[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29350-29353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14182]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement 754]


National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 
Development of Graduate Training Programs in Occupational Health 
Psychology

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1997 funds for a cooperative agreement 
to oversee the development and implementation of graduate-level 
training programs in university settings in the area of work 
organization, stress and health.
    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 Healthy People 2000, see section Where to Obtain 
Additional Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under Sections 20(a) and 22(e)(7) of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 [29 U.S.C. 669(a) and 
671(e)(7)].

Smoke-Free Workplace

    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, non-profit 
organizations, associations or groups representing relevant behavioral/
social science professions, or universities, colleges, and training 
institutions offering professional (postdoctoral) development programs 
in cogent areas and in a position to affect the leadership, 
coordination, and other actions needed to implement the requirements of 
the cooperative agreement.

    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 $100,000 will be available in Fiscal Year 1997 to 
fund one cooperative agreement. This award is expected to begin on or 
about September 30, 1997, 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 the availability of funds. Funding 
estimates are subject to change.
    Student or faculty research, except for training and research 
methods, is not covered under this announcement.

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 U.S.C. Section 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

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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 Pub. L. No. 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), Pub. L. No. 104-208 (September 30, 1996).

Background

    The concept of work organization refers broadly to the way work 
processes are structured and managed, and addresses conditions such as 
the scheduling of work, design of tasks, interpersonal relationships at 
work, career and employment concerns, management style, and 
organizational characteristics such as climate and culture. These 
elements are commonly referred to as workplace psychosocial factors. 
They are known risk factors for job stress and are increasingly linked 
to health and safety outcomes such as traumatic injury, work-related 
musculoskeletal disorders, psychological disorders, and cardiovascular 
disease. The National Occupational Research Agenda, a collaborative 
effort between NIOSH and its stakeholders to identify key research 
needs in occupational safety and health, recognizes work organization 
as one of 21 top research priorities. (For ordering the National 
Occupational Research Agenda, see section Where to Obtain Additional 
Information.)
    Research and interventions addressing work organization and 
associated health and safety risks hinge critically on the availability 
of appropriately trained professionals to guide such efforts. However, 
professional training programs in work organization and health are 
uncommon in the United States, and these fields of study are often 
mutually exclusive. For example, organizational psychology is an 
expansive area of training in behavioral science, equipping 
professionals with valuable knowledge and skills in work organization. 
However, this area of training and practice rarely addresses the 
occupational safety and health implications of work organization. 
Presently, there are few ready programs of study in the U.S. in which 
work organization and health are integrated.
    In 1992, NIOSH recognized the need for specialized training in work 
organization and health, and supported a program to provide 
postdoctoral training in occupational health psychology in an effort to 
bridge this training gap. A main objective of this earlier program was 
to provide supplemental training of Doctoral-level psychologists to 
better equip them for practice in the field of occupational health.

Purpose

    The purpose of this program is to develop and implement a plan to 
establish specialized graduate-level training at multiple universities 
in the area of work organization, stress and health.
    Examples of appropriate training activities under this program 
would include, but are not limited to: (1) Expansion of curricula in 
organizational psychology to provide a focus on organizational risk 
factors for stress, illness and injury at work, and on intervention 
strategies; (2) expansion of curricula and practica in clinical 
psychology to improve the recognition of job stress and its 
organizational sources; and, (3) increased exposure of behavioral 
scientists to the methods and practice of epidemiology.
    Vehicles for this training could include new courses or clusters of 
courses, graduate minor or masters/doctoral degree programs, or 
practica or internship experiences at the predoctoral level. Because 
training in work organization, stress and health is an inherently 
multidisciplinary area, these training experiences should draw upon and 
integrate knowledge and faculty from several relevant areas, such as 
psychology, management, public health, occupational medicine, 
epidemiology.

Program Requirements

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

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Implement a plan of action to promote and establish 5-year 
graduate-level training opportunities in work organization, stress and 
health, acknowledging the needs for integrating knowledge in the 
behavioral and social sciences with knowledge in occupational medicine, 
public health, and other relevant disciplines.
    2. Incorporate this type of training as a recognized specialty area 
in the behavioral and occupational health sciences.
    3. Collaborate with established professional groups in the 
behavioral and social sciences, and professional groups representing 
occupational medicine, public health and other relevant disciplines to 
obtain necessary support and input to curricula/program development.
    4. Implement mechanisms for soliciting qualified university-based 
sites for graduate level training in work organization, stress and 
health.
    5. In cooperation with CDC, develop criteria and procedures for 
selection of the training sites.
    6. Implement program evaluation and quality assurance mechanisms.
    7. Publicizing the program, including participating sites and 
training activities.

