[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26443-26445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12110]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 552]


National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Farm 
Family Health and Hazard Surveillance Cooperative Agreement Program

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of funds for fiscal year (FY) 1995 cooperative agreements 
to continue the current program of population-based farm family health 
and hazard surveys in six States. 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 Occupational Safety and 
Health. (For ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see the Section 
Where to Obtain Additional Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under Section 20(a)(1) (29 U.S.C. 
669(a)(1)) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and 
Section 301(a) (42 U.S.C. 241(a)) of the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The PHS strongly encourages 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

    Applications will only be accepted from organizations currently 
obtaining prevalence and incidence data on the illness, injuries, and 
exposures to work-place hazards experienced by farmers and farm 
families (previously funded under CDC Announcement Number 040). The 
following is a list of those non-profit or public organizations: 
California Department of Health Services; California Public Health 
Foundation; Colorado State University; The University of Iowa; 
University of Kentucky; New York State Department of Health; and The 
Ohio State University.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $1.9 million is available in FY 1995 to fund up to 
six awards. It is expected that the average award will be $300,000. The 
awards are expected to begin on or about September 30, 1995, and will 
be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to 2 
years. Funding estimates may vary and are subject to change.
    Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the 
basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.

Purpose

    In 1990, Congress mandated ``* * * a series of surveillance, 
research, and intervention initiatives that when sustained over a 
period of time will have a significant and measurable impact on these 
health effects among rural Americans. The purpose of the recommended 
surveillance and research efforts is to better assist the CDC and other 
parties in developing strategies to reduce the unacceptably high injury 
and disease rates among rural Americans.'' A ``U.S. farm family health 
and hazard survey'' was one of two specific surveillance initiatives 
called for by Congress ``* * * to develop more complete information on 
agricultural injury and disease problems.'' The National Institute for 
Occupational Health (NIOSH), Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance 
(FFHHS), and other Congressionally mandated initiatives became the CDC/
NIOSH National Initiative in Agricultural Safety and Health. A total of 
2 million dollars was allocated in FY 1990 to the FFHHS.
    The NIOSH/FFHHS cooperative agreement program was developed to 
respond to Congress' concern that agricultural workers and their 
families experience a disproportionate share of disease and injury 
associated with the chemical, biological, physical, ergonomic, and 
psychological hazards of agriculture. Specifically, population-based 
health and hazard data was unavailable on the incidence and prevalence 
of disease, injury, or exposure to workplace hazards among farmers and 
farm families.
    The goal of the NIOSH/FFHHS cooperative agreement program is to 
obtain prevalence and incidence data on the illnesses, injuries, and 
exposures to work-place hazards experienced by farmers and farm 
families. The NIOSH/FFHHS has two primary survey objectives. The first 
objective of the program is to describe the health status of 
agricultural workers and their families. The second objective of the 
program is to describe work-related risk factors and conditions of 
exposure to potentially hazardous agents and events. [[Page 26444]] 

Program Requirements

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

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Provide periodic updates on health status and hazard surveys.
    2. Complete health status and hazard surveys.
    3. Conduct independent analyses and disseminate the information 
through appropriate technical, professional, and other printed media. 
Disseminate results to the agricultural community, technical and 
agricultural resource organizations within the State, and through 
appropriate professional conferences.
    4. Provide health status and hazard survey data to CDC/NIOSH as 
part of an overall analysis of the separate surveys.
B. CDC/NIOSH Activities

    1. Provide consultation and/or assistance in the collection and 
compilation of the survey data. Receive, compile, edit, and manage 
health and hazard survey data provided to CDC/NIOSH.
    2. Coordinate the active involvement of CDC/NIOSH staff in the 
planning, analysis, and interpretation of the health status and hazard 
survey data.
    3. Consult with recipients that are contributing data or providing 
technical consultation to CDC/NIOSH on the preparation and 
dissemination of survey reports.
    4. Facilitate preparation and dissemination of survey results 
through CDC/NIOSH technical reports or other appropriate scientific 
journals or publications.
    5. Provide staff involvement in the analysis, interpretation, and 
dissemination of the health status and hazard survey data and, in some 
capacity, in the writing or review of recipient-initiated draft and 
final reports.

Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria:
    1. Relevance of the proposal to the background, purpose, and 
objectives of the current program (see Purpose Section), and the 
technical merit and originality of the proposed approach to the 
problems in the measurement and identification of health conditions and 
health hazards within agricultural populations (25%);
    2. Adequacy and feasibility of the methodology and approach (25%);
    3. Prior progress and accomplishments under the NIOSH/FFHHS 
cooperative agreement program (20%);
    4. Training, experience, and competence of the proposed Project 
Director(s) and staff. The project director must be a recognized 
scientist and technical expert, and must provide assurances of major 
time commitments to the project (20%);
    5. Suitability of the facilities (10%);
    6. Appropriateness and justification of the requested budget 
relative to the proposed work (not scored).

Executive Order 12372 Review

    This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 review.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to Public Health Reporting 
Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this project 
is 13.262.

Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Projects that involve the collection of information from 10 or more 
individuals and funded by this cooperative agreement will be subject to 
approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act.

Human Subjects

    If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the 
applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human Services 
Regulations, 45 CFR part 46, regarding the protection of human 
subjects. Assurance must be provided to demonstrate the project will be 
subject to initial and continuing review by an appropriate 
institutional review committee. The applicant will be responsible for 
providing assurance in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and 
form provided in the application kit.

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 Henry 
S. Cassell III, 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, Mail Stop 
E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305, on or before June 28, 1995.
    1. Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the 
deadline if they are either: (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 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 are not acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    2. Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria 
in 1.(a) or 1.(b) above are considered late 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 telephone number and 
will need to refer to Announcement Number 552. You will receive a 
complete program description, information on application procedures, 
and application forms.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from Oppie Byrd, 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, Mail Stop 
E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6546. Programmatic 
technical assistance may be obtained from John P. Sestito, Assistant 
Chief, Surveillance Branch, Division of Surveillance, Hazard 
Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
4676 Columbia Parkway, Mailstop R-17, Cincinnati, OH 45226, telephone 
(513) 841-4303.
    Please refer to Announcement Number 552 when requesting information 
and submitting an application.
    Potential applicants may obtain 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 
through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, 
Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.

    [[Page 26445]] Dated: May 10, 1995.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-12110 Filed 5-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P