[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4879-4882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2149]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99016]


National Minority Organizations Immunization Projects Notice of 
Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1999 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for National Minority Organizations Immunization Projects. This 
program addresses the ``Healthy People 2000'' priority area of 
Immunization and Infectious Diseases.
    The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement is to assist National 
Minority Organizations (NMOs) with the promotion and improvement of 
childhood, adolescent, and adult immunization coverage levels.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to National Minority Organizations 
that provide documented proof that they meet the following criteria. 
The applicant must provide this documentation under the ``Eligibility'' 
section found in the front of the application. The applicant must:
    1. Be an established, tax-exempt organization (a nongovernmental, 
tax-exempt corporation or association whose net earnings in no way 
lawfully accrue to the benefit of private shareholders or individuals). 
Tax-exempt status may be confirmed by either providing a copy of the 
pages from the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of 
501(c)(3) of tax-exempt organizations or a copy of the current IRS 
Determination Letter. Proof of tax-exempt status must be provided in 
the application.
    2. Have a specific charge from its Articles of Incorporation or 
Bylaws or a resolution from its governing body or board to operate 
nationally within the United States and its Territories.
    3. Have at least three years documented experience in operating and 
centrally administering a coordinated public health or related program 
serving racial or ethnic minority populations within a major portion or 
region (multistate or multiterritory) of the United States through its 
own offices or organizational affiliates.
    4. Have a governing body or board whose membership is composed of 
at least 51 percent racial or ethnic minority members and who represent 
the population to be served. Groups recognized as racial and ethnic 
minorities include, but are not limited to: African Americans, Alaskan 
Natives, Asian Americans, Caribbean Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, 
Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders. Proof of minority status 
consisting of a list of board members, their race and ethnicity, the 
address and telephone number of each member, a description of each role 
on the board, and a description of constituents (the population, 
group(s) and/or organization for which they are advocates) must be 
included in the application. Documentation must also be provided giving 
assurance that the governing board is composed of more than 50 percent 
racial or ethnic minority group members who are representative of the 
population to be served.
    5. Document that each of the affiliates or chapters that will be 
participating in the project as subcontractors have a governing body or 
board whose membership is composed of more than 50 percent racial or 
ethnic minority group members.

    Note: Pub. L. 104-65 states that an organization described in 
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages 
in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds 
constituting an award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, loan, 
or any other form.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $1 million will be available to fund up to five 
cooperative agreements. It is expected that the average award 
(including direct and indirect costs) will be $200,000. Awards will not 
exceed $300,000. It is expected that the awards will begin on or about 
July 1, 1999 and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a 
project period of up to five years. Funding estimates may change.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.
    Applicants must allocate a percentage of the funds awarded under 
this program announcement to subcontract with affiliate, chapter, and/
or other minority Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Awards to these 
agencies must be done through a competitive review process conducted by 
the applicant. Activities performed by the subcontractors must be 
toward specific program objectives of the applicant. Applicants should 
describe in the ``Collaborating Activities'' section under 
``Application Content'' the plan of action for the objective review 
process to be used to review and select subcontractors.
    Funds cannot be used for construction or renovation; to purchase or 
lease vehicles or vans; to purchase a facility to house project staff 
or carry out project activities; or to substitute new activities and 
expenditures for current ones.

Funding Preference

    Preference for funding will be given to: (1) Supporting projects 
for the following racial and ethnic minority populations listed here in 
alphabetical order: African Americans, Alaskan Natives, American 
Indians, Asian Americans, Caribbean Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and 
Pacific Islanders; (2) supporting activities which are targeted toward 
high-risk populations including but not limited to families living at 
poverty levels, migrant farm workers, homeless persons, immigrants, 
etc.; and (3) ensuring a geographic and racial/ethnic balance of funded 
NMOs which serve under-immunized rural populations and population 
groups of low socioeconomic status who reside in densely populated 
urban areas.

D. Programmatic Interest

    Applicants may focus on any or all of the three program interest 
areas:
    1. Increase immunization coverage levels among children, birth to 
10 years of age.
    2. Increase immunization coverage levels among adolescents, ages 11 
to 21 years.
    3. Increase immunization coverage levels among adults older than 21 
years of age.

E. Cooperative Activities

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of the Cooperative 
Agreements, the recipient will be responsible for achieving the 
activities under Item 1. below. CDC will be responsible for activities 
under Item 2. below.
    1. Recipient Activities (Childhood, Adolescent, and/or Adult). 
Recipient shall undertake certain activities, regardless of the age 
group(s) targeted. In conducting those certain activities, each 
recipient should:
    a. Provide technical assistance and training to affiliate 
organizations, private providers, and other agencies serving racial and 
ethnic minorities, as well as collaborate with State and local health 
departments. Technical assistance and training should focus on 
developing and implementing effective intervention strategies to raise 
coverage levels; educating providers about cultural sensitivity issues 
and effective

