[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19750-19753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9768]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement 600]


Public Health Conference Support Grant Program

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of funds in fiscal year (FY) 1996 for the Public Health 
Conference Support Grant Program. 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 all of Healthy People 2000 priority areas, 
except HIV Infection (an announcement for HIV entitled, ``Public Health 
Conference Support Cooperative [[Page 19751]] Agreement Program for 
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention'' will be published). 
(For ordering a copy of ``Healthy People 2000,'' see the Section 
``Where To Obtain Additional Information.'')

Authority

    This program is authorized under Section 301 [42 U.S.C. 241] and 
Section 310 [42 U.S.C. 242n] of the Public Health Service Act.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant recipients 
to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the nonuse of all tobacco 
products, and Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, 
prohibits smoking in certain facilities that receive Federal funds in 
which education, library, day care, health care, and early childhood 
development services are provided to children.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include public and private (e.g., community-
based, national and regional) organizations, nonprofit and for-profit 
organizations and governments and their agencies. Thus, universities, 
colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public and private 
organizations, State and local governments or their bona fide agents, 
federally recognized Indian tribal governments, Indian tribes or Indian 
tribal organizations, and small, minority-and/or women-owned businesses 
are eligible for these grants.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $300,000 is expected to be available in FY 1996 to 
fund approximately 15-20 awards. The awards range from $1,000 to 
$30,000 with the average award being approximately $15,000. The awards 
will be made for a 12-month budget and project period. The funding 
estimates may vary and are subject to change, based on the availability 
of funds.

Use of Funds

     CDC funds may be used for direct cost expenditures: 
salaries, speaker fees, rental of necessary equipment, registration 
fees, and transportation costs (not to exceed economy class fare) for 
non-Federal employees.
     CDC funds may NOT be used for the purchase of equipment, 
payments of honoraria, alterations or renovations, organizational dues, 
entertainment or personal expenses, cost of travel and payment of a 
Federal employee, nor per diem or expenses other than local mileage for 
local participants.
     CDC funds may NOT be used for reimbursement of indirect 
costs.
     Although the practice of handing out novelty items at 
meetings is often employed in the private sector to provide 
participants with souvenirs, Federal funds CANNOT be used for this 
purpose.
     CDC funds may be used for only those parts of the 
conference specifically supported by CDC as documented in the grant 
award.
     CDC will NOT fund 100% of any conference proposed under 
this announcement.

Purpose

    The purpose of conference support grants is to provide PARTIAL 
support for specific non-Federal conferences in the areas of health 
promotion and disease prevention information/education programs, 
(EXCEPT HIV INFECTION). Applications are being solicited for 
conferences on: (1) Chronic disease prevention; (2) infectious disease 
prevention; (3) control of injury or disease associated with 
environmental, home, and work-place hazards; (4) environmental health; 
(5) occupational safety and health; (6) control of risk factors such as 
poor nutrition, smoking, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, and 
stress; (7) health education and promotion; (8) laboratory practices; 
and (9) efforts that would strengthen the public health system. Because 
conference support by CDC creates the appearance of CDC co-sponsorship, 
there will be active participation by CDC in the development and 
approval of those portions of the agenda supported by CDC funds. In 
addition, CDC will reserve the right to approve or reject the content 
of the full agenda, speaker selection, and site selection. CDC funds 
will not be expended for non-approved portions of meetings. Contingency 
awards will be made allowing usage of only 10% of the total amount to 
be awarded until a final full agenda is approved by CDC. This will 
provide funds for costs associated with preparation of the agenda. The 
remainder of funds will be released only upon approval of the final 
full agenda. CDC reserves the right to terminate co-sponsorship if it 
does not concur with the final agenda.
    Because CDC's mission and programs relate to the promotion of 
health and the prevention of disease, disability, and premature death, 
only conferences focusing on such programmatic areas will be 
considered. Those topics concerned with health-care and health-service 
issues and areas other than prevention should be directed to other 
public health agencies.

Program Requirements

    Grantees must meet the following requirements:
    A. Manage all activities related to program content (e.g., 
objectives, topics, attendees, session design, workshops, special 
exhibits, speakers, fees, agenda composition, and printing). Many of 
these items may be developed in concert with assigned CDC project 
personnel.
    B. Provide draft copies of the agenda and proposed ancillary 
activities to CDC for approval. Submit copy of final agenda and 
proposed ancillary activities to CDC for approval.
    C. Determine and manage all promotional activities (e.g., title, 
logo, announcements, mailers, press, etc.). CDC must review and approve 
any materials with reference to CDC involvement or support.
    D. Manage all registration processes with participants, invitees, 
and registrants (e.g., travel, reservations, correspondence, conference 
materials and hand-outs, badges, registration procedures, etc.).
    E. Plan, negotiate, and manage conference site arrangements, 
including all audio-visual needs.
    F. Participate in the analysis of data from conference activities 
that pertain to the impact on prevention.

