[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6661-6663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3197]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99039]


Community Partners for Healthy Farming Intervention; 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 Community Partners for Healthy Farming. This program 
addresses the ``Healthy People 2000'' priority areas of Community-Based 
Programs and Occupational Safety and Health. The purpose of this 
cooperative agreement is to utilize the special resources of 
researchers, workers, farm managers, local agricultural communities, 
and other stakeholders to evaluate farm safety and health 
interventions.

B. Eligible Applicants

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

    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 $850,000 is available in FY 1999 to fund five to 
seven awards. It is expected that the average award will be $145,000, 
ranging from $45,000 to $180,000. It is expected that the awards will 
begin on or about August 1, 1999, and will be made for a 12-month 
budget period within a project period of up to four 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.

Funding Preferences

    Funding preferences may be given to applications from specific 
locations to achieve geographic distribution.

D. Cooperative Activities

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

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Develop an intervention with a clear prevention effect, evidence 
of community support, and strategies or adoption by the community, and 
for sustainability.
    b. Develop a research proposal which is predicated upon an active 
partnership between experienced researchers, communities, agricultural 
workers, management and other stakeholders in the planning, 
implementation, and evaluation of intervention known agricultural 
injuries, illness, or hazards. The evaluation component shall include 
both process and outcome evaluation. The study population and 
recruitment procedures should be described. A time line which includes 
post intervention analyses should be developed.
    c. Implement, collect and analyze the evaluation data.
    d. Identify and implement measures to maintain and extend the 
intervention.

2. CDC/NIOSH Activities

    a. Provide technical assistance, through site visits and other 
communication, in all phases of the development, implementation and 
maintenance of these cooperative agreements.
    b. Facilitate communication/coordination between recipients and 
other groups, organizations and agencies involved in agricultural 
research and outreach.
    c. Assist in the development of a research protocol for 
Institutional Review Board (IRB) review by all cooperating institutions 
participating in the research project.

[[Page 6662]]

    The CDC IRB will review and approve the protocol initially and on 
at least an annual basis until the research project is completed.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Cooperative Activities, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections 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. The narrative should be no more than 50 double-spaced pages. 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. Appendices 
should have indexes and include (1) support letters (2) information on 
key personnel (3) other supporting documentation.

F. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    The letter of intent must be submitted on or before March 23, 1999, 
to: Sheryl L. Heard, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99039, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Mail Stop 
E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30341.

Application

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms are in the application kit. On or before April 23, 1999, 
submit the application to: Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 
99039, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 
Brandywine Road, Mail Stop E-13,Atlanta, Georgia 30341.
    Deadline: Applications shall 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 
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 acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 
(a) or (b) above are considered late applications, will not be 
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Applications which are complete and responsive will be reviewed and 
evaluated by an Independent Special Emphasis Panel in accordance with 
the following criteria.

1. Background and Need (20 points total)

    a. The extent to which the applicant understands the purpose and 
provides a comprehensive statement of the specific problem to be 
addressed. (2 points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant presents data justifying the 
need for the intervention in terms of magnitude of the problem, and the 
intervention is theoretically justified and supported with 
epidemiologic, methodological, or behavior research. (9 points)
    c. The extent to which the intervention is feasible and can be 
expected to produce the expected results in the target group. Efficacy 
of adoption and sustainability of the intervention acknowledging 
potential strengths and barriers to adoption and sustainability, e.g. 
the impact of trends in agriculture, support by partners and 
stakeholders, costs of implementation, effects on production, and 
community norms. Identified participant population, including extension 
agents, farmers, farm workers, and farm safety and community 
organizations that have expressed an interest in supporting and 
extending the intervention beyond the current agreement. (9 points)

2. Goals and Objectives (20 points)

    The extent to which specific research questions and/or hypotheses 
are described. The extent to which the applicant has included goals 
which are relevant to the purpose of reducing injuries, illnesses, and/
or hazard exposure to agricultural workers and the specific problem 
addressed by the applicant.
    The extent to which the applicant has included goals and objectives 
that are specific, measurable, time-phased, feasible to be accomplished 
during the budget period, and which address all activities necessary to 
accomplish the purpose of the proposal.
    The extent to which objectives include involving agricultural 
workers, communities, and other stakeholders in the planning, 
implementation and evaluation of the intervention.

