[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27317-27320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12545]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement 553]


Cooperative Agreement for Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology 
Surveillance Programs and/or Intervention Projects to Prevent Adult 
Lead Poisoning

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1995 funds for new and competing 
continuation of State-Based Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and 
Surveillance Programs (ABLES) and intervention projects to prevent 
adult lead poisoning in high-risk industries and occupations. 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. (To order a copy of Healthy People 
2000, see the Section Where To Obtain Additional Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under the Occupational Safety and Health 
Act of 1970, section 20(a), (29 U.S.C. 669(a)), and section 22(e)(7), 
(29 U.S.C. 671(e)(7)).

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, 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.

Environmental Justice Initiative

    Activities conducted under this announcement should be consistent 
with the Federal Executive Order No. 12898 entitled ``Federal Actions 
to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations.'' Awardees, to the greatest extent practicable and 
permitted by law, shall make achieving environmental justice part of 
its program's mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, 
disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental 
effects of lead on minority populations and low-income populations.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants must have regulations for reporting blood lead 
levels or provide assurances that such regulations will be in place 
within six months of awarding the cooperative agreement. Eligible 
applicants are State health departments or other State health agencies 
or departments deemed most appropriate by the State to direct and 
coordinate the State's adult lead poisoning prevention program. This 
eligibility includes health departments or other official 
organizational authority (agency or instrumentality) of the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or 
possession of the United States. Also eligible are federally recognized 
Indian tribal governments.

    Note: Other official State and territorial agencies with 
occupational safety and health jurisdiction may also apply. 
Applicants other than health departments must apply in collaboration 
with and through their State and territorial health department.

    For Surveillance Funds Only: Eligible applicants must have 
regulations for reporting of blood lead (PbB) levels by both public and 
private laboratories or provide assurances that such regulations will 
be in place no later than September 30, 1995. This program is intended 
to initiate and build capacity for surveillance of adult PbB levels. 
Therefore, any applicant that already has in place a PbB level 
surveillance activity must demonstrate how these grant funds will be 
used to enhance, expand or improve the current activity, in order to 
remain eligible for funding. CDC funds should be added to blood-lead 
surveillance funding from other sources, if such funding exists. 
Applicants other than State health departments must apply in 
conjunction with their State or territorial health department. If a 
State agency applying for cooperative agreement funds is other than the 
official State health department, written concurrence by the State 
health department must be provided.
    (In order to compete for additional funding, applicants that are 
currently being funded for ``Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and 
Surveillance'' programs must submit new supplemental proposals for 
their surveillance activities, and/or a proposal for an intervention 
project. These supplements must meet all the above eligibility and will 
be evaluated as a part of the surveillance program/intervention project 
objective review.)

Availability of Funds

Surveillance/Intervention Funds

    Approximately $539,500 will be available in FY 1995. These funds 
will be awarded as follows:

Surveillance Programs

    A. Approximately $81,000 to fund up to three cooperative agreements 
for States currently without a lead surveillance program but who meet 
the eligibility criteria. These awards are expected to range from 
approximately $25,000 to $30,000 with the average award being 
approximately $27,000.
    B. Approximately $278,500 to fund up to thirteen cooperative 
agreements. Eligible applicants include those States currently 
receiving CDC/NIOSH ABLES support and those which provide quarterly 
data to the national reporting system. These awards are expected to 
range from $20,000 to $22,000, with the average award being 
approximately $21,500.

Intervention Project(s)

    C. Approximately $180,000 to fund up to two cooperative agreements 
for intervention projects. These awards are expected to range from 
$80,000 to $100,000, with the average award being approximately 
$90,000.
    The new awards are expected to begin on or about September 30, 
1995. New awards for surveillance programs listed under Parts A and B 
are made for 12-month budget periods within project periods not to 
exceed 5 years. Awards for Intervention project(s) under Part C are 
made for a project period of one year. Funding estimates outlined above 
are subject to change based on the actual availability of funds and the 
scope and quality of applications received. Continuation awards within 
the project period will be made on the basis of satisfactory progress 
and availability of funds.
    These awards are intended to develop, expand, or improve adult 
blood lead epidemiology and [[Page 27318]] surveillance programs and/or 
develop statewide capacity for conducting surveillance of elevated 
blood-lead levels. Funds for intervention projects are for the 
development and conduct of projects to reduce adult lead poisoning. 
Cooperative agreement funds should be used to increase the level of 
expenditures from State, local, and other funding sources. Awards will 
be made with the expectation that expanded or improved surveillance 
activities will continue when awarded funds are terminated at the end 
of the project period.

