[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60209-60211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28842]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 00009]


Availability of Funds for Fiscal Year 2000; Cooperative Agreement 
for a National Immunization Coalition and Information Network

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2000 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for a National Immunization Coalition and Information Network. 
This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2000'' priority area of 
Immunization and Infectious Diseases.
    The purpose of this program is to create a national coalition and 
information network to improve the effectiveness of efforts to reduce 
vaccine preventable disease among children, adolescents, and adults. 
This program will be accomplished through fostering collaboration among 
public and private nonprofit organizations, Federal government 
agencies, State and local governments, National Immunization Program 
partners and grantees, and others.
    This program will improve knowledge and awareness of health care 
providers, public and private health organizations, and other public 
health groups about immunization recommendations, practices, programs, 
and benefits by:
    1. Fostering the creation of new partnerships and working to build 
new and effective coalitions to identify and address educational needs 
regarding immunization issues.
    2. Developing materials which translate technical immunization 
guidelines, recommendations, and information into formats which are 
appropriate, understandable, and useful to targeted audience(s).
    3. Identifying successful interventions among immunization programs 
by networking with private providers and public health organizations to 
identify successful programs and effective immunization strategies and 
tactics, including case examples, educational materials, media and 
partner relationship strategies, and public relations practices.
    4. Distributing appropriate, understandable, and useful technical 
immunization guidelines, educational materials, and information 
regarding successful immunization programs to national, State, and 
local health care providers, advocacy groups, private providers, and 
public health organizations, including State and local health 
departments and other National Immunization Program partners.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations and by governments and their agencies; that is, 
universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public 
and private nonprofit organizations. Tax-exempt status may be confirmed 
by either providing a copy of the pages from the Internal Revenue 
Service's (IRS) most recent list of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations 
or a copy of the current IRS Determination Letter. Proof of tax-exempt 
status must be provided in the application.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $500,000 will be available to fund one cooperative 
agreement. It is expected that this award will begin on or about 
February 1, 2000, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within 
a project period of up to three 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.

Use of Funds

    Funds cannot be used for construction or renovation, to purchase or 
lease vehicles or vans, to purchase a facility to house project staff 
or carry out project activities, or to supplant existing support.

D. Cooperative Activities

    To achieve the purpose of this cooperative agreement, the recipient 
will be responsible for the activities under ``Recipient Activities'' 
below. CDC will be responsible for activities under ``CDC Activities'' 
below.
Recipient Activities
    1. Convene 1-2 meetings per year of public and private health care 
providers, volunteer groups, community-based organizations, members of 
the corporate sector, and other public health organizations to inform 
them of the most current immunization issues, identify and address 
education needs regarding immunizations in an effort to gain support in 
reaching national immunization goals.
    2. Utilize recommendations by the National Immunization Program, 
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP), American College of 
Physicians (ACP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the 
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) to create new materials 
which facilitate the understanding, adoption, and use of those 
recommendations by the targeted audience(s).
    3. Identify major immunization issues, promotional literature and 
activities, educational materials, and immunization statistics on the 
national, State, and local levels that involves, or affects, efforts to 
reduce vaccine preventable disease among children, adolescents, and 
adults.
    4. Establish and implement mechanisms for promoting effective 
immunization practices and programs and distributing collected 
materials and information to health care organizations and interest 
groups around the country. For example, promote current programs such 
as the CDC National Immunization Information Hotline.
    5. Actively participate in conferences and meetings on the National 
and State level that focus on highlighting model programs and 
strategies, information exchange, addressing immunization issues, and 
maintaining or increasing child, adolescent, and adult immunization 
coverage levels.
    6. Establish and implement mechanisms for evaluating the reach of 
the program and effectiveness of the materials produced.

[[Page 60210]]

