[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23463-23467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11195]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement 737]


National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; National 
Center for the Prevention of Childhood Agricultural Injury; 
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 for fiscal year 
(FY) 1997 for a cooperative agreement program to support a national 
center to serve as a leader to facilitate activities and efforts toward 
childhood agricultural injury prevention.
    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 Occupational Safety and 
Health. (For ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see the section 
Where to Obtain Additional Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended, Section 301(a) (42 USC 241(a)); the Occupational Safety and 
Health Act of 1970, Sections 20(a)and 22 (29 USC 669(a) and 671.) The 
applicable program regulation is 42 CFR Part 52.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    CDC 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.

Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private, nonprofit and 
for-profit organizations and governments and their agencies. Thus, 
universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public 
and private organizations, State and local governments or their bona 
fide agents, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, Indian 
tribes or Indian tribal organizations, and small, minority- and/or 
woman-owned businesses are eligible to apply.

    Note: Public Law 104-65, dated December 19, 1995, prohibits an 
organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the IRS Code of 1986, 
that engages in lobbying activities to influence the Federal 
Government, from receiving Federal funds.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $600,000 is available in FY 1997 to fund one award to 
support a national center for the prevention of childhood agricultural 
injury.
    The amount of funding available may vary and is subject to change. 
This award is expected to begin on or about August 1, 1997. The award 
will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period not 
to exceed 5 years. Continuation awards within the project period will 
be made on the basis of satisfactory progress and availability of 
funds.

Use of Funds

Restrictions on Lobbying

    Applicants should be aware of restrictions on the use of HHS funds 
for lobbying of Federal or State legislative bodies. Under the 
provisions of 31 USC 1352 (which has been in effect since December 23, 
1989), recipients (and their subtier contractors) are prohibited from 
using appropriated Federal funds (other than profits from a Federal 
contract) for lobbying Congress or any Federal agency in connection 
with the award of a particular contract, grant, cooperative agreement, 
or loan. This includes grants/cooperative agreements that, in whole or 
in part, involve conferences for which Federal funds cannot be used 
directly or indirectly to encourage participants to lobby or to 
instruct participants on how to lobby.
    In addition, the FY 1997 HHS Appropriations Act, which became 
effective October 1, 1996, expressly prohibits the use of 1997 
appropriated funds for indirect or ``grass roots'' lobbying efforts 
that are designed to support or defeat legislation pending before State 
legislatures. This new law, Section 503 of Public Law 104-208, provides 
as follows:

    Sec. 503(a) No part of any appropriation contained in this Act 
shall be used, other than for normal and recognized executive-
legislative relationships, for publicity or propaganda purposes, for 
the preparation, distribution, or use of any kit, pamphlet, booklet, 
publication, radio, television, or video presentation designed to 
support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress, * * * 
except in presentation to the Congress or any State legislative body 
itself.
    (b) No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall be 
used to pay the salary or expenses of any grant or contract 
recipient, or agent acting for such recipient, related to any 
activity designed to influence legislation or appropriations pending 
before the Congress or any State legislature.

    Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997, as enacted by the Omnibus 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, Division A, Title I, Section 
101(e), Public Law 104-208 (September 30, 1996).

Background

    Agriculture has been consistently ranked among the most hazardous 
industries in the United States. It is one of the few occupational 
settings where children may actively participate in work typically 
performed by adults, or be present at the work site while their parents 
are working. In 1991, there were 923,000 children under the age of 15 
years and 346,000 children 15-19 years of age residing on United States 
farms and ranches. Another 800,000 children lived in households of 
hired farm workers and may work on farms with their parents. In 
addition, many children, whose parents are not farmers or farm workers, 
will visit and work on farms.
    It is estimated that 100,000 children each year will suffer a 
preventable injury associated with production agriculture. This figure 
includes children who are residents, visitors to a farm, and who work 
on a farm. For the years 1992-1995, the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
identified work-related injury deaths of children less than 18 years of 
age in agriculture as being 8 times greater than their representation 
in the workforce (40 percent of the work-

