[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 173 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46810-46814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22601]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement 705]


Grants for Injury Control Research Centers; Notice of 
Availability Of Funds for Fiscal Year 1997

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces that 
grant applications are being accepted for Injury Control Research 
Centers (ICRCs). 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 areas of Violent and 
Abusive Behavior and Unintentional Injuries. For ordering a copy of 
``Healthy People 2000,'' see the Section Where to Obtain Additional 
Information.

[[Page 46811]]

Authority

    This program is authorized under Sections 301 and 391-394A of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 and 280b-280b-3). Program 
regulations are set forth in 42 CFR Part 52.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    CDC 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

    Eligible applicants are limited to organizations in Region 1 
(Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, 
Vermont), Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands), 
Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin) and 
Region 6 (Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas). This will 
enable funding for ICRCs in regions which do not have funded centers or 
have re-competing centers. Presently, there are existing funded centers 
in Regions 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 who are eligible for supplemental 
funding.
    Eligible applicants include all nonprofit and for-profit 
organizations in Regions 1, 2, 5 and 6. Thus, universities, colleges, 
research institutions, hospitals, other public and private 
organizations, State and local health departments, and small, minority 
and/or women-owned businesses are eligible for these grants. Applicants 
from non-academic institutions should provide evidence of a 
collaborative relationship with an academic institution. Current 
recipients of CDC injury control research center grants and injury 
control research program project grants are eligible to apply for 
continued support.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $750,000 is expected to be available in fiscal year 
(FY) 1997 to fund one new or re-competing center project. It is 
expected that the award will begin on or around August 1, 1997, and 
will be made for a 12-month budget period, not to exceed a project 
period of three 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.
    New center grant awards will not exceed $500,000 per year (total of 
direct and indirect costs) with a project period not to exceed three 
years. Depending on availability of funds, re-competing center awards 
may range from $750,000 to $1,500,000 per year (total of direct and 
indirect costs) with a project period not to exceed five years. The 
range of support provided is dependent upon the degree of 
comprehensiveness of the center in addressing the phases of injury 
control (i.e., Prevention, Acute Care, and Rehabilitation) as 
determined by the Injury Research Grants Review Committee (IRGRC).
    Incremental levels within this range for successfully re-competing 
ICRCs will be determined as follows:

Base funding (included in figures below)--Up to $750,000
One phase ICRC (addresses one of the three phases of injury control)--
Up to $1,000,000
Two phase ICRC (addresses two of the three phases of injury control)--
Up to $1,250,000
Comprehensive ICRC (addresses all three phases of injury control)--Up 
to $1,500,000

    Subject to program needs and the availability of funds, 
supplemental awards to expand/enhance existing projects, to add a new 
phase(s) to an existing ICRC grant, or to add biomechanics project(s) 
that support phases may be made for up to $250,000 per year.

Purpose

    The purposes of this program are:
    A. To support injury prevention and control research on priority 
issues as delineated in: Healthy People 2000; Injury Control in the 
1990's: A National Plan for Action; Injury in America; Injury 
Prevention: Meeting the Challenge; and Cost of Injury: A Report to the 
Congress. Information on these reports may be obtained from the 
individuals listed in the section Where to Obtain Additional 
Information;
    B. To support ICRCs which represent CDC's largest national 
extramural investment in injury control research and training, 
intervention development, and evaluation;
    C. To integrate collectively, in the context of a national program, 
the disciplines of engineering, epidemiology, medicine, biostatistics, 
public health, law and criminal justice, and behavioral and social 
sciences in order to prevent and control injuries more effectively;
    D. To identify and evaluate current and new interventions for the 
prevention and control of injuries;
    E. To bring the knowledge and expertise of ICRCs to bear on the 
development and improvement of effective public and private sector 
programs for injury prevention and control; and
    F. To facilitate injury control efforts supported by various 
governmental agencies within a geographic region.

Program Requirements

    The following are applicant requirements:
    A. Applicants must demonstrate and apply expertise (as defined in 
the Section Background and Definitions of the program announcement 
included in the application kit) in at least one of the three phases of 
injury control (prevention, acute care, or rehabilitation) as a core 
component of the center. The second and/or third phases do not have to 
be supported by core funding but may be achieved through collaborative 
arrangements. Comprehensive ICRCs must have all three phases supported 
by core funding.
    B. Applicants must document ongoing injury-related research 
projects or control activities currently supported by other sources of 
funding.
    C. Applicants must provide a director (Principal Investigator) who 
has specific authority and responsibility to carry out the project. The 
director must report to an appropriate institutional official, e.g., 
dean of a school, vice president of a university, or commissioner of 
health. The director must have no less than 30 percent effort devoted 
solely to this project with an anticipated range of 30 to 50 percent.
    D. Applicants must demonstrate experience in successfully 
conducting, evaluating, and publishing injury research and/or 
designing, implementing, and evaluating injury control programs.
    E. Applicants must provide evidence of working relationships with 
outside agencies and other entities which will allow for implementation 
of any proposed intervention activities.
    F. Applicants must provide evidence of involvement of specialists 
or experts in medicine, engineering, epidemiology, law and criminal 
justice, behavioral and social sciences, biostatistics, and/or public 
health as needed to complete the plans of the center. These are 
considered the disciplines and fields for ICRCs. An ICRC is encouraged 
to involve biomechanicists in its research. This, again, may be 
achieved through collaborative relationships as it is no longer a 
requirement that all ICRCs have biomechanical engineering expertise.
    G. Applicants must have an established curricula and graduate 
training programs in disciplines relevant to injury control (e.g., 
epidemiology, biomechanics, safety

