[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14585-14587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6125]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01036]


Grants for Education Programs in Occupational Safety and Health: 
Occupational Injury Prevention Research Training Programs; Notice of 
Availability of Funds for Fiscal Year 2001

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for institutional training 
grants in occupational safety and health. This program addresses the 
``Healthy People 2010'' focus area of Occupational Safety and Health. 
The 2000 Institute of Medicine report titled ``Safe Work in the 21st 
Century'' recommended that NIOSH establish a new training initiative 
focused on the prevention of occupational injuries. The purpose of this 
program is to train occupational injury prevention researchers and 
educators. For the purposes of this announcement, occupational injury 
prevention is defined to encompass the fields of: Occupational safety 
engineering and science; and occupational injury epidemiology. See 
Section D, ``Program Requirements'', Item 6 for a further description 
of the proposed field of study.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Applications for institutional training grants may be submitted by 
public and private nonprofit and for-profit organizations and by 
governments and their agencies; that is, universities, colleges, 
research institutions, hospitals, other public and private nonprofit 
and for-profit organizations, State and local governments 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, Indian tribes, Indian tribal organizations, the 
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 
and the Republic of Palau. Applicants must have: (1) Demonstrated 
competency in the occupational safety and health field; and (2) an 
established graduate-level, academic degree program in the occupational 
safety and health field.
    For existing NIOSH Education and Research Centers (ERC) or Training 
Project Grants (TPG) that request supplemental funding, it is 
imperative to include the current CDC/NIOSH Training Grant number, so 
the application may be processed as a supplement to the existing grant.

    Note: Public Law 104-65 states that an organization described in 
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages 
in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds 
constituting an award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, loan, 
or any other form.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $1,000,000 is expected to be available in FY 2001 to 
fund eight to ten awards. It is expected that the average award will be 
$ 100,000, ranging from $50,000 to $175,000. It is expected that the 
awards will begin on July 1, 2001, and will be made for a 12-month 
budget period within a maximum project period of up to five years. 
Funding estimates may change.
    For existing ERC and TPG grantees that apply under this 
announcement and also have existing NIOSH-funded occupational safety 
and/or occupational injury epidemiology academic programs, a clear 
description and justification must be provided to explain how the 
proposed program differs from, or substantially enhances, the existing 
program. If the application is approved and recommended for funding, in 
some instances it may be necessary to replace the existing program 
funding with funding available under this announcement.
    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

    The following are intended to serve as applicant requirements:
    1. Grantees shall establish research training programs that 
encompass at least one of the following two components: (a) 
Occupational safety engineering and science; and (b) occupational 
injury epidemiology. Applications that propose programs encompassing 
both components are encouraged. Programs may be at the Masters and 
Doctoral levels. Doctoral programs will be given higher priority to 
address the need for researchers to conduct research and provide 
academic faculty in the occupational injury

[[Page 14586]]

prevention field. Curricula and research training plans must be 
structured and clearly identified for each level of training as well as 
the number of full-time and part-time students proposed. Programs must 
have a minimum of three full-time or full-time equivalent trainees. At 
least 50 per cent of the proposed budget must be allocated to the 
support of allowable trainee expenses. It is expected that the 
percentage of the proposed budget allocated to trainee expenses will 
increase during each year of the project period.
    2. Applicants shall address the need for preparing occupational 
injury prevention researchers in this field. Justification should be 
provided in support of the degree levels proposed for financial 
assistance.
    3. Programs should train occupational injury prevention researchers 
on the basis of the public health model as applied to occupational 
injury prevention:
    a. Identify and prioritize problems.
    b. Quantify and prioritize risk factors.
    c. Identify existing or develop new strategies to prevent injuries.
    d. Implement and evaluate the most effective injury control 
measures.
    e. Monitor the results of intervention efforts.
    The curriculum should include, as a minimum, in-depth training in 
the following topic areas:
    (1) Within occupational safety engineering and science programs--
computer applications, data systems/injury surveillance, engineering 
controls, injury epidemiology, ergonomics/biomechanics, exposure 
assessment, personal protective equipment, research/experimental 
design, statistics, and system safety.
    (2) Within occupational injury epidemiology programs--injury 
surveillance, survey methods, exposure assessment, research/
experimental design, injury control, intervention evaluation, 
occupational safety and ergonomics.
    4. A plan should be provided to incorporate research experience (as 
principal or co-investigators) in original occupational injury 
prevention research for students at all degree levels. The plan should 
also document ongoing funded research and faculty publications and how 
the applicant intends to expand and strengthen existing research 
efforts. The plan should also include items such as strategies for 
obtaining student and faculty funding.
    5. A plan shall be provided outlining internal collaborative 
relationships between Departments, addressing institutional roles, 
goals and objectives, proposed curriculum, faculty and policies and 
administrative measures to establish appropriate coordination. Programs 
are also strongly encouraged to incorporate collaborative relationships 
with external agencies and institutions that can serve as resources for 
the program, to coordinate research with public and private groups, and 
to provide sources of data for research. Some examples of potential 
collaborating groups include the following:
    a. The disciplines of engineering, epidemiology, safety, and the 
medical, clinical and social sciences.
    b. Industry, labor, and the public sector, including public and 
private worker compensation programs.
    6. The Program Director shall be a full-time faculty member and 
have education and experience in training occupational injury 
prevention researchers. The Program Director should have currently 
funded research in occupational safety and health and should be 
responsible for the coordination of the program.
    7. Key faculty and research advisors should be full-time faculty 
with documented expertise and education in their appropriate fields. 
Qualifications should include having funded research in the field of 
occupational safety and health. Research advisors should have recent 
research experience in occupational injury prevention.
    8. The applicant shall include a plan for student recruitment, 
including entrance requirements.
    9. The applicant shall include a plan for evaluation of the 
program, including placement of graduates, tracking of graduates, and 
contributions that graduates are making in the occupational injury 
prevention field.
    10. An Advisory Committee shall be established representing 
stakeholders for occupational injury prevention, including, labor, 
industry, and government.