Purpose

    This program is intended to initiate and build capacity for blood 
lead level surveillance and/or conduct interventions to prevent adult 
lead poisoning. Therefore, any applicant that already has a blood lead 
level surveillance activity in place must demonstrate how these 
cooperative agreement funds will be used to enhance, expand, or improve 
the current activity in order to remain eligible for funding.
    Cooperative agreement funds should be added to blood lead 
surveillance funding from other sources, if such funding exists. Funds 
for this program may not be used in place of any existing funding for 
blood lead surveillance or intervention activities. Funds should be 
used to: (1) Collect data on adults with elevated blood lead levels; 
(2) identify possible sources of lead exposure; (3) monitor medical, 
occupational, and environmental management of lead-poisoned adults; (4) 
provide information on adult lead poisoning and its prevention and 
management to the public, health professionals, and policy and decision 
makers; (5) encourage and support community-based programs directed to 
the goal of eliminating adult lead poisoning; and (6) build capacity 
for conducting surveillance of elevated blood lead (BLL's) levels in 
adults.
    Cooperative Agreement funds for surveillance are to be used to 
develop and implement complete surveillance systems for blood lead 
levels in adults to ensure appropriate targeting for high-risk 
industries and occupations and track progress in the elimination of 
adult lead poisoning. Intervention funds are to be used to develop 
effective models for intervention in the prevention of adult lead 
poisoning.

Surveillance Programs

    This cooperative agreement program is intended to assist State 
health departments or other appropriate agencies to implement a 
complete blood lead surveillance activity. For the purpose of these 
programs a complete blood lead surveillance activity is defined as a 
process which: (1) Systematically collects information over time about 
adults (primarily workers) with elevated BLL's using laboratory reports 
as the data source; (2) collects follow-up information on industry and 
occupation of individuals identified on laboratory reports; (3) 
provides for the follow-up of cases, including field investigations 
when necessary; and (4) provides timely and useful analysis and 
reporting of the accumulated data.

Intervention Projects

    The purpose of these awards is to assist State health departments 
or other appropriate agencies to develop effective models for 
intervention in the prevention of occupational lead poisoning. In 
particular, the focus should be on lead-using industries and 
occupations covered under the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA) Lead Standard for General Industry (29 CFR 
1025.1910) or the Construction Standard (29 CFR part 1926) to determine 
methods for effective interventions to control lead exposures and 
reduce blood lead levels. An effective intervention strategy developed 
by the program will serve as a model for other programs nationally.

Goals

Surveillance Programs

    The surveillance component of this announcement is intended to 
assist State health departments or other appropriate agencies to 
implement a complete surveillance activity for BLL's in adults. 
Development of surveillance systems at the local, State and national 
levels is essential for targeting interventions to high-risk industries 
and occupations and for tracking progress in eliminating adult 
poisoning.
    The goals of the ABLES program are to:

1. Increase the number of State health departments with surveillance 
systems for elevated BLL's;
2. Build the capacity of State- or territorial-based BLL surveillance 
systems;
3. Use data from these systems to conduct national surveillance of 
elevated BLL's;
4. Disseminate data on the occurrence of elevated BLL's to government 
agencies, researchers, employers, and medical care providers;
5. Direct intervention efforts to reduce occupational and environmental 
lead exposure;
6. Characterize reports by industry and occupation to assist with 
targeting educational outreach efforts and prevention activities.

Intervention Project(s)

    Intervention funds are to be used for developing effective models 
for intervention in the prevention of adult lead poisoning. The goals 
are to:

