[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5420-5423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2800]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement Number 717]


National Limb Loss Information Project; Notice of Availability of 
Funds for Fiscal Year 1997

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Nation's 
prevention agency, announces the availability of funds in fiscal year 
(FY) 1997 for a cooperative agreement program to establish a National 
Limb Loss Information Center (NLLIC). Non-renewable financial 
assistance will be provided to develop a National Limb Loss Information 
Center which will operate as a national clearinghouse to provide 
educational material and self-help rehabilitation guidance to persons 
with limb loss. In addition, the NLLIC will develop a peer visitation 
training initiative that will conduct peer education and training 
sessions with hospitals and limb loss support groups.
    The 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 areas of Clinical Preventive Services 
and Surveillance and Data Systems.
    (For ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see the section 
``Where to Obtain Additional Information''.)

Authority

    This program is authorized by Section 301(a)(42 U.S.C. 241(a)) of 
the Public Health Service Act, as amended.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The CDC strongly encourages all grant 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 may be submitted by public and private, nonprofit 
organizations, and governments and their agencies.

    Note: An organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which engages in lobbying activities 
shall not be eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an 
award, grant, contract, loan, or any other form.

Availability of Funds

    A maximum of $800,000 in FY 1997 funds will be available to award 
one non-renewable cooperative agreement. The award will be made on or 
before May 31, 1997, for a twelve-month budget period within a project 
period of up to 3 years. Succeeding second- and third-year budget 
requests should reflect the organization's increasing financial 
participation indicating the ability to

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sustain the project once the cooperative agreement has expired. (Budget 
period is the interval of time into which the project is divided for 
funding and reporting purposes. Project period is the total time for 
which a project has been programmatically approved.)
    Noncompeting continuation awards for new budget years within the 
approved project period will be made on the basis of satisfactory 
progress in meeting project objectives and the availability of funds. 
Progress will be determined by site visits by CDC, project-generated 
progress reports, and the quality of continuation application requests.

Use of Funds

    Funds available under this announcement must support activities 
directly related to the establishment and operation of a National Limb 
Loss Information Center. The award may be used for personnel services, 
supplies, equipment, travel, subcontracts, and services directly 
related to project activities. Project funds may not be used to 
supplant the applicant's pre-existing funds, for construction costs, to 
lease or purchase facilities or space, or for patient care. Although 
applicants may contract with other organizations under this cooperative 
agreement, applicants must perform a substantial portion of the 
activities (including program management and operations and delivery of 
services) for which funds are requested.

Background

    Estimates of persons in the United States that were born with a 
congenital limb deficiency or have sustained an amputation are 
questionable. Roughly 2,000,000 respondents to the U.S. Census Bureau's 
Survey of Income and Program Participation reported a deformity or loss 
of a hand, foot, leg or arm as the cause of their disability. The 1983-
1985 National Health Interview Survey reported approximately 400,000 
persons with a limb loss. It is estimated that approximately 60,000 
surgical amputation procedures are performed a year and this number is 
expected to increase. Regardless of the actual numbers of individuals 
with limb loss, it is anticipated that current trends and population 
growth will contribute to increasing numbers of individuals with limb 
loss.
    There is an ever increasing need to facilitate the timely 
distribution of appropriate information regarding rehabilitation, 
health promotion, and other services for persons with limb loss. 
Existing information sources are not equipped to handle the increasing 
demand for these services. There is a basic inability of individuals to 
locate and obtain information relating to their particular situation, 
care and rehabilitation. A Harris poll taken for the International 
Center for the Disabled indicated that fifty-three percent of the 
respondents expressed difficulty in obtaining disability-related 
information, and only forty-four percent considered themselves to be 
familiar with this type of information. These findings indicate a need 
to establish a National Limb Loss Information Center that will collect 
and/or develop state of the art rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation 
materials and resources for dissemination to persons with limb loss, 
their families, and providers responsible for their care.

Purpose

    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to establish a 
National Limb Loss Information Center and a peer visitation training 
initiative. These initiatives will significantly assist in identifying 
gaps in the service network, establish opportunities to bridge the 
gaps, provide appropriate and timely educational messages to affected 
individuals and their support groups, and facilitate linkages between 
individuals with limb loss and available rehabilitative and support 
services. It is important that these initiatives provide persons with 
limb loss access to resources, information and education needed to make 
informed choices to attain the optimal rehabilitation outcomes, return 
to productive lifestyles, and prevent related secondary conditions.
    Advances in medical science and technology have been extremely 
effective in returning persons with limb loss to their customary 
lifestyle. Effective rehabilitation outcomes, however, are contingent 
upon the ability to provide a broad range of educational and 
informational resources to persons with limb loss. This project is 
intended to establish a National Limb Loss Information Center that will 
serve as a repository for current information on limb loss and be 
responsible for operating a national clearinghouse providing guidance 
to the public regarding rehabilitation, support services and training 
opportunities for persons with limb loss.