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strategies that can be implemented in their practice; developing, 
disseminating, and marketing health communication messages that are 
culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate; and building 
organizational capacity to sustain immunization activities, information 
management, and technology.
    b. Identify and document effective models of collaboration of local 
affiliates with State and local health departments in achieving 
specific objectives to improve immunization levels among racial and 
ethnic minorities.
    c. Disseminate educational products developed and share information 
with other national organizations, State and local health agencies, 
provider organizations, coalitions, and community-based organizations.
    d. Develop and implement strategies to educate members of racial 
and ethnic minority communities about community-based immunization 
registries, by explaining their benefits, operations, and limitations, 
and by addressing misinformation and misconceptions.
    e. Provide training, information and education at the national, 
State, and local levels, community norms that dispel uncertainties 
about the safety of vaccines versus the risk of contracting a vaccine-
preventable disease.
    f. Develop and implement a plan to ensure sustainability of program 
activities conducted through this cooperative agreement and to ensure 
its continuation after the end of the project period.
    g. Evaluate all major program objectives and activities to 
determine programmatic and economic effectiveness.
    h. Develop, implement, and evaluate affiliate organizations' 
activities under this Program Announcement in their respective 
communities.
    The following are additional recipient activities for targeted 
program areas:
    i. When childhood immunization is the program area chosen or among 
those chosen, a recipient should undertake activities to:
    a. Develop and implement immunization initiatives with affiliates, 
State and local health departments, and other collaborating partners to 
enhance delivery of immunization services to the target populations 
using the ``Standards for Pediatric Immunization Practices.''
    b. Identify and document effective programs that provide parents 
information explaining the immunization schedule and where to go for 
immunizations to protect their children against vaccine-preventable 
diseases.
    j. When adolescent immunization is the program area chosen or among 
those chosen, a recipient should undertake activities to:
    a. Develop and implement immunization initiatives with affiliates, 
State and local health departments, and other collaborating partners to 
enhance delivery of immunization services to the target populations 
using the National Coalition for Adult Immunization's ``Standards for 
Adult Immunization Practice.''
    b. Identify and document effective programs to increase the 
positive response of adolescents in racial and ethnic minority 
communities to seek out and obtain hepatitis B, MMR, and varicella 
vaccines.
    k. When adult immunization is the program area chosen or among 
those chosen, a recipient should additionally undertake activities to:
    (1) Develop and implement immunization initiatives with affiliates, 
State and local health departments and other collaborating partners to 
enhance delivery of immunization services to the target population 
using the National Coalition for Adult Immunization's ``Standards for 
Adult Immunization Practice.''
    (2) Work with national and local partners to identify, implement, 
and document effective programs to increase vaccine coverage for 
influenza and pneumococcal vaccines among racial and ethnic minorities.

2. CDC Activities

    b. Provide technical assistance in interpreting risk factors for 
contracting vaccine-preventable diseases.
    c. Provide assistance in the evaluation of each plan component 
(process and outcome) through the analysis and interpretation of 
coverage and other relevant data.
    d. Facilitate the transfer of successful prevention interventions 
and program models to other areas through meetings of grantees, 
workshops, conferences, newsletters, and communications with project 
officers.
    e. Facilitate partnering to enhance the exchange of program 
information and technical assistance between community organizations, 
State and local health departments, coalitions, and national and 
regional organizations.

F. Application Content

    Use the information in the Cooperative Activities, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the 
application content. Applications will be evaluated on the criteria 
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out the program 
plan. The narrative should be no more than 30 double-spaced pages, 
printed on one side, with one inch margins, and 12 point font.

Organization Profile (maximum six pages)

    1. Provide a narrative, including background information and 
information on the applicant organization, evidence of relevant 
experience in coordinating activities among constituents, and a clear 
understanding of the purpose of the project.
    2. Include details of past experiences working with the target 
population(s). Provide information on organizational capability to 
conduct proposed project activities.
    3. Profile qualified and experienced personnel who are available to 
work on the project and provide evidence of an organizational structure 
that can meet the terms of the project. Include an organizational chart 
of the applicant organization specifying the location and staffing plan 
for the proposed project.

Program Plan (Maximum 10 pages)

    For each program area under Recipient Activities:
    1. Provide a needs assessment and program rationale that defines 
the target population using specific information including population 
size, geographic location, density, racial, ethnic distribution, income 
levels, current immunization services and resources available, gaps in 
services, and magnitude of under-immunization.
    2. Include goals and measurable impact and process objectives that 
are specific, realistic, measurable, and time-phased. Include an 
explanation of how the objectives contribute to the purposes of the 
request for assistance and evidence that demonstrates the potential 
effectiveness of the proposed objectives.
    3. Detail an action plan, including a timeline of activities and 
personnel responsible for implementing each segment of the plan.
    4. Prepare an evaluation plan to include impact, process 
quantitative and qualitative measures for the achievement of program 
objectives to determine the health effect on the population, and 
monitor the implementation of proposed activities. Indicate how the 
quality of services provided will be ensured.
    5. Provide a plan for disseminating project results indicating 
when, to whom, and in what format the material will be presented.

