[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65682-65686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30509]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 990929268-9268-01]
RIN: 0648-ZA72


Joint Announcement on Climate Variability and Human Health

AGENCY: Office of Global Programs, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: With the intent of stimulating integrated multidisciplinary 
studies and enhancing institutional coordination and collaboration, and 
recognizing the interdisciplinary nature of the research as well as the 
limited funding currently available, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National

[[Page 65683]]

Science Foundation (NSF), in collaboration with interested private 
sector partners, in this case, the Electric Power Research Institute 
(EPRI), announce our interest in receiving research proposals to 
improve our understanding of the human health consequences related to 
climate variability and enhance the integration of useful climate 
information into public health policy and decision-making. This joint 
announcement is intended to support the formation of multidisciplinary 
teams working in close collaboration on integrated projects to 
illuminate pathways by which climate may affect human health, and which 
explore the potential for applying climate forecast information in the 
public health arena. Climate refers to climate variability across time 
scales. Understanding how short term climate variability affects human 
health may improve our knowledge of potential consequences of, and 
adaptation to, longer term changes in the climate system.
    EPRI is a tax-exempt non-profit organization under 26 U.S.C. 501 
(c)(3). EPRI provides science and technology-based solutions of value 
to its global energy customers. To carry out its mission, EPRI manages 
programs of scientific research, technology development, and product 
implementation. Collaborative funding of research can reduce the costs 
of developing solutions to common environmental issues. EPRI provides 
science and technology information to characterize issues and develop 
solutions to address consequences. EPRI's participation in this Joint 
Announcement is subject to NOAA Office of Global Programs entering into 
a Memorandum of Understanding with EPRI.

Relevance of This Joint Announcement

    In 1995, the White House along with the National Academy of 
Sciences (NAS) elevated the climate and health issue through their 
jointly sponsored Conference on Human Health and Global Climate Change. 
Since then, several multi-agency sponsored workshops such as the 
American Academy of Microbiology Colloquium on Climate Variability and 
Human Health: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, and the workshop on 
Climate Change and Vectorborne and other Infectious Disease: A Research 
Agenda, have begun to define research needs in this emerging 
discipline. The NAS National Research Council (NRC) Pathways report 
recognizes that climate may have important impacts on human health but 
that further study is necessary, and that such studies must also 
address issues of social vulnerability and adaptability. The NRC also 
is conducting a study on Climate, Ecology, Infectious Disease, and 
Health.
    Over the past several years as interest in this new field has 
grown, research and analysis have demonstrated a connection between 
climate and health in some cases. Yet it is well recognized that more 
research is required. This coupled with an evolving capacity to 
understand and predict natural changes in the climate system, and a 
desire to provide climate forecast information for social benefit, 
particularly in the public health sector, has driven demand for 
improved understanding of the relationship between climate variability 
and human health.
    Both the scientific research results and recommendations stemming 
from various meetings highlight the complexity of the research 
questions and the need for a coordinated multi-agency and 
interdisciplinary approach. The very nature of the research required 
cuts across disciplinary boundaries, and spans a range of agency 
missions and mandates and private sector interests. The NOAA Office of 
Global Programs is interested in the production and application of 
predictive climate information; EPA is concerned with the impacts of 
climate change and variability on human health; and NASA's interests 
include remote sensing observations, research, data, information and 
technologies for public health. Moreover, NSF focuses on broadly based 
fundamental research to improve understanding of the Earth system, and 
EPRI addresses key research gaps in climate change and human health. 
This announcement is offered as an experimental mechanism to fill 
critical gaps in climate variability and human health research and to 
coordinate funding of overlapping agency and institutional interests in 
such research. Other private sector organizations interested in jointly 
funding research through this announcement process should contact the 
NOAA Program Officer: Juli Trtanj (301) 427-2089, ext. 134, or 
internet: [email protected]. Research projects will be funded for a 
one, two or three year period.