3. Methods (25 points)

    The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed description 
of overall design and methods selected for the intervention(s) 
including the designation of responsibility for each action undertaken.
    The extent to which the target population and setting in which the 
intervention is to be implemented are clearly described and shown to be 
adequate for achieving the desired objectives.
    The extent to which it is demonstrated that the participation of 
the target group will be sufficient to evaluate the intervention in an 
unbiased fashion.
    The extent to which the applicant has met the CDC policy 
requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial 
groups in the proposed research. This includes: (a) The proposed plan 
for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and ethnic minority 
populations for appropriate representation; (b) The proposed 
justification when representation is limited or absent; (c) A statement 
as to whether the design of the study is adequate to measure 
differences when warranted; (d) 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 will be documented.

4. Staffing, Facilities and Resources (15 points total)

    a. The extent to which organizational structure, job descriptions, 
proposed staffing, staff qualifications and experience, identified 
training needs or plan, and curricula vitea for both the proposed and 
current staff indicate the applicant's ability to carry out the 
objectives of the program. The extent to which the management staff and 
their working partners are clearly described, appropriately assigned 
and have pertinent skills and experiences, e.g. previous 
accomplishments in agricultural safety and health interventions. Time 
allocation of the professional staff to be assigned to this project. (8 
points)
    b. The extent to which concurrence with the applicant's plans by 
all other involved parties is specific and documented, e.g. support for 
proposed activities as well as commitment to participate from proposed 
partners (e.g. letters of support and/or memoranda of understanding). 
The extent to which the participants are clearly described and their 
qualifications for their component of the proposed work are explicitly

[[Page 6663]]

stated. The extent to which the applicant provides proof of the 
involvement of partners/stakeholders (e.g., agricultural workers, 
agricultural organizations, agribusiness) in the development of this 
proposal. (7 points)

5. Evaluation (20 points)

    The extent to which the proposed evaluation system is detailed and 
will document program process, effectiveness, impact, and outcome. The 
extent to which an evaluation plan has been developed to determine both 
the success of the pilot intervention or demonstration project(s) and 
to determine its utility as a public health prevention strategy with 
broader application in other communities. The extent to which the 
applicant demonstrates potential data sources for evaluation purposes, 
and documents staff availability, expertise, and capacity to perform 
the evaluation. The extent to which a feasible plan for reporting 
evaluation results and using evaluation information for programmatic 
decisions is included.

6. Budget and Justification (not scored)

    The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed budget and 
narrative justification consistent with stated objectives and planned 
program activities.

7. Human Subjects Review (not scored)

    The applicant must clearly state what precautions exist to protect 
human subjects.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. annual progress reports;
    2. financial status report, 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: Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Mail Stop 
E13, Atlanta, GA 30341.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I in the 
application package.

AR-1   Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2   Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
AR-9   Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
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 section 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)]. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 
93.283.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    Please refer to Program Announcement 99039 when you request 
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.
    See also the CDC home page on the Internet:

http://www.cdc.gov

    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, please contact: Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 
99039, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 
Brandywine Road, Mail Stop E-13,Atlanta, GA 30341, telephone (404) 842-
6814, Email address SLH[email protected]

    For program technical assistance, contact Janet Ehlers, R.N., 
M.S.N., Occupational Health Nurse, National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC). Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, 
4676 Columbia Parkway, R-21, Cincinnati, OH 45226, Telephone (513) 841-
4208, fax (513) 841-4489, e-mail: [email protected]; or Teri Palermo R.N. 
Public Health Advisor, NIOSH/CDC, Division of Respiratory Disease 
Studies, Office of the Director, 1095 Willow dale Road, Mailstop 127 
Morgantown, WV 26505-2888, telephone (304) 285-5836, fax (304)285-5861, 
e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: February 4, 1999.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-3197 Filed 2-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P