[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25055-25058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11967]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement 98036]


Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center (VAWPRC) Notice 
of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year 1998 cooperative agreement funds to 
establish a Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center (VAWPRC). 
This program addresses the Healthy People 2000 priority area of Violent 
and Abusive Behavior.
    The purposes of the Prevention Research Center are to:
    1. Support research on prevention and policy issues relevant to 
Violence Against Women;
    2. Encourage professionals from a spectrum of disciplines such as 
public health, criminal justice, health care, behavioral and social 
sciences, education, law enforcement, and others to undertake and 
collaborate in research and evaluation activities for preventing 
violence against women;
    3. Foster interdisciplinary collaboration for the purpose of 
developing integrated theoretical and scientific models about the 
nature of violence against women, its relationship to other forms of 
violence and injury, and effective prevention strategies;
    4. Integrate research on child maltreatment and other forms of 
violence into the study of violence against women;
    5. Foster creative and innovative approaches to collaborative 
research and evaluation efforts among research institutions and sexual 
assault and intimate partner violence service providers;
    6. Develop a knowledge base for evaluating current and new 
programs, strategies, and policies designed to prevent or control 
violence against women;
    7. Create training programs that develop interdisciplinary 
knowledge and expertise among new investigators and investigators 
retraining in the field. These efforts should emphasize training 
researchers in evaluation methodology and developing the research 
skills of scientists from racial and ethnic minorities and other 
historically under represented and underserved groups;
    8. Provide technical assistance to other investigators around 
methodological issues related to the field of violence against women; 
and
    9. Provide a national focus for interdisciplinary public fora 
designed to disseminate research knowledge about violence against 
women.
    For additional information please see Addendum 2, Background and 
Definitions (included in the application package).

B. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations and by governments and their agencies. Thus, 
universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, and other 
public and private nonprofit organizations, State and local governments 
or their bona fide agents, and federally recognized Indian tribal 
governments, Indian tribes or Indian tribal organizations.

    Note: Pub. L. 104-65, which became effective January 1, 1996, 
states that 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, cooperative agreement, contract, loan, or any other 
form.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $600,000 is available in FY 1998 to fund one (1) 
cooperative agreement. It is expected that the award will begin on or 
about September 1, 1998 and will be made for a 12-month budget period 
within a project period not to exceed five (5) years. Funding estimates 
may vary and are subject to change and availability of funds.
    Non-competing continuation awards for new budget periods within the 
approved project period will be made on the basis of satisfactory 
progress as evidenced by required reports and site visits.

D. Program Requirements

    1. Applicants must provide a Principal Investigator (Director) who 
has specific authority and responsibility to carry out the project. 
Applicants must demonstrate high level institutional support for the 
Prevention Research Center (e.g., from the dean of a school, vice-
president of a university, or a commissioner of health). The Principal 
Investigator must have no less than 20 percent effort devoted solely to 
this

[[Page 25056]]

project with an anticipated range of 20 to 50 percent of time.
    2. Applicants must provide assurances that a full-time Program 
Manager will be hired and will devote 100 percent time to this project.

E. Cooperative Activities

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under 1. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed under 2. (CDC Activities).

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Design, implement, and assess a Violence Against Women 
Prevention Research Center;
    b. Foster creative and innovative approaches to collaborative 
research and evaluation efforts among research institutions and service 
providers;
    c. Develop and disseminate a knowledge base for evaluating current 
and new programs, strategies, and policies designed to prevent violence 
against women;
    d. Develop interdisciplinary knowledge and expertise among new 
investigators, and investigators retraining in this field. Emphasis 
should be given to training investigators from racial and ethnic 
minorities and other historically under represented and underserved 
groups;
    e. Foster interdisciplinary collaboration for developing integrated 
theoretical and sound scientific models about the nature of violence 
against women, its relationship to other forms of violence and injury, 
and effective prevention strategies; and
    f. Collaborate with the CDC on these activities, and the activities 
listed below.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Collaborate in establishing research and evaluation priorities, 
designing program protocols, and evaluating the cost, process(es), and 
outcomes resulting from the Center's activities.
    b. Collaborate in establishing reporting systems to monitor the 
progress of the Center's activities.
    c. Collaborate with Center staff in identifying up-to-date 
scientific and programmatic information about violence against women 
prevention.

F. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other 
Requirements, Evaluation Criteria sections and the Errata Sheet 
(Addendum 3, included in the application package) to develop the 
application content. Your application will be evaluated on the criteria 
listed so it is important to follow them in laying out your program 
plan. Each application should be limited to 40 pages, excluding 
attachments.
    The application should include the following sections:
    1. Abstract: (page 2-PHS398).
    A summary of the proposed Prevention Research Center, outlining its 
goals and objectives, its working partners and collaborators, the 
proposed research, evaluation, training and collaborative activities 
which will be undertaken, and the procedure by which the Center will 
assess the achievement of its goals.
    2. Research Capacity: (Research Plan items A-I:PHS398).
    The applicant should provide details about the Center's capacity 
for conducting a Violence Against Women research program. In 
particular, the applicants should:
    (a) Demonstrate their experience in successfully designing, 
implementing, and evaluating Violence Against Women prevention 
programs, and/or conducting, publishing, and disseminating Violence 
Against Women research and evaluation studies.
    (b) Outline the vision of the Center and how the proposed 
collaboration between researchers will contribute to the overall goals 
and objectives of the Center; describe how the collaborative activities 
of the applicants were or will be developed and how the proposed Center 
will expand and develop on work that has already been undertaken by the 
applicant(s) and other researchers.
    (c) Describe the proposed focus of the Center's research and its 
relevance to the field of VAW, particularly in terms of the proposed 
interdisciplinary collaboration. Provide sufficient detail to allow 
assessment of the scientific merit of the research activities. Indicate 
how results of the proposed research program will advance the field and 
have relevance for the prevention and control of violence against 
women.
    Within this section, applications must include the following: 
Women, Racial, and Ethnic Minorities: describing the proposed plan for 
the inclusion of both sexes and racial and ethnic minority populations 
for appropriate representation.

3. Training Capacity

    The applicant should outline plans for attracting and involving 
high quality students (undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral) in 
Center activities, and identify how participants will receive 
interdisciplinary training and experience using multiple research 
methodologies. The applicant should emphasize how scientists from 
racial and ethnic minorities and other under represented and 
underserved populations will be encouraged to participate in activities 
of the Center.

4. Management Capcity

    The applicant should provide a description of the key staff, their 
qualifications and experience in the field of violence against women, 
and the role each person will play in designing, implementing, and 
assessing the Prevention Research Center's activities. The applicant 
should clearly describe how disciplines will be integrated to achieve 
the goals and objectives of the Prevention Research Center. The 
applicant should provide resumes of key staff as an appendix. An 
organizational chart should be included that shows the Center's 
proposed program structure, its relationship to the broader institution 
of which it is a part, and if applicable, operational lines of 
authority with collaborating organizations. If following the Consortium 
model, the applicant should outline the procedures for focusing 
consortium activities, selecting and integrating research across 
institutions, allocating funds and other resources, and managing the 
involvement of other research groups. The applicant should show where 
Consortium partners are housed within existing organizations.

5. Plan of Operation

    The applicant should provide a plan of operations which indicates 
how the goals and objectives of the Prevention Research Center will be 
met. The goals and objectives should be specific, relevant, achievable, 
time-phased, and should be related to the purposes of this announcement 
(see PURPOSE section). The plan of operation should describe the 
program activities for achieving the Prevention Research Center's goals 
and objectives, and specifically who among the core staff and 
collaborating partners is responsible for doing what and when. A 
detailed timeline should be provided illustrating concurrent 
activities.
    Applicants should also demonstrate that the facilities and 
resources are sufficient to conduct the Center's research and training 
activities and should include: sufficient office space to house staff 
and conduct training, adequate furniture to accommodate staff, conduct 
seminars; adequate training equipment for presentations, such as 
overhead and slide projectors, and video cassette recorder; and 
computer hardware and software resources for data entry, storage, 
analysis, and retrieval.

[[Page 25057]]

6. Assessment Plan

    The applicant should include a detailed plan for assessing the 
Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center's progress toward 
achieving its stated goals and objectives, as they relate to the 
purposes of this announcement. (See PURPOSE section)

7. Collaboration

    The applicant should specify the exact nature of the contribution 
each of the working partners makes to the Prevention Research Center's 
program, e.g., program planning and design, training, space, 
instructors and other faculty, curriculum development and evaluation, 
program evaluation activities, etc. Applicants drawn from different 
disciplines is not, in itself, sufficient evidence of multidisciplinary 
collaboration. A more important indicator is the extent to which 
research from different disciplines will be integrated.
    The application must also show evidence of collaboration with 
practitioners and victim advocates working in the intimate partner 
violence and sexual assault field. This collaboration may be with 
organizations such as National/State Domestic Violence and Sexual 
Assault Coalitions. Collaboration may also be undertaken with 
governmental agencies, other institutions of higher learning, and other 
organizations making substantive contributions to advancing the field 
of violence against women.
    Letters of support or memoranda of understanding should state the 
specific contribution, activities to be undertaken, or resources to be 
provided by all collaborators.

8. Proposed Budget

    The application must provide a detailed proposed first-year budget 
and a narrative justification. The budget requests should be reasonable 
and consistent with the intended use of cooperative agreement funds.

9. Human Subjects

    Indicate whether human subjects will be involved, and if so, how 
they will be protected, and describe the review process which govern 
their participation.

G. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and five copies of PHS 398 (OMB Number 0925-
0001) and adhere to the instructions on the Errata Instruction sheet 
for PHS 398). Forms are in the application kit.
    On or before June 30, 1998, submit to: Lisa T. Garbarino, Grants 
Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants 
Office Announcement #98036, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) Mailstop E-13, Room 300, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, N.E., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2209.
    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are received at the above address on or before the deadline date; or 
sent on or before the deadline date, and received in time for the 
review process. Applicants should request a legibly dated U.S. Postal 
Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial 
carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks shall not 
be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.

