[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26417-26418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12207]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99075]
Cooperative Agreement for a Laboratory Medicine Sentinel
Monitoring Network; 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
for a Laboratory Medicine Sentinel Monitoring Network. This program
addresses the ``Healthy People 2000'' priority area of Surveillance and
Data Systems. The purposes of the program are to develop data
collection networks and provide information about the practice of
laboratory medicine in hospitals, physician offices, and independent
laboratories.
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 consultation with States, assistance may be provided to
political subdivisions of States. We are limiting eligibility to State
health departments because:
1. They are uniquely qualified due to the role they play in
coordinating CLIA-associated activities within the states;
2. They possess the experience with laboratory issues that can
facilitate the recruitment of network members; and
3. To provide assistance to these organizations and to implement
long term laboratory medicine monitoring programs.
C. Availability of Funds
Approximately $300,000 is available in FY 1999 to fund three
awards. It is expected that the average award will be $100,000, ranging
from $80,000 to $120,000. It is expected that 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 3 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.
D. Funding Preferences
Preference may be given to State health departments with existing
laboratory networks (data collection networks comprised of clinical
laboratories which periodically monitor and report on issues related to
the delivery of clinical laboratory medicine and quality assurance
programs associated with them). Additional preference may be given to
achieve an even geographic distribution of sites or to a site that
primarily includes a rural population.
E. Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities listed under 1.
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for those
activities listed under 2. (CDC Activities).
1. Recipient Activities
a. Solicit laboratories to voluntarily participate in the
Monitoring Networks so that representatives of each laboratory type
(hospital, physician office, and independent) and complexity level
(waived, PPM, moderate and high) can participate in the total network.
b. Provide leadership in the design and evaluation of
questionnaires for periodic reporting of laboratory operational
characteristics and problems (especially those that impact patient
care, including QC and QA practices, and the methods that are used by
the network participants during the period of the study).
c. Provide leadership in collecting and sharing raw data within the
network.
d. Periodically send the developed questionnaires to network
participants for them to gather and submit the response data back, and
enter, analyze, and summarize the data for the participants in a
statistically valid manner.
e. Distribute reports to network members for self-evaluation and
improvement. Make information available to other laboratories in the
region.
f. Prepare manuscripts for peer-review publications.
2. CDC Activities
a. Collaborate in identifying those areas of laboratory medicine
that have public health concerns.
[[Page 26418]]
b. Provide technical assistance with questionnaire development,
data gathering devices, statistical analysis, and writing summaries of
the results.
c. Collaborate in the development of a defined data set standard
for transmission of raw data.
F. 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,
printed on one side, with one inch margins, and with type no smaller
than 12 point CPI, on 8.5'' x 11'' paper.
G. Submission and Deadline
Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms are in the application kit.
On or before July 12, 1999, submit the application to the Grants
Management Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional
Information'' section of this announcement.
1. 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
the independent review group. (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.)
2. 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.
H. Evaluation Criteria
Each application will be evaluated individually against the
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
1. Goals and Objectives (20 Points)
a. The extent to which the applicant describes its understanding of
the objectives of the proposed cooperative agreement, the relevance of
its proposal to the stated objectives, and any unique characteristics
of populations to be studied.
b. The extent to which the applicants goals and objectives are
time-phased, measurable, specific, and achievable.
2. Project Management and Staffing (30 Points)
a. The extent to which the applicant describes its ability to
provide staff, knowledge, and other resources required to perform the
responsibilities in this project.
b. The extent to which the applicant describes its qualifications
and time allocations of key personnel to be assigned to this project
and the facilities and equipment, and other resources available for
performance of this project.
3. Plan of Operation (30 Points)
a. The extent to which the applicant describes the methods to be
used in carrying out the responsibilities of this project, including
the ability to provide the representative participants in the
laboratory group or groups they will monitor.
b. The extent to which the applicant describes the steps to be
taken in the planning and implementation of this project.
4. Evaluation Plan (20 Points)
The extent to which the applicant describes its schedule for
accomplishing the activities to be carried out in this project and
methods for evaluating the accomplishments.
5. Proposed Budget (Not Scored)
The extent to which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified,
and consistent with the intended use of funds.
I. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with the original plus two copies of
1. Progress reports (semiannual);
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 the Grants Management Specialist identified in
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this
announcement.
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Addendum 1.
AR-7 Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirement
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2000
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
J. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under section 317(k)(3) of the Public
Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. section 247b(k)(3)], as amended. The
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.
K. Where To Obtain Additional Information
This and all other CDC Announcements may be found and downloaded
from the CDC homepage. Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov (click on
funding).
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: Ricky Willis, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99075, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Suite 3000,
Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: (770) 488-2719, E-
mail address: [email protected].
For program technical assistance contact: Marianne K. Simon, Health
Scientist, Division of Laboratory Systems, Public Health Practice
Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford
Highway, N.E., Mailstop G-23, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: (770) 488-
8125, E-mail address: [email protected].
Dated: May 10, 1999.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-12207 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P