[Federal Register: May 19, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 96)]
[Notices]
[Page 27082-27084]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my03-71]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement Number 03109]
Cooperative Agreement for Surveillance and Eradication in the
Global Guinea Worm Eradication Effort; Notice of Availability of Funds
Application Deadline: July 3, 2003.
A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act,
sections 301(a) (42 U.S.C. 241(a)), 311(42 U.S.C. 243), and 317(k)(2)
(42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2)), as amended. The Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance number is 93.283.
B. Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds for a cooperative agreement
program for surveillance and eradication in the global Guinea worm
eradication effort. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010''
focus areas of Immunization and Infectious Diseases.
The purpose of the program is to provide assistance for the
eradication of dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) in all endemic
countries.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
following performance goal for the National Center for Infectious
Diseases: Protect Americans from infectious diseases.
C. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit
organizationsand by governments and their agencies; that is:
[sbull] Universities
[sbull] Colleges
[sbull] Technical schools
[sbull] Research Institutions
[sbull] Hospitals
[sbull] Community-based organizations
[sbull] Faith-based organizations
[sbull] Federally recognized Indian tribal governments
[sbull] Indian Tribes
[sbull] Indian tribal organizations
[sbull] State and local governments or their bona fide agents (this
includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands,
American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic
of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau)
[sbull] Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with States)
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 $95,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund one award. It
is expected that the award will begin on or about September 15, 2003,
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period
of up to five years. The funding estimate will not change so any
application exceeding $95,000 will not be considered.
A continuation award within an approved project period will be made
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports
and the availability of funds.
Recipient Financial Participation
No matching funds are required for this program.
Funding Preferences
Preference will be extended to applicants demonstrating leadership
among the recognized partners of the global Guinea worm eradication
campaign, with a record of success
[[Page 27083]]
supporting and coordinating international disease eradication
campaigns, specifically in generating political will, financial support
and providing technical expertise; to those organizations documenting
existing infrastructure (i.e., materiel resources, staffing
sufficiency, epidemiologic surveillance capacity and experience,
international field experience, experience in successful eradication
campaigns, and consistent experience successfully dealing with regional
cross-border issues); and to those applicants demonstrating established
collaboration with ministries of health in targeted countries.
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 CDC will be responsible for the activities
listed in 2. CDC Activities.
1. Recipient Activities
a. Develop and implement surveillance plans to identify, contain
and report cases of dracunculiasis in the highest, secondary and
tertiary priority areas endemic for Guinea worm in Africa.
b. Develop and implement interventions in targeted and priority
areas.
c. Provide sufficient and adequately trained personnel.
d. Develop an evaluation plan to assess development and
implementation of interventions and surveillance activities.
2. CDC Activities
a. Collaborate with the recipient on the design, development and
implementation of epidemiologic studies regarding Guinea worm
interventions.
b. Collaborate with the recipient on site selection in the highest
priority areas of Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo, in the secondary priority
areas of the tri-border region of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, and in
the tertiary priority areas of the remaining West African countries
(i.e., Mauritania, Benin, and Cote d'Ivoire).
c. Collaborate with the recipient on assessing the use of
intervention supplies and materials to specific country Guinea worm
eradication programs.
d. Provide medical consultation, programmatic review, and
epidemiologic assistance when and where possible in project areas
during Guinea worm drives.
e. Provide technical expertise in the form of one-on-one or group
consultations by phone, in person, or via formal or informal meetings.
f. Assist in the development of a research protocol for
Institutional Review Board (IRB) review by all cooperating institutions
participating in the research project. The CDC IRB will review and
approve the protocol initially and on at least an annual basis until
the research project is completed.
F. Content
Letter of Intent (LOI)
An LOI is optional for this program. The Program Announcement title
and number must appear in the LOI. The narrative should be no more than
one page, single-spaced, printed on one side, with one-inch margins,
and unreduced 12-point font. Your letter of intent will be used to
enable CDC to determine the level of interest in the announcement and
should include the following information, a brief description of the
proposed study, the business address of the organization, and the name
and phone number of the Principal Investigator.
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 25 pages, double-spaced,
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced 12-point
font.
The narrative should consist of Experience and Background,
Implementation Plan, Capacity, Methods, Evaluation, Objectives,
Measures of Effectiveness, Budget, and Human Subjects. The
Implementation Plan should address activities to be conducted over the
entire five year project period.
G. Submission and Deadline
Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission
On or before June 3, 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 PHS 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:
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 3,
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management-
PA03109, 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, 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.
[[Page 27084]]
An independent review group appointed by CDC will evaluate each
application against the following criteria:
1. Experience and Background (30 Points)
The extent to which the applicant documents previous participation
and leadership in the ongoing Guinea worm eradication effort, including
provision of political support through ministries and heads of state
that reflect regional coordination of resources and efforts, the
applicant's grasp of the elements and magnitude of effort necessary to
strategize the eradication of Guinea worm, ability to respond to
unanticipated needs, and overall commitment.
2. Project Implementation Plan (20 Total Points)
a. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates knowledge of the
effort needed to eradicate Guinea worm, time frames, performance
standards, and management of financial and materiel resources. A
demonstration of overall high quality in an implementation plan,
including: (1) Compatibility with the global Guinea worm eradication
effort; (2) acceptability of the plan by key partners in the Guinea
worm effort; and (3) a description that indicates the applicant's
understanding of relevant issues, obstacles and goals. (15 points)
b. If research involving human subjects is proposed, the degree to
which the applicant has met the CDC Policy requirements regarding the
inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial groups in the proposed research.
This includes: (1) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes
and racial and ethnic minority populations for appropriate
representation; (2) the proposed justification when representation is
limited or absent; (3) a statement as to whether the design of proposed
studies is adequate to measure differences when warranted; and (4) 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. (5 points)
3. Capacity (15 Points)
The extent to which the applicant demonstrates sufficient, existing
capacity to carry out the proposed plan, including staffing proposals
(with curriculum vitae, titles and roles).
4. Methods (15 Points)
The extent to which applicant describes clear, practiced and
accepted methods to implement elements of a Guinea worm eradication
program.
5. Evaluation (10 Points)
The feasibility of the evaluation methods or procedures to monitor
proposed activities, and the evaluation criteria to measure program
accomplishments.
6. Objectives (5 Points)
The extent to which (1) the stated goals are specific, measurable,
realistic, and time-phased; (2) the objectives are related to the
purpose(s) stated in the Program Announcement; and (3) measures are
objective and quantitative.
7. Measures of Effectiveness (5 Points)
The extent to which the applicant provides Measures of
Effectiveness that will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various
identified objectives of the award; that such measures are objective/
quantitative and adequately measure the intended outcome.
8. Budget (Not Scored)
The extent to which the budget provides detail and justification,
and that they are consistent with the stated objectives and adequate to
support proposed activities.
9. Protection of Human Subjects (Not Scored)
The extent to which the application adequately addresses the
requirements of title 45 CFR part 46 for the protection of human
subjects. (Not scored; however, an application can be disapproved if
the research risks are sufficiently serious and protection against
risks is so inadequate as to make the entire application unacceptable.)
I. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC 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 Activity 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 website.
AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic
Minorities in Research
AR-7 Executive Order 12372
AR-10 Smoke Free Work Place Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2010
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status
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: Yolanda
Sledge, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road,
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-2787. E-mail Address:
yis0@cdc.gov. For program technical assistance, contact: Linda A. Webb, Public
Health Advisor (MS/F22), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
4770 Bufford Highway, NE., Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone: 770/488-
7784. E-mail address: law6@cdc.gov.
Dated: May 13, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-12399 Filed 5-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P