[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24654-24656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11482]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[Program Announcement 99083]


Program To Build Capacity To Develop, Implement, and Evaluate 
Health Education and Promotion Activities in Tribal Communities; Notice 
of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 1999 funds for a 
cooperative agreement program to build capacity in tribal communities 
to develop, implement, and evaluate health education and health 
promotion activities in tribal communities. This program addresses the 
``Healthy People 2000'' priority areas of educational and community-
based programs, and environmental health. This five-year cooperative 
agreement program is designed to assist American Indian and Alaska 
Native Nations and consortia of Indian tribes in dealing with present 
and potential environmental health challenges related to National 
Priorities List (NPL) and CERCLA hazardous substances waste sites and 
releases on or adjacent to Indian lands. Specifically, cooperative 
agreement funds will be used to assist tribal and village governments 
in addressing community health concerns related to environmental 
toxins. This will be accomplished by increasing tribal capacity to 
develop, implement, and evaluate culturally relevant and appropriate 
environmental health education and promotion activities for American 
Indian and Alaska Native communities and for the health professionals 
and para-professionals serving these communities.

B. Eligible Applicants

    This program is directed only to federally-recognized Indian tribes 
or consortia of Indian tribes. Indian tribes are defined in section 
101(36) (42 U.S.C. 9601 (36)) as ``any Indian tribe, band, nation, or 
other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native Village 
but not including any Alaska Native regional or village corporation, 
which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services 
provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as 
Indians.''

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $170,000 is available in FY 1999 to fund 3-4 awards. 
The average award is anticipated to be approximately $50,000, ranging 
from $35,000 to $75,000. It is expected the awards will begin on or 
about September 30, 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 the approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.

Use of Funds

    The funding awarded may be expended for reasonable program 
purposes, such as personnel, travel, supplies and services, including 
contractual services. ATSDR funding is generally not to be used for the 
purchase of furniture or equipment. Any equipment purchased will be 
forwarded to ATSDR at the end of the funding period. The awardees shall 
serve as the direct recipients in this grant program and must perform a 
substantive role in carrying out project activities. They cannot merely 
serve as a conduit for an award to another party or provide funds to an 
ineligible party.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities related to NPL sites and hazardous 
substance releases to achieve the purpose of the program, the recipient 
shall be responsible for conducting activities under 1, below, and 
ATSDR will be responsible for conducting activities under 2, below:

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Conduct community-based health education and promotion needs 
assessment(s) and asset inventory(ies), and develop project period and 
budget period workplans based on these identified needs and resources. 
Children should be recognized as a susceptible population of special 
interest and concern.
    b. Develop environmental health education materials for American 
Indian and Alaska Native communities and the health professionals and 
paraprofessionals serving them, including materials in appropriate 
languages, literacy levels, and age-groups.
    c. Implement methods to disseminate educational materials to 
American Indian and Alaska Native communities and the health 
professionals and para-professionals serving them. These materials 
should also be made available to other tribes and audiences as feasible 
and appropriate.
    d. Develop and implement health education and promotion activities 
related to preventing and managing environmental health problems 
related to NPL sites or hazardous substances releases on or adjacent to 
tribal lands. These activities should be designed to improve the 
knowledge and skills of community members and health professionals and 
paraprofessionals concerning such topics as:
    (1) Health conditions possibly related to hazardous substances at 
sites, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of exposure-
related conditions in adults and children;
    (2) Health studies being done by ATSDR concerning acute or chronic 
exposure of American Indian/Alaska Natives to hazardous substances;
    (3) Chemical-specific and site-specific information resources;
    (4) American Indian and Alaska Native community risk communication 
and outreach;
    (5) Environmental health guidelines and policy, and health-based 
environmental standards.
    e. Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of project activities and 
the overall health education and promotion program.
    f. Attend and participate in annual ATSDR Partners' Meetings held 
in Atlanta, Georgia, or other locations, including assisting in 
planning meeting and presenting program activities and evaluation 
results.