[[Page 46812]]

engineering, traffic safety, behavioral sciences, or economics).
    H. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to disseminate injury 
control research findings, translate them into interventions, and 
evaluate their effectiveness.
    I. Applicants must have an established relationship, demonstrated 
by letters of agreement, with injury prevention and control programs or 
injury surveillance programs being carried out in the State or region 
in which the ICRC is located. Cooperation with private-sector programs 
is encouraged.
    Applicants should have an established or documented planned 
relationship with organizations or individual leaders in communities 
where injuries occur at high rates, e.g., minority health communities.
    Grant funds will not be made available to support the provision of 
direct care. Studies may be supported which evaluate methods of care 
and rehabilitation for potential reductions in injury effects and 
costs. Studies can be supported which identify the effect on injury 
outcomes and cost of systems for pre-hospital, hospital, and 
rehabilitative care and independent living.
    Eligible applicants may enter into contracts, including consortia 
agreements (as set forth in the PHS Grants Policy Statement, dated 
April 1, 1994), as necessary to meet the requirements of the program 
and strengthen the overall application.

Evaluation Criteria

    Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed by CDC staff for 
completeness and responsiveness as outlined under the previous heading 
Program Requirements. Incomplete applications and applications that are 
not responsive will be returned to the applicant without further 
consideration.
    Applications which are complete and responsive may be subjected to 
a preliminary evaluation by a peer review group to determine if the 
application is of sufficient technical and scientific merit to warrant 
further review (triage). CDC will withdraw from further consideration 
applications judged to be noncompetitive and promptly notify the 
principal investigator/program director and the official signing for 
the applicant organization. Those applications judged to be competitive 
will be further evaluated by a dual review process. The primary review 
will be a peer evaluation by the Injury Research Grant Review 
Committee/(IRGRC), for the scientific and technical merit of the 
application. The final review will be conducted by the CDC Advisory 
Committee for Injury Prevention and Control (ACIPC), which will 
consider the results of the peer review together with program need and 
relevance. Funding decisions will be made by the Director, National 
Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), based on merit and 
priority score ranking by the IRGRC, program review by the ACIPC, and 
the availability of funds.

A. Review by the Injury Research Grants Review Committee

    Peer review of ICRC grant applications will be conducted by the 
IRGRC, which may recommend the application for further consideration or 
not for further consideration. As a part of the review process the 
committee may conduct a site visit to the applicant organization for 
re-competing ICRCs. New applicants may be asked to travel to CDC for a 
meeting with the committee.
    Factors to be considered by IRGRC include:
    1. The specific aims of the application, e.g., the long-term 
objectives and intended accomplishments.
    2. The scientific and technical merit of the overall application, 
including the significance and originality (e.g., new topic, new 
method, new approach in a new population, or advancing understanding of 
the problem) of the proposed research.
    3. The extent to which the evaluation plan will allow for the 
measurement of progress toward the achievement of stated objectives.
    4. Qualifications, adequacy, and appropriateness of personnel to 
accomplish the proposed activities.
    5. The soundness of the proposed budget in terms of adequacy of 
resources and their allocation.
    6. The appropriateness (e.g., responsiveness, quality, and 
quantity) of consultation, technical assistance, and training in 
identifying, implementing, and/or evaluating intervention/control 
measures that will be provided to public and private agencies and 
institutions, with emphasis on State and local health departments, as 
evidenced by letters detailing the nature and extent of this commitment 
and collaboration. Specific letters of support or understanding from 
appropriate governmental bodies must be provided.
    7. Evidence of other public and private financial support.
    8. Details of progress made in the application if the applicant is 
submitting a re-competing application. Documented examples of success 
include: development of pilot projects; completion of high quality 
research projects; publication of findings in peer reviewed scientific 
and technical journals; number of professionals trained; provision of 
consultation and technical assistance; integration of disciplines; 
translation of research into implementation; impact on injury control 
outcomes including legislation/regulation, treatment, and behavior 
modification interventions.