[[Page 23464]]

 related deaths of children during this period occurred in agriculture 
compared to only 5 percent of working children less than 18 years of 
age who worked in agriculture in 1990). These figures do not include 
deaths of children who were not working at the time of injury, but were 
killed by agricultural work hazards in their living environment. A 
recent study indicates 104 fatalities per year were attributable to 
childhood injuries which occur on farms. An emergency department-based 
nonfatal occupational injury study indicated injuries incurred by 
children attributable to the agricultural industry comprised about 7 
percent of the total occupational injuries reported. Fractures and 
dislocations were more than 3 times greater for the agricultural 
industry, which could indicate that agricultural injuries for children 
are more severe than for other industries.
    In April 1996, the National Committee for Childhood Agricultural 
Injury Prevention (NCCAIP) published a National Action Plan to maximize 
the safety and health of all children and adolescents who may be 
exposed to agricultural hazards. The National Action Plan includes 13 
objectives and 43 recommended action steps that call for funding of 
research and safety programs by the Federal government, foundations, 
agribusiness, and other public and private sector groups and nonprofit 
community-based organizations. The National Action Plan specifically 
calls for developing linkages among researchers, public sector 
agencies, and private sector foundations, corporations, associations, 
nonprofit community-based organizations and other groups who can enact 
change; conducting efforts to ensure the public is aware of childhood 
agricultural safety and health issues; using consensus-building 
processes which involve interdisciplinary experts and stakeholders to 
arrive at guidelines and recommended standards for research and 
practices; and using state-of-the-art information and materials which 
are essential for achieving the objectives set forth in the plan. 
Congress allocated FY 1997 funds to the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to facilitate implementation of 
the National Action Plan.

Purpose

    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is:
    A. To establish a national center which would serve as a leader to 
facilitate childhood agricultural injury prevention efforts and 
activities.
    B. To provide or enhance efforts to prevent injuries and illnesses 
occurring to children who visit, live or work on farms, or are 
associated with other agricultural activities that pose a risk to 
children.
    C. To establish linkages and partnerships with the agricultural 
community to facilitate the implementation of the National Action Plan.
    D. Identify and facilitate the use of state-of-the-art information 
and programs to prevent childhood agricultural injuries.
    The goal of the national center will be to influence the knowledge, 
attitudes, and practices of individuals and groups to protect children 
and adolescents from agricultural injuries and illnesses.

Program Requirements

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

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Establish a national center for research findings, programs, and 
information which have been shown to be effective in preventing 
childhood agricultural injuries.
    2. Establish and maintain contacts with organizations, groups and 
individuals which supply childhood agricultural injury prevention 
information and data.
    3. Facilitate awareness and utilization of the center through 
appropriate activities, including but not limited to involving 
minority-serving groups, organizations, etc.
    4. Coordinate and collaborate with established and ongoing health 
communication efforts, such as the National Safety Council's ``Farm 
Safety and Health Week,'' ``Farm Safety 4 Just Kids,'' etc.
    5. Organize and manage multi-perspective work groups which use 
consensus-building processes to arrive at recommended standards/
guidelines for agricultural youth work and the protection of bystander 
children; and standards for data collection and program evaluation.
    6. Collaborate and facilitate the involvement of the private sector 
into childhood agricultural injury prevention activities.
    7. Collaborate with researchers and public and private sector 
agencies, organizations, and other groups who can enact change through 
prevention efforts and activities.

B. CDC/NIOSH Activities

    1. Provide technical assistance with program development, 
implementation, maintenance, priority setting, evaluation efforts, and 
information and dissemination activities.
    2. Facilitate linkages with researchers and public and private 
sector agencies and organizations to plan, implement, and evaluate 
childhood agricultural injury prevention efforts.
    3. Collaborate with the recipient in joint safety and health 
communication and dissemination efforts of prevention information.

Technical Reporting Requirements

    An original and two copies of semi-annual progress reports are 
required. Timelines for the semi-annual reports will be established at 
the time of award. Final financial status and performance reports are 
required no later than 90 days after the end of the project period. All 
reports are submitted to the Grants Management Branch, Procurement and 
Grants Office, CDC.
    Semi-annual progress report should include:
    A. A brief program description.
    B. A listing of program goals and objectives accompanied by a 
comparison of the actual accomplishments related to the goals and 
objectives established for the period.
    C. If established goals and objectives to be accomplished were 
delayed, describe both the reason for the deviation and anticipated 
corrective action or deletion of the activity from the project.
    D. Other pertinent information, including the status of 
completeness, timeliness and quality of data.