H. Evaluation Criteria

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria: (maximum 100 points):

1. Research Capacity (25 points)

    The degree to which the applicant:
    a. demonstrates experience in successfully designing, implementing, 
and evaluating Violence Against Women prevention programs, and/or 
conducting, publishing, and disseminating Violence Against Women 
research and evaluation studies.
    b. outlines the vision of the Center and how the proposed 
collaboration will contribute to the overall goals and objectives of 
the Center.
    c. describes how the collaborative activities of the applicants 
were or will be developed and how the proposed Center will expand and 
develop on work that has already been undertaken by the applicants and 
other researchers.
    d. describes the proposed focus of the Center's research and its 
relevance, particularly in terms of the proposed interdisciplinary 
collaboration, integration of fields of violence research, and multiple 
methodologies.
    e. provides sufficient detail to allow assessment of the scientific 
merit of the research activities and indicated how results of the 
proposed research program will advance the violence against women field 
and have relevance for the prevention and control of violence against 
women.
    f. describes the facilities available for conducting the planned 
research and supporting research staff (e.g., computer facilities, 
office space, data management and statistical support).
    g. The degree to which the applicant has met the CDC policy 
requirements regarding the inclusion of women, and ethnic and racial 
groups in the proposed center.

2. Training Capacity (20 points)

    The degree to which the applicant:
    a. outlines plans for attracting and involving high quality 
students (undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral) in Center 
activities and how participants will receive interdisciplinary training 
and experience using multiple research methodologies.
    b. addresses the needs of scientists from racial and ethnic 
minorities and other under-represented and underserved populations and 
will encourage them to participate in activities of the Center.
    c. describes the facilities available for delivering training and 
supporting students (e.g., computer facilities, office space, 
audiovisual and other training related equipment).

3. Management Capacity (10 points)

    The degree to which the applicant:
    a. demonstrates that the Principal Investigator has the vision, 
professional standing, research expertise and managerial qualifications 
to lead the Center.
    b. describes the qualifications and experience of key staff and 
outlined the role each person will play in designing, implementing, and 
assessing the Center's activities.
    c. describes how disciplines will be integrated to achieve the 
goals and objectives of the Center.
    d. illustrates the Center's proposed program structure 
(organizational chart), its relationship to the broader institution of 
which it is a part, and if applicable, operational lines of authority 
with collaborating organizations. If following the Consortium model, 
how effectively did the applicant outline the procedures for focusing 
consortium activities, selecting and integrating research across 
institutions, allocating funds and other resources, and managing the 
involvement of other research groups.

4. Plan of Operation (15 points)

    The degree to which the applicant:
    a. outlines goals and objectives that are specific, relevant, 
achievable, time-phased, and related to the purposes of this program 
announcement (See Purpose section).
    b. describes the program activities for achieving the Center's 
goals and objectives, and specifically who among the core staff and 
collaborating partners is responsible for doing what and when.
    c. provides a timeline which illustrates proposed concurrent 
activities.

[[Page 25058]]

5. Assessment Plan (10 points)

    The degree to which the applicant provides a detailed plan for 
assessing the Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center's 
progress toward achieving its stated goals and objectives.

6. Collaboration (20 points)

    The degree to which the applicant:
    a. describes the collaboration they will undertake with sexual 
assault and intimate partner violence service providers, victim 
advocates, policy makers, and other key stakeholders in the field.
    b. includes letters of support or memoranda of understanding 
stating the specific contribution that each collaborator intends to 
make to the Center's program.

7. Proposed Budget: (Not Scored)

    Did the application provide a detailed proposed first-year budget 
and a narrative justification? Are budget requests reasonable and 
consistent with the intended use of cooperative agreement funds? (See 
PURPOSE section)

8. Human Subjects (Not Scored)

    The extent to which the applicant complies with the Department of 
Health and Human Services Regulations (45 CFR Part 46) regarding the 
protection of human subjects.

Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements.
    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. progress report semi-annually;
    2. financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period; and
    3. final financial report and performance report, no more than 90 
days after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to: Lisa T. Garbarino, Grants Management 
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mailstop E-13, Room 
300, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2209.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each see Addendum 1 (included in 
the application package).

AR98-1  Human Subjects Certification.
AR98-2  Requirements for inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research.
AR98-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements.
AR98-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirement.
AR98-11  Healthy People 2000.
AR98-12  Lobbying Restrictions.
AR98-13  Prohibition on Use of CDC funds for Certain Gun Control 
Activities.

Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under sections 391(a) and 393(a) of the 
Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. 280b(a), and 280b-1a] as amended. 
The catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.136.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    Please refer to Program Announcement 98036 when you request 
information. For a complete program description, information on 
application procedures, an application package, and business management 
technical assistance contact: Lisa T. Garbarino, Grants Management 
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Mailstop E-13, Room 
300, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2209, 
Telephone: (404) 842-6796. See also the CDC home page on the Internet: 
http://www.cdc.gov.
    For program technical assistance contact: Denise Johnson and Joyce 
McCurdy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National 
Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence 
Prevention, Mailstop K-60, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia, 
30333, Telephone: (770) 488-4410.

    Dated: April 30, 1998.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 98-11967 Filed 5-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P