[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36382-36384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17528]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 661]


Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Programs

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1996 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program to provide assistance to official public health agencies to 
expand and strengthen existing maternal and child health (MCH) programs 
in epidemiology and surveillance capacity building. All States have 
epidemiologic skills or activities; however, many lack MCH specific 
analytical capability.
    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 Maternal and Infant 
Health. (For ordering a copy of ``Healthy People 2000,'' see the 
section ``Where to Obtain Additional Information.'')

Authority

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

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are the official public health agencies of 
States and their bona fide agents. This includes the District of 
Columbia, New York City, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 
Republic of Palau, and federally recognized American Indian tribal 
governments.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $900,000 is available in FY 1996 to fund 
approximately 10 awards. It is expected that the average award will be 
$75,000, ranging from $25,000 to $150,000. It is expected that the 
awards will begin on or about September 27, 1996, 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 the project period will be made on the 
basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.
    If requested, Federal personnel may be assigned to a project in 
lieu of a portion of the financial assistance.

Purpose

    The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for State 
and local health departments to: (1) use epidemiologic and surveillance 
data to address health problems affecting women, infants, and children; 
and (2) build their maternal and child health epidemiology skills to 
conduct surveillance, research, analysis, interpretation, and 
translation using their own resources.

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Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under A. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed under B. (CDC Activities).
    A. Recipient Activities:
    1. Using the ``Healthy People 2000'' objectives as a guide, develop 
measurable pregnancy and infant health objectives appropriate for the 
State.
    2. Identify existing MCH activities in the State carried out by 
Federal, State, academic, and private organizations; develop procedures 
for collaborating with these organizations.
    3. Identify populations at risks for poor pregnancy outcomes.
    4. Conduct analysis of MCH data and use information to direct 
program activities and evaluate the effectiveness of new and existing 
interventions in achieving established objectives. If needed data is 
not available, conduct research/surveillance to collect needed data.
    5. Attend CDC-sponsored annual MCH Epidemiology Workshop.
    B. CDC Activities:
    1. Collaborate with the recipient agency in the operational 
development of various programs.
    2. Assist recipients in defining training needs and methods, and 
identifying the resources necessary for training personnel.
    3. Assist recipient agency in training their staff in epidemiologic 
analytic techniques.
    4. Participate with recipient agencies in workshops to exchange 
findings among States.
    5. Participate with States in identifying and designing data 
collection methods for information that is vital to programmatic 
decision making and evaluation.
    6. Provide information and advice regarding strategies, 
interventions, and approaches and coordinate collaboration between 
recipients and CDC staff.
    7. Participate in the design and implementation of surveillance 
systems and other epidemiologic research. This includes collaboration 
in the development of protocols for special studies.
    8. Participate in analysis and interpretation of existing data.
    9. Provide technical support in vital record linkage.
    10. Participate with each recipient in evaluating the achievement 
of stated MCH outcome objectives.
    11. Assist recipients in the evaluation of their maternal and child 
health epidemiology program (MCHEP) activities.

Evaluation Criteria (Total 100 Points)

    Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria:
    A. Background and Need (30 Points).
    1. Background: Extent to which the scope and severity of the 
problem in relation to the ``Healthy People 2000'' objectives are 
described; and evidence that potential benefits of improving MCH 
epidemiologic expertise are understood.
    2. Need: The extent to which the applicant needs support in 
reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.
    B. Surveillance and Risk Factor Identification (20 Points).
    1. The quality of proposed surveillance and data collection 
activities, and the process for the application data collection 
findings for program planning and evaluation.
    2. Evidence of commitment of State resources to support proposed 
MCHEP activity as demonstrated by the appropriateness of committed 
resources and the extent to which existing resources are directed 
toward data collection, analysis, program planning, and evaluation 
activities.
    C. Plan of Operation (40 Points).
    1. The quality and feasibility of plans to develop and implement 
the proposed recipient activities.
    2. The feasibility of plans to meet staffing needs by hiring, 
training, or reassigning existing staff, the appropriateness of 
proposed organizational structure, and the appropriateness of the 
background and experience of the individuals responsible for carrying 
out proposed program activities.
    3. The extent, nature, and appropriateness of collaborative 
relationships.
    4. Appropriateness, quality, and feasibility of the plan and 
timetable for MCH capacity building.
    D. Timetable (10 Points).
    Extent to which timetable incorporates major MCHEP activities and 
milestones and is specific, measurable, and realistic.
    E. Budget (Not Scored).
    Extent to which budget appears reasonable to accomplish objectives 
as proposed.
    F. Human Subjects (Not Scored).
    Whether or not exempt from the 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; (2) protections 
appear adequate, but there are comments regarding the protocol; (3) 
protections appear inadequate and there are concerns related to human 
subjects; or (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.

Funding Priorities

    Priority consideration may be given to applicants with communities 
that have the highest infant mortality and lowest birthweight rates.
    Public comments are not being solicited regarding the funding 
priority because time does not permit solicitation and review prior to 
the funding date.

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. A 
current list of SPOCs is included in the application kit. If SPOCs have 
any State process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC, 
they should send them to Sharron P. Orum, 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 30 days after the application deadline 
date (the appropriation for this financial assistance program was 
received late in the fiscal year and would not allow for an application 
receipt date which would accommodate the 60-day State recommendation 
process period). The Program Announcement Number and Program Title 
should be referenced on the document. The granting agency does not 
guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' State process recommendations 
it receives after that date.

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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.

Other Requirements

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 that 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.

Paperwork Reduction Act

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

Women, Racial, and Ethnic Minorities

    It is the policy of the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
Disease Registry (ATSDR) to ensure that individuals of both sexes and 
the various racial and ethnic groups will be included in CDC/ATSDR-
supported research projects involving human subjects, whenever feasible 
and appropriate. Racial and ethnic groups are those defined in OMB 
Directive No. 15 and include American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian, 
Pacific Islander, Black and Hispanic. Applicants shall ensure that 
women, racial and ethnic minority populations are appropriately 
represented in applications for research involving human subjects. 
Where clear and compelling rationale exist that inclusion is 
inappropriate or not feasible, this situation must be explained as part 
of the application. In conducting review for scientific merit, review 
groups will evaluate proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and 
both sexes as part of the scientific assessment of scoring.
    This policy does not apply to research studies when the 
investigator cannot control the race, ethnicity and/or sex of subjects. 
Further guidance to this policy is contained in the Federal Register, 
Vol. 60, No. 179, pages 47947-47951, Friday, September 15, 1995.

Application Submission and Deadline

    The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1 
(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Sharron P. 
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 314, Mailstop E-18, Atlanta, GA 
30305, on or before August 9, 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 and information on application 
procedures are contained in the application package. Business 
management technical assistance may be obtained from Glynnis D. Taylor, 
Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and 
Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 
East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 314, Mailstop E-18, Atlanta, GA 30305, 
telephone (404) 842-6593, fax (404) 842-6513, or Internet or CDC WONDER 
electronic mail at <[email protected]>. Programmatic technical 
assistance may be obtained from Hani Atrash, Division of Reproductive 
Health, Pregnancy and Infant Health Branch, National Center for Chronic 
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway, NE., Mailstop K-23, Atlanta, 
GA 30341, telephone (770) 488-5187, fax (770) 488-5628, or Internet or 
CDC WONDER electronic mail at <[email protected]>.
    Please refer to Announcement 661 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.
    There may be delays in mail delivery and difficulty in reaching the 
CDC Atlanta offices during the 1996 Summer Olympics. Therefore, CDC 
suggests applicants use Internet, follow all instructions in this 
announcement and leave messages on the contact person's voice mail for 
more timely responses to any questions.

    Dated: July 3, 1996.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 96-17528 Filed 7-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P