Application Content

    The entire application, including appendices, should not exceed 60 
pages and the Proposal Narrative section contained therein should not 
exceed 25 pages. Pages should be clearly numbered and a complete index 
to the application and any appendices included. The original and each 
copy of the application must be submitted unstapled and unbound. All 
materials must be typewritten, double-spaced, with unreduced type (font 
size 12 point or greater) on 8\1/2\'' by 11'' paper, with at least 1'' 
margins, headers, and footers, and printed on one side only. Do not 
include any spiral or bound materials or pamphlets.
    The applicant should provide a detailed description of first-year 
activities and briefly describe future-year objective and activities.

[[Page 23465]]

A. Title Page

    The heading should include the title of grant program, project 
title, organization, name and address, project director, and telephone 
number.

B. Abstract

    A one page, singled-spaced, typed abstract must be submitted with 
the application. The heading should include the title of grant program, 
project title, organization, the project director's name, address and 
telephone number. This abstract should include a detailed work plan 
identifying specific activities to be developed, specific activities to 
be completed, and a time-line for completion of these activities.

C. Proposal Narrative

    The narrative of each application must:
    1. Briefly state the applicant's understanding of the need or 
problem to be addressed, the purpose, and goals over the five year 
period of the cooperative agreement.
    2. Describe in detail the objectives and the methods to be used to 
achieve the objectives of the project. The objectives should be 
specific, time-phased, measurable, and achievable during each budget 
period. The objectives should directly relate to the program goals. 
Identify the steps to be taken in planning and implementing the 
objectives and the responsibilities of the applicant for carrying out 
the steps.
    3. Provide the name, qualifications, and proposed time allocation 
of the Project Director who will be responsible for administering the 
project. Describe staff, experience, facilities, equipment available 
for performance of this project, and other resources that define the 
applicant's capacity or potential to accomplish the requirements stated 
above. List the names (if known), qualifications, and time allocations 
of the existing professional staff to be assigned to (or recruited for) 
this project, the support staff available for performance of this 
project, and the available facilities including space.
    4. Document the applicant's expertise and extent of involvement in 
the area of childhood agricultural injury prevention.
    5. Provide letters of support or other documentation demonstrating 
collaboration of the applicant's ability to work with diverse groups, 
establish linkages, and facilitate awareness information.
    6. Human Subjects: State whether or not Humans are subjects in this 
proposal. (See Human Subjects in the Evaluation Criteria and Other 
Requirements sections.)
    7. Inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial groups:
    Describe how the CDC policy requirements will be met regarding the 
inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial groups in the proposed research.

D. Budget

    Provide a detailed budget which indicates anticipated costs for 
personnel, equipment, travel, communications, supplies, postage, and 
the sources of funds to meet these needs. The applicant should be 
precise about the program purpose of each budget item. For contracts 
described within the application budget, applicants should name the 
contractor, if known; describe the services to be performed; and 
provide an itemized breakdown and justification for the estimated costs 
of the contract; the kinds of organizations or parties to be selected; 
the period of performance; and the method of selection. Place the 
budget narrative pages showing, in detail, how funds in each object 
class will be spent, directly behind form 424A. Do not put these pages 
in the body of the application. CDC may not approve or fund all 
proposed activities.

Evaluation Criteria

    The application will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria:

A. Background and Need (10%)

    Understanding of the problem and need for activities in the 
proposal.

B. Experience (25%)

    The extent to which the applicant's prior work and experience in 
childhood agricultural injury issues is documented, including length of 
time committed to childhood agricultural injury prevention; linkages 
developed; collaboration with other individuals or groups; strength of 
leadership.