Letter of Intent

    Potential applicants must submit an original and two copies of a 
one-page typewritten Letter of Intent that briefly describes the title, 
location, purpose, and date of the proposed conference and the intended 
audience (number and profession). This letter must also include the 
estimated total cost of the conference and the percentage of the total 
cost (which must be less than 100%) being requested from CDC. THE ONE 
PAGE LIMITATION MUST BE OBSERVED OR THE LETTER OF INTENT WILL BE 
RETURNED WITHOUT REVIEW.
    Letters of Intent will be reviewed by program staff for consistency 
with CDC's health promotion and disease prevention goals and priorities 
and the purpose of this program.
    An invitation to submit a final application will be made on the 
basis of the proposed conference's relationship to the CDC funding 
priorities and on the availability of funds.

Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria (TOTAL 100 POINTS): [[Page 19752]] 

A. Proposed Program and Technical Approach (25 points)

    Evaluation will be based on:
    1. The applicant's description of the proposed conference as it 
relates to specific non-Federal conferences in the areas of health 
promotion and disease prevention information/education programs (except 
HIV infection), including the public health need of the proposed 
conference and the degree to which the conference can be expected to 
influence public health practices. Evaluation will be based also on the 
extent of the applicant's collaboration with other agencies serving the 
intended audience, including local health and education agencies 
concerned with health promotion and disease prevention.
    2. The applicant's description of conference objectives in terms of 
quality and specificity and the feasibility of the conference based on 
the operational plan.
    3. The quality of the proposed agenda in addressing the chosen non-
HIV health and disease prevention/education topic.

B. Applicant Capability (10 points)

    Evaluation will be based on the adequacy of applicant's resources 
(additional sources of funding, organization's strengths, staff time, 
proposed facilities, etc.) available for conducting conference 
activities.

C. The Qualification of Program Personnel (20 points)

    Evaluation will be based on the extent to which the application has 
described:
    1. The qualifications, experience, and commitment of the principal 
staff person, and his/her ability to devote adequate time and effort to 
provide effective leadership.
    2. The competence of associate staff persons, discussion leaders, 
speakers, and presenters to accomplish conference objectives.
    3. The degree to which the application demonstrates the knowledge 
of nation-wide and education efforts currently underway which may 
affect, and be affected by, the proposed conference.

D. Conference Objectives (25 points)

    Evaluation will be based on:
    1. The overall quality, reasonableness, feasibility, and logic of 
the designed conference objectives, including the overall workplan and 
timetable for accomplishment.
    2. The likelihood of accomplishing conference objectives as they 
relate to disease prevention and health promotion goals, and the 
feasibility of the project in terms of the operational plan.

E. Evaluation Methods (20 points)

    Evaluation will be based on the extent to which evaluation 
mechanisms for the conference will be able to adequately assess 
increased knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the target attendees.

F. Budget Justification and Adequacy of Facilities (not scored)

    The proposed budget will be evaluated on the basis of its 
reasonableness, concise and clear justification, and consistency with 
the intended use of grant funds. The application will also be reviewed 
as to the adequacy of existing and proposed facilities and resources 
for conducting conference activities.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    Applications are not subject to review as governed by Executive 
Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

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

Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.283.

Letter of Intent and Application Submission and Deadline

    THE ORIGINAL AND TWO COPIES of the Letter of Intent must be 
postmarked by October 9, 1995, in order to be considered. (FACSIMILES 
ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.)
    Following submission of a Letter of Intent, successful applicants 
will receive a written notification to submit an application for 
funding. Applications may be accepted by CDC only after the Letter of 
Intent has been reviewed by CDC and written invitation from CDC has 
been received by prospective applicant. An invitation to submit an 
application does not constitute a commitment to fund the applicant. 
Availability of funds may limit the number of Letter of Intents, 
regardless of merit, that receive an invitation to submit an 
application.
    The original and two copies of the invited application must be 
submitted on PHS Form 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-0189) by January 26, 
1996. The earliest possible award date is June 1996.
    Invited applications must be postmarked on or before the deadline 
date to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management Officer, Attention: 
Karen Reeves, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry 
Road, NE., Mailstop E-09, Room 300, Atlanta, GA 30305.

A. Deadline

    Letters of Intent and Applications shall be considered as meeting 
the deadline if they are either:
    1. Received on or before the deadline date, or
    2. Postmarked on or before the deadline date and received in time 
for submission to the independent review group. (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.)

B. Late Applications

    Applications that do not meet the criteria in A.1. or A.2. above 
are considered late applications and will be returned to the applicant.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional written information call (404) 332-4561. You 
will be asked to leave your name, address, and phone number and will 
need to refer to Announcement Number 600. You will receive a complete 
program description, information on application procedures. If you have 
questions after reviewing the contents of all the documents, business 
management assistance (application information) may be obtained from 
Karen Reeves, 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 E-
09, Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6596. Programmatic technical 
assistance may be obtained from Bruce Granoff, Program Analyst, or 
Freida Quarles, Program Specialist, Public Health Practice Program 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton 
Road, NE., Mailstop E-42, Atlanta, GA 30333, telephone (404) 639-0425.
    Please refer to Announcement Number 600 when requesting information 
and when submitting your Letter of Intent and application in response 
to the announcement.
    Potential applicants may obtain a copy of ``Healthy People 2000'' 
(Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or [[Page 19753]] ``Healthy 
People 2000'' (Summary Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) referenced in 
the ``Introduction'' through the Superintendent of Documents, 
Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 
512-1800.

    Dated: April 14, 1995.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-9768 Filed 4-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P