E. Application Content

    Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the Program 
Requirements, Other Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections 
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out the program 
plan. The narrative should be no more than 15 pages. Prepare the 
application single-sided and single-spaced, staying within the margin 
limitations indicated on the form and continuation pages. The print 
must be clear and legible. Use standard size, black letters that can be 
clearly copied. Do not use photo reduction. Prepare all graphs, 
diagrams, tables, and charts in black ink. The application must contain 
only material that can be photocopied. Do not include course catalogue 
and brochures. When additional space is needed to complete any of the 
items, use plain white paper (8 \1/2\  x  11 inches), leave \1/2\ inch 
margin on each side, identify each item by its title, and type the name 
of the program director and the grant number in the upper right corner 
of each page. All pages, including Appendices should be numbered 
consecutively at least \1/2\ inch from the bottom edge.
    The applicant shall provide documentation of an established 
graduate-level academic degree program in the occupational safety and 
health field at the applicant institution.

    Note: Please consult the detailed Recommended Outline for 
Preparation of Competing New/Supplemental Training Grant 
Applications for Occupational Injury Prevention Research Training 
Programs provided in the application kit. (CDC 2.145 A).

F. Submission and Deadline

Application

    Submit the original and three copies of CDC 2.145 A (OMB Number 
0920-00261). Forms are in the application kit. On or before May 1, 
2001, submit the application to the Grants Management Specialist 
identified in section J of this announcement, ``Where to Obtain 
Additional Information''. Please be reminded that for existing NIOSH 
ERCs or TPGs that request supplemental funding, it is imperative to 
include the present CDC/NIOSH Training Grant number, so it may be 
processed as a supplement.
    Deadline: Applications should 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 submission to 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.)
    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. Evidence of a plan to satisfy the need for training in the area 
outlined by

[[Page 14587]]

the application, including projected enrollment, recruitment and job 
opportunities. Indicators of need may include measures utilized by the 
Program such as previous record of training and placement of graduates. 
Indicate the potential contribution of the project toward meeting the 
need for this specialized training.
    2. Extent to which arrangements for day-to-day management, 
allocation of funds and cooperative arrangements are designed to 
effectively achieve the program requirements.
    3. Evidence of a plan describing the academic and research training 
the program proposes. This should include goals, elements of the 
program, research faculty and amount of effort, support faculty, 
facilities and equipment available and needed, and methods for 
implementing and evaluating the program.
    4. Extent to which curriculum content and design includes 
formalized training objectives, minimal course content to achieve 
degree, course descriptions, course sequence, additional related 
courses open to students, time devoted to lecture, and clinical and 
research experience addressing the relationship with didactic programs 
in the educational process.
    5. The extent to which the program effort is capable of supporting 
the number and type of students proposed.
    6. Extent to which the program has initiated collaborative 
relationships with external agencies and institutions to expand and 
strengthen its research capabilities by providing student and faculty 
research opportunities.
    7. Evidence of previous record of training in occupational injury 
prevention, including placement of graduates and employment history.
    8. The extent to which the applicant documents methods in use or 
proposed methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the training, 
including the use of feedback mechanisms from graduates and employers, 
placement of graduates in research positions, research accomplishments 
of graduates and reports from consultations and cooperative activities 
with other universities, professional associations, and other outside 
agencies.
    9. Competence, experience and training of the Program Director, 
faculty and advisors in relation to the type and scope of research 
training involved.
    10. Degree of institutional commitment to Program goals. An example 
of institutional commitment to the long-term stability of academic 
programs is the commitment of tenured or tenure-track faculty positions 
to each participating academic program.
    11. Adequacy of the academic and physical environment in which the 
training will be conducted, including access to appropriate 
occupational injury prevention research resources.
    12. The extent to which the budget is reasonable, adequately 
justified, and consistent with the intended use of the grant funds.
    13. Evidence of a plan for establishment of an Advisory Committee, 
including meeting times, roles and responsibilities.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. Progress reports (annual and may be incorporated as component of 
non-competing continuation applications);
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period; and
    3. Final financial status report and progress report, no more than 
90 days after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
section J of this announcement, ``Where to Obtain Additional 
Information''.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I in the 
application kit.

AR-10--Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11--Healthy People 2010
AR-12--Lobbying Restrictions

    Data collection initiated under this training grant program has 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Number 0920-
0261. ``Training Grants, Application and Regulations--42 CFR Part 86,'' 
Expiration Date 01/31/2004.

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 21(a) of the Occupational 
Safety and Health Act [29 U.S.C. 670 (a)]. Regulations applicable to 
this Program are in 42 CFR 86, ``Grants for Education Programs in 
Occupational Safety and Health''. The Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance number is 93.263.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    Please refer to Program Announcement 01036 and specify ERC or TPG 
when you request information. 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. You may also obtain 
Program Announcement 01036 from the CDC home page address on the 
Internet, http://www.cdc.gov. If you have questions after reviewing the 
contents of all the documents, business management technical assistance 
may be obtained from: Sonia Rowell, Grants Management Specialist, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 
01036, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 
Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: (770) 
488-2724, Email address: [email protected]
    For program technical assistance, contact: John T. Talty, Principal 
Engineer, Office of Extramural Programs, National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Mailstop C-7, Cincinnati, OH 
45226-1998, Telephone (513) 533-8241, Email address: [email protected]

    Dated: March 6, 2001.
Lawrence J. Fine,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-6125 Filed 3-12-01; 8:45 am]
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