[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14628]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement 485]

 

Improving Performance in Physicians' Office Laboratories

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1994 funds for a cooperative agreement 
to improve the quality of laboratory testing in physicians' office 
laboratories (POLs). The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to 
achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of 
``Healthy People 2000,'' a PHS-led national activity to reduce 
morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life. This 
announcement is related to the priority area of Clinical Preventive 
Services. (For ordering a copy of ``Healthy People 2000,'' see the 
section ``Where to Obtain Additional Information.'')

Authority

    This program is authorized under section 317(k)(2)(D) of the Public 
Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2)(D)], as amended.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant recipients 
to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all 
tobacco products. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect 
and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are limited to non-profit professional clinical 
or laboratory organizations whose focus is to improve the quality of 
laboratory testing in POLs. Applicants must be able to demonstrate 
that:
    1. They are laboratory medicine oriented;
    2. A goal of their organization is to improve the quality of 
laboratory testing in POLs;
    3. They have a long-standing interest in improving the performance 
of laboratory testing; and
    4. They have a strong, specific interest in providing professional 
information to private practitioners with laboratories, thereby 
striving to improve the quality of laboratory testing in POLs.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $100,000 is available in FY 1994 to fund one 
cooperative agreement. It is expected that the award will begin on or 
about September 1, 1994, and will be made for a 12-month budget period 
within a project period of up to three years. Funding estimates may 
vary and are subject to change. Continuation awards within the project 
period may be made on the basis of satisfactory progress and the 
availability of funds.

Purpose

    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to develop and provide 
professional and technical information and education to private 
practitioners with POLs, thereby helping improve the quality of 
laboratory testing available to the American public.

Program Requirements

    In conducting the activities to achieve the purpose of the program, 
the recipient will be responsible for those activities listed under A. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for those 
activities under B. (CDC Activities).

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Nationally, provide to POL physicians training that has been 
designed to improve laboratory performance. In the first budget year 
develop training modules related to the standards as set forth in the 
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), designed to train 
POL staff.
    2. Develop and implement mechanisms for communicating information 
directly to POLs relating to CLIA. These communications will provide 
accurate, concise, and rapid information that will give physicians 
access to new and/or revised CLIA regulatory provisions. In the first 
budget year, using the laboratory test categorization computerized 
database established by CDC, develop an interactive software program 
which is user friendly and can be queried by physicians for specific 
tests.

B. CDC Activities

    1. Provide scientific and technical expertise related to distance-
based training and provide technical assistance in the development of 
training modules and courses related to the CLIA standards.
    2. Collaborate in the development of mechanisms to communicate 
current and updated information relating to CLIA to POLs.
    3. Provide scientific and technical assistance relating to the test 
categorization database and laboratory standards, and collaborate in 
the development of more user friendly and interactive databases for use 
by POLs.

Evaluation Criteria

    The application will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria:
    1. Responsiveness to the objectives of the cooperative agreement 
including: (a) Applicant's understanding of the objectives of the 
proposed cooperative agreement; and (b) the relevance of the proposal 
to the stated objectives. (25 points)
    2. Ability to provide staff, knowledge, and other resources 
required to perform the applicant's responsibilities in this project. 
The qualifications and time allocations of key personnel to be assigned 
to this project and the facilities, equipment, and other resources 
available for performance of this project. (25 points)
    3. Methods to be used in carrying out the responsibilities of this 
project. Steps to be taken in planning and implementation of this 
project. (20 points)
    4. Schedule for accomplishing the activities to be carried out in 
this project and methods for evaluating the accomplishments. (20 
points)
    5. Percentage of the U.S. POL community that can be reached by the 
applicant organization. (10 points)
    6. Budget evaluation to the extent that it is reasonable, clearly 
justified, and consistent with the intended use of funds. (Not scored)

Executive Order 12372 Review

    This program is not subject to the Executive Order 12372 review.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

Application Submission and Deadline

    The original and two copies of the application, PHS Form 5161-1 
(Revised 7.92, OMB Control Number 0937-0189), must be submitted to 
Elizabeth M. Taylor, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., room 300, Mailstop 
E16, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, on or before July 15, 1994.
    1. Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the 
deadline if they are:
    A. Received on or before the deadline date, or
    B. Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the independent review committee. (Applicants must 
request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a 
legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal 
Service. Private metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of 
timely mailing.)
    2. Late Applications: Applications that do not meet the criteria in 
1.A. or 1.B. are considered late applications. Late applications will 
not be considered in the current competition and will be returned to 
the applicant.

Where to Obtain Additional Information

    If you are interested in obtaining additional information regarding 
this project, please refer to Announcement Number 485 and contact 
Manuel Lambrinos, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., room 300, Mailstop 
E16, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, telephone (404) 842-6777, for business 
management technical assistance. Programmatic technical assistance may 
be obtained from Katherine A. Kelley, Dr.P.H., Chief, Training Branch, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health 
Practice Program Office, Division of Laboratory Systems, 4770 Buford 
Highway, NE., Mailstop A16, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, telephone 
(404) 488-7675.
    A copy of ``Healthy People 2000'' (Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-
00474-0) or ``Healthy People 2000'' (Summary Report, Stock No. 017-001-
00473-1) referenced in the ``Introduction'' may be obtained through the 
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 
20402-9325, telephone (202) 783-3238.

    Dated: June 10, 1994.
Ladene H. Newton,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 94-14628 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P