Program Objectives

    The overarching goal of this announcement is to develop and 
demonstrate the feasibility of new approaches or field studies that 
investigate or validate well-formed hypotheses or models of climate 
variability and health interactions. This announcement is offered as 
part of an interagency effort to build an integrated climate and health 
community. Proposed research submitted under this announcement is 
encouraged to build on existing research activities, programs, research 
sites and facilities, or data sets.

Requirements and General Guidance

    Research teams must include, at a minimum, one investigator each 
from the public health or medical response, ecology, and climate 
communities working in close collaboration on an integrated project. 
Research proposals submitted under this announcement are strongly 
encouraged to include components addressing either the adaptation or 
vulnerability of human and public health systems to climate 
variability, or an economic analysis of using predictive climate 
information, or both. The funding partners will look favorably on 
research activities that involve end-users from the public health arena 
(i.e., local public health officials, regional or international health 
organizations, other public health or disaster management agencies and 
institutions) and which address the means by which their research 
results can be used by public health policy and decision-makers. 
Investigators are encouraged to demonstrate that they will disseminate 
research results through formal presentation during at least one 
professional meeting and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
    Investigators should also plan to participate in an annual meeting 
of researchers funded under this announcement. This meeting will be 
organized by the funding partners and is intended to facilitate mid-
point discussions of research and methodology as well as presentations 
of final research results. The participation of other team members, 
particularly new researchers at the graduate and postdoctoral level, is 
highly encouraged. An interim progress report will be required.

DATES: Unless otherwise noted, strict deadlines by which NOAA OGP must 
receive proposals for submission to the FY 2000 process are: Pre-
proposals must be received by OGP no later than December 17, 1999, and 
full proposals must be received no later than March 3, 2000. Applicants 
who have not received a response to their pre-proposal within four 
weeks should contact the program office: Juli Trtanj (301) 427-2089, 
ext. 134 or internet: [email protected].
    The time from target date to grant award varies. We anticipate that 
review of full proposals will occur in April or May 2000 for most 
approved projects. July 1, 2000 may be used as the earliest

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proposed start date on the proposal, unless otherwise directed by the 
appropriate Program Officer. Applicants should be notified of their 
status within six months of full proposal submission. All proposals 
must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines below. Failure to 
heed the guidelines may result in proposals being returned without 
review.

ADDRESSES: All submissions should be directed to: Office of Global 
Programs (OGP); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 1100 
Wayne Avenue, Suite 1225; Silver Spring, MD 20910-5603.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma duPree at the above address or 
phone (301) 427-2089, ext. 107, fax: (301) 427-2072, Internet: 
duP[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Funding Availability

    NOAA, EPA, NASA, NSF and EPRI believe that the research on the 
relationship between climate variability and human health will benefit 
significantly from a strong partnership with outside investigators. 
Current plans assume that over 50% of the total resources provided 
through this announcement will support extramural efforts, particularly 
those involving the broad academic community. Total funding is 
anticipated to be $1,500,000 with funding per proposal not to exceed 
$150,000 per year. Funding may be provided by NOAA, EPA, NASA, NSF, or 
EPRI.
    This Program Announcement is for projects to be conducted up to a 
three-year period by investigators both inside and outside of NOAA, 
EPA, NASA, NSF, and EPRI. The funding instrument for extramural awards 
will be a grant unless it is anticipated that any of the funding 
entities will be substantially involved in the implementation of the 
project, in which case the funding instrument should be a cooperative 
agreement. Examples of substantial involvement may include but are not 
limited to proposals for collaboration between a funding entity or 
funding entity scientist, and a recipient scientist or technician and/
or contemplation by NOAA, EPA, NASA or NSF of detailing Federal 
personnel to work on proposed projects. NOAA, EPA, NASA, and NSF will 
make decisions regarding the use of a cooperative agreement on a case-
by-case basis. Funding for non-U.S. institutions and contractual 
arrangements for services and products for delivery to NOAA are not 
available under this announcement. Matching share is not required by 
this program.
    As part of a public-private sector partnership in climate, ecology 
and human health, EPRI is interested in funding projects of interest to 
the participating Federal Agencies. Such projects must otherwise have 
qualified for Federal funding under this announcement.