1. Develop a model for intervention related to lead poisoning targeting 
high-risk industries or occupational businesses;
2. Build occupational disease prevention capacity via State health 
departments or other appropriate agencies at the State, or local level;
3. Design, field test, demonstrate, and evaluate the effectiveness of 
the intervention.
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).
    The following requirements are for surveillance only cooperative 
agreement projects:
A. Recipient Resources and Activities
1. Develop effective, well-defined, working relationships with 
childhood lead poisoning prevention programs within the applicants' 
State.
2. Refine and implement, in collaboration with CDC/NIOSH, the 
methodology for surveillance as proposed in the respective program 
application.
3. Provide collaborative partnerships with CDC/NIOSH in any interim 
and/or final evaluation of the surveillance activity.
4. Monitor and evaluate all major program activities and services.
5. Demonstrate experience or access to professionals knowledgeable in 
conducting and evaluating public health programs.
6. Develop ability to translate program findings to State and local 
public health officials, policy- and decision-makers, and to others 
seeking to strengthen program efforts.
B. CDC/NIOSH Activities
1. Provide technical assistance and consultation in the implementation 
of the surveillance activities throughout the project period.
2. Provide a format for reporting surveillance data to CDC/NIOSH.
3. Analyze and provide summary surveillance data for national 
reporting.
4. Provide timely feedback to the recipient from the review of 
quarterly [[Page 27319]] reports on the program activities conducted by 
the recipient.
5. Provide assistance in the conduct of field investigations at the 
recipient's request and as resources permit.

    The following requirements are for Adult Lead Poisoning 
Intervention only projects:
A. Recipient Activities
1. Hire or establish a full-time director/coordinator with authority 
and responsibility to carry out the requirements of intervention 
project activities.
2. Collaborate with CDC/NIOSH to refine the methodology for the 
proposed intervention as described in the program application.
3. Develop and document all facets of the intervention program.
4. Develop plan for evaluating intervention process and outcomes.
5. Evaluate the model program using CDC Prevention Effectiveness 
Criteria.
B. NIOSH/CDC Activities
1. Provide technical assistance and consultation in the implementation 
of the model program throughout the project period.
2. Provide assistance in the conduct of field investigations and 
intervention efforts, at the recipient's request.
3. Provide guidelines for evaluating the intervention activities and 
technical assistance for the evaluation.

    Note: Applicants may submit proposals for surveillance programs 
and/or intervention project(s).

Evaluation Criteria

    The review of applications will be conducted by an objective review 
committee who will review the quality of the application based on the 
strength and completeness of the plan submitted. The budget 
justification will be used to assess how well the technical plan is 
likely to be carried out using available resources. The maximum ratings 
score of an application is 100 points.

A: The Factors To Be Considered in the Evaluation of Applications for 
Surveillance Program Funds Only Are

1. Surveillance Activity (35%)
    The clarity, feasibility, and scientific soundness of the 
surveillance approach. Also, the extent to which a proposed schedule 
for accomplishing each activity and methods for evaluating each 
activity are clearly defined and appropriate.
    The following points will be specifically evaluated:

a. How laboratories report PbB levels.
b. How data will be collected and managed.
c. How data quality and completeness of reporting will be assured.
d. How and when data will be analyzed.
e. How summary data will be reported and disseminated.
f. Protocols for follow-up of individuals with elevated PbB levels.
g. Provisions to obtain industry and occupation data.
2. Progress Toward Complete Blood-Lead Surveillance (30%)
    The extent to which the proposed activities are likely to result in 
substantial progress toward establishing a complete State-based PbB 
surveillance activity (as defined in the PURPOSE Section).
3. Project Sustainability (20%)
    The extent to which the proposed activities are likely to result in 
the long-term maintenance of a complete State-based PbB surveillance 
system. In particular, specific activities that will be undertaken by 
the State during the project period to ensure that the surveillance 
program continues after completion of the project period.
4. Personnel (10%)
    The extent to which the qualifications and time commitments of 
project personnel are clearly documented and appropriate for 
implementing the proposal. (Project requires full-time director/
coordinator with authority and responsibility to carry out the 
requirements of surveillance program activities. Position must be 
approved by the applicant's personnel system.)
5. Use of Existing Resources (5%)
    The extent to which the proposal would make effective use of 
existing resources and expertise within the applicant agency or through 
collaboration with other agencies.
6. BUDGET (Not Scored)
    The extent to which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified, 
and consistent with the intended use of funds.

