[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4876-4878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2150]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99032]
Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases;
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 to promote adequate capacity of local, State, and national
efforts for epidemiologic and laboratory surveillance and response for
infectious diseases. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2000''
priority area of Immunization and Infectious Diseases.
The purpose of the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity in
Infectious Diseases (ELC) program is to assist State and eligible local
public health agencies in strengthening basic epidemiologic and
laboratory capacity to address infectious disease threats with a focus
on notifiable diseases, food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases,
vaccine-preventable diseases, and drug-resistant infections. Awards are
intended to support activities that enhance the ability of a program to
identify and monitor the occurrence of infectious diseases of public
health importance in a community, characterize disease determinants,
identify and respond to disease outbreaks and other infectious disease
emergencies, use public health data for priority setting and policy
development, and assess the effectiveness of activities. Strengthening
collaboration between laboratory and epidemiology practice is seen as a
crucial component of this program.
B. Eligible Applicants
Assistance will be provided only to the health departments of
States or their bona fide agents, including the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, federally
recognized Indian tribal governments, the Federated States of
Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of
Palau. In addition, official public health agencies of city governments
with jurisdictional populations greater than 1,500,000 or county
governments with jurisdictional populations greater than 8,000,000
(based on 1990 census data) are eligible to apply.
The ELC program was initiated in 1995 with Program Announcement 543
and expanded in 1997 with Program Announcement 720. A total of 30
grantees has been funded to date. This announcement is a further
expansion of the ELC program and is intended to add new States,
counties, and/or cities not already funded in the program and to
competitively renew those current grantees with project periods
expiring in 1999. Thus, the following current ELC grantees, which do
not have project periods expiring in 1999, are ineligible to apply for
funds under this announcement: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan,
Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Note: Public Law 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 $4,600,000 is available in FY 1999 to fund
approximately fifteen competing continuation and three new awards.
Although only three new awards are currently projected for FY 1999,
should additional funding become available, CDC may fund additional new
awards from this competition. All eligible applicants are, therefore,
encouraged to submit an application. It is expected that the average
award (total direct and indirect costs) will be $255,000, ranging from
$100,000 to $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 four years. The funding estimate 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.
Funding Preferences
Funding preference will be given to competing continuation
applications over new applications. Current grantees have implemented
important capacity-building activities and continued cooperative
agreement support is required to continue building and for maintaining
these capacities.
Recipient Financial Participation
Although a requirement for matching funds is not a condition for
receiving an award under this cooperative agreement program, applicants
must document the non-Federal human and fiscal resources that will be
available to conduct activities outlined in the proposal. Federal funds
cannot be used to replace or supplant existing State and local support.
See Evaluation Criteria (paragraph 6: Budget) for additional
information.
D. Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient shall be responsible for the activities under Recipient
Activities and CDC shall be responsible for the activities under CDC
Activities below:
Recipient Activities
1. Enhance local capacity for gathering and evaluating infectious
disease surveillance data, detecting and investigating outbreaks, and
using surveillance data for public health practice and clinical follow-
up.
[[Page 4877]]
2. Ensure appropriate representation to planning and priority-
setting meetings organized for recipients of this cooperative
agreement.
CDC Activities
1. Provide consultation and assistance in enhancing local
epidemiologic and laboratory capacity for surveillance and response for
infectious diseases.
2. Assist in monitoring and evaluating scientific and operational
accomplishments and progress in achieving the purpose of this program.
3. Provide national coordination of activities where appropriate.
A. Application Content
Information in the Program Requirements, Other Requirements, and
Evaluation Criteria sections should be used to develop the application
content. Applications will be evaluated on the criteria listed in
Section G., below, so it is important that narratives follow the
criteria in the order presented.
Provide a brief (no more than two pages) abstract of the
application. The narrative should be no more than 12 double-spaced
pages (excluding abstract, budget, and appendices), printed on one
side, with one inch margins and unreduced font on white 8.5'' x 11''
paper. All pages must be clearly numbered, a complete index to the
application and its appendices must be included, and the required
original and two copies must be submitted unstapled and unbound.
A detailed budget with a line-item justification and any other
information to demonstrate that the request for assistance is
consistent with the purpose and objectives of this cooperative
agreement program.