CDC Activities
    1. Provide technical assistance in implementing activities, 
identifying major immunization issues and effective programs.
    2. Provide scientific collaboration for appropriate aspects of the 
activities, including information on disease impact, vaccination 
coverage levels, and prevention strategies.
    3. Assist in development and review of relevant immunization 
information made available to Federal, State, and local health 
agencies, health care providers, and volunteer organizations.
    4. In conjunction with the recipient, evaluate the reach of the 
program and effectiveness of the materials produced.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Cooperative Activities, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the 
application content. Applications will be evaluated on the criteria 
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out the program 
plan. The application should be no more than 35 double-spaced pages, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and 12 point font, not 
including attachments.
Organization Profile
    1. Provide a narrative, including background information and 
information on the applicant organization, evidence of relevant 
experience in coordinating activities among constituents, and a clear 
understanding of the purpose of the project.
    2. Include details of past experiences working with the target 
population(s). Provide information on organizational capability to 
conduct proposed project activities.
    3. Profile qualified and experienced personnel who are available to 
work on the project and provide evidence of the organizational 
structure that is proposed to meet the requirements of the project. 
Include an organizational chart of the applicant organization 
specifying the location and staffing plan for the proposed project.
Program Plan
    1. Include goals and measurable impact and process objectives that 
are specific, realistic, measurable, and time-phased. Include an 
explanation of how the objectives contribute to the purposes of the 
request for assistance and evidence that demonstrates the potential 
effectiveness of the proposed objectives.
    2. Detail an action plan, including a timeline of activities and 
personnel responsible for implementing each segment of the plan.
    3. Prepare a plan to include impact and process evaluation 
utilizing both quantitative and qualitative measures for the 
achievement of program objectives to determine the reach and 
effectiveness of the message promoted by the awardee, and monitor the 
implementation of proposed activities. Indicate how the quality of 
services provided will be ensured.
    4. Provide a plan for disseminating project results indicating 
when, to whom, and in what format the material will be presented.
    5. Provide a plan for obtaining additional resources from non-
Federal sources to supplement program activities and ensure 
continuation of the activities after the end of the project period.
Collaboration Activities
    1. Obtain and include letters of support, written in the last 12 to 
24 months, from local and national organizations and constituents.
    2. Provide memoranda of agreement from collaborating organizations 
indicating a willingness to participate in the project, the nature of 
their participation, period of performance, names and titles of 
individuals who will be involved in the project, and the process of 
collaboration. Each memorandum should also show an understanding and 
endorsement of immunization activities.
    3. Provide evidence of collaborative efforts with health 
departments, provider organizations, coalitions, and other local 
organizations.
Budget Information
    1. Provide a detailed budget with justification. The budget 
proposal should be consistent with the purpose and program plan of the 
proposed project.
    2. Provide an itemized (line-item) budget categorized by objective.
    3. Also provide, if known at the time of application, the name of 
the contractor, method of selection, budget etc.

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of the application PHS 5161-1, 
(OMB Number 0937-0189). Forms are in the application kit.
    On or before December 20, 1999, submit the application to: Sharron 
Orum, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement Number 00009, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30341.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are either:
    1. Received on or before the deadline date; or
    2. 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

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC:
    1. Background and Need: The extent to which the applicant 
understands the problem of under-immunization and proposes a plan to 
address the issues specific to their constituents. (15 points)
    2. Capability: The extent to which the applicant appears likely to 
succeed in implementing proposed activities as measured by relevant 
past experience, a sound management structure, and staff 
qualifications, including the appropriateness of their proposed roles 
and responsibilities and job descriptions. The applicant:
    a. Must have three years of demonstrated history of producing or 
disseminating written health promotion, disease prevention, or 
immunization related written communication materials, such as 
newsletters, media kits, posters, brochures, or information sharing 
documents.
    b. Must have three years of demonstrated history of sponsoring and/
or organizing meetings at a regional or national level with the purpose 
of sharing information, transferring skills, and promoting immunization 
initiatives.
    c. Must have three years of demonstrated history of working with 
and accessing major agencies, private and public sector public health 
organizations, professional health associations, volunteer groups, and 
other organizations across the country, and demonstrate their 
capability to motivate and manage other organizations to participate 
with a national immunization coalition. (25 points)

[[Page 60211]]

    3. Program Plan: The feasibility and appropriateness of the 
applicant's action plan to identify immunization issues and new 
developments (e.g., new recommendations), communicate with, and reach, 
targeted populations, translate technical immunization information into 
appropriate new formats, develop and disseminate effective immunization 
materials and information, and establish and implement a national 
immunization information sharing/dissemination network. (30 points)
    4. Coordination and collaboration: The extent to which the 
applicant proposes to develop and maintain a National Immunization 
Coalition and Information Network, and coordinate the activities of 
that coalition with State and local immunization programs, State and 
local coalitions, provider organizations, and other appropriate 
agencies. (20 points)
    5. Evaluation Plan: The extent to which the applicant proposes to 
evaluate the proposed plan, including impact and process evaluation, as 
well as quantitative and qualitative measures for achievement of 
program objectives, determining the health effect on the population, 
and monitoring the implementation of proposed activities. (10 points)
    6. Budget and Justification: The extent to which the proposed 
budget is adequately justified, reasonable, and consistent with 
proposed project activities and this program announcement. (Not Scored)

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements
    Provide CDC with the original plus two copies of:
    1. Progress reports (annual, semiannual, or quarterly);
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period;
    3. Final financial report and performance report, 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 Appendix II in the 
application kit.

AR98-10--Smoke-Free Workplace
AR98-11--Healthy People 2000
AR98-12--Lobbying Restriction
AR98-14--Accounting System Requirements
AR98-15--Proof of Non-Profit Status
AR98-20--Conference Support

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 311 [42 U.S.C. 243] and 
317(k)(2), [42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2)] of the Public Health Service Act as 
amended. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.185.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements and application forms may be 
downloaded from the CDC Internet home page--http://www.cdc.gov. Click 
on ``funding.''
    Interested parties without Internet access may request an 
application kit by calling 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: Sharron Orum, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 00009, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30341, Telephone (770) 488-2716; FAX (770) 488-2777); 
E-mail address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Glen Nowak, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-05, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30333, Telephone (404) 639-8200; FAX (404) 639-8626, 
E-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: October 28, 1999.
Henry S. Cassell,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-28842 Filed 11-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P