item breakdown and justification for all contractors and
consultants, to include the following:
(a) Name of contractor or consultant
(b) Period of performance
(c) Method of selection (e.g., competitive or sole source)
(d) Scope of work
(e) Method of accountability
(f) Itemized budget
3. To request direct assistance assignees, include:
(a) Number of assignees
(b) Description of the position and proposed duties for each
assignee
(c) Justification of inability to hire locally with financial
assistance
(d) Justification for request
(e) Name of intended supervisor
(f) Opportunities for training, education, and work experiences for
assignees
(g) Description of assignee's access to computer equipment for
communication with CDC (e.g., personal computer and location, shared
computer at on-site workstation, shared computer at central office).
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G. Submission and Deadline
Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission:
First Round of Competition
On or before April 10, 2003, submit a signed original and two
copies of the LOI to the Grants Management Specialist identified in the
Where to Obtain Additional Information section.
Application Forms
Submit the signed original and two copies of the application PHS
Form 398 (OMB Number 0925-0001) (adhere to the instructions on the
Errata Instruction Sheet for PHS 398). 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
First Round of Competition
The application must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time June 16,
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management-
PA 04003, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
Applications may not be submitted electronically.
CDC Acknowledgment of Application Receipt
A postcard will be mailed by PGO-TIM, indicating that CDC has
received the 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 an application by the U.S.
Postal Service or commercial delivery service must ensure that the
carrier can 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. Applicants will be
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.
H. Evaluation Criteria
Letter of Intent
The Letter of Intent will be evaluated against the eligibility
criteria contained in the Eligible Applicants section of this Program
Announcement.
Application
Applicants are required to provide measures of effectiveness that
will demonstrate the accomplishment of the objectives identified in the
cooperative agreement. These measures of effectiveness shall be
submitted with the application and shall be an element of evaluation.
Each application will be individually evaluated against the
following criteria by an external peer review panel:
Evaluation (20 points)
1. To what extent does the applicant appropriately construct a
center-level logic model and provide a narrative description of
components of the logic model?
2. To what extent does the applicant sufficiently describe and
justify how each component of the center's logic model relates to or
differentiates from the national PRC Program conceptual framework?
3. To what extent does the applicant describe relevant evaluation
experiences and expertise as it relates to conducting an evaluation of
the applicant's center?
4. To what extent does the applicant adequately lay out a five-year
evaluation plan for evaluating the critical components of the center's
logic model, including the goals and questions?
5. How well does the applicant illustrate how the center's
evaluation plan is related to the national PRC Program evaluation
activities, which include annual reporting on national performance
indicators?
Collaborations/Partnerships (20 points)
1. To what extent does the applicant adequately define and describe
the primary community or communities that the center's activities
serve?
2. To what extent does the applicant adequately describe the
center's community committee, particularly its initial mission, roles,
and composition and plans for developing or refining guidelines? Does
the applicant provide letters of support or other evidence from these
partners of active participation in this collaboration?
3. To what extent does the applicant appropriately describe the
center's community committee relationship to the center's communication
plan and the CDC PRC NCC?
4. To what extent does the applicant adequately describe the past
and newly established partnerships, the roles of these partners, and
the methods for establishing and maintaining the partnerships?
5. To what extent does the applicant adequately describe the
proposed activities with the identified partners? Does the applicant
provide letters of support or other evidence from these partners?
Research (20 points)
1. To what extent does the applicant provide sound evidence of
having identified the health priorities and health disparities in the
community? Were these priorities identified in collaboration with the
center's partners?
2. To what extent has the applicant demonstrated success in
conducting, evaluating, and publishing previous prevention research in
the past five years? What percentage of these activities could be
described as community-based participatory research?
3. To what extent does the applicant specify the goals and
objectives for the center's five-year research agenda and relate this
agenda to the center's mission?