2. ATSDR Activities

    a. Assist in development of a needs assessment process, the 
identification of education and training needs of target audiences, and 
the development of work plans.
    b. Assist in the design, implementation, and evaluation of 
community environmental health education materials, including providing 
examples of materials developed by other tribes under cooperative 
agreement.
    c. Provide assistance in the dissemination of educational materials 
developed under cooperative agreement to the attention of State, 
regional, or national audiences.
    d. Assist in the design and implementation of community and health 
professional education and promotion activities and training activities 
for tribal staff and others serving the environmental health needs of 
American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This assistance could 
include providing current information and instructional resources about 
the possible health effects related to

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exposure to hazardous substances in the environment.
    e. Assist in development of an overall evaluation plan to determine 
the effectiveness and impact of the project on the knowledge, skills, 
attitudes, and behaviors of target audiences.
    f. Provide site-specific assistance and direction on possible cost 
recovery activities.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, 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 20 double-spaced pages, 
excluding appendices, printed on one side, one-inch margins, and 
unreduced font.

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 516l (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms are in the application kit. On or before July 15, 1999, 
submit the application to: Nelda Godfrey, Grants Management Specialist, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 
#99083, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 
Brandywine Road, Suite 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    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 the 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

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by ATSDR.

1. Proposed Program--50 percent

    a. Clearly stated understanding of environmental health problem(s) 
to be addressed, including the proximity of NPL sites and any special 
risks to children as a susceptible population.
    b. Clear and reasonable project goals.
    c. Extent to which stated project objectives are realistic, 
measurable, and related to program requirements.
    d. Identification of specific target audiences and their 
environmental health education and promotion needs.
    e. Specificity and feasibility of the proposed timeline for 
implementing project activities.

2. Proposed Personnel--20 percent

    a. Ability of the applicant to provide adequate program staff and 
support staff, including any proposed consultants or contractors. Award 
should support at least 1 full-time employee.
    b. Experience of proposed staff in conducting needs assessments, 
developing materials, implementing activities, and conducting program 
evaluation related to community health education and promotion.
    c. Experience of staff in conducting culturally appropriate 
activities for tribal communities.

3. Capability--30 percent

    a. Cultural-appropriateness of the health education and promotion 
activities proposed for the proposed target groups--including 
collaboration with tribal colleges and universities in the development 
of the activities.
    b. Thoroughness of the health education and promotion activities 
proposed.
    c. Extent to which the evaluation plan includes measures of program 
outcome and effectiveness, such as changes in participants' knowledge, 
attitudes, and behaviors.
    d. Plans for collaborative efforts and appropriate letters of 
support, including coordination with tribal colleges and universities.

4. Proposed Budget--(not scored)

    The extent to which the proposed budget is reasonable, clearly 
justified with a budget narrative, and consistent with the intended use 
of cooperative agreement funds.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting

    Provide CDC with the original plus two copies of:
    1. Quarterly progress reports;
    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.
    Send all reports to: Nelda Godfrey, Grants Management Specialist, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Suite 3000, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each see Attachment 1, in the 
application kit. Additional ATSDR requirements are also included in 
Attachment 1.

AR-7  Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-8  Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2000
AR-18  Cost Recovery--ATSDR
AR-19  Third Party Agreements--ATSDR
AR-20  Conference Support

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under Sections 104(i)(14) and (15) and 
126 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments 
and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) [42 U.S.C. 9604 (i)(14), (15) 
and 9626]. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.161.

J. Where To Obtain Additional 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 (Announcement 99083). You will receive 
a complete program description, information on application procedures, 
and application forms. See also the CDC home page on the Internet for a 
complete copy of the announcement: http://www.cdc.gov
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Nelda Godfrey, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Suite 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, 
telephone (770) 488-2722, e-mail address: [email protected].
    Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from: Christine 
Rosheim, D.D.S., M.P.H., Health Education Specialist, Division of 
Health

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Education and Promotion, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-33, Atlanta, GA 30333, 
Telephone (404) 639-6351.

    Dated: May 3, 1999.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 99-11482 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P