[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38537-38541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18947]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement Number 783]


Cooperative Agreements for Postdoctoral Fellowship Training 
Programs in Infectious Diseases

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1997 funds for cooperative agreements 
to provide assistance for Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Programs in 
Infectious Diseases.
    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 Immunization and 
Infectious Diseases. (For ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see 
the section Where To Obtain Additional Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under Sections 301 (42 U.S.C. 241) and 
317(k)(2) (42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2)) of the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended.

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 
Pub. L. 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

    Assistance will be provided only to university affiliated schools 
of medicine with infectious disease programs accredited by the 
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). 
Applicants meeting this criteria are the most appropriate

[[Page 38538]]

organizations to conduct the work under this cooperative agreement 
because: The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to respond to the 
documented shortage of physicians trained academically in infectious 
diseases. Correspondingly, the infectious disease departments of 
university schools of medicine are the legitimate organizations in 
which to base a program such as proposed in this announcement.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $130,000 is available in FY 1997 to fund two to four 
awards. It is expected that the average award will be $40,000. It is 
expected that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 1997, and 
be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to 3 
years. Funding estimates may vary and are subject to change. 
Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made on 
the basis of satisfactory progress and availability of funds. 
Preference will be given to competing continuation applications over 
applications for programs not already receiving support under the PFTP 
program. Current grantees have physicians/fellows enrolled in their 
programs with 2-3 years remaining in their fellowship. It is expected, 
though, that one or more new awards will be made in addition to any 
competing continuations.

Use of Funds

    Grantee cost-sharing is required under this program. CDC will 
provide up to 50 percent of the total costs for items directly related 
to support of fellows' stipends (consistent with PHS policies), and 
professional travel. CDC funds will not be provided to support 
salaries/fringe, travel, etc., for recipient's faculty or 
administrative personnel. In a training grant, recipient indirect 
charges are limited to 8 percent of direct costs.

Restrictions on Lobbying

    Applicants should be aware of restrictions on the use of Department 
of Health and Human Services (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 Departments of Labor, HHS, and Education, 
and Related Agencies 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. 
Section 503 of this new law, as enacted by the Omnibus Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 1997, Division A, Title I, Section 101(e), Pub. L. 
No. 104-208 (September 30, 1996), 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.

Background

    In the past decade, much has been written about emerging microbial 
threats to health. Recently, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) 
Committee on Emerging Microbial Threats to Health published its report 
entitled ``Emerging Infections: Microbial Threats to Health in the 
United States'', (National Academy Press, 1992). This report discusses 
one of the key problems facing the U.S. public health system's ability 
to adequately respond to the problem of emerging infectious diseases--
the present and projected future shortage of scientists, physicians, 
and others trained to conduct basic and applied research on infectious 
diseases. Because of this shortage of appropriately trained public 
health researchers, strategies to anticipate the emergence of 
infectious diseases and prevent them from becoming significant threats 
to public health are lacking.
    This is corroborated by other sources such as the American Society 
for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, American 
Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, American Public Health 
Association, and by previously published IOM reports. All cite the need 
for increases in programs for the recruitment and training of 
professionals for careers in infectious diseases, such as epidemiology, 
basic laboratory research, and clinical research.
    In 1994, CDC initiated the Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Program 
in Infectious Diseases (PFTP) and made awards to two U.S. medical 
schools. Under these awards, the PFTP was integrated into the school's 
existing postdoctoral program as a separate PFTP track and several 
physicians have been enrolled. Through this program announcement, CDC 
intends to continue the PFTP.

Purpose

    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to assist recipients 
in the development and implementation of a two-to three-year 
Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Program in Infectious Diseases (PFTP) 
which utilizes the combined resources of the recipient and CDC to 
provide a combination of clinical training and basic laboratory or 
epidemiologic training in infectious diseases. The goal is to improve 
the ability of the U.S. public health system to respond to the problem 
of infectious diseases by increasing the number of academic infectious 
disease physicians with demonstrated skills in the public health 
aspects of infectious diseases and to provide them with the essential, 
pertinent clinical and research skills.
    The PFTP is designed to be implemented as a separate track or 
component of recipient's existing infectious disease postdoctoral 
training program and is aimed at physicians with training in infectious 
diseases who wish to pursue a career in academic infectious diseases. 
The objective is to offer a combination of research and clinical 
training which will lead to eligibility for certification in infectious 
diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Subspecialty Board 
of Infectious Diseases (the cognizant member board of the American 
Board of Medical Specialties). Specific areas of clinical concentration 
at recipient's facilities may include: clinical rotations in infectious 
diseases, infectious diseases in transplant recipients, clinical 
microbiology, outpatient infectious diseases, pediatric infectious 
diseases, or infectious disease pharmacology. The recipient must be 
able to provide support for physicians of unusual ability and promise 
or proven achievement by giving them an opportunity to conduct 
clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic research on significant public 
health problems caused by infectious diseases. Specific areas of 
research may include: viral and rickettsial infections, nosocomial

[[Page 38539]]

infections, antimicrobial resistance, acquired immunodeficiency 
syndrome, vector-borne infectious diseases, respiratory and food-borne 
bacterial diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, and parasitic 
diseases. The laboratory or epidemiologic research may be conducted at 
CDC facilities under the guidance of a CDC preceptor.

Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient shall be responsible for the activities under A., below, 
and CDC shall be responsible for conducting activities under B., below:

A. Recipient Activities

    1. As a track or component of recipient's existing infectious 
disease postdoctoral fellowship program, develop and conduct a two- to 
three-year PFTP that combines clinical and basic laboratory or 
epidemiologic research in prevention and control of infectious diseases 
of public health importance. The clinical training will occur at 
recipient facilities. Conduct the PFTP such that the clinical training 
and the research activities are appropriately interrelated.
    2. Design and conduct the PFTP such that, upon completion of the 
fellowship, fellows will become eligible for certification in 
infectious diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
    3. Provide preceptors for training conducted at recipient's 
facilities.
    4. Develop a fellowship candidate application, review, ranking, and 
selection process. Based on this process, select applicants to be 
awarded two-to three-year PFTP fellowships.
    5. Provide administrative support to fellows during their tenure in 
the PFTP including the payment of stipends, professional travel, etc. 
(see Availability of Funds for cost sharing requirements).
    6. Assist fellows in publishing and/or otherwise disseminating 
results of their research.
    7. Monitor and evaluate the progress of fellows and progress toward 
achieving program goals. To measure the overall success of the PFTP, 
establish a mechanism to follow-up and report on fellows (e.g., where 
they work, in what field, etc.) periodically for up to 5 years after 
they complete the PFTP.

B. CDC Activities

    1. Provide technical assistance in the development and management 
of the PFTP.
    2. The laboratory or epidemiologic research may occur at CDC 
facilities.
    3. Provide preceptors for research/training that occurs at CDC 
facilities.
    4. Assist in monitoring and evaluating the progress of fellows and 
of the progress toward achieving program goals.

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Narrative progress reports are required semiannually. The first 
semiannual report is required with each year's noncompeting 
continuation application and should cover program activities from date 
of the previous report (or date of award for reporting in the first 
year of the project). The second semiannual report is due 90 days after 
the end of each budget period and should cover activities from the date 
of previous report. Progress reports should address the status of all 
recipient activities above, including the status of training and 
research activities for individual fellows enrolled. Progress reports 
should also include copies of any publications resulting from the PFTP.
    An original and two copies of a financial status report (FSR) are 
required no later than 90 days after the end of each budget period. A 
final performance report and financial status report are due no later 
than 90 days after the end of the project period.
    All reports are submitted to the Grants Management Branch, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Attention: Sharron Orum, 
Grants Management Officer, Procurement and Grants Office, 255 East 
Paces Ferry Road, NE., Mailstop E18, Room 300, Atlanta, Georgia 30305.

Notification of Intent to Apply

    In order to assist CDC in planning and executing the evaluation of 
applications submitted under this Program Announcement, all parties 
intending to submit an application should inform CDC of their intention 
to do so as soon as possible but not later than 10 business days prior 
to the application due date. Notification should include (1) name and 
address of institution and (2) name, address, and telephone number of 
contact person. Notification can be provided by facsimile, postal mail, 
or electronic mail (Email) to Greg Jones, M.P.A., National Center for 
Infectious Diseases, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop C-19, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30333, facsimile (404) 639-4195, Email address 
[email protected].

Application Content

    All applicants must develop their application in accordance with 
the PHS Form 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-0189), information contained in 
this cooperative agreement announcement, and the instructions outlined 
below.

Typing and Mailing

    All pages must be clearly numbered and a complete index to the 
application and its appendices must be included. Do not bind, staple, 
or paperclip any pages of any copy of the application, including 
appendices. Do not include any bound documents (e.g., pamphlets or 
other publications) in the appendices. Do not include cardboard, 
plastic, or other page separators between sections. The entire 
application must be typewritten, single spaced, and in unreduced type 
on 8 1/2'' by 11'' white paper, with at least 1'' margins, including 
headers and footers, and printed on one side only.

Specific Instructions

    The application narrative must not exceed 10 pages (excluding 
abstract, budget, and appendixes). Unless indicated otherwise, all 
information requested below must appear in the narrative. Materials or 
information that should be part of the narrative will not be accepted 
if placed in the appendices. The application narrative must contain the 
following sections in the order presented below:
1. Abstract
    Provide a brief (less than 2 pages) summary of the proposed PFTP.
2. Background and Need
    Discuss the background and need for the proposed project. 
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the purpose and objectives of the 
PFTP cooperative agreement program. Demonstrate a clear understanding 
of the requirements, responsibilities, problems, constraints, 
complexities, etc., that may be encountered in administration of the 
proposed PFTP.
3. Capacity and Personnel
    a. Describe applicant's goals, objectives, and efforts to promote 
the field of academic infectious diseases. Describe relevant degree 
programs and sponsored regular national meetings, seminars, and/or 
workshops devoted to pertinent issues in academic infectious diseases 
with relevance to public health.
    b. Demonstrate applicant's experience in academic infectious 
diseases education and training in general, including experience in 
maintaining programs that lead to eligibility for certification in 
infectious diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine. 
Describe applicant's existing postdoctoral fellowship training programs 
for physicians in infectious diseases.