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    6. Provide a plan for obtaining additional resources from non-
federal sources to supplement program activities and ensure 
continuation of the activities after the end of the project period.

Collaboration Activities

    1. Obtain and include letters of support, written in the last 12 to 
24 months, from local organizations and constituents.
    2. Provide any memoranda of agreement from collaborating 
organizations indicating a willingness to participate in the project, 
the nature of their participation, period of performance, names and 
titles of individuals who will be involved in the project, and the 
process of collaboration. Each memorandum should also show an 
understanding and endorsement of immunization activities.
    3. Provide evidence of collaborative efforts with health 
departments, provider organizations, coalitions, and other local 
organizations.
    4. Provide evidence of plans to subcontract a portion of project 
activities to affiliate, chapter, and community-based organizations. 
Include a description of the review process to be used to review and 
select applications.

Budget Information

    1. Provide a detailed budget with justification. The budget 
proposal should be consistent with the purpose and program plan of the 
proposed project.
    2. Provide an itemized (line-item) budget categorized by objective.

G. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of the application PHS 5161-1, 
(OMB Number 0937-0189). Forms are in the application kit. On or before 
April 1, 1999, submit the application to: Sharron P. Orum, Grants 
Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants 
Office, Announcement Number 99016, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 2929 Brandywine Road, M/S E-13, Atlanta, GA 30341.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are either:
    1. Received on or before the deadline date; or
    2. Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
orderly processing. (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 accepted as proof of timely mailing.)
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 1 
or 2 above are considered late applications, will not be considered, 
and will be returned to the applicant.

H. Evaluation Criteria

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
    1. Background and Need: The extent to which the applicant 
understands the problem of underimmunization and proposes a plan to 
address the issues specific to their constituents. (15 points)
    2. Capability: The extent to which the applicant appears likely to 
succeed in implementing proposed activities as measured by relevant 
past experience, a sound management structure, and staff 
qualifications, including the appropriateness of their proposed roles 
and responsibilities and job descriptions. (25 points)
    3. Program Plan: The feasibility and appropriateness of the 
applicant's action plan to enhance immunization services delivery among 
constituencies and increase coverage levels. (30 points)
    4. Coordination and collaboration: The extent to which the 
applicant proposes to coordinate activities with affiliate and chapter 
organizations, State and local immunization programs, coalitions, 
provider organizations, and other appropriate agencies. (10 points)
    5. Evaluation Plan: The extent to which the applicant proposes to 
evaluate the proposed plan including impact and process evaluation as 
well as quantitative and qualitative measures for achievement of 
program objectives, determining the health effect on the population, 
and monitoring the implementation of proposed activities. (20 points)
    6. Budget and Justification: The extent to which the proposed 
budget is adequately justified, reasonable, and consistent with 
proposed project activities and this program announcement. (Not Scored)

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Subject to Office of Management and Budget approval under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, semi-annual narrative progress reports will be 
required 30 days after the end of each 6 months. The reports should 
document services provided and problems encountered. CDC will provide 
specific guidelines for documenting and reporting on program 
activities. Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. Progress reports (semiannual);
    2. Financial Status Reports, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period; and
    3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to Sharron P. Orum, Grants Management Specialist, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, 2929 Brandywine Road, Mailstop E-13, 
Atlanta, GA 30341.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I in the 
application kit.
AR-08--Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-09--Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10--Smoke-Free Workplace
AR-11--Healthy People 2000
AR-12--Lobbying Restriction
AR-14--Accounting System Requirements
AR-15--Proof of Non-Profit Status
AR-20--Conference Support

J. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 311 [42 U.S.C. 243] and 
317(k)(2) [42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2)] of the Public Health Service Act as 
amended. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.185.

K. Where to Obtain Additional Information

    Please refer to Program Announcement Number 99016 when requesting 
information. To receive additional written information and to request 
an application kit, call 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888-472-6874). You will be 
asked to leave your name and address and will be instructed to identify 
the Announcement number of interest. If you have questions after 
reviewing the contents of all the documents, business management 
technical assistance may be obtained from: Sharron P. Orum, Grants 
Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, 2929 Brandywine Road, M/S E-13, 
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: (404) 842-6817, Email Address: 
[email protected].
    See also the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov
    For program technical assistance, contact: Duane M. Kilgus, 
Community Outreach and Planning Branch, Immunization Services Division, 
National Immunization Program,

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, M/S E-
52, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, Telephone: (404) 639-8375, Email address_
[email protected].
    Copies of the ``Standards for Pediatric Immunization Practices'' 
and the National Coalition for Adult Immunization's ``Standards for 
Adult Immunization Practices'' may be obtained from the National 
Immunization Program, Immunization Services Division, Community 
Outreach and Planning Branch, Mailstop E-52, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Telephone: (404) 639-8375.

    Dated: January 25, 1999.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-2149 Filed 1-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P