C. Goals, Objectives and Methods (15%)

    1. The extent to which the proposed goals and objectives are 
clearly stated, time-phased, and measurable. The extent to which the 
methods are sufficiently detailed to allow assessment of whether the 
objectives can be achieved for the budget period. The extent to which a 
qualified plan is proposed that will help achieve the goals stated in 
the proposal.
    2. The degree to which the applicant has met the CDC policy 
requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial 
groups in the proposed project. This includes: (a) The proposed plan 
for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and ethnic minority 
populations for appropriate representation; (b) The proposed 
justification when representation is limited or absent; (c) A statement 
as to whether the design of the study is adequate to measure 
differences when warranted; and (d) A statement as to whether the plan 
for recruitment and outreach for study participants include the process 
of establishing partnerships with community(ies) and recognition of 
mutual benefits.

D. Facilities and Resources (15%)

    The adequacy of the applicant's facilities, equipment, and other 
resources available for performance of this project.

E. Project Management and Staffing Plan (15%)

    The extent to which the management staff and their working partners 
are clearly described, appropriately assigned, and have pertinent 
skills and experiences. The extent to which the applicant proposes to 
involve appropriate personnel who have the needed qualifications to 
implement the proposed plan. The extent to which the applicant has the 
capacity to design, implement, and evaluate the proposed intervention 
program.

F. Evaluation (15%)

    The extent to which goals and objectives encompass both process and 
outcome evaluation for the activities listed. The extent to which an 
evaluation plan describes the method and design for evaluating the 
program's effectiveness. Evaluation should include progress in meeting 
the objectives and conducting activities during the project and budget 
periods, and the impact of the activities implemented on childhood 
injury.

G. Collaboration (5%)

    The extent to which all partners are clearly described and their 
qualifications and intentions to participate explicitly stated. The 
extent to which the applicant provides proof of support (e.g., letters 
of support and/or memoranda of understanding) for proposed activities. 
Evidence or a statement should be provided that these funds do not 
duplicate already funded components of ongoing projects.

H. Human Subjects (Not scored)

    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

[[Page 23466]]

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 the Objective Review Group has 
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.

I. Budget Justification (Not scored)

    The budget will be evaluated to the extent that it is reasonable, 
clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of funds.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    Applications are not subject to the review requirements of 
Executive Order 12372.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    The applicant is not subject to review under the Public Health 
System Reporting Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.262.

Other Requirements

Human Subjects

    If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the 
applicant must comply with the DHHS 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.

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. 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

    Although not a prerequisite of application, a non-binding letter of 
intent-to-apply is requested from potential applicants. The letter 
should be submitted to Victoria F. Sepe, Grants Management Specialist, 
Grants Management Branch, CDC at the address listed in this section. It 
should be postmarked no later than June 1, 1997. The letter should 
identify program announcement number 737, and name of the principal 
investigator. The letter of intent does not influence review or funding 
decisions, but it will enable CDC to plan the review more efficiently 
and will ensure that each applicant receives timely and relevant 
information prior to application submission.

B. Application

    The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1 
(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Victoria 
Sepe, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE, Room 321, Atlanta, GA 
30305, on or before June 30, 1997.
    1. Deadline: Applications will 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. (The applicants must request 
a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a 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 Applicants: Applications that 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 applicants.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional written information call 1-888 GRANTS4. You 
will be asked to leave your name, address, and telephone number and 
will need to refer to Announcement 737. You will receive a complete 
program description, information on application procedures, and 
application forms. CDC will not send application kits by facsimile or 
express mail. Please refer to Announcement Number 737 when requesting 
information and submitting an application.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from Victoria Sepe, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), Mailstop E-13, Room 321, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, 
NE., Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6804, Internet: 
[email protected].
    Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from David L. 
Hard, Ph.D., Division of Safety Research, National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, telephone 
(304) 285-6068, or Internet address: [email protected].
    This and other CDC announcements are available through the CDC 
homepage on the Internet. The address for the CDC homepage is: http://
www.cdc.gov.
    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.

Useful References

    The following documents may also provide useful information: 
National Committee for Childhood Agricultural Injury Prevention. 
Children and Agriculture: Opportunities for Safety and Health. 
Marshfield, WI: Marshfield Clinic, 1996. For access to the document, 
the WEB address to that

[[Page 23467]]

section is: ``http://www.marshmed.org/nfmc/actionplan/title.htm''.

    Dated: April 24, 1997.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-11195 Filed 4-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P