Although matching funds are not a condition for receiving an award
under this program, include in the budget, a separate line-item
accounting of non-Federal contributions (funding, personnel, and other
resources) that will be directly allocated to the proposed activities.
Identify any non-applicant sources of these contributions.
If requesting funds for any contractual activities, provide the
following information for each contract: (1) Name of proposed
contractor, (2) breakdown and justification for estimated costs, (3)
description and scope of activities to be performed by contractor, (4)
period of performance, and (5) method of contractor selection (e.g.,
sole-source or competitive solicitation).
This program is designed to support core epidemiologic and
laboratory capacity in a variety of ways. In health departments where
gaps in personnel and equipment are identified as major barriers to
effective surveillance and response, the program can provide resources
to hire staff or purchase necessary equipment. Funds can also be used
to initiate or enhance ongoing activities. Examples of such activities
are provided below. These examples are not meant to serve as templates
for proposals. Rather, recipients are urged to analyze their current
surveillance infrastructure, identify gaps in core epidemiologic and
laboratory capacity, and develop proposals that address the needs of
their respective health jurisdictions.
Examples
1. Enhanced communicable disease surveillance and response.
Activities would include improving surveillance in such areas as
foodborne diseases, influenza, antimicrobial resistant organisms and
vaccine-preventable diseases. Applicants are encouraged to discuss
proposed activities in advance with relevant branches within CDC and,
where appropriate, to coordinate those activities with CDC or other
public health agencies.
2. Acquisition of molecular diagnostic and subtyping technologies.
Activities might include:
(a) purchasing necessary equipment and supplies;
(b) training of laboratory personnel; and
(c) support of personnel to perform these activities. Recipients
should plan to adhere to existing standards where appropriate, such as
in PFGE-subtyping of E. coli O157:H7 isolates. Recipients should
clearly specify how they plan to use information gained from these
technologies to augment their existing surveillance activities.
3. Training of epidemiology and laboratory personnel.
4. Improved use of information technology. Activities could
include:
(a) development of innovative methods of communicating public
health information to clinicians, public health practitioners, and the
public;
(b) development of local area networks (LANs) or wide area networks
(WANs) to improve communications between divisions of a health
department (e.g., between the epidemiology and laboratory divisions) or
between local, county, and State health departments; or
(c) development of electronic laboratory-based reporting systems to
automate communicable disease reporting from clinical laboratories.
State and local health jurisdictions developing electronic laboratory-
based reporting are encouraged to develop systems that are compliant
with emerging standards and to work with CDC and with other States that
are in the process of developing such systems.
F. Submission and Deadline
Letter of Intent (LOI)
In order to assist CDC in planning for and executing the evaluation
of applications submitted under this program announcement, all parties
intending to submit an application are requested to inform CDC of their
intention to do so at their earliest convenience prior to the
application due date. Notification should include name and address of
the institution and name, address, and telephone number of the contact
person. Notification can be provided by facsimile, postal mail, or E-
mail to Deborah A. Deppe, M.P.A., National Center for Infectious
Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600
Clifton Road, N.E., Mailstop C-12, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, Facsimile:
(404) 639-4197 E-mail address: <[email protected]>.
Application
Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189) on or before April 1, 1998. (Forms are in the application kit.)
Submit all applications to: Oppie Byrd, Grants Management Specialist,
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement
99032, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2929
Brandywine Road, Mailstop E-18, Atlanta, Georgia 30341.
Applications that do not arrive in time for submission to the
independent review group, will not be considered in the current
competition unless proof is provided package was mailed on or before
the deadline (i.e., receipt from U.S. Postal Service or a commercial
carrier; private metered postmarks are not acceptable).
G. Evaluation Criteria
Each application will be evaluated individually against the
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
1. Description of the population under surveillance, either the
State or other appropriate jurisdiction (if an applicant is a county,
city, or other agency) (5 points). Extent to which the application
provides information on the population size, demographic
characteristics, geographic distribution, racial/ethnic makeup, and
health care delivery systems.
2. Description of existing public health infectious disease
epidemiology and laboratory capacity (15 points).