2. Eligibility

    Participation in this competition is open to all institutions 
eligible to receive support from NOAA, EPA, NASA, and NSF. Extramural 
eligibility is not limited and is encouraged with the objective of 
developing a strong partnership with the academic community and users 
of climate forecast information. Universities, non-profit 
organizations, for profit organizations, state and local governments, 
and Indian Tribes are included among entities eligible for funding 
under this announcement. Civil servants in U.S. Government research 
laboratories are eligible to apply, but may not request civil service 
salary reimbursement. Funding for foreign institutions is not available 
under this announcement. Applications will also be reviewed by EPRI to 
ensure coordination in funding between public and private sectors.

3. Program Authority

    NOAA Authority: 49 U.S.C. 44720 (b); 33 U.S.C. 883d, 883e; 15 
U.S.C. 2904; 15 U.S.C. 2931 et seq.; (CFDA No. 11.431)--Climate and 
Atmospheric Research.

    EPA Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7403(a); 42 U.S.C. 7403(b); 42 U.S.C. 
7403(g); 15 U.S.C. 2907(a); (CFDA No. 66.500--Office of Research and 
Development.
    NSF Authority: 42 USC 1861-75; (CFDA No. 47.050)-GEOSCIENCES.
    NASA Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2932(a); 15 U.S.C. 2932(b); 15 U.S.C. 
2932(e2); 15 U.S.C. 2936; (CFDA No. 43-999).

Guidelines for Submission

1. Pre-proposals

    (a) Pre-proposals should be no longer than five pages in length and 
include the names and institutions of all investigators, a statement of 
the problem, description of data and methodology including names of 
data sets and types of models or analysis, a general budget for the 
project, and a description of intended use of results for public health 
policy and decision making. As an attachment, please include a one to 
two page biographical sketch for each investigator.
    (b) The Program Officers will evaluate the pre-proposals.
    (c) Submission of pre-proposals is not a requirement, but it is in 
the best interest of the applicants and their institutions.
    (d) Facsimile and email submissions are acceptable for pre-
proposals only.
    (e) Projects deemed unsuitable during pre-proposal review will not 
be encouraged to submit full proposals.
    (f) Investigators who are not encouraged to submit full proposals 
will not be precluded from submitting full proposals.

2. Criteria for Evaluation

    Below are the criteria for evaluation that will be used for making 
award decisions. Pre-proposals will be evaluated on likely ability to 
meet these criteria.
    (a) Scientific Merit--60% (to include: methodology, proof of data 
quality and availability, experience of team and team members, and 
relevant peer-reviewed publications)
    (b) Responsiveness to announcement--20%
    (c) Explicit multidisciplinary participation and collaboration--10%
    (d) Potential for use by climate, ecology and health community or 
public/environmental health community--10%

3. Selection Procedures and Review Process

    All proposals, including those submitted by participating agency 
employees, will be evaluated in accordance with the above evaluation 
criteria by (a) independent peer mail review, and/or (b) independent 
peer panel review. Each proposal will then be given a rating based on 
these evaluations. Both agency and non-agency experts in the field may 
be used in this process. Unsatisfactory performance by a recipient 
under prior Federal awards may result in an application not being 
considered for funding.
    The Program Officers will not be voting members of an independent 
peer panel. Each Program Officer will individually rank the proposals 
considering the recommendations and evaluations of the independent peer 
panel and the program policy factors listed below. The Federal Agency 
Program Officers will then make the funding selections taking into 
account these rankings, the panel review and evaluations, and program 
policy factors listed below. Proposals are usually awarded in the 
numerical order they are ranked based on the independent peer mail 
review or the independent peer panel review. However, the Program 
Officers may consider the following program policy factors: (a) Whether 
the proposed research will contribute to the