B. Review by CDC Advisory Committee for Injury Prevention and Control 
(ACIPC)

    Factors to be considered by ACIPC include:
    1. The results of the peer review.
    2. The significance of the proposed activities as they relate to 
national program priorities and the achievement of national objectives.
    3. National and programmatic needs and geographic balance.
    4. Overall distribution of the thematic focus of competing 
applications; the nationally comprehensive balance of the program in 
addressing the three phases of injury control (prevention, acute care, 
and rehabilitation); the control of injury among populations who are at 
increased risk, including racial/ethnic minority groups, the elderly 
and children; the major causes of intentional and unintentional injury; 
and the major disciplines of injury control (such as biomechanics and 
epidemiology).
    5. Within budgetary considerations, the ACIPC will establish annual 
funding levels as detailed under the heading, Availability of Funds.

C. Applications for Supplemental Funding

    Existing CDC Injury Centers may submit an application for 
supplemental grant awards to support research work or activities. 
Applications should be clearly labeled to denote their status as 
requesting supplemental funding support. These applications will be 
reviewed by the IRGRC and the ACIPC.

D. Continued Funding

    Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the 
basis of the availability of funds and the following criteria:
    1. The accomplishments of the current budget period show that the 
applicant's objectives as prescribed in the yearly workplans are being 
met;
    2. The objectives for the new budget period are realistic, 
specific, and measurable;
    3. The methods described will clearly lead to achievement of these 
objectives;
    4. The evaluation plan allows management to monitor whether the 
methods are effective by having clearly

[[Page 46813]]

defined process, impact, and outcome objectives, and the applicant 
demonstrates progress in implementing the evaluation plan;
    5. The budget request is clearly explained, adequately justified, 
reasonable, and consistent with the intended use of grant funds; and
    6. Progress has been made in developing cooperative and 
collaborative relationships with injury surveillance and control 
programs implemented by State and local governments and private sector 
organizations.

Funding Preference

    Special consideration will be given to re-competing Injury Control 
Research Centers.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    This program is not subject to the Executive Order 12372 review.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirement.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.136.

Other Requirements

A. 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 
forms provided in the application kit.

B. Animal Subjects

    If the proposed project involves research on animal subjects, the 
applicant must comply with the ``PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of 
Laboratory Animals by Awardee Institutions.'' An applicant organization 
proposing to use vertebrate animals in PHS-supported activities must 
file an Animal Welfare Assurance with the Office for Protection from 
Research Risks at the National Institutes of Health.

C. Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities

    It is the policy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(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.
    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, and dated Friday, September 15, 
1995.

Application Submission and Deadlines

A. Preapplication Letter of Intent

    In order to schedule and conduct site visits as part of the formal 
review process, potential applicants are encouraged to submit a 
nonbinding letter of intent to apply. It should be postmarked no later 
than one month prior to the submission deadline (October 6, 1996, for 
November 6, 1996, submission). The letter should be submitted to the 
Grants Management Specialist whose address is given in Section B, 
below. The letter should identify the relevant announcement number for 
the response, name the principal investigator, and specify the injury 
control theme or emphasis of the proposed center (e.g., acute care, 
biomechanics, epidemiology, prevention, intentional injury, or 
rehabilitation). The letter of intent does not influence review or 
funding decisions, but it will enable CDC to plan the review more 
efficiently.

B. Applications

    Applicants should use Form PHS-398 (OMB 0925-0001) and adhere to 
the ERRATA Instruction Sheet contained in the Grant Application Kit. 
The narrative section for each project within an ICRC should not exceed 
25 typewritten pages. Refer to section 1, page 6, of PHS-398 
instructions for font type and size. Applications not adhering to these 
specifications may be returned to applicant.
    Applicants must submit an original and five copies on or before 
November 6, 1996 to Kathy Raible, 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, 
MS E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305.

C. Deadlines

    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline above if 
they are either:
    1. Received on or before the deadline date; or
    2. Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the peer review committee. Applicants should 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 shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    Applications which do not meet the criteria in C.1. or C.2. above 
are considered late applications 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 phone number and will 
need to refer to Announcement 705. You will receive a complete program 
description, information on application procedures, and application 
forms.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from Kathy Raible, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers For Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., MS-E13, Atlanta, GA 
30305, telephone (404) 842-6803. Internet address: 
[email protected].
    Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Tom 
Voglesonger, Program Manager, Injury Control Research Centers, National 
Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway, MS-K58, Atlanta, GA 30341-
3724, telephone (770) 488-4265. Internet address: 
[email protected].

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    Please refer to Announcement 705 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.

    Dated: August 29, 1996.
Arthur C. Jackson,
Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 96-22601 Filed 9-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P