[[Page 38540]]

    c. Describe applicant's resources, facilities, and professional 
personnel that will be involved in conducting the project. Include (in 
an appendix) curriculum vitae for all professional personnel involved 
with the project. Describe plans for administration of the project and 
identify administrative resources/personnel that will be assigned to 
the project. Provide (in an appendix) letters of support from all key 
participating non-applicant organizations, individuals, etc., which 
clearly indicate their commitment to participate as described in the 
operational plan. Do not include letters of support from CDC personnel. 
Letters of support from CDC will not be accepted in the application.
4. Operational Plan
    Present a detailed and time-phased plan for establishing and 
conducting the PFTP. Describe procedures to accomplish all of the 
required recipient activities, within the performance period. Describe 
how the clinical and research activities will be coordinated within the 
PFTP. Present a plan for monitoring and evaluating the progress of 
fellows and the progress toward achieving program goals. Describe how 
the plan will ensure that all fellows become eligible for certification 
in infectious diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine by 
the end of fellowship tenure.
5. Budget
    Provide a line-item budget and accompanying detailed, line-by-line 
justification that demonstrates the request is consistent with the 
purpose and objectives of this program. Clearly indicate by line-item:

(1) The full cost of the PFTP
(2) The amount requested from CDC
(3) The amount of cost sharing (not less than 50 percent) to be 
provided by applicant (see Availability of Funds section for further 
information).

Evaluation Criteria (100 Points)

    The applications will be reviewed and evaluated based on the 
following criteria:
    1. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that they have 
been and are devoted to promoting the field of academic infectious 
diseases. The extent to which the applicant has promoted the field of 
academic infectious diseases by conducting regular national meetings 
and workshops devoted to current topics. The extent to which the 
applicant documents experience in education and training in academic 
infectious diseases, including documentation of relevant degree 
programs offered and evidence of experience in successfully preparing 
students for certification in infectious diseases by the American Board 
of Internal Medicine. (15 points)
    2. The extent to which applicant describes adequate resources and 
facilities (clinical, academic, and administrative) for conducting the 
PFTP. Extent to which applicant documents that professional personnel 
involved in the PFTP are qualified and have past experience and 
achievements related to that proposed as evidenced by curriculum vitae, 
publications, etc. (15 points)
    3. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates significant 
institutional experience in managing postdoctoral fellowship training 
programs for physicians in the area of infectious diseases. The extent 
to which applicant documents they have a successful existing 
postdoctoral fellowship program in infectious diseases. (30 points)
    4. The extent to which the proposed operational plan is clear, 
detailed, and meets the purpose and goals of this cooperative agreement 
program. The extent to which the proposed operational plan addresses 
all required recipient activities. The extent to which the proposed 
plan coordinates the clinical and research activities so that they 
comprise a complementary and congruent training program. (30 points)
    5. The quality of the proposed plan to monitor, evaluate and track 
individual fellows; and overall plan to evaluate activities and 
objectives. (10 points)
    6. The extent to which the proposed budget is reasonable, clearly 
justifiable, and consistent with the intended use of cooperative 
agreement funds. (not scored)

Executive Order 12372 Review

    Applications are not subject to review as governed by Executive 
Order 12372 (45 CFR part 100), Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

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

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.283.

Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

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

Human Subjects

    If any research/training activities for the fellows involve 
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 evidence of this assurance 
in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and form provided in the 
application kit.

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, dated Friday, September 15, 1995.

Application Submission and Deadline

    The original and two copies of the application Form PHS-5161-1 (OMB 
Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Sharron P. Orum, Grants 
Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East 
Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-18, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, 
on or before August 19, 1997.
    1. Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the 
deadline if they are either:

[[Page 38541]]

    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the objective review group. (Applicants must request a 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
    2. Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria 
in 1.(a) or 1.(b) above are considered late applications. Late 
applications will not be considered and will be returned to the 
applicant.

Where to Obtain Additional Information

    A complete program description and information on application 
procedures are contained in the application package. Business 
management technical assistance may be obtained from Bernice A. Moore, 
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, Mailstop E-18, Atlanta, Georgia 
30305, telephone (404) 842-6802, facsimile (404) 842-6513, or Internet 
or CDC WONDER electronic mail at [email protected].
    Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Greg Jones, 
M.P.A., National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), Mailstop C-19, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 639-2434, facsimile (404) 639-
4195, or Internet or CDC WONDER electronic mail at [email protected].
    To receive an application kit, please call (404) 332-4561. You will 
be asked to leave your name, mailing address, and telephone number. 
Please refer to Announcement Number 783 when requesting information 
regarding this program. You may obtain this announcement from one of 
two Internet sites on the actual publication date: CDC's homepage at 
http://www.cdc.gov or at the Government Printing Office homepage 
(including free on-line access to the Federal Register) at http://
www.access.gpo.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 
through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, 
Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.

    Dated: July 14, 1997.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operation, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-18947 Filed 7-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P