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overall development of an integrated climate, ecology and health 
community; (b) whether proposals do not substantially duplicate other 
projects that are currently funded by NOAA, other Federal agencies or 
funding sources or are approved for funding by NOAA, other Federal 
agencies or funding sources; (c) whether proposals do not substantially 
duplicate other proposals submitted in response to this announcement; 
(d) whether proposals funded maximize use of available funds; and (e) 
whether proposal costs fall within remaining funds available. As a 
result of this review, the Program Officers may decide to select an 
award out of order. The Program Officers will also determine the total 
duration of funding and the amount of funding for each selected 
proposal.
    Federal agency employees are subject to statutes pertaining to non-
disclosure and confidentiality requirements protecting proprietary 
information that may be contained in applications submitted for 
potential funding. Non-Federal evaluators have agreed in writing to 
similar non-disclosure and confidentiality provisions. Please note, 
however, that should EPRI or another participating private organization 
which jointly funds research under this notice select an application 
for funding, none of the participating Federal agencies is responsible 
for any unauthorized disclosure of information that may occur or any 
dispute that may arise.

4. Proposal Submission

    The following forms are required in each application, with original 
signatures on each federal form. Failure to comply with these 
provisions will result in proposals being returned without review.
    (a) Full Proposals: (1) Proposals submitted to the NOAA Climate and 
Global Change Program must include the original and two unbound copies 
of the proposal. (2) Investigators are required to submit 3 copies of 
the proposal; however, the normal review process requires 20 copies. 
Investigators are encouraged to submit sufficient proposal copies for 
the full review process if they wish all reviewers to receive color, 
unusually sized (not 8.5x11''), or otherwise unusual materials 
submitted as part of the proposal. Only three copies of the Federally 
required forms are needed. (3) Proposals must be limited to 30 pages 
(numbered), including budget, investigators' vitae, and all appendices. 
Appended information may not be used to circumvent the page length 
limit. Federally mandated forms are not included within the page count. 
(4) Proposals should be sent to the NOAA Office of Global Programs at 
the above address. (5) Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail 
submission of full proposals will not be accepted.
    (b) Required Elements: All proposals must include the following 
elements:
    (1.) Signed title page: The title page must be signed by the 
Principal Investigator (PI) and the institutional representative. If 
more than one investigator is listed on the title page, please identify 
the lead investigator. The PI and institutional representative should 
be identified by full name, title, organization, telephone number, and 
address. The total amount of Federal funds being requested should be 
listed for each budget period.
    (2.) Abstract: An abstract must be included and should contain an 
introduction of the problem, rationale and a brief summary of work to 
be completed. The abstract should appear on a separate page, headed 
with the proposal title, institution(s), investigator(s), total 
proposed cost and budget period.
    (3.) Results from prior research: The results of related research 
activities should be described, including their relation to the 
currently proposed work. Reference to each prior research award should 
include the title, agency or institution, award number, PIs, period of 
award and total award. The section should be a brief summary and should 
not exceed two pages total.
    (4.) Statement of work: The proposed project must be completely 
described, including identification of the problem, scientific 
objectives, proposed methodology, and relevance to the announcement. 
Benefits of the proposed project to the general public and the 
scientific community should also be discussed. A summary of proposed 
work must be included clearly indicating that the proposed work is 
achievable. The statement of work, including references but excluding 
figures and other visual materials, must not exceed 15 pages of text. 
Investigators wishing to submit group proposals that exceed the 15-page 
limit should discuss this possibility with the appropriate Program 
Officer prior to submission. In general, proposals from 3 or more 
investigators may include a statement of work containing up to 15 pages 
of overall project description plus up to 5 additional pages for 
individual project descriptions.
    (5.) Budget Justification: A brief description of the expenses 
listed on the budget and how they address the proposed work. Itemized 
justification must include salaries, equipment, publications, supplies, 
tuition, travel, etc.
    (6). Budget: The proposal must include total and annual budgets 
corresponding with the descriptions provided in the statement of work. 
Non-Federal Applicants must submit a Standard Form 424 (4-92) 
``Application for Federal Assistance'', including a detailed budget 
using the Standard Form 424a (4-92), ``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs''. The form is included in the standard NOAA 
application kit. Additional text to justify expenses should be included 
as necessary. Federal researchers should contact Irma duPree at 301-
427-2089 (ext. 107), for guidance regarding the types of forms required 
for submission. Additionally, Federal researchers should provide, with 
their application, the appropriate statutory authority which allows 
their agency to receive funds from another Federal agency to complete 
the work outlined in their proposal.
    (7.) Vitae. Abbreviated curriculum vitae are sought with each 
proposal. Reference lists should be limited to 10-15 of the most recent 
and relevant publications with up to five other relevant papers.
    (8.) Current and pending support: For each investigator, submit a 
list that includes project title, supporting agency with grant number, 
investigator months, dollar value, and duration. Requested values 
should be listed for pending support.
    (9.) List of suggested reviewers: The cover letter may include a 
list of individuals qualified and suggested to review the proposal. It 
also may include a list of individuals that applicants would prefer to 
not review the proposal. Such lists may be considered at the discretion 
of the Program Officers.
    (c) Other requirements:
    (1.) Applicants may obtain a standard NOAA application kit from the 
Program Office.
    Primary applicant certification--All primary applicants must submit 
a completed Form CD-511, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying''. Applicants are also hereby notified of the 
following:
    (i). Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective 
participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26. section 105) are subject to 
15 CFR part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension,'' and the 
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    (ii). Drug Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, 
section