Budget and Project Costs

    This program has no statutory matching requirement; however, 
applicants should demonstrate their capacity to support a portion of 
project costs, increase cost-sharing potential over time, and identify 
other potential funding sources for continuation of the project at the 
conclusion of the three-year project period. Applicants must prepare 
budget requests that provide line item specificity for intended 
expenditures and a separate budget justification (identifying both 
Federal and non-Federal funding sources).

Cooperative Activities

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

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Establish and maintain a resource library regarding limb loss 
which includes a comprehensive electronic resource database;
    2. Utilize universities, research institutions and other noted 
authorities to collect and maintain a comprehensive inventory of 
current educational materials regarding limb loss;
    3. Use professional staff to provide appropriate information, 
educational messages, and guidance to individuals with limb loss;
    4. Develop and disseminate a national educational publication that 
conveys the most current advances in treatment and care of persons with 
limb loss;
    5. Develop a peer visitation training initiative to conduct self-
help training and work with support networks;
    6. Develop standardized materials to assist local organizations in 
the conduct of appropriate visitation programs.

B. CDC Activities

    1. Provide scientific, programmatic, and technical assistance in 
the planning, operation, and evaluation of the National Limb Loss 
Information Center;
    2. Provide programmatic assistance in administrative and 
organizational aspects of project operations;
    3. Serve as a resource for sharing regional and/or national data 
pertinent to limb loss; and
    4. Assist in evaluating and/or studying the effectiveness of 
specific activities.

Application Content

    Applicants must submit a separate typed abstract/summary of their 
proposal as a cover to their applications, consisting of no more than 
two double-spaced pages. Applicants should also include a table of 
contents for the project narrative and related attachments.
    Applicants should organize their proposals in accordance with the 
application contents section of this

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announcement. Applicants should be concise in preparing application 
narratives. The narrative portion of the application presenting the 
project functions should not exceed 30 double-spaced pages.
    The application should be organized into two sections described as 
the (1) Project narrative and (2) budget justification. The total 
combined financial assistance request should be listed on the cover 
sheet and on the budget information sheet (Budget Information, Non-
Construction Programs) on the Public Health Service Grant Application, 
Form PHS-5161-1.
    Supporting information related to the project should be provided as 
attachments. Supporting information may include position descriptions, 
organizational charts, inventories of educational materials or tools, 
reports providing evidence as to need and extent of the problem, 
graphic depictions of objectives and milestones, letters of commitment 
noting collaborations and funding support, etc.
    1. The application must document the background and need for 
support, including an overview of the national limb loss problem. 
Describe gaps in data, information, educational materials, program 
services, educational approaches, and how this cooperative agreement 
will help close those gaps and develop the capacity to establish and 
continue to operate a national information center for persons with limb 
loss.
    2. Describe the plan and methods for initiating, facilitating, 
coordinating, conducting and evaluating educational activities related 
to limb loss. The applicants should describe those project resources 
and staff necessary to accomplish the project objectives. The plan 
should describe the future funding options beyond the three-year 
project period and discuss the plans for continuation of the project.
    3. Describe the plan to develop and disseminate a national 
educational publication regarding limb loss.
    4. Describe the plan to develop a peer visitation training 
initiative that will promote the educational outreach goals and 
objectives of the project and enhance the opportunities for a sustained 
educational presence at the local level.
    5. Furnish an organizational chart of the applicant agency and 
indicate the relationships of the proposed activities to affiliates and 
other organizations that will be utilized to promote the program 
objectives; and describe the physical facilities available to house 
project operations.
    6. Describe the role of the board of directors, if applicable, and 
outline its responsibilities.
    7. Describe the applicant's potential to sustain the viability of 
the National Limb Loss Information Center. This description should 
explain how and over what time period the project will develop its plan 
for financial self-sufficiency. The plan should establish benchmarks 
that relate to annual increases in non-Federal sources of funding. 
Indicate how the plan will be updated and marketed to ensure a timely 
and orderly transition to non-Federal financial support.
    8. Present specific and measurable objectives within the project 
work plan to meet the purposes of the cooperative agreement. Outline 
the dates that selected key events will be initiated, become 
operational, and conclude. Chart long-range objectives and time frames 
for the three-year project period, including methods for project 
evaluation.
    9. Describe what measures have been or will be taken to ensure that 
all program services and facilities will be fully accessible to persons 
with disabilities, and how persons with disabilities will be encouraged 
to participate.
    10. Describe the plans and methods to be employed or that are in 
place for addressing the needs of low socioeconomic and minority 
populations.
    11. Provide a detailed narrative justification for all requested 
budget items.

Evaluation Criteria (Total 100 Points)

1. Evidence of Need and Understanding of the Problem: (15 Points)

    Evaluation will be based on:
    a. The applicant's description and understanding of the national 
limb loss problem as evidenced by estimates of incidence and/or 
prevalence, demographic indicators, and scope of the problem;
    b. The applicant's description of the gaps that exists in the 
educational materials and tools that would serve to better educate and 
facilitate more positive rehabilitation outcomes.