B. CDC/NIOSH Activities

    1. Provide technical assistance and consultation, through site 
visits and correspondence, in the areas of program development and 
implementation.
    2. Provide technical support for training including lecturers (if 
requested) and materials, i.e., NIOSH technical reports, research 
publications, etc.
    3. Assist with collaboration between the recipient and traditional 
NIOSH-supported professional training institutions to assist in 
developing training opportunities.

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.

[[Page 29352]]

    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.
    All reports should be submitted to the Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, CDC.

Applicant Content

    The entire application, including appendices, should not exceed 40 
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) 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 objectives and activities.

A. Title Page

    The heading should include the title of grant program, project 
title, organization, the project director's name, address, 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, name and address, project director and 
telephone number. This abstract should include a work plan identifying 
activities to be developed, specific activities to be completed, and a 
timeframes 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 5 year period 
of the cooperative agreement.
    2. Describe the project plan including objectives, timelines, and 
all steps to be taken in developing, implementing and evaluating the 
project.
    3. Describe mechanisms for soliciting qualified university-based 
sites for graduate level training in work organization, stress and 
health.
    4. Document the applicant's expertise and prior involvement in 
overseeing specialized training in the area of work organization, 
stress and health at multiple universities.
    5. Document the applicant's ability to: provide staff, knowledge, 
financial and other resources necessary to perform this project. 
Provide the name, qualifications, and proposed time allocation of the 
Project Director who will be responsible for administering the project. 
Describe staff, equipment available for performance of this project, 
and other resources that define the applicant's capacity or potential 
to accomplish the requirements. 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.
    6. Provide letters of support from professional organizations, 
affiliate groups and agencies essential to program development and 
success.

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 kind 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

    Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria:
    A. Responsiveness to the objectives of the cooperative agreement 
including:
    1. The applicant's understanding of the objectives of the proposed 
cooperative agreement; and
    2. The relevance of the proposal to the objectives. (10%)
    B. The extent to which the applicant documents experience and/or 
unique qualities to accomplish this program, and documents experience 
in evaluating or accrediting academic programs of this nature. (30%)
    C. Feasibility of the proposed plan, including objectives, time 
lines and resources to accomplish this project within the stated 
budget. (30%)
    D. Training, experience, and special capabilities of the Program 
Director and key staff members to perform this proposed activity. This 
includes previous experience in training professionals in occupational 
health psychology. (30%)
    E. The budget will be evaluated to the extent that it is 
reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of 
funds. (Not scored)

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 
Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this project 
is 93.283.

Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

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

Application Submission and Deadline

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 the Grants Management Branch, CDC at the address 
listed in this section. It should be postmarked no later than June 20, 
1997. The letter should identify announcement number 754, name of 
principal investigator. The letter of intent does not influence

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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 Victoria Sepe, 
Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and 
Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
Mailstop E-13, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Atlanta, GA 
30305, on or before July 15, 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 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 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 (404) 332-4561. You 
will be asked to leave your name, address, and telephone number and 
will need to refer to NIOSH Announcement Number 754. You will receive a 
complete program description, information on application procedures, 
and application forms. If you have any 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), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., 
Room 321, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6804, 
Internet: vxw1.cdc.gov.
    Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Steven L. 
Sauter, Ph.D., Chief, Applied Psychology and Ergonomics Branch, 
Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science, National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), Mailstop C-24, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 
45226-1998, telephone (513) 533-8157, Internet: sls4.cdc.gov; or from 
Michael Colligan, Ph.D., Director Scientist, Training Evaluation Team, 
Education and Information Division, National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
Mailstop C-11, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998, 
telephone (513) 533-8222, Internet: mlc4.cdc.gov.
    Please refer to Announcement Number 754 when requesting information 
on this program.
    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) referenced in the Introduction 
section through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing 
Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.
    The National Occupational Research Agenda: copies of this 
publication may be obtained from The National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, Publications Office, 4676 Columbia 
Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998 or telephone 1-800-356-4674.

    Dated: May 23, 1997.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-14182 Filed 5-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P