[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31131-31133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15557]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement Number 639]


Resident Postdoctoral Research Associates Program in Microbiology

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1996 funds to provide assistance for 
developing and conducting a Resident Postdoctoral Research Associates 
Program in Microbiology.
    CDC is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease 
prevention objectives of Healthy People 2000, a 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 sections 301 [42 U.S.C. 241] and 
317(k) [42 U.S.C. 247b(k)] of the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    CDC encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free 
workplace and to promote the non-use of all tobacco products. 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 public or nonprofit, private 
scientific organizations. Eligible applicants must be national in 
scope, devoted to scientific pursuits in all areas of microbiology that 
relate to infectious diseases, including general, clinical, medical, 
environmental, animal virology, molecular microbiology, immunology and 
medical technology, and have experience in administering postdoctoral 
training programs in medical microbiology and public health 
microbiology which are designed to assist associates conducting 
microbiologic research to solve medical and public health problems.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $800,000 is available in FY1996 to fund one award. It 
is expected that the award will begin on or about September 30, 1996, 
and is made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up 
to 5 years. Funding estimates may vary and are subject to change. 
Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made on 
the basis of satisfactory progress and availability of funds.

Purpose

    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to assist the 
recipient in developing and conducting a Resident Postdoctoral Research 
Associates Program in Microbiology. The program emphasizes microbiology 
related to infectious disease prevention and control. Particular 
emphasis is given to studies at the molecular level. Areas of 
investigation may include: viral and rickettsial infections, nosocomial 
infections, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, vector-borne infectious 
diseases, respiratory and food-borne bacterial diseases, sexually 
transmitted diseases, parasitic diseases, and other diseases or 
conditions relevant to the disciplines of bacteriology, virology, 
parasitology, medical entomology, mycology, immunology, and pathology. 
The recipient must be able to provide support for postdoctoral 
scientists of unusual ability and promise or proven achievement by 
giving them an opportunity to conduct applied and operational research 
on significant public health problems identified with these research 
interests. Associateships should be for a two year period.

Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient shall be responsible for the activities under A., below, 
and CDC shall be responsible for conducting activities under B., below:

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Develop and conduct a Resident Postdoctoral Research Associates 
Program in Microbiology to support development of new approaches, 
methodologies, and knowledge in infectious disease prevention and 
control.
    2. Identify specific research opportunities from descriptions 
provided by CDC.
    3. Establish program policies/procedures for application and 
selection (e.g., establish applicant eligibility criteria).
    4. Develop announcements/advertisements and an application package 
describing the program, listing research opportunities, and providing 
application instructions. Widely distribute the announcements and 
application package with the objective of soliciting applications from 
qualified individuals throughout the United

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States. Contribute to the racial and gender diversity of the program by 
assuring a wide distribution of the materials among eligible women and 
minority microbiologists.
    5. Develop a competitive associate application review and approval 
process. Based on the review process, select applicants to be awarded 
two year associateships.
    6. Provide administrative support to associates during their 
tenure, including the payment of a stipend (consistent with PHS levels 
identified in the application kit), enrollment in a health insurance 
plan, and reimbursement of expenses for professional travel. Administer 
the program such that associates will not be employees of either 
recipient organization or CDC.
    7. Establish associate publication/presentation policies which 
encourage the dissemination of associate research results.
    8. Develop a plan for monitoring and evaluating the progress of 
associates and progress toward achieving goals of the program.

B. CDC Activities

    1. Provide assistance in developing and conducting the Resident 
Postdoctoral Research Associates Program in Microbiology.
    2. Provide descriptions of microbiological research and areas of 
investigation that are appropriate for potential associates.
    3. Provide a list of potential scientific advisers for associates.
    4. Assist in review of potential research proposals and provide 
comments and/or suggested changes in the scope or method of the 
research.
    5. Review publications and presentations resulting from research 
investigations conducted under the program.
    6. Assist in the development of a plan for monitoring progress of 
the program and achieving program goals.

Evaluation Criteria

    The applications will be reviewed and evaluated based on the 
following weighted criteria:

1. Background (10 Points)

    The extent to which applicant demonstrates a clear understanding of 
the background and objectives of this cooperative agreement program.

2. Capacity (55 Points Total)

    a. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that the 
organization has a significant history of promoting the science of 
microbiology as it relates to infectious diseases. The extent to which 
the applicant demonstrates it has promoted the science of microbiology 
by conducting regular national meetings and workshops devoted to 
current topics. (10 points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates experience in 
microbiology education and training. The extent to which the applicant 
demonstrates experience in conducting postdoctoral programs similar to 
that proposed in this cooperative agreement announcement. (30 points)
    c. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates it has adequate 
resources and facilities (e.g., administrative and financial management 
operations, office functions, etc.) to conduct the proposed program. (5 
points)
    d. The extent to which applicant documents (e.g., by curriculum 
vitae) that all key personnel have adequate relevant experience to 
successfully develop and conduct the proposed program. (10 points)

3. Operational Plan (35 Points Total)

    a. Extent to which applicant presents a detailed and time-phased 
operational plan for developing and conducting the program. The extent 
to which the plan clearly and appropriately addresses all Recipient 
Activities. Extent to which applicant clearly identifies specific 
assigned responsibilities of all key professional personnel. The extent 
to which applicant's plan appears feasible and likely to achieve 
program objectives. (15 points)
    b. The extent to which applicant clearly describes collaboration 
with CDC that utilizes CDC's unique expertise in public health 
infectious disease microbiology. (15 points)
    c. The extent to which applicant describes in detail a plan for 
evaluating progress of individual associates and for evaluating 
progress toward achieving overall program objectives. (5 points)

4. Budget

    The extent to which the proposed budget is reasonable, clearly 
justifiable, and consistent with the intended use of cooperative 
agreement funds. (not scored)

5. Human Subject

    Whether or not exempt from the Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS) regulations, are procedures adequate for the protection 
of human subjects? Recommendations on the adequacy of protections 
include: (1) Protections appear adequate and there are no comments to 
make or concerns to raise, or (2) protections appear adequate, but 
there are comments regarding the protocol, or (3) protections appear 
inadequate and the Objective Review Group (ORG) has concerns related to 
human subjects; (4) disapproval of the application is recommended 
because the research risks are sufficiently serious and protection 
against the risks are inadequate as to make the entire application 
unacceptable. (not scored)

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 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 (OMB 
Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Sharron Orum, 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-09, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, on or 
before August 5, 1996.
    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 objective review group. (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

    A complete program description, information on application 
procedures, an application package business management technical 
assistance may be obtained from Nealean K. Austin, Grants Management 
Specialist, Grants

[[Page 31133]]

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, Georgia 30305; by telephone on (404) 842-6512; 
by fax on (404) 842-6513; or by Internet or CDC WONDER electronic mail 
at <[email protected]>.
    Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Joseph E. 
McDade, Ph.D., Associate Director for Laboratory Science, National 
Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30333; by telephone on (404) 639-
3967; by fax (404) 639-3039; by Internet or CDC WONDER electronic mail 
at <[email protected]>.
    Please refer to Announcement Number 639 when requesting information 
regarding this program.
    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.
    There may be delays in mail delivery and difficulty in reaching the 
CDC Atlanta offices during the 1996 Summer Olympics. Therefore, CDC 
suggests using Internet, following all instructions in this 
announcement and leaving messages on the contact person's voice mail 
for more timely responses to any questions.

    Dated: June 11, 1996.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 96-15557 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P