[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26835-26836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11514]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 00085]


Cooperative Agreement With the Association of Environmental 
Health Academic Programs; Notice of Availability of Funds

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 the purpose of determining need and developing programs and 
curricula to strengthen State, local and tribal environmental health 
infrastructure; identifying and evaluating the effectiveness of core 
competencies to practice environmental health; preparing future 
professionals and educating current professionals to those 
competencies; and increasing the number of programs accredited by the 
National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation 
Council (NEHSPAC).
    CDC is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease 
prevention objectives of ``Healthy People 2010,'' a national activity 
to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life. This 
announcement is related to the focus areas of Environmental Health and 
Public Health Infrastructure. For the conference copy of ``Healthy 
People 2010,'' visit the internet site: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople

B. Eligible Applicant

    Assistance will be provided only to the Association of 
Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP). No other applications 
are solicited.
    AEHAP is the only organization for conducting this program because:
    1. AEHAP is the only association which represents all the 
undergraduate and graduate institutions with academic programs of 
environmental health accredited by the NEHSPAC as well as those seeking 
accreditation.
    2. AEHAP has the critical framework in place for developing the 
technical competence, managerial capacity, and leadership potential of 
accredited undergraduate and graduate programs in environmental health.
    3. AEHAP is uniquely positioned to communicate and consult with all 
of the accredited undergraduate and graduate programs of environmental 
health because the accredited programs are a part of the existing 
membership.
    4. AEHAP has a documented ability to build effective partnerships 
and collaborative relationships with federal health agencies and 
appropriate national organizations.
    5. AEHAP provides the structure and experience for instituting 
programs that strengthen the environmental health system at the State 
and local levels.
    6. AEHAP, through its affiliation with non-accredited universities 
teaching environmental sciences and environmental health, can encourage 
growth of qualified and accredited academic institutions to meet the 
demand for entry level environmental health professionals.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $100,000 is available in FY 2000 to fund this 
Cooperative Agreement. It is expected that the award will begin on or 
about September 1, 2000, and will be made for a 12-month budget period 
within a project period of up to 5 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. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this Cooperative 
Agreement, the recipient shall be responsible for the activities under 
1. (Recipient Activities), and CDC shall be responsible for conducting 
activities under 2. (CDC Activities):

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Develop and implement a plan for addressing the national 
shortage of properly prepared and trained environmental health 
professionals.
    b. Identify effective public health principles and incorporate into 
curricula of students entering the field of environmental health.
    c. Identify capacity gaps and build the capacity of local 
environmental health programs to incorporate sound public health 
practice into their programs.
    d. Develop and implement a plan to increase the number of 
accredited undergraduate and graduate programs in environmental health 
in areas of the country with a need for AEHAP prepared environmental 
health professionals by providing assistance to programs working to 
become accredited by the Environmental Health Science and Protection 
Accreditation Council.
    e. Convene professional groups with diverse backgrounds to obtain 
their reviews and comments on plans and practices to prepare future and 
current environmental health professionals.
    f. Develop liaisons with key federal, State, local and tribal 
agencies and professional groups in areas of environmental health.
    g. Evaluate the effectiveness of the project's activities.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide consultation, assistance, and guidance in planning and 
implementing program activities.
    b. Assist in developing and implementing short- and long-term plans 
for improving environmental health practices at local communities.
    c. Provide science-based collaboration and technical assistance in 
developing and implementing evaluation strategies for the program.
    d. Facilitate collaboration between recipient and public and 
private sector agencies involved in environmental health at the 
national, regional, State and community levels.
    e. Facilitate the exchange of program information among public and 
private agencies at all levels.

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.
    Provide a detailed budget and justification. A brief projection 
should be submitted that clearly separates direct and indirect costs.

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms are available at the following Internet address: 
www.cdc.gov/...Forms, or in the application kit.
    On or before June 26, 2000, submit the application to the Grants 
Management Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional 
Information'' section of this announcement.
    Deadline: Application shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if it is either:
    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the independent review group. (Applicant 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.)

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    Late Application: Application which does not meet the criteria in 
(a) or (b) above is considered a late application, will not be 
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    The application will be evaluated against the following criteria by 
an independent review group appointed by CDC.
    1. Understanding of the problem (20 percent)
    The applicant's ability to demonstrate an understanding of the 
nature of the problem to be addressed. This specifically includes 
description of the public health importance of the planned activities 
to be undertaken, and realistic presentation of proposed objectives.
    2. Technical approach (25 percent)
    The extent to which the applicant's proposal addresses: (1) An 
overall design strategy, including measurable time lines; and (2) 
management analysis of the data collected.
    3. Ability to carry out the project (25 percent) Degree to which 
the applicant provides evidence of ability to carry out the proposed 
project and the extent to which the applicant documents demonstrated 
capability to achieve the purpose of this project.
    4. Personnel (20 percent)
    The extent to which professional personnel involved in this project 
are qualified, including evidence of experience similar to this 
project.
    5. Plans for Administration (10 percent)
    Adequacy of plans for administering the project.
    6. Budget (not scored)
    Itemized budget for conducting the project, along with 
justification, is provided and is reasonable and appropriate to the 
described project.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with the original plus two copies of:
    1. Semi-annual progress report;
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period;
    3. Final financial status 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 Attachment I in the 
application package.

AR-7  Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 301 and 317 of the Public 
Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. section 241 and 247b] as amended. The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To obtain additional information, contact: Sonia Rowell, Grants 
Management Specialist Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants 
Office Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (E-13) 2920 
Brandywine Road, Room 3000 Atlanta, GA 30341 Telephone (770) 488-2724 
Email address [email protected]
    For program technical assistance, contact: Patrick O. Bohan, 
National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (F-48), 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, 
(770) 488-7303, E-mail address [email protected].
    The CDC Homepage address on the Internet is http://www.cdc.gov

    Dated: May 3, 2000.
Henry S. Cassell III,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 00-11514 Filed 5-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P