2. Technical Approach (30 Points)

    Evaluation will be based on:
    a. The capability of the applicant to ensure that the basic 
components of the project will be promoted and implemented;
    b. The proposed plan to establish and operate the National Limb 
Loss Information Center, and ensure its capability to function as a 
national coordinating focus for collection and dissemination of limb 
loss information utilizing its affiliation with local and regional 
support groups, allied disability agencies, health professionals and 
service providers. These historical relationships should be documented 
with the submission of memorandums of agreement and/or letters of 
support that demonstrate the collaborative relationship with the 
applicant;
    c. A demonstrated competency in developing educational materials 
regarding individuals with limb loss;
    d. The functions of the established oversight entity (such as a 
board of directors) including its composition, impact on policy, 
planning, and oversight for educational activities, with an indication 
of how it will complement existing educational programs;
    e. The reasonableness, feasibility, and logic of the designated 
project objectives, including the overall work plan, timetable for 
accomplishment, and the strength of the proposed evaluation plan;
    f. The described services and how access for persons with 
disabilities to project services, opportunities, and facilities will be 
achieved.

3. Evidence of Ability to Provide Educational Materials Needed to 
Inform Individuals With Limb Loss Regarding Rehabilitation Resources 
and Choices (25 Points)

    Evaluation will be based on: a. Evidence of the applicant's 
knowledge and use of current educational materials available with 
regard to limb loss rehabilitation and identification of materials 
needed to address specific problems associated with the rehabilitation 
process;
    b. Evidence of the applicant's capacity to disseminate resources, 
educational materials and tools that will inform persons with limb loss 
in regard to their rehabilitation options.

4. Outreach Capacity (20 Points)

    Evaluation will be based on:
    a. Evidence of the applicant's ability to establish a peer 
visitation training program initiative;
    b. Identification and description of facilities and organizations 
to be visited and description of any planned follow-up to evaluate the 
number of training sessions that were initiated and the results of 
these activities.

5. National Education Publication (5 points)

    Evaluation will be based on:
    The description of the applicant's plan to develop, distribute, and 
update a national educational publication that

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will provide information regarding limb loss.

6. Cost-Sharing (5 Points)

    Evaluation will be based on:
    The evidence of personnel and financial contributions to the 
project and the specific plans for providing cost-sharing for the first 
year and succeeding years within the project period.

7. Budget Justification/Adequacy of Facilities (Not Scored)

    The proposed budget will be evaluated on the basis of its 
reasonableness, concise and clear justification, accuracy and 
consistency with the intended use of cooperative agreement funds.

Funding Priority

    CDC will give priority consideration to an established national 
organization with experience in providing educational and support 
services to individuals with limb loss.

Reporting Requirements

    Project narrative reports, submitted with an original and two 
copies, will be required semi-annually. The reports shall be submitted 
to CDC thirty days after the end of the report period. An original and 
two copies of the Financial Status Report is required no later than 90 
days after the end of each budget period.

Executive Order 12372

    Applications are not subject to the Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs as governed by Executive Order 12372.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements. Under these requirements, all community-based 
nongovernmental applicants must prepare and submit the items identified 
below to the head of the appropriate State and/or local health 
agency(s) in the program area(s) that may be impacted by the proposed 
project no later than the receipt date of the Federal application. The 
appropriate State and/or local health agency is determined by the 
applicant. The following information must be provided:
    A. A copy of the face page of the application (SF424).
    B. A summary of the project that should be titled ``Public Health 
System Impact Statement'' (PHSIS), not to exceed one page, and include 
the following:
    1. A description of the population to be served;
    2. A summary of the services to be provided; and
    3. A description of the coordination plans with the appropriate 
State and/or local health agencies.
    If the State and/or local health official should desire a copy of 
the entire application, it may be obtained from the State Single Point 
of Contact (SPOC) or directly from the applicant.

Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

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

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.184.

Application Submission and Deadline

    The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1 (OMB 
number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Mr. Ron Van Duyne, Grants 
Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 255 East Paces 
Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, on or 
before March 17, 1997.
    1. Deadline:
    Applications will be considered to have met 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 the U.S. Postal Service. Private metered 
postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    2. Late Applications:
    Applications that do not meet the criteria in 1.a. or 1.b. above 
are considered late. Late applications will not be considered and will 
be returned to the applicant.

Where to Obtain Additional Information

    A complete program description, information on application 
procedures, an application package, and business management technical 
assistance may be obtained from Georgia Jang, Grants Management 
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, 
NE., Room 321, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, telephone (404) 
842-6814, Internet address: [email protected]. Please refer to Program 
Announcement No. 717 when requesting information and submitting an 
application.
    Programmatic technical assistance including additional guidance may 
be obtained from Jack Stubbs, Disabilities Prevention Program, National 
Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Building 101, Mailstop F-29, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30341, telephone (404) 488-7096, Internet address: 
[email protected].
    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: January 30, 1997.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-2800 Filed 2-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P