B: The Factors To Be Considered in the Evaluation of Applications for 
Intervention Project Funds Only Are

    1. The clarity, feasibility, and scientific soundness of the 
approach. The following will be specifically considered: (30%)

a. Who will be targeted for the intervention?
b. How will the intervention be conducted and by whom?
c. How will the intervention be evaluated?
d. How will the data be analyzed?
    2. The extent to which the proposed activities are likely to result 
in the development and execution of a model intervention strategy to 
prevent and reduce occupational lead poisoning in high-risk industries 
or occupations. (25%)
    3. The extent to which the proposed schedule for accomplishing each 
of the project activities and the methods for evaluating each activity 
are clearly defined and appropriate. (15%)
    4. The extent to which the proposed activities are feasible and a 
plan for documenting all facets of the intervention is provided such 
that the model program may be adopted by other health departments or 
appropriate agencies or organizations. (15%)
    5. The extent to which the qualifications and time commitments of 
project personnel are clearly documented and appropriate for 
implementing the proposal. (10%)
    6. The extent to which the proposal would make effective use of 
existing resources and expertise within the applicant agency or through 
collaboration with other agencies. (5%)
    7. The extent to which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified 
and consistent with the intended use of funds. (not scored)

Funding Priorities

    Applicants applying for ABLES surveillance funds will be considered 
in two categories:

Priorities

    (A) Approximately $81,000 to fund up to three new cooperative 
agreements (new is defined as ABLES programs not currently supported by 
CDC/NIOSH) who meet the eligibility requirements.
    (B) Approximately $278,500 will be available to fund up to thirteen 
cooperative agreements for those States currently receiving CDC/NIOSH 
ABLES funding or for those States which provide quarterly data to the 
national surveillance program but are not supported monetarily by CDC/
NIOSH. High priority will be given to proposals which devise strategies 
for enhancing their current surveillance system by coding industry and 
occupation and developing augmentation efforts such as calculation of 
State-specific rates.
    (C) Approximately $180,000 will be available to fund up to two 
cooperative agreements for intervention projects targeting high-risk 
industries and occupations (high-risk defined as the potential for 
highest lead exposures based on investigations of worksites or 
targeting worker populations where cases of elevated blood lead levels 
persist.) Eligible applicants may also [[Page 27320]] apply for 
intervention project funds in addition to surveillance funds and should 
develop separate proposals, within the same request for assistance, for 
intervention projects.
    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed funding 
priority. Comments received within 30 days after publication in the 
Federal Register will be considered before the final funding priority 
is established. If the funding priority should change as a result of 
any comments received, a revised announcement will be published in the 
Federal Register, and revised applications will be accepted prior to 
final selection of awards.
    Written comments should be addressed 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, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    Applications are subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs as governed by Executive Order (E.O.) 12372. E.O. 12372 sets 
up a system for State and local government review of proposed Federal 
assistance applications. Applicants should contact their State Single 
Point of Contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert them to the 
prospective applications and receive any necessary instructions on the 
State process. For proposed projects serving more than one State, the 
applicant is advised to contact the SPOC for each affected State. 
Indian tribes are strongly encouraged to request tribal government 
review of the proposed application. A current list of SPOCs is included 
in the application kit.
    If the SPOCs or tribal governments have any State process or tribal 
process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC, they should 
send them 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., Atlanta, 
GA 30305, no later than 60 days after the application due date. The 
granting agency does not guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' State 
or tribal process recommendations it receives after that date.

Public Health System Reporting Requirement

    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 93.197.
Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Projects that involve the collection of information from ten 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.
    In addition to other applicable committees, Indian Health Service 
(IHS) institutional review committees also must review the project if 
any component of IHS will be involved or will support the research. If 
any American Indian community is involved, its tribal government must 
also approve that portion of the project applicable to it.

Application Submission and Deadline

    The original and two copies of the PHS 5161-1 (Revised 7/92, OMB 
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, Atlanta, GA 30305 on or before July 
14, 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 for the review process. Applicants must request a legibly 
dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt 
from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered 
postmarks shall not be 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 applications. Late 
applications will not be considered in the current competition 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 553. You will receive a complete 
program description, information on application procedures, and 
application forms.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all 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, Mailstop E-
13, Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6796 .
    Technical assistance on surveillance programs and/or intervention 
projects may be obtained from Robert Roscoe, M.S., Epidemiologist, 
ABLES Project Officer, or Shiro Tanaka, M.D., 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-21, Cincinnati, OH 
45226, telephone (513) 841-4353.
    Please refer to Announcement Number 553 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) through the Superintendent of 
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, 
telephone (202) 512-1800.

    Dated: May 15, 1995.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-12545 Filed 5-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P