4. To what extent does the applicant adequately describe the
proposed core research project or projects? In particular, how
appropriate is the description for the type of project, its linkage to
the center's mission and priorities identified in the logic model, its
linkage to HHS objectives, and its evidence of community participation
in developing and conducting the project? To what extent are the
research methods proposed of sound scientific quality and do they
further the field of prevention research? To what extent is the core
research project integrated into the center's five-year research
agenda?
Items 5 and 6 must be addressed but these items will not be scored
5. To what extent does the applicant adequately address the
requirements of Title 45 CFR part 46 for the protection of human
subjects? This component is not scored; however, an application can be
disapproved if the perceived research risks are sufficiently serious
and the protection against risks is so inadequate as to make the entire
application unacceptable.
6. To what extent does the applicant adequately address the CDC
policy requirements for the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial
groups in the proposed research? (See Attachment 1, AR-2 for more
information). This policy
[[Page 14990]]
includes (a) the proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and
racial and ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation;
(b) the proposed justification when representation is limited or
absent; (c) a statement as to whether the design of the study is
adequate to measure differences when warranted; and (d) a statement as
to whether the plans for recruitment and outreach for study
participants include the process of establishing partnerships with
community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.
Communication/Dissemination (15 points)
1. To what extent are the applicant's described communications and
dissemination activities integrated into the center's goals and
objectives? Has the applicant adequately addressed the diversity or
special needs of the community or subgroups and described how it will
work with its partners. Does the applicant anticipate these activities
will have an effect on local, state, or national policy, and other
potential outcomes?
2. How well does the applicant describe the proposed methods for
the center's communication and dissemination activities? To what extent
can these methods help accomplish the center's goals and objectives?
3. To what extent will the applicant's described infrastructure of
resources and personnel adequately help support the center's
communication and dissemination activities?
Infrastructure (15 points)
1. Does the applicant provide an organizational chart? How well
does the chart represent the center's activities? How well does the
organizational structure facilitate the center's activities?
2. To what extent does the applicant describe the positions needed
to accomplish the center's goals and objectives? How well does the
applicant describe the staffing plan, and to what extent does the plan
describe the experience, expertise, and percentage of effort required
of the center's leadership, research, evaluation, communications,
training, information management, and fiscal administration staff? Has
the applicant explained how it will increase its capacity over time? Is
the staffing plan adequate for the center to accomplish its proposed
goals and objectives?
3. How well does the applicant describe the university's commitment
to the center (e.g., facilities, technological resources, etc.)? Is the
university commitment adequate to establish and maintain an identity
for the proposed center?
Training/Education (10 points)
1. To what extent does the applicant sufficiently describe and
justify the center's assets or needs assessments for training,
technical assistance, or mentoring activities?
2. To what extent does the applicant adequately lay out a five-year
training, technical assistance, or mentoring plan, including how the
plan reflects the mission of the center and the assets or needs
assessment described above?
I. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
1. Annual progress reports.
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.
Applicants will send all reports to the Grants Management
Specialist identified in the Where to Obtain Additional Information
section of this announcement.
In addition, the applicant will be responsible for submitting
information on program performance through the PRC Information System.
This will include, but is not limited to the following: (1) Providing
information on all projects (i.e., Core projects, special interest
projects, and other funded projects) and products (i.e., interim
reports, publications, presentations, surveys, etc.); (2) providing
semi-annual updates to the information contained in the system; and (3)
collaborate with the national PRC Program on the continued development
and improvement of the information system.
Additional Requirements
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment 1 of the
program announcement, as posted on the CDC web site.
AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic
Minorities in Research
AR-7 Executive Order 12372 Review
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-22 Research Integrity
See Appendix E for supplemental information about Research
Integrity, Human Subjects Requirements, and Institutional Review Board
policy.
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: Lucy
Picciolo, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch,
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Room 3000, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146,
Telephone: 770-488-2683, E-mail address: LPicciolo@cdc.gov. For program technical assistance, contact: Robert Hancock, Project
Officer, Prevention Research Centers Office, National Center for
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Northeast, MS K45,
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, Telephone: 770-488-5395, E-mail address:
RHancock@cdc.gov.
Dated: March 20, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-7315 Filed 3-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P