[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24634-24635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11351]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[CDC-538]


Cooperative Agreement for the Hepatitis B Coalition Notice of 
Availability of Funds for Fiscal Year 1995

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National 
Immunization Program (NIP), announces the availability of cooperative 
agreement funds in fiscal year (FY) 1995 to assist the Hepatitis B 
Coalition in promoting hepatitis B prevention activities. Approximately 
$150,000 is available in FY 1995 to fund one cooperative agreement 
award. It is expected the award will begin on or about September 1, 
1995, for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to 
five years. Continuation awards within the project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds. 
The funding estimate may vary and is subject to change.
    The purpose of this cooperative agreement will be to improve: (1) 
Provider knowledge about hepatitis B prevention through the development 
and dissemination of information and educational materials, and the 
implementation of promotional activities for health care professionals; 
(2) community awareness of the need for hepatitis B screening and 
vaccination through the development and dissemination of information 
and educational materials, and the implementation of promotional 
activities for specific target audiences within the general population; 
and (3) communication and facilitate partnerships between State and 
local health departments, private provider organizations, hospitals, 
voluntary groups, and other health care coalitions to increase 
awareness about hepatitis B prevention activities. By strategically 
focusing resources through this cooperative agreement, efforts to reach 
national hepatitis B vaccination coverage levels of 70% by 1996 and 90% 
by 1998 will be greatly enhanced.
    CDC will provide technical assistance in the development of 
programs by providing scientific collaboration for appropriate aspects 
of the activities, including information on disease impact, vaccination 
coverage levels, and prevention strategies; and assisting in reporting 
and validating relevant hepatitis B information made available to 
Federal, State, local health agencies, health care providers, and 
volunteer organizations.
    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 Immunization and Infectious Diseases. (For ordering a 
copy of Healthy People 2000, see the section Where to Obtain Additional 
Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act, 
Section 317(k)(3) [42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(3)], as amended.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and to 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

    Assistance will be provided only to the Hepatitis B Coalition for 
this project. No other applications will be solicited. The Program 
Announcement and application kit have been sent to the Hepatitis B 
Coalition.
    The Hepatitis B Coalition is the most appropriate entity to conduct 
work under this cooperative agreement because:
    1. The Hepatitis B Coalition represents an established 
collaboration among professional, voluntary, and public and private 
sector organizations with a history of combining resources, sharing 
information, developing and [[Page 24635]] distributing educational 
materials, and supporting activities that advocate preventing hepatitis 
B virus (HBV) infection through vaccination, education, testing, and 
treatment.
    The Coalition's information and educational efforts are disease 
specific and its mission is to improve hepatitis B vaccination coverage 
levels and reduce the incidence of HBV infection. These activities are 
national in scope and are not limited to local or regional entities.
    2. This Coalition is the only such organization whose primary 
objective is to provide hepatitis B information and education to health 
care providers to improve their immunization practices, and to the 
public to increase awareness and knowledge of the disease. The 
Coalition has also demonstrated success in reaching Southeast Asian 
communities, a high risk group that has not received culturally 
appropriate education, outreach, and testing/vaccination services from 
other health care providers. In addition, the Coalition has developed 
and tested effective bilingual educational materials for Asian/Pacific 
Islanders based on their cultural, religious, and political beliefs.
    3. The Coalition has a demonstrated history of regular written 
communications such as newsletters or ``Dear Colleague'' letters. It 
has sponsored and promoted regularly scheduled local, regional, and 
national meetings of its individual members to share information, 
transfer skills, and promote initiatives pertaining to the prevention 
of HBV infection. It successfully motivates other organizations to 
participate in Coalition activities.
    4. Through emphasis on public and provider education concerning 
hepatitis B prevention issues, the Coalition has demonstrated 
leadership in building relationships with national organizations, 
private and public sector non-profit health care organizations, 
professional health associations, volunteer groups, advocacy groups, 
minority organizations, and government entities.
    No other organization devoted to addressing the wide-ranging needs 
for education and professional development on hepatitis B prevention 
exists that has the experience and demonstrated program successes, the 
national reach, and the organizational structure to provide to those 
audiences who will benefit the most, the information and education 
required to improve vaccination coverage levels and reduce disease 
incidence. The past performance and ongoing success of this Coalition 
make it uniquely qualified for this project.

Executive Order 12372

    This applicant is not subject to Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs as governed by Executive Order 12372.

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 for this 
project is 93.185.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    If you are interested in obtaining additional information about 
this project, please reference Announcement Number 538, and contact 
Lisa Tamaroff, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., MS E-13, Atlanta, GA 
30305, telephone (404) 842-6796.
    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) may be obtained through the Superintendent of Documents, 
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 
512-1800.

    Dated: May 3, 1995.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-11351 Filed 5-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P