[[Page 4878]]
Extent to which the applicant:
1. Describes existing infectious disease surveillance and response
activities, including reporting requirements, spectrum of laboratory
specimen testing performed, degree of automation of laboratory and
epidemiologic information management, and public health response
capacity.
b. Provides information on existing staffing, management, material
and equipment investment, training, space, and financial support of
laboratory and epidemiologic capacity for public health surveillance
and response for infectious diseases.
c. Describes current collaboration between its epidemiology and
laboratory programs in surveillance and response including the
existence of, or potential for, integrated uses of surveillance data;
d. Describes current or previous collaborative relationships with
clinical laboratories, local health agencies, academic medicine groups,
and health care practitioners, including Health Maintenance
Organizations (HMOs) or managed care providers; and demonstrates the
potential of these relationships for enhanced surveillance and public
health response activities.
3. Identification of areas of need (gaps) in surveillance and
response for infectious diseases and understanding of the objectives of
this cooperative agreement program (20 points).
Extent to which the application:
a. Outlines State and local needs in epidemiology and laboratory
capacity for public health surveillance and response for infectious
diseases.
b. Identifies specific important diseases or conditions (e.g.,
notifiable diseases, foodborne and waterborne diseases, vaccine-
preventable diseases and drug-resistant infections) which will be
addressed and outlines why these are important.
4. Operational Plan (Note: Provide a detailed description of first
year activities only and briefly describe future year activities) (45
points). Extent to which the proposed plan:
a. Outlines activities that clearly address the identified needs in
capacity and the specific diseases and conditions to be addressed.
b. Describes steps to be taken to facilitate and strengthen
collaboration between epidemiology and laboratory practice.
c. Includes current letters of support from participating agencies,
institutions, and organizations indicating their willingness to
participate in the activities.
d. Is consistent with, and adequate to achieve, the needs
identified and the purpose and objectives of this program.
e. If any research involving human subjects is proposed, has met
the CDC Policy requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic,
and racial groups in any proposed research. This includes:
(1) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial
and ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
(2) The proposed justification when representation is limited or
absent.
(3) A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate
to measure differences when warranted.
(4) A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and
outreach for study participants include the process of establishing
partnerships with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.
5. Plan for monitoring and evaluation (15 points). The extent to
which the applicant describes a detailed plan for monitoring the
implementation of the activities and evaluating the extent to which the
proposed activities strengthen local and national epidemiologic and
laboratory capacity for infectious diseases.
6. Budget (not scored).
The extent to which the budget request is clearly explained,
adequately justified, reasonable, and sufficient for the proposed
project activities.
7. Human Subjects: (Not Scored).
If any research involving human subjects is proposed, does the
application adequately address the requirements of Title 45 CFR Part 46
for the protection of human subjects? ____________ Yes ____________ No
Comments: ____________-------------------------------------------------
H. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
1. annual progress reports, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period;
2. annual Financial Status Report (FSR), no more than 90 days after
the end of the budget period; and
3. Final FSR and performance reports, no more than 90 days after
the end of the project period.
Send all reports to: Oppie Byrd, Grants Management Specialist,
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2929 Brandywine Road, Mailstop E-
18, Atlanta, Georgia 30341.
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I in the
application kit.
AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic
Minorities in Research
AR-7 Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2000
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act
Sections 301(a)[42 U.S.C. 241(a)], 317(k)(1)[42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(1)], and
317(k)(2)[42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2)], as amended. The Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.
J. Where To Obtain Additional Information
Please refer to Program Announcement 99032 when you request
information. For a complete program description, information on
application procedures, an application package, and business management
technical assistance, contact Oppie Byrd, Grants Management Specialist,
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office Announcement
99032, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2929
Brandywine Road, Mailstop E-18, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: (404)
842-6546, E-mail Address: <[email protected]>. See also the CDC home page on
the Internet: <http://www.cdc.gov>.
For program technical assistance, contact Deborah A. Deppe, M.P.A.,
National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), Mailstop C-12, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta,
Georgia 30333, Telephone: (404) 639-4668, E-mail Address:
<[email protected]>.
For 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. (Application forms are also available on the CDC Home Page of
the Internet.)
Dated: January 25, 1999.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-2150 Filed 1-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P