[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16468-16470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8331]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99062]


National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Safety and 
Health Interventions in the Construction Industry; 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 Safety and Health Interventions in the Construction 
Industry. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2000'' priority 
area of Occupational Safety and Health. The purpose of this cooperative 
agreement is to develop, implement, and evaluate a national research 
program in prevention intervention effectiveness research and 
preventive service systems research in construction safety and health. 
Many of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) priority areas 
are relevant to the construction industry and should be considered when 
responding to this Request for Assistance. These include, preventing 
hearing loss, back disorders, asthma, and dermatitis and reducing or 
eliminating traumatic injuries (caused by falls, electrocutions, 
struck-bys or contact with materials/objects). In addition, there are 
other high priority problems in construction that are not explicitly 
included in NORA, such as silicosis and lead poisoning, that should be 
addressed. The overall project will respond to problems that are 
specific to different regions, different trades and different industry 
sectors.

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 $4.125 million is available in FY 99 to fund one 
award. It is expected that approximately $5.0 million will become 
available for years 2-5. It is expected that the award will begin on or 
about September 29, 1999, and will be made for a 4 year 9-month project 
period with year one being 9 months and years 2-4 being 12 months. 
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.

D. Cooperative Activities

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient shall be responsible for the activities under Recipient 
Activities below, and CDC/NIOSH will be responsible for the activities 
under CDC/NIOSH Activities below:

Recipient Activities

1. Innovative Pilots or Feasibility Studies
    a. Create implement innovative pilot/feasibility project to reduce 
injury/illness in construction.
    b. Establish partnerships with small businesses and independent 
contractors, unionized contractors to develop, implement and evaluate 
pilot work looking at the health and safety needs of the entire 
spectrum of the construction workforce.
2. Intervention Evaluation Research
    a. Implement and evaluate intervention initiatives to reduce 
construction-related injury/illness through partnerships. Incorporate 
economic analysis into the evaluation process for intervention study.
    b. Identify and utilize data to target at-risk groups. Develop 
interventions aimed at improving best practices; develop detailed plans 
for modifying best practices based on data. Identify existing or 
develop new intervention initiatives designed to improve best practices 
for specific industry sectors and operations within individual sectors. 
Evaluate intervention initiatives for implementing and evaluating the 
effectiveness of the intervention throughout the targeted industry 
sector in future years.
    c. Develop, implement, and evaluate employee/employer safety and 
health approaches.
    d. Develop study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of worker 
training programs across multiple trades, on multiple issues of 
concern, and on using different training modalities. Evaluate the state 
of existing training programs and develop standardized safety and 
health training for the industry. Evaluate the effectiveness of 
training interventions using data collected.
3. Information and Technology Transfer
    a. Develop, implement, and evaluate various aspects of the 
information transfer process within the construction industry.
    b. Demonstrate the ability to create and maintain an infrastructure 
to be a central clearinghouse for collecting and disseminating health 
and safety related information to the construction industry.
    c. Develop studies to identify the various means that construction 
firms use to obtain safety and health information.
4. Preventive Systems Research
    Develop a research agenda which include (1) studies of policies and 
procedures that facilitate or hinder the adoption and implementation of 
effective best practices and interventions, and research on the 
technology of effective dissemination; (2) studies of the effects of 
age, gender, ethnicity, organizational, or sociocultural factors that 
affect access to, or use of, available best practice preventive 
interventions; and (3) studies of the costs associated with 
implementing best practice preventive interventions and methods of 
financing such interventions.
5. On-Going Surveillance
    a. Identify pertinent databases and update and expand them where 
possible.
6. Review Priorities
    a. Develop a system to continuously review surveillance and 
intervention outcome data to establish priorities for research under 
this cooperative agreement.
    b. Convene a national conference for the purpose of sharing 
information, establishing priorities, and facilitating joint approaches 
for developing construction industry interventions and to identify and 
critique current ``best practices'' for specific construction trades 
and industry sectors.

CDC/NIOSH Activities

    1. Provide technical assistance, through site visits and other 
communication, in all phases of the development, implementation and 
maintenance of the cooperative agreement.
    2. Facilitate communication/coordination between recipients and

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other groups, organizations and agencies involved in construction 
research and outreach.

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)

    Your letter of intent should include the following information. The 
letter of intent must be submitted on or before May 30, 1999, to: 
Sheryl L. Heard, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99062, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, 
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 June 30, 1999, 
submit the application to: Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 
99062, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 
Brandywine Road, Room 3000, 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

    Application 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 problems to be 
addressed. (2 points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant presents data justifying the 
need for the overall program and it's components, and that 
interventions are theoretically justified and supported with 
epidemiologic, methodological, or behavioral research. (9 points)
    c. The extent to which the interventions/pilot projects are 
feasible and can be expected to produce the anticipated results. The 
feasibility of adoption and sustainability of the intervention 
acknowledging potential strengths and barriers to adoption and 
sustainability in the industry, e.g. the impact of trends in 
construction, support by partners and stakeholders, costs of 
implementation, effects on production, and industry culture. 
Identification of participant relationships (potential or actual) that 
have and might have an interest in supporting and extending the 
intervention beyond the current agreement. (9 points)

2. Goals and Objectives (20 points total)

    a. 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 reducing injuries, illnesses, and/
or hazard exposure among construction workers. (6 points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant has included goals and 
objectives that are specific, measurable, time-phased, and feasible to 
accomplish, goals and objectives. (7 points)
    c. The extent to which objectives include involving construction 
workers, employers, unions, and other stakeholders in the planning, 
implementation and evaluation of the projects proposed. (7 points)

3. Methods (25 points total)

    a. The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed 
description of overall study design and research methods to be used for 
the proposed research project, including the designation of 
responsibility for activities undertaken. (10 points)
    b. The extent to which the target population and setting in which 
the interventions/pilot projects are to be implemented are clearly 
described and shown to be adequate for achieving the desired 
objectives. (9 points)
    c. The extent to which it is demonstrated that the participation of 
the target group will be sufficient to evaluate the interventions/pilot 
projects in an unbiased fashion. (3 points)
    d. 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: (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 will be documented. (3 points)

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 
stated. The extent to which the applicant provides proof of the 
involvement of partners/stakeholders

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(e.g., academic researchers, non-profit organizations, unions and 
employers) 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 projects or interventions and to determine 
their utility as a public health prevention strategy with broader 
application. 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. The extent to which 
the applicant describes strategies for broad-based dissemination of 
information to the construction industry.

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)

    If human subjects will be involved, the applicant must clearly 
state how they will be protected (i.e., describe the review process 
which will govern participation).

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of
    1. annual progress reports;
    2. all final reports and project outputs, including published 
reports will be prepared in WordPerfect 6.1 or higher in a form that 
can be converted to HTML format for mounting on the Internet;
    3. financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period; and
    4. final financial status 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, Room 3000, 
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
AR-20 Conference Support

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 99062 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 
99062, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 
Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341, telephone (770) 488-
2723, Email address SLH[email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Dr. Linda Goldenhar, 
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) 841-4493, Fax (513) 841-4486, e-
mail: [email protected].

    Dated: March 30, 1999.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-8331 Filed 4-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P