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605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, Subpart F, ``Government-wide 
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section 
of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    (iii). Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28, 
section 105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, 
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal 
contracting and financial transactions'', and the lobbying section of 
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids 
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than 
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the 
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever 
is greater; and
    (iv). Anti-Lobbying Disclosures--Any applicant that has paid or 
will pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-
LLL,``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR 
part 28, appendix B.
    (d) Lower Tier Certifications:
    (1.) Recipients must require applicants/bidders for subgrants, 
contracts, subcontracts, or lower tier covered transactions at any tier 
under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-512, 
``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and 
disclosure form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities'' Form CD-
512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be transmitted 
to DOC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should 
be submitted to DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in 
the award document.
    (2.) Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all applicable 
Federal laws and Federal and Department of Commerce policies, 
regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance 
awards.
    (3.) Pre-award Activities--If applicants incur any costs prior to 
an award being made, they do so solely at their own risk of not being 
reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal assurance that 
may have been received, there is no obligation to the applicant on the 
part of Department of Commerce to cover pre-award costs.
    (4.) This program is subject to the requirements of 15 CFR part 14, 
``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements 
with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit 
Organizations'', and 15 CFR part 24, ``Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local 
Governments'', as applicable. Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372. ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    (5.) All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name 
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key 
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of, or 
are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or 
other matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's 
management, honesty, or financial integrity.
    (6.) A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or 
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or 
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    (7.) No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who 
has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either: (i) The 
delinquent account is paid in full, (ii) A negotiated repayment 
schedule is established and at least one payment is received, or (iii) 
Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce are made.
    (8.) Buy American-Made Equipment or Products--Applicants are 
encouraged that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased 
with funding provided under this program must be American-made to the 
maximum extent feasible.
    (9.) The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an 
application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate 
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the 
proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total 
proposed direct cost dollar amount in the application, whichever is 
less.
    (e) If an application is selected for funding, the Department of 
Commerce has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in 
connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or 
extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the 
Department of Commerce.
    (f) In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations, no person 
on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability 
shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or be 
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving 
financial assistance from the NOAA Climate and Global Change Program. 
The NOAA Climate and Global change Program does not have direct TDD 
(Telephonic Device for the Deaf) capabilities, but can be reached 
through the State of Maryland supplied TDD contact number, 800-735-
2258, between the hours of 8:00 am-4:30 p.m. Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, no person is required to respond to nor shall a 
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection 
of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB 
control number.
    Classification: The standard forms have been approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act under 
OMB approval number 0348-0043, 0348-0044, and 0348-0046. This notice 
has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive 
Order 12866.

    Dated: November 17, 1999.
David L. Evans,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-30509 Filed 11-22-99; 8:45 am]
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