[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 102 (Thursday, May 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33819-33820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13132]



[[Page 33819]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 00116]


Cooperative Agreement to Enhance Pediatric and Pregnancy 
Nutrition Surveillance Systems Data Items; 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 (1) Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS), 
and (2)Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System (PNSS).
    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 Public Health 
Infrastructure, Nutrition and Overweight; and Maternal, Infant, and 
Child Health. For the conference copy of ``Healthy People 2010,'' visit 
the internet site: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople>.
    The purpose of this program is to improve the capacity to conduct 
continuous program-based pediatric and pregnancy nutrition surveillance 
by adding relevant data items to enhance the ability to monitor the 
health and nutrition-related problems of women and children. For 
additional background information see Attachment I.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to the health departments of 
States or their bona fide agents that have submitted 1998 or 1999 
PedNSS and/or PNSS files which are included in the national PedNSS and/
or PNSS reports. Eligible applicants could include 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.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $250,000 is available in FY 2000 to fund 
approximately 4 awards. It is expected that the average award will be 
$60,000, ranging from $45,000 to $65,000. It is expected that the 
awards will begin on or about September 30, 2000, and will be made for 
a 12-month budget period within a project period of 1 year. Funding 
estimates may change.

Use of Funds

Funding Preferences
    Funding preference will be given to eligible applicants that submit 
an application to add Core and Supplemental data items to both the 
PedNSS and PNSS (Record specifications, field explanations, and code 
definitions for data items are included in Attachment I).

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purposes of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under 1. Recipient 
Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities under 2. CDC 
Activities.

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Expand the PedNSS and/or PNSS to include core and supplemental 
data items that are routinely collected in public health clinics. 
Applicants should be willing to include the following core data items 
in their nutrition surveillance system including: (1) Household Income, 
(2) Household Size, (3) Date of Height and Weight Measure, (4) Date of 
Hemoglobin/Hematocrit Measure, and (5) for PedNSS only, Date of Most 
Recent Breastfeeding Response.
    In addition, applicants participating in PedNSS shall be willing to 
add 3 of the 4 PedNSS supplemental data items including: (1) Zip Code, 
(2) Introduction to Supplementary Feeding, (3) TV/Video Viewing, and 
(4) Household smoking.
    Applicants participating in PNSS shall be willing to add 4 of the 5 
PNSS supplemental data items including: (1) Zip Code, (2) Gestational 
Diabetes, (3) High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy, (4) Pre-pregnancy 
Multivitamin Consumption, and (5) Multivitamin Consumption During 
Pregnancy .
    b. Plan and implement procedures for ensuring the completeness and 
quality of the data, including training and data editing.
    c. Propose an evaluation strategy to assess the usefulness of the 
suggested core and supplemental data items for program planning
    d. Prepare and disseminate surveillance information through 
presentation and publication in appropriate forums.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Assist in the design of standardized data items, definitions, 
procedures, and methods to collect the desired surveillance 
information.
     b. Provide training and consultation on the rationale, code 
definitions and methods to collect new core and supplemental data 
items.
    c. Provide technical support for data processing or assist state 
participants in developing appropriate data-processing capabilities.
    d. Assist the recipient in evaluating the usefulness of the 
suggested core and supplemental data items.
    e. Assist the recipient in preparing and presenting Program-
relevant surveillance findings to appropriate state and national 
audiences.

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 15 double-spaced pages, 
printed on one side, with one inch margins, and unreduced font.

1. Table of Contents

2. Plan

    a. Define data items to be collected. List the core and 
supplemental data items that will be included in the revised PedNSS and 
PNSS transaction files (Record specifications, field explanations, and 
code definitions for data items are included in Attachment I).
    b. Describe the architecture and software of the WIC information 
system and identify key project staff that will update and test the 
revised transaction files for PedNSS and PNSS. Include the resume and 
job descriptions for key project staff in the supporting materials.
    c. Define methods to establish data collection for the new core or 
supplemental data items.
    d. Define the process for development and testing of the 
transaction file(s) to ensure completeness and accuracy of the file(s).
    e. Define the process for establishing routine submission of future 
files.
    f. Describe a plan to evaluate the usefulness of the suggested core 
and supplemental data items.
    g. Outline a time schedule for activities listed under c, d, e, and 
f.

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

[[Page 33820]]

July 14, 2000, submit the application to the Grants Management 
Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' 
section of this announcement.
    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. (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 (100 points)

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
    1. The extent to which the applicant states that they will collect 
and submit new core and supplemental PedNSS and PNSS data items. (10 
points)
    2. The extent to which the applicant describes the procedures 
planned to develop and test the transaction files, including methods to 
establish data collection for any new core and supplemental data items 
not currently collected by the WIC information system. (30 points)
    3. Confirmation of applicant's intention to support future routine 
file submission. The extent to which the applicant details submission 
procedures. (20 points)
    4. Time schedule: Confirmation that project activities are 
sequential and will be completed in a timely fashion. (20 points)
    5. Capability: The extent to which the applicant demonstrates the 
organizational capacity and ability to develop and conduct proposed 
program activities, including the architecture and software of the WIC 
information system and the key project staff having the responsibility 
and authority to carry out the program activities, as evidenced by job 
descriptions and resumes.(20 points)
    If applicable, whether the plans for recruitment and outreach for 
study participants include the process of establishing partnerships 
with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.
    6. Budget (not scored)
    The extent to which the budget is reasonable and the budget 
justification is consistent with the program objectives and purpose.
    7. Human Subjects Research (not scored)
    Does the application adequately address the requirements of Title 
45 CFR Part 46 for the protection of human subjects?

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. Progress reports (annual);
    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 Attachment II in the 
application kit.
  AR-1   Human Subjects Requirements
  AR-2  Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
  AR-7  Executive Order 12372 Review
  AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
  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 sections 301(a) and 317(k)(2) of 
the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. section 241(a) and 42 U.S.C. 
247b(k)(2),as amended.
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This announcement and other CDC program announcements can be found 
on the CDC home page Internet address--http://www.cdc.gov. Click on 
``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.''
    To obtain additional information, contact: Cynthia Collins, Grants 
Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, Grants Management 
Branch Announcement 00116, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, 
telephone (770) 488-2757, Email address [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Diane Clark, Deputy 
Branch Chief, Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch, Division of 
Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease 
Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30341-
3717, Telephone (770) 488-5702, Email address: [email protected].

    Dated: May 19, 2000.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 00-13132 Filed 5-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P